DIVERSIVITY Culture and Traditions
1/23/21
CREDITS
Our Mission:
At Diversivity, we strive to create a more inclusive community that embraces diversity amongst different identities and cultures. We hope to do this by providing a safe platform for teens to share their perspectives, stories, and thoughts, while also advocating for solutions to issues relating to race relations, global events, identity, and more.
Team Message:
As members of Diversivity, we wanted our electronic magazine to be a safe space for people from a multitude of backgrounds to share their stories, opinions, and perspectives about a diverse range of topics. We believe that writing is a powerful tool that can help create a more inclusive and diverse world. Each month we hone in on a certain theme, opening up submissions to anyone who wants to write about their experiences. This month’s theme, “Culture and Traditions'' drew many responses and shines a light on new issues. We believe it's important for every voice to be heard and we hope that our emagazine can accurately portray culture, traditions and its numerous parts.
Chief Writer:
Katie MacDonald Hillary Xu
Writers:
Myint Myat Theingi Rachel Daniels
Chief Editor: Rhea Kaw
Director of Graphics Design: Harshana Jawahar
Graphic Designer: Megha Patel
THE HISTORY AND CELEBRATION OF KWANZAA
The holiday Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 after the well-known LA Riots as a way to bring the African American community together. Karenga combined various aspects from different harvest festivals of African ethnic groups’ cultures to form a celebration that is the basis of Kwanzaa today. The name Kwanzaa is a derivation of the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza which means “first fruits.” Typical familial celebrations may involve drumming, singing and dancing, storytelling, poetry reading, and the consumption of large meals. However, as with any festive day, each family puts their own unique twist on things to personalize the occasion. Kwanzaa lasts seven nights. Family gathers and a younger member will light a candle on the candleholder, called the kinara. Each candle represents one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa known as the Nguzo Saba. These principles reflect African cultural values: they are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Additionally, there are traditionally seven items on the Kwanzaa table, placed alongside the kinnara. A mat, unity cup, crops, candleholder, seven candles, corn, and gifts are all present during Kwanzaa. Although the popularity of Kwanzaa has declined in the past years, about 6 million Americans polled said they planned to celebrate the week in 2015.
CHINESE NEW YEAR Decadent steamed fish, rows upon rows of dumplings, sticky sweet glutinous rice cake, and braised shiitake mushrooms parade in front of my eyes as my aunties, all dressed in red, coax lumpy balls of dough into a never-ending string of noodles. In the background, the television is tuned to the annual New Year’s program. My uncles crowd around the tea-table, their guffaws resonating through the living room only to be interrupted by the occasional clink of half-full Maotai shots. I feel at home, surrounded by the hubbub of a large, happy family. Although traditional methods of celebration are not possible this year, the spirit of the New Year persists. Isolated from my grandparents and extended family for more than a year, this Chinese New Year evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing for my grandparents. This year, February 12th will usher in the Year of the Ox: the zodiac of my grandfather. Oxes are known for their diligence, strength, ambition, and dependability—characteristics that represent him well. As a young child, he was a stoic and commanding presence at every meal. Then, all of a sudden, my parents took me back to the United States. Geographical distance drove a wedge between our relationship. As I grew older, I visited my grandparents every summer break, but the natural generational and cultural gap chafed the canyon between us. He was a traditional Confucian thinker who valued obedience and filial piety; I was a liberal Western thinker who valued freedom and individuality. Our only common ground was discussing what we wanted to eat for dinner. Yet this did not prevent me from admiring him. My grandfather, a man of little words, expressed his love in his minute actions. An invitation to walk around Olympic Park, a warning to not slip on freshly mopped tile, a styrofoam box of my favorite Stinky tofu from a roadside stand—he had his own way of expressing his devotion. My grandfather was an autodidact and literary enthusiast, memorizing the only book he had access to—a dictionary—while he mucked the stalls of livestock. He inspired me to keep a diary, read Grecian philosophy, and learn Tang Dynasty poetry. But most of all, he inspired me to connect with my heritage despite the duality of my American citizenship. This Chinese New Year, despite being apart, I carry his memory as we celebrate. Albeit on a smaller scale with modified festivities, our heritage endures.
