Harmony Week, 15-21 March, is a special time to celebrate Australian multiculturalism and includes the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (21 March).
It is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background. Our country has been enriched by different cultural and religious traditions that are celebrated throughout the year.
We recognise the cultural diversity at the Hudson and wish to share with you just some of the cultural events celebrated by our staff and students.
Mai Sarraj
Cultural identity is how we perceive ourselves and to which groups we feel we belong. To me I would say I am a Muslim Australian from an Arabic speaking Palestinian background. I am so connected to Australia as I have called it home for the last thirty years in the meantime I hold tight to my faith, my origin and my traditions.
On the 12th of April, Muslims around the world will celebrate
Ramadan the month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community. Ramadan has a special flavour for
Muslim families as it brings the family together and is a chance for
socialising with family and friends. Ramadan has special traditional dishes
that vary depending on the variety of cultures that Muslims originate from.
“Jerusalem, the dome” 76.2x 61 cm
Acrylics by Mai Sarraj
This year the celebrations will certainly be different post COVID! Although we will still fast from dawn to dusk, not eating nor drinking, yet we will be restricted in our community gatherings at the time of breaking our fast. We will not be praying our special evening prayers (Tarawih) in large congregations but more as single families most probably at homes and not at mosques. At least we can still pay charity to the less fortunate (Zakat-ul Fitr) estimated as the price of one meal per person per day paid before the last day of Ramadan.
At the end of Ramadan, we will celebrate festival of Eid-ul Fitr (11th May 2021). Again in 2021, we may not be going to the mosques for prayers and may only visit our family and friends within the COVID restrictions or possibly via online video conferencing. Though it will not be the physical celebration we are used to, we will no doubt feel the love and gratitude from a distance.
Fathima Yoosuf
I am a Muslim, born in Sri Lanka. We celebrate not one, but two major festivals, known as Eids. Eid-ul-Fitr commemorates the end of fasting in the Holy month of Ramadan and Eid-ul-Adha symbolises the end of the Holy pilgrimage season to Makkah. These are very special to me as they bring together family and friends and the preparation of lots of delicious food which we share with neighbours and other communities.
Vijesh Vaghjiani
Holi is a popular ancient Hindu festival of colour widely celebrated in India and Nepal. Holi is celebrated in mid-March according to the lunar calendar (In 2021, it will be on 29th March). The festivities officially usher in spring in the Northern hemisphere, with Holi celebrated as a festival of love. The festival is celebrated by applying colour to each other and signifies a day to forget and forgive.
Left is the picture of Holi celebration in Ferntree Gully in 2019.
Hui Kheng Chua
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| Traditional paper/cellophane lanterns during mid-autumn festival. |
In Chinese tradition, on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, we celebrate the mid-autumn festival. This year, the mid-autumn festival will fall 21st of September in the Gregorian calendar. As kids, we often look forward to this day, as there will be reunions with family and friends accompanied with lots of yummy food! Mooncakes are a must during mid-autumn festival celebrations, they are usually served after dinner, with a pot of fragrant Chinese tea. These delightful desserts usually have a sweet filling and can vary from red bean to lotus seed or the more modern Matcha tea fillings. I have fond memories of sitting under the beautiful light of the full moon, in a garden decked out with the soft glow of colourful lanterns, and just catching up with friends and families, enjoying each other’s company late into the night.
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| A very old photo of us kids with all our lanterns. |
Dainty flower mooncakes by HPPMP student, Claire Shi
The
tradition of eating mooncakes started in the Yuan dynasty, when the Han Chinese
people used mooncakes as a vessel to hide and send out secret messages, and
successfully overthrow the Mongolian rulers.
Photo
I nicked off Pinterest of traditional mooncakes
The most common folklore involves that of the goddess Chang’E who lives in the moon. Legend has it that earth was once plagued by the scorching heat of 10 suns. At the request of the Heavenly Emperor, the great archer Hou Yi managed to shoot down 9 of those suns and saved the world, and was gifted an elixir to attain immortality. His wife, Chang’E stole and consumed the elixir herself, and flew to the moon, where she remained to this day as the guardian of the mopn. The moon will also be at its brightest and fullest on this day, and if you look closely enough, you may even spot the pet rabbit of Chang’E too!
Hue Mai La
I’m Hue Mai La, an immigrant from Vietnam. My background is Chinese-born-Vietnamese and I came to Australia when I was 16. Through my high school English teacher, I had always been told to value our languages and embrace our cultures as they represent who we are as an individual. From years of studying and working in Australia, I’m thankful that I have always been surrounded by people from workplace and community that value cultural diversity and inclusion.
