Burning Boats for St. Nick Video -- National Geographic

Burning Boats for St. Nick Video December 10, 2008—For centuries, each year before Christmas, a Croatian fishing village has "sacrificed" a boat in honor of St. Nicholas, patron saint of children and fishers—and inspiration for Santa Claus.Welcome to the National Geographic video player.Video Sections

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- "Reindeer" at Risk? - December 9, 2008—Caribou, considered the reindeer of Canada, face an uncertain future. Conservationists say climate warming and industrial expansion are putting the species at risk.
- "Blindfolded" Dolphins Studied - December 16, 2008—To find ways to prevent dolphins from getting entangled in nets, researchers cover the animals' eyes to see if dolphins will use passive listening to locate objects.
- "Cult of Dead" Cave Restored - December 15, 2008—For decades Italians adopted random skulls in a centuries-old underground mass grave as conduits to the afterlife. Now the complex is being readied for a reopening to the public.
- "Jurassic" Stick Insect Returns - December 19, 2008—An "extinct," dinosaur-era Australian stick insect was discovered on a remote island and is being reintroduced to one of its native habitats.
- "Obama" Bullfighting Banned - December 15, 2008—A Kenyan judge has banned a bullfighting competition that was to be among festivities honoring Barack Obama's U.S. presidential win.
- "Viking Horse" Has 2 More Gaits - December 19, 2008—Brought to the island by Vikings, the Icelandic horse two gaits (besides walk, trot, and gallop) that no other horse does.
- 'Obama' Bullfighting Decried - December 12, 2008—Kenya's 'Obama Circuit'--a bull-versus-bull competition coinciding with celebrations Saturday over Obama's U.S. presidential election--has come under fire from animal rights activists.
- Airliner Flies on Plant Fuel - December 31, 2008—Air New Zealand says a test flight Tuesday was the first commercial-jet journey to use a fuel that is equal parts biofuel and standard jet fuel.
- Amazon "Superfood" Changes Lives - November 6, 2008—Açaí has become popular in the U.S. and Europe, but perhaps the fruit's most concrete effects are felt in its Brazilian home, where it is changing incomes and lifestyles.
- Animal-to-Human Disease Watch - December 12, 2008—In remote corners, a research team is monitoring contact between humans and wild animals—particularly wild animal meat—in hopes of stopping pandemics before they start.
- Animals Unwrap Xmas Gifts - December 23, 2008—Some of the inhabitants of the Sydney zoo were as eager to unwrap their presents as their human counterparts.
- Antarctic Survey's Stunning Species - December 2, 2008—Scientists have discovered that islands near Antarctica's main peninsula harbor more species than even the Galápagos Islands, the experts claim.
- Apes Return to Thai Island - January 6, 2009—Gibbons, apes known for their speed and distinctive singing, were wiped out through poaching by the 1980s on Thailand's popular Phuket island. Now they're making a comeback.
- Bees Key to Better Missiles? - January 7, 2009—Scientists are studying bees' aggressive behavior and ocular and navigational skills in hopes of improving missile technology.
- Belief in Elves Strong in Iceland - December 11, 2008—Most Icelanders believe in elves, according to a self-proclaimed elf historian. Whether elves exist or not, their lore remains strong in the country.
- Buried Spanish Galleon Found - December 31, 2008—Complete with canons and jars of olive oil, an 18th-century Spanish ship has been found at a Buenos Aires, Argentina, construction site.
- Burning Boats for St. Nick - December 10, 2008—For centuries, each year before Christmas, a Croatian fishing village has "sacrificed" a boat in honor of St. Nicholas, patron saint of children and fishers—and inspiration for Santa Claus.
- Christmas Lights Dazzle Sydney - December 24, 2008—Spectacular displays of Christmas lights draw thousands of spectators in Sydney, Australia.
- Cuba Gets Green Cred - November 14, 2008—Cuba is the only country that meets the criteria for sustainable development from the conservation group WWF. But concern persists for once thriving Caribbean marine turtles.
- Deep Sea Robo-Help - November 26, 2008— Scientists searching the depths of the ocean for undiscovered marine life off the coast of Maine get help from a well-equipped robot.