Christmas Jingles
Everybody loves Christmas. It is one of the biggest holiday celebrations worldwide. Surprisingly, as someone who loves holidays, I have never participated in the celebration. My family has this belief that only “Christians celebrate Christmas.” Therefore, as a Buddhist family, we have never done any Christmas activities like decorating the house, setting up a tree, opening presents, or having a large feast. Every holiday, my family goes on overseas trips during Christmas break. Thus, Christmas was never really a celebration for me. Christmas during 2020 was a different story. Due to the coronavirus, we didn’t travel anywhere and instead had a Christmas celebration at our house. My father bought a small tree from an antique shop along with other decorations like socks, candies, bells, and more. We also decided to have a Christmas feast consisting of roasted duck, mushroom soup, and italian pasta. As it was our first celebration of Christmas, my younger cousins were thrilled and beyond excited about the event. I also made secret gifts for my cousins and we exchanged presents with one another. Our Christmas celebration was a huge success as we were able to play various family games and most importantly, spend time and bond with each other.
Since I never celebrated Christmas, I was curious about the origin of how the holiday started. So, I decided to research more about it to learn its beginnings and the purpose of celebrating. From the information I found, I was filled with surprise and excitement because I discovered that Christmas was the celebration of the birth of Jesus. This fact makes me wonder more about the birth of Buddha, the religion that I firmly believe in. Most holidays have their own origin and purpose whether it is for religious, political, or social reasons. Since Christmas is one of the longest holidays that I have, I value it more than any other. With this thought in mind, I reached out to my father and requested him to start celebrating Christmas because of the amount of joy and passion it brings to me. Without needing further persuasion, he agreed to it and confirmed that I would be able to celebrate Christmas every year from now on. Although 2020 was a horrific year for most of us, it started a new beginning of celebration for me. Knowing that Christmas is going to be one of the holidays I will be looking forward to, the Christmas jingles keep me waiting for another Christmas.
LATIN AMERICAN NEW YEAR'S TRADITIONS Most of us are fairly versed in American New Year’s Traditions: sparkling cider (or champagne if you’re of age), singing Auld Lang Syne, fireworks, and more. These traditions differ from household to household, but they aren’t too widely varied. However, in other countries, these traditions are dramatically Good words for Great Souls different from the ones we’re used to and often have a layer of PAGE 01 superstition. This article will cover some interesting New Year’s Day traditions in Latin American countries. Across various In memory of Father Smith Spanish-speaking countries such as Cuba and Spain, 12 grapes PAGE 02 are eaten in parallel with the twelve rings representing the final seconds of the year. Some neighbors looking to travel in the new year might walk around their block with a suitcase. Their hope is that it will enable them to fly across the globe for the next 365 days. Heard of “out with the old, in with the new?” This Upcoming Projects concept gets taken to new heights in Panama and Ecuador. PAGE 05 Residents there burn effigies of people who have played a big role in their lives– often people in news or politics. The Food for the Soul experience is said to be very cathartic. A slightly more tame PAGE 06 version of this “out with the old'' mentality can be found in Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries. Many throw a Announcements, Events, and Updates bucket of water out the window to remove “bad energy.”The PAGE 07 traditions of Latin America are just as diverse as the people who inhabit it. Latinos in the United States often engage in these practices as well. Perhaps next New Year’s Eve, you’ll be compelled to try out some of these yourself and see if you get lucky!
HAPPY NEW YEAR
A geodesic sphere, capable of producing 16 million vibrant colors and totaling 11,875 pounds, travels down the 475 feet flagpole to signal the final minute of 2020. The Times Square Ball Drop on New Year’s Eve, a tradition started in 1907, is a staple of America’s celebration of the coming year. With over one billion people watching from home, the kaleidoscopic ball touches ground and 2020 is over. Thank goodness. Around the world, New Year’s celebrations have their own idiosyncrasies. In Spain, the custom is to eat 12 grapes, one at each stroke of the clock at midnight. In Denmark, a tradition involves standing on chairs and leaping off when the clock strikes 12. In Greece, onions are hung on the front door on New Year’s Eve. Although traditions differ, the New Year universally represents new opportunities and rebirth. People celebrate in hopes of prosperity and good fortune in the coming year. 2020 was an unprecedented year. From the pandemic to the climate crisis to the social justice movement in the United States, this year was as difficult as sharpening rocks with cotton swabs. Despite all the challenges, you have made it—that alone is worth celebrating. Even if current issues won’t magically resolve themselves with the new cycle of the Gregorian calendar, 2021 presents us with a fresh start, new opportunities, and an iota of hope. From our team at Diversivity to the readers at home, we wish you health and happiness in this new year!
