NationStates Jolt Archive

So, I was invited to attend an ethnic Church Fair this weekend (the weekend of October Thirteenth and Fourteenth, 2007). Unfortunately, I get paid on the Fifteenth of each month, making it impossible for me to attend for financial reasons. :(

But this thread isn't about complaints. :) Rather, I wish to compensate for my dissappointment by sharing stories of ethnic fun, not limited to the questions:

What is your favorite Ethnic Festival?

Why do you say that?

and

What other fun stories of ethnic festivals do you have?

So there it is, with a poll to follow. :)

Me, I like them all. Columbus Day, 'cause the media doesn't like it when we enjoy it, Greek Easter, 'cause I love lamb, and El Cinco De Mayo (trans. The Fifth of May; it's a Mexican thing), because Mexican food is excellent, etc., just as examples. :p Please share!

Scotchtoberfest.

What the fuck is an "Ethnic Festival" exactly?

What the fuck is an "Ethnic Festival" exactly?

Dancing + Food + Music, that sort of thing. You know, "festivities." :p Often, ethnic food and drink, conversation in foreign tongues and interesting customs to observe. Fun! :)

Greek or Italian usually.

Greek or Italian usually.

A fan of Mediterrenean foods? Can't say I disagree. :) Lots of good pastry, to boot.

Kamehameha Day (Hawaiians)Is that the day they celebrate Dragon Ball Z?

What is Your Favorite Ethnic Fun Day?Sinterklaas.

Is that the day they celebrate Dragon Ball Z?


Nah. :p They were the dynasty that united Hawaii. Kinda like a Hawaiian Bismarck. ;)

Sinterklaas.

That's cool, but more of a Christian holiday than an ethnic one, eh?

I may be missing the point of the festivals, but on all those days listed in the poll (well the ones we have in Canada anyways) we claim to have X cultural heritage and should be allowed to stay home from school/work to get drunk and stoned with our family and friends.

[That's cool, but more of a Christian holiday than an ethnic one, eh?[/QUOTE]

nobody, and I mean nobody, that I know, sees sinterklaas as a christian holiday.:)

That's cool, but more of a Christian holiday than an ethnic one, eh?

How is it any different from St Patricks day?

Both are celebrations of patron saints if i'm right

Meh, Passover and Rosh Hashana aren't fun holidays. Purim, though...that's a fun Jewish holiday. Halloween and St. Patty's rolled into one.

Santa Claus is more about Christmas and giftgiving (presents) and family and all, and isn't specific to one ethnic group, whereas St. Patrick's day is, at least in this country, more ethnic, being the Patron Saint of Ireland, I believe. Although given the percentage of people of Irish origin in this country, (something like 1/3 of white people) I almost didn't want to list it as "ethnic." :p But there's a good enough argument that it is, I decided eventually. :)

Isn't Santa Claus slightly different than Sinterklaas?

e.g. Sinterklaas is celebrated not at Christmas

I'll have to choose St Patricks anyway since i'm Irish and it's the only one of those listed that i've come into contact with. I do quite enjoy Burns night though

How is it any different from St Patricks day?

Both are celebrations of patron saints if i'm right

Santa Claus is more about Christmas and giftgiving (presents) and family and all, and isn't specific to one ethnic group, whereas St. Patrick's day is, at least in this country, more ethnic, being the Patron Saint of Ireland, I believe. Although given the percentage of people of Irish origin in this country, (something like 1/3 of white people) I almost didn't want to list it as "ethnic." :p But there's a good enough argument that it is, I decided eventually. :)

Meh, Passover and Rosh Hashana aren't fun holidays. Purim, though...that's a fun Jewish holiday. Halloween and St. Patty's rolled into one.

That's cool - feel free to add your own to the list, everyone. :) Although I kinda enjoy Passover food, especially Matzo Ball Soup and gefilte fish, and that apple/cinnamon stuff.

A fan of Mediterrenean foods? Can't say I disagree. :) Lots of good pastry, to boot.

