April is National Poetry Month!  National Poetry Month is a special occasion to celebrate the expressiveness, delight, and pure charm of poetry.  Throughout April we remind ourselves that poets have an essential role in our culture and that poetry matters.  Funerary art helps one learn more about a life that was cherished and contemplate one’s own existence.  …
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Pacific Islanders refer to those whose origins are the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific islands.  Pacific Islanders comprise a diverse number of ethnic groups, ancestries, and languages that originated in Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia.  Funeral traditions of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific islands show that memorialization takes different forms. Almost …
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With around 3,000 ethnic groups and 2,000 language varieties, Africa is a continent with fascination around every corner.  There are a multitude of ethnic groups in West Africa.  Christianity and Islam have spread widely across West Africa; however, native West African religions and their traditions still influence everyday life in the region. The dazzling diversity of West …
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What makes a cemetery a great cemetery? Host of PBS’s “World’s Greatest Cemeteries” Roberto Mighty uncovers this question in a magazine-style half-hour that uses historians, forensic scientists, and horticulturists to share true stories of the world’s most spectacular cemeteries.  In addition to interviews with historians, authors, tour guides, and other experts, the series includes reenactments exemplifying …
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Opened to the public in 1935, The Frick Collection is an art museum housed in the former residence of American industrialist, financier, and art patron Henry Clay Frick.  One of the top attractions in New York City, The Frick Collection houses a remarkable collection of art treasures from the Renaissance to the early 20th century.  A premier …
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In the U.S. and Canada, funerals specifically for fallen members of the emergency services are common.  First responder funeral customs reflect honor and respect for their remarkable bravery and service.  Ripe with tradition, police officer and firefighter funerals and memorial services give the proper respect upon the passing of our local heroes who put their lives …
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McKim, Mead, and White was a prominent American architectural firm at the turn of the 20th century.  A partnership formed in 1878 by Charles Follen McKim, William Rutherford Mead, and Stanford White, the illustrious firm came to define the look of Gilded Age America.  The most successful and influential American architectural firm of its time, …
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Located at one of Midtown Manhattan’s most visible corners between 34th and 35th Streets on Broadway, Macy’s Herald Square is the flagship of Macy’s department store as well as corporate headquarters of Macy’s, Inc.  With a daunting retail space of 2,136,600 square feet spread over 10 floors, Macy’s Herald Square is the largest department store in …
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Funeral ceremonies often reflect a person’s cultural traditions.  Not only do funeral rites show respect for the deceased, but also they honor his or her culture and beliefs.   A cultural funeral ceremony is a way for loved ones to celebrate the culture and life of their dearly departed. All cultures and religions have their own unique …
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Taoism is a set of traditions and religions that instructs believers on how to exist in harmony with the universe.  Along with Confucianism, Taoism, is one of the two great indigenous religious and philosophical traditions of China, shaping Chinese life for more than 2,000 years.  Taoists prefer to understand the way of nature as whole, emphasizing …
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