“YagYang”. The Apatani are tribal people living in north east of India in the region of Arunachal Pradesh. Tattooing and stuffing of large nose plugs is the particularity of these women. YagYang 75 years old, her husband passed away few months ago and she feels very alone, during my visit I was very fond of this woman and I wanted to spend some more time with her, so I asked her which was her favorite dish. The next day i returned with the fresh fish, as she mentioned, and when she saw me she was very happy and welcomed me with a big smile. Photo location: India. (Photo and caption by Passarini Mattia/National Geographic Photo Contest)

People use large water guns to spray each other as they celebrate the annual Songkran festival in Bangkok, Thailand on April 14, 2025. Thailand celebrated the Thai traditional New Year, called Songkran in Thai and also known as ëthe water festivalí, on 13 April, with festivities going on on throughout the weekend. During Songkran, people celebrate the New Year by splashing water to each other as a sign of washing away sins and bad luck from the previous year. People across Thailand celebrate the New Year with parties and water related activities throughout the weekend. (Photo by Diego Azubel/Matrix Images)

A devotee of the Chinese Jui Tui shrine takes with his mouth pierced with spikes takes part in a procession celebrating the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket, Thailand October 7, 2016. (Photo by Jorge Silva/Reuters)

Locks hang on a fence along the Cliff Walk in Newport, Rhode Island July 14, 2015. They say the whole world loves a lover, but in Newport, Rhode Island, at least, not everyone is fond of the so-called “love locks” that sweethearts are leaving along the resort city's famed seaside Cliff Walk. Hundreds of the padlocks left behind by tourists as romantic tokens now cover sections of a chain-link fence along the route. Each is meant to represent the bond lovers shared during their visit. By custom, the key is thrown away. (Photo by Brian Snyder/Reuters)

A British photographer has captured the hilarious expressions pulled by dogs as they go for a run. From popping eyes to lolling tongues, Nick Ridley from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire has managed to perfectly pause the pooches in time as they pull a host of funny faces in the great outdoors. The 56-year-old uses a fast shutter speed and lies on the ground snapping away as the dogs run towards him in order to get the perfect shot. Here: A Dogue de Bordeaux. (Photo by Nick Ridley Photography/Caters News Agency)

A dragon mask for the upcoming Lunar New Year hangs on the wall at Lily Hambali's and lion masks and custome maker in Bogor, Indonesia, 02 February 2015. The Chinese Lunar New Year, known here as Imlek, is only three weeks away. The whole city is getting decked out to celebrate the event on 19 February 2015. (Photo by Adi Weda/EPA)

In one of the best collaborations this blog has seen in ages, professional illustrator Mica Angela Hendricks has been collaborating with her 4-year-old daughter on a series of wonderful drawings that pass back and forther between mother and daugher until reaching an always unexpected final form. Each drawing begins with Hendricks drawing a detailed retro-ish head, after which her daughter snatches away the sketchbook to create rudimentary body (or animal!) parts as well as other random details. Afterward Hendricks goes back in to polish things up a bit and behold: dinosaur women, slug ladies, and beaver astronauts are born.

“Krampus is a beast-like creature from the folklore of Alpine countries thought to punish children during the Yule season who had misbehaved, in contrast with Saint Nicholas, who rewards well-behaved ones with gifts. Krampus is said to capture particularly naughty children in his sack and carry them away to his lair”. – Wikipedia. Photo: A participant dressed as the Krampus creature pulls a barrel of fire past onlookers during his search for delinquent children in Neustift im Stubaital. (Photo by Sean Gallup)