History

In the French village of Sarpourenx, a 2008 mayoral decree forbids dying within its limits unless you already own a grave plot. This unusual law is not a serious mandate but a satirical protest aimed at highlighting a severe cemetery overcrowding crisis and frustrating administrative red tape.

In the Syrian mountain village of Jubb'adin, Sunni Muslim residents speak Western Aramaic, a direct descendant of the language of Jesus. This linguistic relic has survived for centuries, resisting Arabization and offering a unique window into the complex history of the Levant.