35 Countries Display Cultural Traditions at PWPL World Festival on March 30

Volunteers from thirty-five countries are preparing exhibits for the World Festival at the Port Washington Public Library on Sunday, March 30, 2014 at 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. They will proudly share cherished traditions in games, crafts, artifacts, costumes, foods, stories, music and dance. 

Tinu Thakore, a Friends of the Library board member from India said, "We all live in a global community where the traditions and practices of world cultures are integrated into our daily experiences. As part of this integrated approach, it is vital that we learn about culture, communication and diversity in a fun, meaningful, expressive, and above all, authentic way. We should expose our minds to the beauty that can be found in other cultures while expanding the understanding of the people that inhabit the earth."

The Library's International Volunteer Committee has been planning this event for nine months - with members from Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Caribbean/Jamaica, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Sweden, Turkey, USA, and representing African-American culture.

According to Betty Leong from China, the "World Festival is a way to share ones culture and to learn about other cultures at the same time.  It is also important for children to see that adults from different background can work together and put on a great event."

Each exhibit is unique with interactive projects and delicious food samples - Japan will include a modified tea ceremony on tatami mats and a Tanabata Star Festival craft; India will offer Rakhi friendship bracelets, Henna tatoos, and a Festival of Lights Diya lamp project; Korea has the Jegi Chagi game, face painting and rice bulgogi; Egypt features a Ramadan lantern project, King Tut mask project, and baklava; Ghana offers the Oware game, coconut chews and atwimo chips; Chile will have the Emboque game, empanadas and grapes; Italy offers soccer lessons and prizes and pasta tricolore; El Salvador includes artes manuales (bead bracelets), pupusas, pastelitos, and horchata; Australia features a didgeridoo demonstration and project and ANZAC biscuits. 

If any of these traditions are not familiar to you - discover them and many, many more on Sunday afternoon.  Click here for the complete program!

ESOL teacher Paola Diaz from Chile said, "It's the day that we can tell, show, and share our culture with the rest of the World!"

Also on Sunday, performances from Australia, China, Brazil, India, Ireland, and Mexico will take place on both sides of Main Street as the PWPL and Landmark collaborate on this extraordinary celebration of our global community. Click here for more information about the World Festival.

The PWPL World Festival is generously sponsored by the Friends of the Library (FOL); Storytelling activities are sponsored by the Jackie Spielman Storytelling Fund of the Port Washington Library Foundation. World Festival activities at Landmark on Main Street are sponsored by the American Chai Trust.