Marist High School celebrated its fourth annual Celebration of Culture in the main gym on Thursday, March 5 from 6-8 p.m.. Sixteen tables were set up with food, posters, art, fun facts, and history to represent various cultures and to allow attendees a glimpse of lives different from their own.
“It’s a phenomenal opportunity for students to not only highlight their very own background, but also to learn more about others, different cultural groups, different ethnicities,” says Director of Equity and Belonging LaToya Hayes.
After attendees arrived and began visiting the tables, an Irish dance performance and a song sung in Spanish on the main stage set the scene for what the rest of the night was going to look like.
“We try to have a performance from most of the cultures represented at the event, but it doesn’t always happen that way because we have students who are very talented, but they’re a little shy about performing in front of their peers,” says Hayes.
The music wasn’t the only thing to grab attention. The traditional foods and vibrant decorations at each exhibit attracted long lines.
“I love trying the food, and I love seeing the students in their cultural element having pride for their cultures,” says counselor Robyn McNaughton. “Mostly we’re just talking about the food, but everyone has a poster with different information, and it’s just a great way to learn about other cultures.”
At the tables, students were proud to share their heritage with others.
“Hearing about Culture Night from Mrs. Hayes, I was so excited because I was already thinking of proposing an idea like this, where all Americans can come together and we can show our differences, but at the same time we can learn and grow from each other,” says senior Olubukola Onimole, who was behind the Nigerian table.
Since its first year, Culture Night has grown greatly not just in what goes into it, but also the interest of Marist students.
“There’s just been so many people and it’s insane to see them all come out,” says Onimole. “I’ve seen kids who I didn’t think would be open to learning about other cultures go to different tables and try different foods and just immerse themselves into a certain culture.”
The night concluded with attendees coming together to form a line dance of people from all different backgrounds.
It seemed there was something for everyone.
“I think my favorite part is when all of the tables are set up,” says Hayes. “Because it’s a preview of what’s to come before all the people start to file in and enjoy the food. And it’s also a reflection of all the hard work everyone has put in to make the event successful.”
“There were some dancers that were dancing on stage, and then they went into the audience and I thought that was really fun,” says McNaughton.
Despite all the fun, the goal of Culture Night is much deeper than having pride for one’s heritage.
“It shows that even with all our differences, we’re still human. We’re all people who love each other. We love our backgrounds,” says Hayes.
