Culture

The Hobo Code was a series of simple drawings—not unlike emojis today—that conveyed to other hobos vital information such as whether a place was hospitable to them or not.

The Pan African Flag was founded by Marcus Garvey over a century ago to unite Africans and people of African descent. Still a strong symbol in the world today, the flag can be seen in pop culture and African-American neighborhoods.

You’ve heard of The Muppets. But have you heard of Wilkins and Wontkins? These two early Muppets characters featured in commercials for Wilkins Coffee in the 1950s.

A weeb, or weeaboo, is a Japanophile: someone who appreciates and loves Japanese culture, its people and history. The previous term, “Wapanese,” is now considered derogatory.

Japanese farmers hang teru teru bōzu, small handmade dolls made of white paper or cloth, outside their windows in the hope they will bring good weather.

The Trobiand Islands off the east coast of New Guinea offer a fascinating look into a culture unaffected by Western civilization.

Otherwise known as “giving the finger” or the “one-finger salute,” flipping the bird has its origins in ancient Greece, becoming the obscene hand gesture it’s known for today.

At 101, Whang-Od is the world’s oldest and last living practitioner of Kalinga, a Filipino tribal tattoo practice

Humour is often overlooked when trying to tackle and raise awareness of social issues. That’s not an accusation you can level at British designer Laila Laurel. Laurel’s anti manspreading chair is a funny and clever take on how to deal with the ills of man-spreading.