I am of West Indian culture, the West Indies or the Caribbean as it is sometimes called is a group of islands consisting of the Caribbean sea. It is situated to the east of Central America and North of South America. The beautiful beaches their create a culture that is extremly warm and welcoming.
In the West Indies the most significant holiday is The New Year, celebrated on January 1st of each year. The holiday is not just a day but rather its a season starting from early December to late January. This time off the year its a totally different atmosphere, it is a time to parang (folk music where parrenderos visit house to house in the village singing merry songs that goes along with this time with any type of instrument at hand). This holiday is a time to create ones local dishes like Sorrel and Black cake to share with friends and family. However the very same New Year is celebrated in a different light in the Chinese culture. Celebrated on the first day of the first month according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar, which tends to be anytime between January and Feburary. At this trime the married couples distribute new money in red envelopes to umarried familes and friends it is believed that this will bring luck and prosperity to unmarried family and friends for red represent luck in the Chineese culture. Also their are dragons that visit house to house with the same concept as bringing happiness and proseprity to the visited home.
Despite the difference between these two cultures celebrating the same holiday what remains constant is the importance of the festival it is a time to be with friends and family to celebrate ones norms and custom and to bring happiness, health aand strenght to everyone.
The American culture is very individualist where everyone is to themselve, most families consist of parents and children ( Nuclear Family) when the children reach of age they marry and move out to form their own Nuclear family. On the other hand in West Indian culture the old proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child" is eminent. Our villages are an epitome of what a community should be, we are a very united people and everyone in the village knows each other. Most familes comprise of parents, children, grandparents, aunts and uncles (Extended Family).
Our culture may set a boundary between us and define us but we are all Human Beings.
Your last line is interesting. Culture does not have to be a boundary that separates us, but a boundary that we cross to learn about possibilities. Don't you agree?
ReplyDelete--prof K
I find your blog very interesting as I did not know too much on how these two countries celebrate their New Year. It is so different here in America and a little bit upseting :(
ReplyDeleteLooking back most of my friends don't even celebrate New Years with their immediate family, but they spend it out partying with friends and strangers... I am one of the few in my circle of peers that wants to spend it with my family. As in many South AMerican countries we celebrate with a big dinner & champagne and eat 12 grapes when the ball drops and my grandmothers think it is good luck or tradition to trow rice all around the house for good luck! funny right. Hopefully one day I can brake the American habit and once I have my own children teach them the importance of spending these memories together...