The Importance of Celebrations: Welcome to the Year of the Snake!
Cultural celebrations and traditions hold a special place in my heart. Having lived in multiple countries, I have a special affinity for things that remind me of home and of my roots. Being in new places has also afforded me and my family the opportunity to participate in events that help us learn about the traditions, history, meaning, and importance of celebrations that are unique to various cultures. I know many of our community members feel the same, particularly as we hail from such a long list of places from around the world.
It is important for us all to maintain a connection to our cultural heritage, as it forms a part of our identity and can help us feel a sense of belonging. It is a way to pass along and preserve traditions from generation to generation. Celebrations also build pride through sharing our heritage with others, empowering them to learn, and ultimately, fostering understanding and inclusion.
With this in mind, I thank all of our community volunteers who so generously help develop cultural understanding through new experiences with food, art, music, dance, and more. We’ve already seen so many examples at Mulgrave this school year with a stunning display for Diwali, classroom presentations for Khushali, and Culture Days in the Early Years, just to name a few.
And now, we welcome the Year of the Snake (a special year for my own 12 year old twins). Our school is adorned with red and wishes of good fortune for the year to come and we our annual community celebration is just about here. The food, games, crafts, and performances are all hosted by a parent committee and our Chinese community, who have been preparing since late last year.
Additionally, I am delighted that members of our Persian and Ismaili communities are involved in the planning for a special Norouz/Navroz celebration in March, too. This uplifting marker of spring brings such a sense of renewal, and can’t wait to partake in the event.
I look forward to sharing in these festivities and many more throughout the year, with you!