Meh, they're the only singularly ethnic festivals we have around here, since I live in Townsville and Rockhampton. We're more likely to have a multicultural day, which I enjoy better, and they have all different sorts of food and festivities. I usually can't walk by the end of it.

I know in Melbourne and bigger cities with larger populations (including obviously larger minority populations) that there are a lot more individual celebrations for different things like Chinese New Year. I'm pretty jealous.

Is that the day they celebrate Dragon Ball Z?

Sinterklaas.

Yup, Sinterklaas rules :)

Melbourne has a pretty big asian population (Chinese, Vietnamese, etc), so Chinese new year is a big deal. It's a lot of fun, with street fairs, parades, food stalls & fireworks.

Since when is Lief Erikson an ethnicity?

["Since when is Lief Erikson an ethnicity?" quote originally posted by Ifreann]

I think it's supposed to be Scandinavia, but I could be wrong. I haven't been to many Ethnic Festivals, but Chinese New Year is awesome!!

St. Patricks, Cinco de Mayo, Dia de los Muertos, and Mardi Gras

- 24 September, Heritage Day also known as National Braai Day.
(a braai is a South African barbecue)

Heritage day is great because it doesn't celebrate just one culture, religion or ethnicity, but all of them. It's about celebrating your own roots whilst learning about and appreciating others heritage too. Anyone and everyone.
So at a heritage day celebration you will find Indians, Dutch descendants, Afrikaners, Huguenot descendants, Native Africans, Asians, English settler descendants, Greeks, Portuguese, Malay, Italians and a few more besides.

Isn't Santa Claus slightly different than Sinterklaas?

e.g. Sinterklaas is celebrated not at Christmas

I'll have to choose St Patricks anyway since i'm Irish and it's the only one of those listed that i've come into contact with. I do quite enjoy Burns night though

Hm. Wikipedia agrees with you, so I concede the point. :p Sinterklass would've been a good poll option, it seems. Only problem was my ignorance of it prior to posting this thread and that pesky 10-option limit. ;)

Since when is Lief Erikson an ethnicity?

Hey, I resent that! I happen to be 1/8 Leif Erickson. :mad:

Nah, not really. You know what I meant though, I think. ;)

Melbourne has a pretty big asian population (Chinese, Vietnamese, etc), so Chinese new year is a big deal. It's a lot of fun, with street fairs, parades, food stalls & fireworks.

Schutzenfest in Adelaide for the beer... no wait, for the German culture... which is basically beer. At least we don't have to drink the tap water.

Dancing + Food + Music, that sort of thing. You know, "festivities." :p Often, ethnic food and drink, conversation in foreign tongues and interesting customs to observe. Fun! :)

Then St. Patrick's Day isnt an ethnic fun day since all we do is to get drunk with an irish leaf attached to somewhere in our bodies.

Then St. Patrick's Day isnt an ethnic fun day since all we do is to get drunk with an irish leaf attached to somewhere in our bodies.

No corned beef and cabbage up in the Frozen North? ;) Really though, I agree to some degree, in that people largely take it as a time to get drunk. However, there's still some solid traditions, like the parade, and certain dances, music, food and drink. It probably still qualifies. :)

Then St. Patrick's Day isnt an ethnic fun day since all we do is to get drunk with an irish leaf attached to somewhere in our bodies.

You mean a shamrock. There are traditions other than drinking on St Patricks day.

Hey, I resent that! I happen to be 1/8 Leif Erickson. :mad:

Nah, not really. You know what I meant though, I think. ;)

Damned uppity Lief Eriksons.

Schutzenfest in Adelaide for the beer... no wait, for the German culture... which is basically beer. At least we don't have to drink the tap water.

Yeah, Adelaide water is disgusting. Tastes like pool water.

You mean a shamrock. There are traditions other than drinking on St Patricks day.

Yep. Theres the Puking Festival, the Public Urination Rally, the Gurriers Rampage. Soon we hope to bring back the old sports of Cattle Maimin and Landlord Snipin....Sure theres something for everyone.