culture
The Burrnesha: Albania's Sworn Virgins and a Tradition Fading from Memory
The burrnesha were Albanian women who took an oath to live as men under the Kanun. Fewer than a dozen remain. Here is what the tradition was, and why.
Traditions
culture
Understanding Besa: The Albanian Code of Honor That Saved Lives
Besa is the Albanian code of honor that turned strangers into family and saved nearly 2,000 Jews in WWII. Here is what it means and why it still matters.
culture
Xhiro: The Albanian Evening Walk That Every Town Still Does
Every evening, Albanians fill their town's main boulevard for the xhiro, a slow, aimless walk that is equal parts social ritual, fashion show, and way of life.