Dear Papa, I’m writing to you on birch bark
When WPR producer Steve Gotcher's daughter, Erika, was a little girl, she started a tradition of sending him letters on ...
Lac du Flambeau tribal youth are taught the time-honored tradition of spearfishing
Spearfishing is a tradition practiced every spring by Ojibwe tribes in northern Wisconsin. It’s a practice that’s been passed on ...
My mother’s tea: Skepticism and love of family traditions
Many of us grow up questioning our parents’ methods and traditions, only to find ourselves embracing them later in life. ...
In Central Wisconsin, A Metalworker And His Sons Make Art At The Forge
Boleslaw Kochanowski spends hours at his drafting table in his office above the blacksmith shop, creating designs for his metal ...
Who Are Tom And Jerry And Why Are They A Cocktail?
It seems that every season has its cocktails. When the temperature drops and the snow piles up, people want a ...
A Family Affair: Father And Daughter Reflect On Generations Of Military Service
Like her father before her, Captain Alice Bechtol joined the U.S. Army as a family tradition. Growing up in a ...
Wisconsin 101: Pasties
Imagine this: It’s early morning in a small Wisconsin town about a century ago. The sun hasn’t risen, but parents ...
Cloud Eating: The Power Of Homemade Tortillas
Many of us have strong memories tied to making food with our families. Writer Araceli Esparza shares a poem about ...
Ice Harvesters Keep A 19th-Century Tradition Alive, One Block At A Time
In 1911, the Milwaukee-area manufacturer Alonzo Pauling gathered $75,000 in capital and founded the Pewaukee Lake Ice Company with his ...
How Did Polka Become A Dance And Tradition? You Betcha We Have An Answer!
Wisconsin seems to have a pretty good sense of humor about its clichés. Beer? Brats? Cheese? And if we’re making a ...
Yiddish Music Traditions With Lil Rev
Music is a cornerstone of Jewish culture, especially during holidays and festivals. Musician Lil Rev grew up in a musical ...
Meet Bruce The Spruce: Green Bay’s Talking Christmas Tree
For some people, Christmas in Green Bay is not complete without a visit to “Bruce the Spruce.” It’s a fake ...
Wild Rice Harvest Tradition Passed Down To Youth
Wild rice, or manoomin, is a staple food among Ojibwe tribes that lies at the center of their time on ...
Rare Wisconsin Tobacco Farmers Hang On To Tradition
Tobacco used to be a major cash crop in Wisconsin, but today very few farms remain. Those that do are ...
Cannibal Sandwiches: A Polarizing And Misunderstood Wisconsin Tradition
Imagine. It’s the holidays and to quiet your pre-dinner hunger, someone hands you a slice of rye bread topped with ...