68 stories
Anfeh Salt Flats | ملاحات أنفه
She harvests sea salt from the ancient flats of Anfeh. He's the chef from Paris seeking the perfect salt. In crystalline pools, they find something equally precious. 'Inti milh hayati' (أنتِ ملح حياتي).
Batroun Olive Oil | زيت زيتون البترون
She runs a centuries-old olive press in Batroun. He's the food journalist from New York chasing authentic stories. He finds the most authentic one in her arms. 'Inti asli aktar min ay zeit' (أنتِ أصلي أكتر من أي زيت).
Bent Jbeil Embroidery | تطريز بنت جبيل
She embroiders traditional Lebanese designs that nobody wants anymore. He's the fashion designer from Milan who sees treasure in her trash pile. Stitch by stitch, they create something new. 'Inti el ghorzeh el dhahab' (أنتِ الغرزة الذهب).
Bourj Hammoud Colors | ألوان برج حمود
She runs a textile shop in Bourj Hammoud, last keeper of Armenian weaving traditions. He's the fashion designer seeking authentic fabrics. In threads of heritage, they weave something new. 'Inti ahla nashij' (أنتِ أحلى نسيج).
祇園のお茶屋女将 | The Ochaya Owner of Gion
祇園で由緒あるお茶屋を守る女将の物語。A tale of a proprietress protecting a prestigious ochaya in Gion.
Guayabera Girl | La Chica de las Guayaberas
A woman running her family's guayabera shop finds love in a customer who keeps coming back for alterations
Cerita Budaya Indonesia | Indonesian Culture Tales 91-95
Lima kisah dari upacara pernikahan Nusantara - dari keanggunan Jawa hingga kemegahan Batak. | Five tales from Indonesian wedding ceremonies - from Javanese elegance to Batak grandeur.
Jbeil Fisherman's Daughter | بنت صياد جبيل
She's the last woman who fishes the traditional way in Jbeil. He's the marine conservationist fighting industrial fishing. On ancient waters, they catch more than fish. 'Inti el sayde el kbiri' (أنتِ الصيدة الكبيرة).
Kfar Nabrakh Glassblowing | نفخ زجاج كفر نبرخ
She blows traditional glass in the old way near Saida. He's the art collector who believes Lebanese glass rivals Murano. Between fire and breath, they shape something brilliant. 'Inti el zijaj el safi' (أنتِ الزجاج الصافي).
京都の置屋の女将 | The Geisha House Mother of Kyoto
祇園の伝統を守る置屋の女将、花緒の物語。A tale of Hanao, a geisha house mother preserving Gion's traditions.
Masa and Memories | Masa y Memorias
A tortillería owner teaches a younger woman the art of making masa, and finds unexpected connection in the process
Papusa Love | Amor de Pupusas
A Salvadoran pupusería becomes the setting for an unlikely love story between owner and customer
عروسی ایرانی | Persian Wedding
داستانهایی از مراسم عروسی و سنتهای ایرانی... Stories from wedding ceremonies and Persian traditions...
Rachaya el-Foukhar Pottery | فخار راشيا الفخار
She throws pottery in Lebanon's last traditional pottery village. He's the museum curator who wants her work for permanent collection. Between wheel and wall, they shape something lasting. 'Inti el sigheh el tamm' (أنتِ الصيغة التامة).
Salsa Verde Secrets | Secretos de Salsa Verde
A family salsa recipe becomes the path to love when she shares her secrets with the right person
The Bahraini Pearl | لؤلؤة البحرين
Her family once dove for pearls in Bahrain. He's the jeweler who wants to revive the tradition. What they discover is more precious than gems.
The Qatari Falcon | صقر قطر
She trains falcons for Qatar's elite. He's the sheikh who wants to learn the ancient art. What they hunt is each other.
The Sudanese Coffee | قهوة سودانية
She runs the last traditional coffee house in Khartoum. He's the journalist documenting disappearing traditions. Their story brews slowly.
The Tripoli Soapmaker | صانعة الصابون الطرابلسية
Her family has made olive oil soap for seven generations. He's the marketing executive who wants to take it global. She teaches him that some things can't be scaled—including desire. 'Rihtik ahla min kil saboun bi hal dini' (ريحتك أحلى من كل صابون بهالدني).
The Tunis Medina | مدينة تونس العتيقة
She restores ancient doors in the Tunis medina. He's the architect documenting them. Together, they open doors to each other's hearts.
Batna Birthright
Farida preserves Amazigh traditions in the Aurès Mountains. When linguist Nabil arrives documenting dying languages, she teaches him words no dictionary contains. 'El lougha f'el jism' (اللغة في الجسم) - Language lives in the body.
