News & Observer | newsobserver.com | No Ordinary Day: 2002

December 25, 2002 Mel Nathanson
Eric Ellenburg, center, sings tenor with the Oakwood Waits as they stroll the streets of their downtown Raleigh neighborhood, carolling on the Saturday night before Christmas. The group's name comes from the old Saxon word "wacan," which means to watch or wait. They formed 19 years ago, but their tradition dates back to the 14th century, when waits formed a type of neighborhood watch, marking the passage of the night hours with the sounding of horns and loud songs. "Any requests?" yelled several members of the group into the chilly night, their breath freezing in the air.
About This Project


Takaaki Iwabu
"No Ordinary Day" is a visual diary of the events, both large and small, that serve as milestones in people's lives. It debuted on March 24, 2002 and concluded on Aug. 29, 2007. We hope you continue to enjoy looking at our archive of “No Ordinary Day” images.


Travis Long
The column is a celebration of the struggles, triumphs and tears we experience as we travel from birth to death. Our goal was to document moments in time that might otherwise be missed; sometimes it's the tiniest incident in one's life that has the most profound effect. When on assignment for the column, we looked for that one photo that tells a whole story. Some are the result of a found moment we came across on our daily assignments or our daily existence. For others, we thought of a specific event, like a first haircut or last dance, and sought out a subject who might illustrate the idea.

More photos: 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006

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