Personally, my family still follow the traditional Lunar Calendar to celebrate events throughout the year, including Lunar New Year and Lunar birthday. Lunar New Year is my favourite time of the year that span across 15 consecutive days. It’s time of the year for me to mentally recharge and spend quality time with the family. On the new year eve, we cook multiple dishes to farewell the ending year and welcome the new year. Throughout the 15-day of the Lunar New Year, we would spend time doing family activities and visiting relatives.
Trang Tran
Vietnamese major cultural event is Tet (Lunar New Year). It occurs in the first few days of the Lunar (moon) calendar. It's a special time to gather together, enjoy family time and pray for best wishes in the new year. It's important to me as it's hard to see most people enjoy their time with families, except me (homesick).
Nazanin Karimnia
Nowruz is a UN-recognised hallmark event which is celebrated by people across 25 countries for the arrival of spring and new year (Now= new/ Ruz= day- Nowruz: new day). Nowruz celebrations begin on the first day of vernal equinox which usually falls on the 20th or 21st of March. In the Northern Hemisphere, the spring equinox is when winter ends and spring begins astronomically, and Nowruz is the first day of the first month of Iranian solar calendar. Nowruz traditions have got nothing to do with religion. In fact, Persians have been celebrating Nowruz for over 3000 years and it is a celebration rooted in the rituals and traditions of Zoroastrians, which is the ancient religion of Persia before the advent of Islam in 7th century A.D.
Nowruz celebrations span over 13 days. It is custom to spring clean the house in preparation for Nowruz, and arrange the ceremonial Nowruz spread,”Haft Seen”. Persians prepare this spread by laying out 7 symbolic items starting with the letter ”S” in Persian. Furthermore, they might add Complementary items such as a mirror, candles, the holy book of Quran or poetry of Hafez, coins, painted eggs, goldfish and seasonal Hyacinth flowers. These items all have symbolic meanings associated with wealth, health, prosperity and new beginnings.
The Haft Seen comprises of the following symbolic items.
- Sabze or wheat grass sprout symbolises the rebirth of nature, prosperity and growth.
- Samanu is a sweet Persian pudding, made out of wheat sprouts. It symbolises the sweet moments of life.
- Senjed or sweet silver berry symbolises love. It is a dried fruit and tasty.
- Sumac with its crimson colour symbolises the colour of dawn before sunrise. Hence, it represents the victory of light over darkness.
- Serkeh or vinegar represents patience, old age and wisdom.
- Sib or red apples symbolise beauty.
- Sir or garlic symbolises health
On the last day of the holidays (the 13th) everyone leaves their homes for a previously planned picnic to outdoors by riverbanks or lakes. The significance of a river or a body of water is that the Sabze (wheat grass sprout) is kept until this day and then thrown in the water for good luck and getting rid of the bad fortune that might come with the number 13 and also to symbolize the return to nature.
Sarah Rosli, Christy Le Ying, Hui Lu, Wilson Wong
Mid-autumn festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar (~ 21 September 2021). It is also called the Moon Festival and it is celebrated by many Southeast Asian countries including from China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.
Many decades ago, ancient Chinese emperors were in awe of the beauty of the moon and were grateful for the harvest, which kindle the celebration of this day for all their hard labour and bountiful harvest.
On the evening of the mid-autumn festival, families will gather to have a reunion dinner on a round table. The very popular and delightful snack called the mooncake is typically filled with nuts, red beans, lotus seeds, fruits and egg, and is covered with a wheat flour pastry. It is believed that the round shape of the table and the mooncake symbolises happiness. Other than the mooncake, pumpkin, pomelo, duck and wine with flowers are also consumed on this special day.
Traditionally, lanterns were made from paper and centred with a candle. Some lanterns were used as decorations that keeps the festivity alive as it shines beautifully contrasting the night sky. Kids can be seen walking and playing with their mates carrying self-made or store-bought lanterns.
Rows and rows of paper lanterns will be lit and displayed along the streets. Children will be seen on the streets with their hand-held lanterns beaming with happiness while the older folks would sit out and admire the elegance of the full moon.
To everyone who will be celebrating, on behalf of the equity and diversity committee, we wish you a happy Mid-Autumn (in advance).
Jiyao Gan
“Spring sheds a mild and wild light on Cold Food day;
Jade burner spreads the dying incense like a spray.
Walking, I find my hairpin under pillow stray.
The swallows not yet come, a game of grass we play;
Willow down wafts while plum blossoms fade away.
In drizzling rain at dusk the garden swing won’t sway.”
Li Qingzhao <Huan xi sha – Dan dang chun guang han shi tian >
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