Béchar Boundless
Zhara plays traditional ahellil music in Béchar. When ethnomusicologist Thomas arrives recording Saharan sounds, she sings him songs that can't be captured. 'El ghina mn el qalb' (الغناء من القلب) - Song is from the heart.
Bou Saâda Beauty
Kenza dances the traditional Ouled Naïl dances in Bou Saâda. When choreographer Marco arrives documenting disappearing forms, she moves him beyond documentation. 'El raqsa roh' (الرقصة روح) - Dance is spirit.
Bougie Beauty
Lila makes traditional candles in Béjaïa—once called Bougie, origin of the word. When historian Jacques arrives tracing etymology, she illuminates more than words. 'El dhou' ywarri' (الضوء يورّي) - Light reveals.
Classical Harmonies
Aliya teaches classical Pakistani music to preserve tradition. When businessman Kamran enrolls to connect with his late mother's culture, he finds more than harmonium lessons.
Couscous Fridays
Fatima's Friday couscous brings the neighborhood together. When widower Hassan moves next door, she discovers cooking for one more changes everything. 'Ta'am el hob' (طعم الحب) - The taste of love.
Derbyshire Well
Every summer, Tissington dresses its wells with flower pictures. Tradition keeper Dorothy shows visiting photographer Tom that some beauties last longer than petals.
Falconry Festival
Festival organizer Maha celebrates Saudi falconry tradition. When filmmaker Antoine documents her events, the hunt turns personal. 'Al saqr symbol al 'izza' (الصقر رمز العزة) - The falcon symbolizes pride.
مغني الأعراس | The Wedding Singer of Fez
A traditional wedding singer discovers passion with an ethnomusicologist studying Moroccan celebrations.
Hammam Heat
Soraya runs her grandmother's hammam in the old medina. When stressed executive Nassim seeks traditional healing, she scrubs away more than dead skin. 'El hammam ykachef koulech' (الحمام يكشف كلش) - The hammam reveals everything.
Hussein Dey Horizons
Malika repairs watches in Hussein Dey. When Swiss horologist Kurt arrives studying traditional timekeeping, she shows him that some things tick beyond mechanisms. 'El waqt ma yetqasemch' (الوقت ما يتقسمش) - Time isn't divided.
Khenchela Kindled
Dihya preserves Chaoui traditions in the Aurès Mountains. When documentary filmmaker Yusuf arrives capturing disappearing cultures, she shows him that some traditions can only be lived, not filmed. 'El 'ada f'el dem' (العادة في الدم) - Tradition is in the blood.
Ksar El Boukhari Keys
Nora makes traditional keys in Ksar El Boukhari. When locksmith historian Georg arrives studying ancient security, she shows him that some locks require more than keys. 'El miftah f'el niyya' (المفتاح في النيّة) - The key is in the intention.
Lighthouse Love
Lighthouse keeper Mariam maintains Jazan's coastal beacon. When marine engineer Kofi arrives for modernization, tradition clashes with progress. 'Al manar yirshid al taa'ih' (المنار يرشد التائه) - The lighthouse guides the lost.
سيد الشاي | The Mint Tea Master of Marrakech
A traditional mint tea master discovers passion with a tea sommelier studying Moroccan tea culture.
حاوي الثعابين | The Snake Charmer of Marrakech
A snake charmer discovers passion with a documentary maker filming traditional performers.
الحكواتي | The Storyteller of Marrakech
An ancient storyteller in Jemaa el-Fna discovers passion with a woman who stays to hear all his tales.
سقاء الماء | The Water Seller of Marrakech
A traditional water seller discovers passion with a cultural preservationist documenting dying traditions.
Medea Mysteries
Yasmine keeps ancient Berber healing traditions in Médéa's mountains. When anthropologist Saïd arrives documenting folk medicine, she shows him cures that confound modern science. 'El dwa f'el jbal' (الدوا في الجبال) - Medicine is in the mountains.
Oran Oranges
Nassima sells oranges at Oran's souk. When agricultural engineer Fouad arrives to modernize orchards, she teaches him that some harvests can't be mechanized. 'El bortuqal yehki' (البرتقال يحكي) - Oranges speak.
Pearl Diver
Historian Amal documents vanishing pearl diving traditions. When descendant Rashid shares family stories, academic interest becomes something deeper. 'Al lu'lu' al haqiqi nazir' (اللؤلؤ الحقيقي نادر) - True pearls are rare.
حي الفخارين | The Pottery Quarter of Sale
A traditional potter discovers passion with an anthropologist studying craft traditions in Sale.