THE MEANING OF HOLIDAY Holiday. Holidays are usually the time where I let myself go all out and have fun to the fullest. But people often spend their holidays in various ways. Due to this, holidays are a special time of the year where creativity and happiness come out. Particularly for me, the holidays only symbolize one thing. So, what do the holidays actually mean to me? When I think about holidays, one term comes immediately to mind: travel. Along with travel, words such as calm, enthusiastic, journey, fun, and joy pop up in my head. Every holiday, my aunt often plans a trip with the entire family to travel to other countries. It became a family tradition where we all go on a trip to have family bonding time. When it is that time of the season, I always get my hopes up and my mind fills with anticipation of where the next travel destination might be. As my family and I love travelling, organizing for trips is very fast. Holiday vacations are the absolute best moments ever because they allow me to escape from reality. Being a high school student, there are many responsibilities I have to uphold including school work, AP exams, SATs, community service, and more. The holiday season is the only time where I am able to get away from stressful work and give myself a break from reality. It's the only time that also allows me to have fun fully and keep my mind in a peaceful state. I also get to travel, which is one of my favorite things to do. Travelling allows me to experience various things: learning new culture and traditions, seeing many famous tourist attractions, eating various new foods, trying out new things- you name it. Since going on trips like this is only possible when I don’t have school, holidays are such a precious time for me. This year has been different. My family and I have broken our holiday tradition of travelling and instead spent our time at home. The COVID situation has ruined our plans we initially had, which was pretty unexpected. There is no doubt that holidays in 2020 were the most unexcited and boring holidays I ever had. But with the year of 2021 and world getting better, I can’t wait for my family and I to plan a successful trip once again. I indeed miss having meaningful, engaging trips that will allow me to get rid of stress and give my mind some peace again. At the same time, my body still longs the urge to travel while eagerly waiting for those days to come.
BOXING DAY Those in Europe and other countries connected to the UK have placed importance on the day of December 26th. However, to many here in the US, the only thing the 26th brings is the wearing off of the wonderful holiday spirit. Boxing Day gets its name from a Christmas Box or present. Traditionally, after working for a long year, servants received the day off as a gift from their employers. Usually, those servants gave gifts to their families on that day. In more recent times, the name refers to charity drive containers. Boxes are used to collect money for the poor and often placed in Churches. While many do still give to the less fortunate on this day, Boxing Day is now widely used to spend time with friends and family– specifically those you weren’t able to see on Christmas Day itself. Some go shopping with stores offering reduced prices and various sales, not unlike Black Friday after Thanksgiving. The most common activity to engage in on this day, though, is watching sports. Loved ones gather to watch soccer, rugby, cricket– you name it. There are somewhat similar traditions in the States. The entire holiday season, people dressed in Santa costumes can be seen ringing bells and soliciting donations outside of stores. Additionally, many sports teams compete on Christmas day and the days that follow. While we don’t have something identical to Boxing Day, the sentiment is definitely there.
Holiday Tendency People always long for holidays to come. It is mainly because holidays are the only time that most people get to take time off from school, work, and stressful situations. However, there are different holidays for various countries and thus, different holiday traditions during the numerous seasons. In the country of Myanmar, there are usually only three seasons: summer, winter and the rainy season. International students like us normally get our summer break during the winter season, where we get two months break from school. During the summer season, however, we tend to have a Thingyan water festival that is very unique and special to our country. When it’s winter, we celebrate Christmas and the New Year with people we love. With different holidays, we have different seasons and each holiday gives off a unique vibe. Along with holidays, traditions and culture come along. People bond with each other during that time and most importantly, it is the moment where people are able to have a peace of mind and enjoy their time.
If we were to closely look at it, the holidays tend to have a pattern. It seems like different holidays are celebrated according to the seasonal conditions it is in. For example, Christmas is usually the time where you get cozy with your family and have a family feast. This description of Christmas is similar to how you would normally spend time during winter seasons. Since the weather is cold, you might want to get cuddly and warm. On the other hand, the Thingyan water festival is celebrated during the summer season. When it is summer time, the weather is usually very hot and people often go to beaches. Having a water festival during the summer seems like a perfect fit for the season as it will cool you down and refresh you. This might be a coincidence, but this trend makes sense and it tends to be related.
With the outbreak of COVID-19, the holidays are a whole new scenario. There are no more public celebrations so we are no longer able to celebrate Christmas or Thingyan collectively, which makes it hard for all of us. Although we are not allowed to have parties, people still find ways to celebrate the holidays by having a home party, eating out at a restaurant in a socially distanced environment, or buying presents and celebrating at home. Even with the pandemic, people are still excited about the holidays because they get to rest and spend their time with their loved ones. Holidays are such a big tradition for us. One thing we all have in common about holidays is that we love them because we get to rest. As much as relaxation is important for all of us, it is also important to keep in mind that we should spend our holidays efficiently as well. Even when holidays are over, we tend to still have holiday fever because it passes by very quickly. So, endure it. Cherish it. Appreciate it.
