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<span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">From: </span><span><span>Hellinckx Luc</span> <span><a href="mailto:luc.hellinckx@gmail.com" target="_blank">luc.hellinckx@gmail.com</a></span></span><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
Subject: </span><span>LL-L "Traditions"</span><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
Beste Ron,<div><br><div><div>You wrote:</div><div><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">So you are definitely getting a taste of the US of A (or "U, S and A," using <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borat" target="_blank">Borat</a>'s words)<br>
<br>In
this country, certain once ethno-specific or religion-specific holidays
have been generalized. In other words, even people of other backgrounds
celebrate them in some form or other. In most of these cases, the
original purpose fell by the wayside or is simply considered immaterial.</span></blockquote><div><br></div><div>Do
you happen to know of any Native American or Cuban holidays that are
getting the attention of a wider audience in the U, S ànd A ?</div><div><br></div><div>Kind greetings,</div><div><br></div><div>Luc Hellinckx, Halle, Belgium</div></div></div><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">----------<br><br>From: R. F. Hahn <<a href="mailto:sassisch@yahoo.com" target="_blank">sassisch@yahoo.com</a>><br>
Subject: Traditions<br><br>Hi, Luc!<br><br>I can't say for sure, but I assume that if there is any Cuban-specific holiday that was not set up by the Castro dynasty, it would likely have local popularity among non-Cubans as well, especially in Southern Florida. <a href="http://goog_1529180678" target="_blank">Cuban Independence Day (</a></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_Cuba" target="_blank"><i>D<span lang="es">í</span>a de la independencia</i></a><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">, October 10) springs to mind.<br>
<br>"Native American" covers a great many cultures, languages and histories. As far as I know, the closest Native equivalent to "holidays" are seasonally celebrated tribal and inter-tribal <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powwow" target="_blank">powwows</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potlatch" target="_blank">potlatches</a>, and there are similar meetings among the polar peoples. I attend at least one powwow per year, and I know many other non-Natives that do so. Since 2008, there is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potlatch" target="_blank">Native American Heritage Day</a>. Supposedly it is to be observed on the day after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving" target="_blank">Thanksgiving</a>, though I have never seen it done.<br>
<br></span><div style="margin-left:40px;color:rgb(0,0,153)"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">In
this country, certain once ethno-specific or religion-specific holidays
have been generalized. In other words, even people of other backgrounds
celebrate them in some form or other. In most of these cases, the
original purpose fell by the wayside or is simply considered immaterial.
This applies mostly to the following:</span><br><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><br><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"></span></div><ul style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:40px;color:rgb(0,0,153)"><li><span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Patrick%27s_Day" target="_blank">St. Patrick's Day</a> (Irish Christian)</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Cinco_de_Mayo" target="_blank">El cinco de mayo</a> (Mexican)<br>
</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_dia_de_los_muertos" target="_blank">El d<span lang="es">í</span>a de los muertos</a> (Mexican)</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oktoberfest" target="_blank">Oktoberfest</a> (Bavarian)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween" target="_blank">Halloween</a> (pre-Christian > Christian)</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas" target="_blank">Christmas</a> (pre-Christian > Christian)</li>
</ul><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br>
I should have mentioned <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year" target="_blank">Chinese New Year</a> (</span>春節<span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">), for which many non-Chinese visit the Chinatowns of their cities. In areas with high Korean or Vietnamese population concentration this holiday might be celebrated as </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_New_Year" target="_blank">Seollal</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%E1%BA%BFt" target="_blank">Tết (Nguyên Đán)</a> respectively. <br>
<br>Areas with high Iranian concentration (such as in Southern California) might have public celebrations of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowruz" target="_blank">Nowruz</a>. <br><br>Here in Seattle, like in (mostly western) other American cities, there are annual public celebrations of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bon_Odori#Bon_Odori">Bon Odori</a> (<span style="font-weight:normal"><span class="t_nihongo_kanji" lang="ja">盆踊り</span></span>). Also popular is attendance of the Festa Italiana and of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Demetrios_Greek_Orthodox_Church_%28Seattle%29">St. Demetrios</a> Greek Festival. In addition, we have Hawaiian and general "Islander" celebrations to which the greater public is invited.<br>
<br>Oh, and then we have a great annual Scottish Highlands gathering (with a nod or two to the Lowlands). Similar gatherings are held in many parts of the country.<br><br>Many cities have public ceremonies for kindling the Jewish <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowruz" target="_blank">Hanukkah</a> lights, and it is customary in many Jewish American circles to invite non-Jews to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover_Seder" target="_blank">Passover Seders</a> (which will happen again very soon). In areas with high Muslim concentration, it is not uncommon for non-Muslims to be invited to break-fast gatherings, especially on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_ul-Fitr" target="_blank">Eid ul-Fitr</a> (عيد الفطر <i>‘Īdu l-Fiṭr</i>).<br>
<br>
Some ethnic or religious community do not celebrate their special days as publicly. For instance, several years ago I attended a local Polish gathering that had been announced as open to the public, and I and my company were made to feel thoroughly unwelcome.<br>
<span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br>Regards and best wishes,<br><br>Reinhard/Ron<br>Seattle, USA<br></span><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"></span><font style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"><div style="text-align:center">
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