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You can explore unique cultures from around the world—even from their own bedrooms—with books and media from the library.
Author: 
By Michael Foreman

Feeling restless? Explore some unique cultures from around the world. Start now by heading to your local library, and learn about these and other unique cultures without ever leaving home.

The Maori
Polynesia
Originally from the Polynesian Islands, the Maori were the first people to settle in New Zealand after crossing the ocean in canoes. They were known as fierce fighters who intimidated their enemies with dances called "haka." The dance involves stomping the feet, grunting and sticking out their tongues. Now hakas are performed at special ceremonies to greet guests and before rugby games. And many Maori still wear traditional tattoos, or "moko," made by scratching intricate designs into the face with chisels.

To find out more about the Maori, visit your local library to:

Bedouins
Middle East
Some Bedouin have settled down in cities and villages, but you can still see the nomadic tribes traveling in camel caravans throughout deserts in the Middle East. These families live in large tents, moving from oasis to oasis in search of water and grazing pasture for their sheep. Though fiercely loyal to their clans, Bedouins are known for their warm hospitality. Tribal elders welcome strangers with spiced coffee and play music or recite poetry passed down over thousands of years. To find out more about the Bedouins, visit your local library to:

The Maasai
East Africa
The Maasai lead semi-nomadic lives herding cattle on the arid plains of Kenya and Tanzania. Maasai women build and tend huts made from grass and mud, while men guard the livestock and hunt for prowling lions. Once they're initiated as warriors, teenage boys dye their long braids bright red and pierce their ears with ivory carved from elephant tusks. During popular contests called "adumu," the young warriors see who can leap higher in the air to prove their prowess. To find out more about the Maasai, visit your local library to:

The Ainu
Japan
The Ainu people, native to the Japanese island of Hokkaido, believe spirits inhabit everything in the natural world. They survive on fish and game from the surrounding mountains, including brown bears, which are considered sacred and honored after a successful hunt. Men traditionally grow long, thick beards and dress in animal skins or robes woven from bark. Their ethnic traditions often clashed with Japanese customs and almost disappeared, but today the Ainu are celebrated for their unique culture. To find out more about the Ainu, visit your local library to:

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