Traditions

The things your parents did but never explained

Warm, insider explainers on the customs, festivals, and identity of the diaspora — written by people who grew up inside them.

Persian

Nowruz Traditions: Everything Your Parents Did But Never Fully Explained

Nowruz, the Persian New Year, is one of the oldest celebrations on earth. Discover the real meaning behind haft sin, chaharshanbe suri, and sizdeh bedar.

Haft Sin Explained: What Every Item on the Persian New Year Table Actually Means

What goes on a haft sin table and why? Discover the meaning behind all 7 items on the Persian Nowruz table, plus the goldfish, mirror, and candles.

Persian Culture Explained: The Things Iranians Do That Take a Lifetime to Understand

What is Persian culture, really? From tarof and tahdig to poetry and hospitality, a warm insider explainer for diaspora Iranians and the curious alike.

Telugu

Telugu Wedding Rituals: What's Actually Happening During All Those Ceremonies

From Pellikuturu to Saptapadi, here's what every Telugu wedding ritual means, written for diaspora families navigating tradition in a new country.

South Asian

What Does 'Desi' Mean? A Word That Carries a Whole Identity

Desi is more than a word — it's an entire diaspora identity. Here's what it means and why second-generation South Asians claim it as their own.