A facade in Hobbiton, New Zealand evokes the cross-cultural stories of doors and windows. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

What’s behind doors and windows? In Hobbiton, New Zealand, that’s a trick question!
© Joyce McGreevy

A Cross-Cultural Tour of Doors and Windows Around the World

With more than 12 million posts and counting, doors and windows around the world are among the most shared objects on Instagram. Clearly, doors can be adorable and windows wonderful. But beyond pretty pictures, what cross-cultural stories do doors and windows tell?

A window in Lismore, Ireland evokes the cross-cultural stories of doors and windows. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

In Lismore, Ireland, a medieval window has been silent witness to both
Sir Walter Raleigh and John F. Kennedy.
© Joyce McGreevy

A facade in Zagreb, Croatia evokes the cross-cultural stories of doors and windows. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

In Zagreb, Croatia, a post-Civil War window showcases the city’s renaissance.
© Joyce McGreevy

When Is a Door Ajar?

Doors can seem ordinary; their job, after all, is to hang around the house. But doors are also sentinels between opposite worlds:  the private and the public, the inside and the outside, the secular and the sacred.

Some doors are instantly recognizable even if one has never stood before them. The door at 10 Downing Street, London (despite numerous replacements since 1735). The circular doors of Hobbiton  (located in Middle Earth or on a movie set, depending on your level of devotion to Lord of the Rings). 

Other doors make you slow your step and wonder, “Now what’s in here?”

A door in Plovdiv, Bulgaria evokes the cross-cultural stories of doors and windows. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

In Plovdiv, Bulgaria, butterflies, flowers, and a glimpse of snail mail
turn an ordinary door into visual poetry.
© Joyce McGreevy

Some ancient doors, like the imun of Changdeokgung Palace, declared one’s status. An imun is a set of double doors, but of different heights.  In 15th century Korea, only royalty could walk through the taller door.

Some doors are false doors, carved in stone on Egyptian tombs and temples. They can only be passed through in the afterlife.

Doors can have the blues.  From the Cycladic islands of Greece to the high deserts of New Mexico, blue doors project complex layers of cultural symbolism, protective yet calm,  local yet ethereal.

 

A collage of entryways in New Zealand, Greece, New Mexico, and Norway evokes the cross-cultural appeal of blue doors. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Clockwise: From Greece to New Mexico, Norway to New Zealand, blue doors enchant us.
© Joyce McGreevy

Doors can be downright contrary with signs like, “This door to remain closed and locked at all times.” At ALL times? But what if we need to—oh, never mind. We’ll just climb out through the window.

Keleti Train Station in Budapest, Hungary evokes the cross-cultural stories of doors and windows. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

At Keleti Train Station, Budapest, windows evoke grand visions of travel.
© Joyce McGreevy

Open Your Wind-Eyes

The origin of the word windows is a doorway into poetry. It comes from Old Norse and Frisian phrases that mean “wind-eye” and “breath-door.” Contained in those words is the history of the window, from unglazed hole in the roof, a way to draw breath into your body, to grand portal, a way to inspire, or “draw spirit into” your soul.

Oh, I see: The most basic objects can be storehouses of cultural history.

A crumbling old house Siletz Bay Wildlife Refuge Center, Oregon evokes the cross-cultural stories of doors and windows. (Image © Carolyn McGreevy)

A former home in Siletz Bay Wildlife Refuge Center, Oregon opens the door to nature.
© Carolyn McGreevy

Breaking (or Bricking) Glass

Ever heard the expression “daylight robbery”? In the late 1600s, new technology was making it easier to produce glass windows. Soon windows were opening up a whole new world for homeowners.

English King William III saw this as his window of opportunity.

In 1696, he levied a window tax. The more glass windows one had, the more tax one paid, with rates increasing exponentially. Some people registered their protests— and avoided the higher rate—by bricking up a strategic number of windows.

A glass wall in Copenhagen, Denmark evokes the cross-cultural stories of doors and windows. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

What would King William III have thought of this window-wall in Copenhagen? 
© Joyce McGreevy

These Cross-Cultural Traditions Hinge on Doors

A winter street scene in Bend, Oregon evokes the cross-cultural stories of doors and windows. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Windows in Bend, Oregon keep winter outside.
© Joyce McGreevy

A living room in Evanston, Illinois evokes the cross-cultural stories of doors and windows. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Windows in Evanston, Illinois invite summer inside. 
©Joyce McGreevy

Word Windows, Discovery Doors

Doors and windows give us many cross-cultural idioms and sayings.