EXTRAS
Here are some stories that aren't about this month's theme, but we felt should be included!
In the midst of a harrowing pandemic, invigorating social justice movement, catastrophic natural disasters, distressing economic recession, and turbulent political climate, the youth of America have persevered. During the formative years of adolescence, we faced the challenge of navigating 2020. Despite the many unique difficulties along the way, we managed to make it through another cycle of the Gregorian calendar. From around the world, 20 high school students share their most valuable lesson from 2020.
20 THINGS WE LEARNED FROM 2020
#1 - We realized that the world doesn’t revolve around us. In early 2020, I applied for an internship opportunity at a local hospital. After a lot of work, I was accepted only to find out that the program was canceled. Despite this being a disappointing experience for me, I learned that there is a greater purpose beyond our high school lives and the dayto-day activities we participate in. When the coronavirus broke out and everyone was making transitions to virtual learning and having their mundane routines being suddenly disrupted, it showed me that the world doesn’t revolve around our normal lives. It showed me how easily our daily routines could be disrupted and how everything could change in the blink of an eye. — NK, USA (age 16) #2 - We learned to be introspective. During the summer, my partner (almost 9 months) broke up with me. They had issues mostly, but it taught me that I halfcommit to a lot of things (which isn't always a bad thing). To improve in any aspect of life, it's important to evaluate how important it is. It's better to cut things out than try to spread yourself too thin out of worry or fear. — SL, Canada (age 16) #3 - We faced the unpredictable nature of life. My grandfather was diagnosed with gastric cancer in terminal term last year. We tried the chemotherapy, but the cancer recurred and deteriorated much faster than we had expected. The last examination showed that my grandfather has only a few months to live. The story of my grandfather taught me the inconstancy of life. We should spend more with our family when it is still possible. Don’t let waiting become regrets. — WS, China (age 15)
#4 - We began to value non-materialistic things. On September 1st, a devastating house fire occurred and we're still misplaced (Staying in a temporary home). Even though that sounds horrible, which it is, it’s taught me so many things. I’ve learned how non materialistic I am because of how I’ve realized everything can be replaced besides people (and dogs), as well as how tight-knit a community can be, as shown by our neighbors helping us sort through burned photos and letting us stay in their house for the first few days. 2020 has been humbling, but I’m still thankful and blessed after things played out the way they did. — AB, USA (age 16) #5 - We became aware of global events and politics. Being in quarantine, isolated from my friends, taught me what I most valued in myself and others, and that it’s okay to not be okay. With all of the political unrest, I found myself being so much more interested in world government and politics and becoming more open to those discussions. This also helped me formulate my own opinions and broadened my understanding of different points of view.— JG, USA (age 17) #6 - We took the opportunity to self reflect. I was given a large amount of free time that allowed me to reflect on myself. Because of this, I was able to learn that there is a lot more that I do not know about myself than I had realized, in all parts of my life. I hope to use this to try to discover more about myself, now that I know what I’m missing.— KT, USA (age 15) #7 - We found new hobbies. I started bullet journaling for the first time and it taught me that I need to organize myself more and I enjoy creating different themes for different months.— VB, USA (age 18) #8 - We became stronger than we realize. I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease (alopecia) in early 2020. I learned that I'm a lot stronger than I realized: putting up with weird looks from strangers, being asked if I have a terminal illness, and just the hair loss in general was terrifying especially since hair was such a big thing for me. It was also definitely difficult not being able to eat the food I used to while everyone around me did. — KT, USA (age 16)
#9 - We appreciated the little things in life. It was really difficult to not be able to leave my house for an entire month. It taught me to appreciate everyday experiences and to not take them for granted. — LB, USA (age 16) #10 - We realized we were more independent than we thought. In quarantine, I spent a lot of time by myself and finding things to do. This made me realize a lot of things about myself but the thing I learned the most is that I'm much more independent than I thought! I like doing things by myself (and do it my way) in order to hopefully have good results. — HH, USA (age 17) #11 - We learned the true value of family. Through 2020 I have learnt how much my close friends and family motivate me. Through the experience of rarely seeing and talking to other humans during lockdown, I have learnt the true value of relationships/friendships and how different my life is without them. — MM, Canada (age 17) #12 - We encountered situations that challenged our perception of human decency. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, we promptly went into quarantine and a great majority took precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. However, with the encouragement of our president many began to stop precautions, politicize wearing masks, and even doubt the existence of the virus. What I have learned from this event is what little compassion my fellow citizens have seeing others traveling, partying, and arguing against science. — JG, USA (age 16)