Sidi Bel Abbès Secrets
Nora runs a traditional bakery in Sidi Bel Abbès. When food writer Bruno arrives documenting Algerian bread, she rises to show him what ovens remember. 'El khobz hayat' (الخبز حياة) - Bread is life.
The Dholak Player
Aliya plays dholak at Pakistani weddings—a tradition passed from her grandmother. When handsome wedding videographer Imran keeps filming her instead of the bride, she notices.
The Drummer's Call
Before dawn in Ramadan, drummer Abu Walid walks the streets waking families for suhoor—until insomniac Mira starts following the sound and finds something to keep her awake.
The Henna Artist of Gaza
Master henna artist Salma decorates brides across Gaza—until she meets Karim at a wedding and he asks her to paint something just for him.
The Quilter's Pattern
Gee's Bend quilter Mama Ruth has stitched history for sixty years. When a collector wants her work for a museum, she discovers some patterns require a partner.
The Quilting Bee Quickie
The Gee's Bend quilting circle has been meeting for generations. When a handsome art collector comes to document their work, one widow discovers her fingers are still nimble.
The Seamstress's Stitch
Miss Pearl has altered wedding dresses for forty years. When a widower brings his late wife's dress to be transformed, she helps him create something new from something beautiful.
The Storyteller's Tent
At festivals across Palestine, Hakawati Abu Jamil tells tales—until visiting writer Sara asks for a private performance and discovers some stories need two voices.
The Sunday Roast
Nadia's family does Sunday roast—Pakistani style, with biryani instead of beef. When her brother's friend Faisal becomes a regular guest, she discovers some traditions are worth keeping.
The Tattoo Artist of Ramallah
Traditional tattoo artist Yasmine revives the ancient Palestinian face markings—until client Rami asks for something more permanent than ink.
Tiaret Traditions
Rachida runs the last traditional saddle workshop in Tiaret. When heritage curator Ivan arrives documenting craft traditions, she shows him that some skills pass through more than hands. 'El san'a f'el roh' (الصنعة في الروح) - Craft is in the soul.
שכונת התימנים | Yemenite Quarter
In Tel Aviv's historic Yemenite Quarter, a young chef learns traditional recipes—and traditional passions—from an older woman who knew his grandmother.
The Cleansing
An old tradition says a widow must be 'cleansed' before she can remarry. The village chooses the cleanser. This time, they choose her nephew.
The Henna Artist
The night before his wedding, the henna artist comes to prepare him. Her designs are intricate. Her preparations are thorough. Some traditions require more than just decorated hands.
The Offering
In Millbrook, there's a tradition: every new bride spends her wedding night with the mayor's wife first. To learn. To be prepared. Her husband waits downstairs while she's taught everything she needs to know.
Urithi wa Mjane
His uncle dies, leaving a thick widow and an old tradition. The nephew must 'inherit' the widow—care for her, provide for her. In the village, that means everything. Including the marriage bed.
Tohara
The traditional circumcision ceremony requires a seclusion period. The thick village woman assigned to care for the young men during their healing has her own lessons to teach. About manhood. About women. About everything.
Nyumba ya Wake
The old sultan dies. His nephew inherits the estate—including four thick wives who refuse to leave. Islamic law allows four wives. Tradition says they belong to whoever provides for them. He provides.
The Witness
Old tradition requires a witness to the wedding night. His mother-in-law volunteers. But watching isn't enough—she needs to verify everything personally.
The Coffee Ceremony
The Ethiopian coffee ceremony takes hours. Three rounds. Each round more intimate than the last. By the third cup, she's offering more than coffee.
The Delegation
Three aunts arrive to negotiate his marriage. But the bride's family has one condition: proof of the groom's capabilities. The aunts volunteer to provide the evidence themselves.
The Midwife
She's delivered every baby in the village for forty years. When a young husband's wife can't conceive, the midwife offers an old remedy—one that requires his personal participation.
The Coffee Master's Secret | سِرُّ أُسْتاذِ القَهْوَةِ
A legendary coffee maker holds a secret recipe that a sultan would kill for
The Honey Hunters | صَيَّادُو العَسَلِ
A young hunter learns the ancient secrets of wild honey gathering in the mountains of Oman
The Matchmaker
She's been finding wives for the men of Malindi for thirty years. When her nephew comes of age, she has the perfect match in mind—herself.
The Dowry Keeper
She holds the dowries of Lamu's elite families in trust. Before any groom receives his bride's wealth, he must prove himself worthy. Her standards are high. Her tests are personal.