Do you want people to learn more about yourself as well as your family’s heritage? Well luckily, a senior at Galway, Magdalene Maciag, has provided an opportunity to do so!

So what exactly is the Festival of Nations? Well, it is a walk through provided by students here at Galway, to see the different cultures surrounding us. It’s a chance to become more familiar with your peers and their families. When sharing about your cultural heritage, it is best to give some background information, but also to share some fun facts. It doesn’t have to feel like a report at all, you can include food, objects from your culture, and even dress up! It is ideal to make it as informative and engaging as you can. 

I participated in the Festival of Nations myself last year, and I would say it was pretty successful for it being the first ever. Not only do you get to share your culture with other people but you also get to learn a lot yourself. As we had quite a few people participate, it would be wonderful if more people could get involved the second time around.

There are many reasons why this event would benefit you! One being it helps grow your knowledge about your peers, and you get to help introduce your heritage that some may not even know about. It also cuts down assumptions, as people may sometimes be misled by what they see on the outside. Another great thing about this festival is you can earn EXTRA CREDIT! Yes, by doing this event some teachers will provide you with extra credit. For those who may need it, it can be beneficial to you in more ways than one. 

Overall, it is a great way to interact and even introduce yourself to the people at Galway. Not only are you teaching the students, but even their families are able to learn something too! The more participants the better! It is a wonderful opportunity and experience. 

Here is some feedback from my interview with Magdalene!

Why did you decide to start the Festival of Nations?

Cultural heritage has always been important in my family. From a young age, I was made aware of my Polish, Lithuanian, and French roots, and I grew up participating in many traditions that have been in my family for generations. As the daughter of an ENL (English as a New Language) teacher, I remember attending many cultural events and Festivals of Nations at other schools, and I always found them so fun and interesting. I realized that we’ve never truly had anything like this in Galway; we had Spanish Cultural Night of course, but for me, half the fun of these types of events are the personal connections and stories that come from each participant. I wanted kids growing up in Galway to have those same opportunities at their own school, and so I decided to start our own Festival of Nations. 

What are the benefits to this event?

The Festival of Nations is a wonderful opportunity for community engagement, and I would recommend that anyone with even the slightest interest participate. It’s a great stepping stone into volunteering and fosters a warm and inviting environment. As Americans, I think we don’t always realize the different celebrations, meals, and traditions that everyone goes home to after school. At the Festival we get to share these things with everyone and get to know each other better. We leave realizing how unique and interesting everyone is, and that’s the beautiful thing about our country. And… you can get some extra credit for participating.

Will this event proceed in the future?

I began the Festival of Nations in the hopes that it would become an annual event, and I hope it will continue after I graduate. I am entrusting the Festival to our National Honor Society chapter to ensure our school has the resources to organize the event year after year. While I cannot promise the event will continue in the future, Galway students and staff can ensure that it does. Represent your heritage by hosting a table! Stop by the celebration with family and friends on May 1st from 5-8pm., and spread the word!