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The display of la bandera puertorriqueña was pretty common all year long throughout the five boroughs of New York City, waving from car antennas, painted on wall murals, or draped from windows, fire escapes and card hoods; but from the end of May until the middle of June,prior to and during the National Puerto Rican Day Parade in Manhattan (always the second Sunday in June), it reaches its peak. It is hard to walk anywhere in the City without seeing the image proudly displayed or worn. Any item or apparel imaginable is adorned or decorated with the image: umbrellas, shorts, ties, fingernails, hats, jewelry, sunglasses. This was especially true from the late 1990s through the early 2000s. It appears as if this custom may have peaked a few years ago, and during the last few years the flag seems to be less visible in the time period leading up to the parade. This latest trend may have arisen due  to do with grassroots and official campaigns intended to make sure the flag is used only in a respectful manner,  a decline in the flag fever pitch of those years and recent economic and environmental crises on the island leading many to use a black and white monoestrellada to represent the dual ideas of mourning and resistance.

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Material Culture

The Hudson Crossing Park Cardboard Boat Races are part of Canal Splash! a statewide celebration co-sponsored by the New York State Canal Corporation and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

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Ritual

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Material Culture

The Non-Gujarati Jains is fieldwork project by videographer and Conceptual artist, Smrita Jain. Project for Citizen Folklife Program, Brooklyn Arts Council.

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Ritual

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Migration

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Aarti also spelled arti, arati, arathi, aarthi (In Devanagari: आरती ārtī) is a Hindu religious ritual of worship, a part of puja, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter) or camphor is offered to one or more deities. Aartis also refer to the songs sung in praise of the deity, when lamps are being offered.

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Ritual

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This notion that “all Jains are Gujaratis” is overshadowing the true representation of who Jains are and the religion Jainism. As part of Brooklyn Arts Council's Citizen Folklife initiative, Smrita Jain does fieldwork in order clear up this misconception. 

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Ritual

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Health

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Material Culture

Migration

Music

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Belief

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Tour the Staten Island neighborhood of Port Richmond with young traditional dancer Jesus Almedo

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Foodways

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Dance

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This notion that “all Jains are Gujaratis” is overshadowing the true representation of who Jains are and the religion Jainism. As part of Brooklyn Arts Council's Citizen Folklife initiative, Smrita Jain does fieldwork in order clear up this misconception.

Traditions: 

Ritual

Icon: 
File ritual.svg

Place

Material Culture

Migration

Belief

Icon: 
File belief.svg

This video explores the experiences of those affected by Superstorm Sandy on the south shore of Long Island.  It includes those who experienced the storm, those who responded and those who assisted in its aftermath.

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In this video architects and planners examine how our landscape may change as storms and hurricanes become more common.

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In this story bayman Michael Combs of Freeport shares his experiences with his bay house and working on the bay after Superstorm Sandy.

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Occupation

This video shows how generations past have experienced storms and hurricanes on Long Island.

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