#13 - We learned time management skills. Due to the threat of COVID-19, my parents enrolled me in the virtual school program. Doing virtual school taught me better time management, a valuable skill to have. — BG, USA (age 16) #14 - We realized the importance of human connection. I've learned how important relationships are; not just with your close friends and family, but day-to-day interactions with those around you. I used to think I was super introverted and could spend multiple days alone, but I learned that even though I am an introvert, not being in an environment where I’m talking to, learning from, and collaborating with others makes me lose motivation and feel very depressed. — RB, USA (age 16) #15 - We learned how to communicate. Because of the pandemic, almost all communication went virtual. This taught me how to be better about reaching out to others rather than just keeping to myself all the time. — MA, USA (age 17) #16 - We remained optimistic. One obstacle I faced in 2020 was the various changes that occurred because of the pandemic. Some of these changes include virtual school and being isolated from friends, family, and travel. I’ve learned that despite the unpleasant circumstances, I can remain positive and keep an organized routine. I’ve also learned that it is difficult to get myself to take a break—which is something I hope to fix in 2021! — RK, USA (age 16) #17 - We witnessed the ambiguity of human kindness. I work at a grocery store and happened to work a shift halfway through March on the day school closures were announced and lockdown was imminent. On that day I saw desperate people fighting over frozen strawberries, grabbing for bread, running into each other with grocery carts and generally behaving in a way none would find acceptable preCovid. This showed me how quickly people change when faced with adversity, and taught me how desperation can flip the switch between human and monster.— AA, USA (age 16)
#18 - We focused on our mental health. One thing that I learned in 2020 is how important it is to focus on ourselves. I have always been known to be an overachiever in every aspect of my life, and that caused me to develop depression and anxiety. The pandemic did not help, of course. But, throughout this time where I had way too much time to binge every show on Netflix, I got some time to really focus on improving my mental health not only for now, but to really help me in the future. — KM, Canada (age 16) #19 - We learned how to combat feeling overwhelmed. Online schooling taught me how important time management is. It was very easy to become overwhelmed with all the different assignments, but I gradually learned how to organize my tasks and complete them in a timely manner.— SS, USA (age 17) #20 - We persevered. This past year has taught me a lot about persistence; the deeper ability to think responsively and become conscious when we are to cross hurdles in life. Although normal living became somewhat forgotten and kept behind us, I am learning how to understand more optimistically and be appreciative of the little moments and reflective of others at the present time. — AS, USA (age 16)
NEW YEAR, NEW WORLD I personally believe that this has been the most eye opening year we have had in awhile. There have been so many issues brought to light that have been blatantly disregarded in the past. We have seen the toxic uprising of white supremacy, racism, and pure hatred against minorities of our world. We have seen peaceful protests for justice be brutally shut down by excessive and fatal force by those who are meant to protect us. We have seen how the economy is more important than the safety of our lives. We have seen the climate emergency be disregarded and continuously develop into an issue that will deem itself uncontrollable if nothing is done. The list goes on; this year has taken all of the internalized issues that our countries face and have thrust them upon us. These problems have presented us with a choice. Continue ignoring it, continue letting hatred and fear control our very actions and thoughts. Or be inspired to make change in every way possible– to make an impact on the world. In this New Year, we can be reminded of how much we can be thankful for, but we should also be reminded as to how much we have to work towards. How much we can work towards. Together. United.
NEW YEAR, NEW START Months pass by months, Seasons change by seasons, Leaves fall out from its roots, Voices call out from its hoot. New Year approach us like waves, Never subtle or stable yet it could possibly mean a fresh start. New Year hit us like hurricane, Never slow or soft yet it brings a strong stance of motivation. Start of the New Year, Start of new Beginnings. End of the Bad Year, End of the Misfortunes. New Year brings such goods; merely of new hopes and dreams, New opportunities, New desires, New thoughts, New beliefs. Leaving the evil behind, Bringing the good in front, The goal of the New Year, The man of the New You. The present keeps your positive mind, The future estimates your bright way, The past eliminates your heavy misconducts. With the New Year ahead, With a good transformation ahead, New Year, New Me, New Year, New Start.
THE POINSETTIA Petals of fire, burning against the bitter winter’s frost Reflections of the sun. Hope, brilliance, reverence, cannot be lost. Sparks of intensity and passion, Cherished love Forever growing, never faltering. Leaves of sage green, Holding wisdom of which the world has never seen. Leaves that breathe scarlet life, Life we cherish, love we empower. Their crimson beauty blossoming evermore, The poinsettia overcomes all that may impede. Shining brighter than the stars at night, Representing endless love and endless light.
THANK YOU !!
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