Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth, the Holy Bible famously says. Blessed are women with big … More
Author: Banyan Creatives
A Brief History Of Spam From Margaret Thatcher to Your Mailbox via Monty Python
Spam is a four-letter word we all love to hate. Ever wondered where it came from, though? Of course you … More
The Dying Art of Handmade Paper Journals
Did you know that 17 trees have to be cut down to make 1 ton of paper? This means over … More
How Captain Charles Boycott Unwittingly Gave the Word Boycott to the English Language
Ever wondered where the word boycott comes from? The short answer – from Ireland, where it was first applied to … More
From Tupac to 2Pac: A 500-year Old Legacy of Rebellion
Tupac is a name the world today associates with hip-hop. To be more specific, the rage, rebellion, and violence of … More
The Jute Story: From Empire to Oblivion and Back
Until the middle of the 20th century, jute was the second most consumed fiber in the world after cotton. Surprised? … More
A Short History of the American Log Cabin: An Enduring Architectural Heritage
There is this lingering pop-cultural image of America, which, even if you don’t follow pop culture, you’re likely familiar with. … More
The Tooth-puller, the Mad Queen, and the Longest Gold Rush in History – The Story of Tiradentes of Brazil
Tiradentes in Portuguese means “tooth-puller”. This was the name that the Brazilian freedom fighter Joaquim Jose da Silva Xavier was … More
The World of Amish Crafts – A Little Known Slice of American Heritage
Utter the words Amish and a few images come to mind – rolling farmlands, windmills, horse-drawn buggies, handicrafts, and a … More
The Pintao Hat of Panama – The Story of a Dying Cultural Heritage
You’ve undoubtedly seen the Panama hat even if you don’t know what it is. They’re white hats that look like … More