- Deep Sea Robo-Help - November 26, 2008—Scientists searching the depths of the ocean for undiscovered marine life off the coast of Maine get help from a well-equipped robot.
- Desperate Maasai Feed Cows Trash - December 17, 2008—Climate change is threatening the way of life for Africa's Maasai herders—even forcing some to take their cattle to feed at garbage dumps.
- Divers Rescue Whale - December 9, 2008—Military divers in Mexico spent four hours freeing a grey whale from fishing nets in the bay of Acapulco.
- Dogs Expect Fair Play? - December 18, 2008—Researchers in Austria say they've found that dogs react negatively to perceived unfair treatment.
- Farmer Busted With Artifacts - December 18, 2008—A farmer in Italy uncovered hundreds of ancient artifacts—some perhaps 2,500 years old—but ran into trouble with police when he tried to sell some of them.
- Giant Fish Fights On, With Help - December 4, 2008—Growing up to 20 feet (6 meters) long, western North America's rare white sturgeon, is getting a boost from an alliance of officials, anglers, conservationists, and American Indians.
- Giving Fish a Bath - December 19, 2008—Biologists literally give fish a bath to try and eliminate parasites in the sea near a coral reef in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Hillary In His Own Words - January 11, 2008—Sir Edmund Hillary describes his historic climb to the top of Mt. Everest...and reveals why there is no photo of him on the summit.
- Huge Underground Lake Explored - January 5, 2009—Geologists in Hungary have been exploring a newfound underground lake beneath the capital, Budapest. The lake system is believed to extend 25 miles (40 kilometers).
- Iceland Puffin Threatened - December 5, 2008—In Iceland's remote Westman Islands, warming weather is threatening a beloved mascot: the Atlantic puffin.
- Kayakers Escape Shark - December 29, 2008—Kayakers survive an encounter with a great white shark. Amateur video shows the shark circling the kayakers in the waters near Sydney, Australia.
- Male Koalas Bellow for Mates - December 17, 2008—Scientists in Australia are trying to learn more about koalas' breeding habits by listening to the animals' bellows.
- Monkeys Threaten Puerto Rico - December 22, 2008—Monkeys from a now-defunct research facility are roaming wild in southwestern Puerto Rico, threatening farmers' livelihoods and causing public health concerns.
- Mystery Pelican Die-Off in Calif. - January 9, 2009—Up and down California's coast, brown pelicans are dying in alarming numbers, and sick and disoriented pelicans have been found wandering on roads and in other unusual places—and scientists are stumped.
- Obama Debuts in Nativity Scenes - December 22, 2008—Miniature statues of President-elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, have gone on sale in Naples for use in Christmas nativity scenes.
- Peru Sues Yale Over Artifacts - December 12, 2008—The Peruvian government is suing Yale University over artifacts removed from Peru nearly a century ago.
- Rare White Lion Cubs Born - December 11, 2008— Born this week in a Serbian zoo, the cubs are from an uncommon subspecies that is nearly extinct in the wild.
- Roast Guinea Pig for Christmas? - December 16, 2008—A local government in Peru is promoting roasted guinea pig for Christmas dinner instead of the traditional turkey or pork.
- Sahara Train Fights Sand - December 29, 2008—A one-of-a-kind train that runs through the African desert in Mauritania is uniquely adapted to extreme heat and blowing sand.
- Sandwich Bags Save Lives - December 23, 2008—A simple sandwich bag can bring new hope to the parents of premature babies.
- Santa Inundated With Mail - December 24, 2008—In a remote corner of Finland near the Arctic Circle, an international team of elves helps Santa respond to hundreds of thousands of letters from children around the world.
- The Year in Robots, 2008 - December 30, 2008—Robots became more and more human-like in the past year, which saw the debuts of "emotional" robots, robot bartenders, robot swarms, and more.
- U.S. Coral Reef Doomed? - December 10, 2008—Scientists are working to halt or even reverse the decline of one of the only coral reefs on the continental United States, near the Florida Keys.
- White Trees Fill Capital - December 30, 2008—In the country of Georgia each new year, handcrafted, decorated trees sprout around the capital, Tbilisi, as emblems of prosperity and happiness.
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