A street scene in Co. Cork, Ireland evokes the cross-cultural stories of doors and windows. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

In the Ireland of my youth a knock at the door meant
“Sounds like visitors. Put the kettle on!” 
© Joyce McGreevy

In Closing, Stay Open

Doors and windows can open up new worlds, or reframe and transform a world we thought we knew. As you close the door on this modest cross-cultural tour, hold fast to the key of observation.  For doors and windows around the world have stories to tell and wonders to reveal.

An exterior view of the Nobel Peace Center, Oslo, Norway evokes the cross-cultural stories of doors and windows. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

In Oslo, Norway, windows bring the light of hope when the world seems dark. 
© Joyce McGreevy

Comment on this post below. 

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\"A

What’s behind doors and windows? In Hobbiton, New Zealand, that’s a trick question!
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n

A Cross-Cultural Tour\u00a0of Doors and Windows Around the World<\/h2>\n

With more than 12 million posts and counting, doors and windows around the world are among the most shared objects on Instagram. Clearly, doors can be adorable and windows wonderful. But beyond pretty pictures, what cross-cultural stories do doors and windows tell?<\/p>\n

\"A

In Lismore, Ireland, a medieval window has been silent witness to both
Sir Walter Raleigh and John F. Kennedy.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n

\"A

In Zagreb, Croatia, a post-Civil War window showcases the city\u2019s renaissance.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n

When Is a Door Ajar?<\/h4>\n

Doors can seem ordinary; their job, after all, is to hang around the house. But doors are also sentinels between opposite worlds:\u00a0 the private and the public, the inside and the outside, the secular and the sacred.<\/p>\n

Some doors are instantly recognizable even if one has never stood before them. The door at 10 Downing Street, London (despite numerous replacements since 1735). The circular doors of Hobbiton \u00a0(located in Middle Earth or on a movie set, depending on your level of devotion to\u00a0Lord of the Rings).\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Other doors make you slow your step and wonder, “Now what’s in here?”<\/p>\n

\"A

In Plovdiv, Bulgaria, butterflies, flowers, and a glimpse of snail mail
turn an ordinary door into visual poetry.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n

Some ancient doors, like the imun\u00a0<\/em>of Changdeokgung Palace, declared one\u2019s status. An imun<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>is a set of double doors, but of different heights. \u00a0In 15th century Korea, only royalty could walk through the taller door.<\/p>\n

Some doors are false<\/a> doors<\/em><\/strong>, carved in stone on Egyptian tombs and temples. They can only be passed through in the afterlife.<\/p>\n

Doors can have the blues.\u00a0 From the Cycladic islands of Greece to the high deserts of New Mexico, blue doors project complex layers of cultural symbolism, protective yet calm, \u00a0local yet ethereal.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"A

Clockwise: From Greece to New Mexico, Norway to New Zealand, blue doors enchant us.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n

Doors can be downright contrary with signs like, \u201cThis door to remain closed and locked at all times.\u201d At ALL times? But what if we need to\u2014oh, never mind. We\u2019ll just climb out through the window.<\/p>\n

\"Keleti

At Keleti Train Station, Budapest, windows evoke grand visions of travel.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n

Open Your Wind-Eyes<\/h4>\n

The origin of the word\u00a0windows<\/em>\u00a0is a doorway into poetry. It comes from Old Norse and Frisian phrases that mean \u201cwind-eye\u201d and \u201cbreath-door.\u201d Contained in those words is the history of the window, from unglazed hole in the roof, a way to draw breath into your body, to grand portal, a way to inspire, <\/em>or\u00a0“<\/em>draw spirit into” your soul.<\/p>\n

Oh, I see<\/strong>: The most basic objects can be storehouses of cultural history.<\/p>\n

\"A

A former home in Siletz Bay Wildlife Refuge Center, Oregon opens the door to nature.
\u00a9 Carolyn McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n

Breaking (or Bricking) Glass<\/h4>\n

Ever heard the expression \u201cdaylight robbery\u201d? In the late 1600s, new technology was making it easier to produce glass windows. Soon windows were opening up a whole new world for homeowners.<\/p>\n

English King William III saw this as his window of opportunity.<\/p>\n

In 1696, he levied a window tax. The more glass windows one had, the more tax one paid, with rates increasing\u00a0exponentially. Some people registered their protests\u2014 and avoided the higher rate\u2014by bricking up a strategic number of windows.<\/p>\n

\"A

What would King William III have thought of this window-wall in Copenhagen?\u00a0
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n

These Cross-Cultural Traditions Hinge on Doors<\/h4>\n