Gastro Obscura

Mar 22, 2024 | atlasobscura.com | Anne Ewbank |Gastro Obscura |Vittoria Traverso |Helena Bedwell

The Easter egg tree custom, pictured here in Saalfeld, Germany, has gained some ground in the United States. In many parts of the world, the Christian holiday of Easter is now synonymous with bunnies and chicks, chocolate and jelly beans, and the decorating and hiding of lots and lots of eggs.

Dec 29, 2023 | atlasobscura.com | April White |Sarah Laskow |Anne Ewbank |Gastro Obscura

Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians played "Auld Lang Syne" at midnight on December 31 for almost a half a century. Lombardo became known as "Mr. New Year's Eve"—but the song always reminded him of Easter. How will you celebrate the new year? If you were in Sweden a century ago, you might have chosen a solo walk through a creepy, dark forest. In Chicago this year, you might go for a car rally/urban scavenger hunt (“Creative cheating” encouraged).

Nov 3, 2023 | atlasobscura.com | Anika Burgess |Anne Ewbank |Gastro Obscura |Paula Mejia

The Tuesday after the first Monday in November became Election Day in the United States largely by default. When uniform day for presidential elections was set in the 19th century, the country was mostly a Christian, rural, agrarian society. Sunday was for worship, Wednesday was a market day, and because some people would have to travel long distances to the polls, Monday and Thursday were out, too.