ritual
Why Apple Bobbing Is Actually a Female Fertility Ritual
Apple-bobbing is more than just a watery Halloween game. Throughout history, it has been the dominion of witches, sex, love, and women—an act of enchantment rather than simple pomaceous fondling.
Voodoo Puts the Skull in These Dark Sculptures
Haitian Vodou gets cast in a new light by London-based artist Pierre Santos.
Siberian Shamanism Invites You into a Trance at This Installation
In ‘Ongon,’ artist Abraham Brody attempts to bring the shamanic experience into an art gallery.
Why We Still Practice Superstitious Rituals With Our Technology
How much do you know about the tech you use, and how much do you assume?
Photos from Japan's Ancient Bullfighting Ritual
In Spain, matador vs bull often ends in at least one gory death. Japan's centuries-old tradition sees two bulls peacefully wrestling one another.
Ritual, Fetish and Infinity Collide in a Memory Theater
Artist Srijon Chowdhury creates theatrical art installation inspired by ancient and medieval information storage devices.
Crucifixion in the Philippines
In the Philippines, Good Friday is spent performing a very literal reenactment of the Bible.
Dead Procession's Ritual Darkness Isn't Metal, but Will Terrify You Just the Same
Stream an eerie new song, "Percorrendo os Caminhos da Noite," from the Portuguese dark ambient project.
Mangelwurzels Make the Creepiest Jack-o-Lanterns
In the Somerset town of Hinton St. George, locals mark Halloween with "Punkies," hollowed-out mangolds or mangelwurzels (a type of beetroot) containing a lit candle.
This Baker Is Turning 17th Century Witches’ Broth Into Pie
Four hundred years after the trial of Lancashire’s Pendle witches—12 men and women executed for witchcraft and murder—baker Christine Turner makes pies inspired by the broth served at their illicit gatherings.
PREMIERE: Stream Ritual's Debut Album and Start a Moshpit in Your Cubicle
Furious metalcore from Hammertown to start your morning off right.