Skip to Main Content
New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

Three medicine boxes and one tube of ointment on top of a table.

As the weather cools, students lean into family medicinal practices

With sickness in the air, NYU students share their stories on the traditional Chinese medicine, Southern herbal cures and Indian Ayurveda they use to stay healthy.
Teresa Mo and Polina Belova October 21, 2023

Cough drops are flying off shelves and scarves are becoming a staple accessory: winter is approaching. Combined with our collective midterm stress, prioritizing our mental and...

A basket of purple flowers in the foreground and people's hands holding flower petals in the background.

May Day is Lei Day in Hawaiʻi

May Day can be a celebration of flowers, lei and aloha — even when you're not in Hawaiʻi.
Derek Kamakanaaloha Soong, Staff Writer April 29, 2022

In the myriad palms of the Hawaiian islands remains a cultural tradition as distinctive as the fragrant blossoms upon its shores. May Day, the first day of May, is a celebration...

Bright red-and-white decorations hang from a tree with a very thick patch of branches. The bramble is in front of an evergreen tree.

Chestita Baba Marta: The monthlong welcoming of Grandmother March

The Bulgarian holiday signifies the coming of springtime.
Jules Roscoe, Deputy Opinion Editor March 31, 2022

March brings a lot of things. We watch the snow give way to budding tree branches, get buffeted by the cold wind tunnels between tall buildings, and, this year, even got somewhat...

Mooncakes are a dessert that are eaten in some countries to celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival. The festival, which begins tomorrow, is an important holiday in Asian cultures that honors unity and family. (Staff Photo by Alexandra Chan)

More than a mooncake: Students celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival with beloved dessert

The Mid-Autumn Festival is an important holiday in Asian cultures that honors family and reunion. Here’s how NYU students celebrate the festival while away from family and share its traditions with their peers.
Gabby Lozano, Dining Editor September 20, 2021

Tomorrow, Sept. 21, marks the start of the Mid-Autumn Festival, a holiday honoring unity and family widely celebrated by many communities in Eastern Asia. Different countries practice...

Helping out in the kitchen, having a  relaxing movie night, or writing to family members. Listen to the traditions that are keeping us sane in the middle of the pandemic. (Photo by Sammy Tavassoli, Alana Beyer and Alex Tran. Staff Illustration by Alex Tran)

Culture Desk Staff: The Traditions That Keep Us Grounded

It’s been almost a year since the start of the pandemic in the U.S., and life has been the same ever since. Check out the traditions our staff writers follow to keep themselves sane, especially over Zoom University.

  The Rhythm of Wontons Dana Sun, Culture Editor I’ve been wrapping wontons with my parents ever since I learned to walk. It’s usually just the three of us, standing...

Unravel

Unravel

Based on a written poem, Eric Hart displays his piece “Unravel” in a Love Hart photo series.
Eric Hart, Contributing Photographer October 31, 2019

(Illustration by Jemima McEvoy)

Staff Raves: What WSN Is Thankful For

Before the Thanksgiving break ahead of us, WSN Staff is taking a break from ranting and instead reflecting on what we’d like to give thanks for.
WSN Staff November 20, 2018
Before the Thanksgiving break ahead of us, WSN Staff is taking a break from ranting and instead reflecting on what we’d like to give thanks for.
For international students, Thanksgiving break is a nice excuse to relax and spend time with their friends. (via flickr.com)

‘Americans Are So Weird’: International Students On What They Know About Thanksgiving

Jorene He, Contributing Writer November 16, 2018
From turkey pardoning to the week-long break, international students recount what they know about U.S. Thanksgiving traditions.
Smells Like Teen Spirit: Millennials and Alternative Spirituality

Smells Like Teen Spirit: Millennials and Alternative Spirituality

Scott Hogan, Staff Writer March 25, 2018
Wicca symbols, crystals and books about witchcraft are popping up in popular stores, and millennials can't get enough.
Laura Rubio’s family recipe for Cuban guiso: kielbasa sausage, sweet corn, potatoes and pumpkin over white rice.

A Hearty Dish From Home

Laura Rubio, Staff Writer March 19, 2018
This week on Family Matters, read about a traditional birthday dish for one of our writers, Cuban Guiso.
Dinuguan a traditional Filipino pork dish typically served with rice cakes. A dish of NYU students searching for a taste of home. (via instagram.com)

NY-Untraditional Thanksgivings

Laura Rubio, Staff Writer November 20, 2017
Every family has its own way of celebrating Thanksgiving.