Why we knock on wood

For thousands of years, people have followed rituals to ward off misfortune or summon good luck. Many of these customs involve wood – a material long associated with life, power,

March 28, 2025by Jay Costa OwenIn

Portugal in post-war Europe

The post-war world saw a process of European integration, from which Prime Minister Salazar realised that Portugal could not be excluded. This realisation was no dramatic conversion for him, but

March 9, 2025by Peter BookerIn