School Multicultural Night

[Anonymous]

Be Frankish. Dress up as Charlemagne. That should cover most of the territory your ancestors come from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thankfully my dad is really into his Scottish heritage, so we go with that. The food thing is challenging. I don't feel like any of the traditional foods of my family are things to bring to a party-a bowl of salted porridge anyone? Or perhaps my mom's favorite lunch, a boiled potato with margarine?

For those suggesting celebrating one's American heritage, what are you bringing for food?

You could do a favorite family dish or something that’s traditionally American- burger sliders, pizza, hot dogs, macaroni or potato salad, macaroni and cheese, cupcakes, brownies, apple or peach cobbler, pumpkin pie, nachos, sub sandwiches, soft pretzels, pork BBQ, corn on the cob, green bean casserole, French fries, ice cream sundae bar, etc. Some of these items may have originated in other cultures but there are definitely American twists on them. We did pumpkin drop cookies with cream cheese icing because it’s a favorite recipe my kids like to make with their grandma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:America is a culture too.

It's a culture made up of these other cultures. It's like having an assignment about elements and picking a molecule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:America is a culture too.

It's a culture made up of these other cultures. It's like having an assignment about elements and picking a molecule.

You’re ignorant

[Anonymous]

My DS wore a t-shirt with a pie chart of his ancestry drawn on it, then we celebrated the one associated with our last name. As it happens, his percentages are such that we were able to make the pie chart look kind of like the peace symbol, which was cool.

[Anonymous]

Does your family have a regional dish in your history that you love to make? A casserole, dessert, etc.? When we had multicultural night, I brought a snack that my mom had mentioned her mom made--I'd never had it either, but it was nice for our family to try out something from our history.

[Anonymous]

So one time at work we had a similar lunch and someone who was in the same boat brought broccoli salad and said they were all american southern. That definitely worked.
Could you do barbecue or lobster rolls or something kind of regional? Chili? Do you have a religious background that could have a food associated?

[Anonymous]

Pick a theme from the birth year of your child that was popular in America during that year - or do the same for the year your most recent ancestor arrived in the US or any birth year for any one in between - that should be different enough or particular enough to mix history and culture art and culinary tastes in a unique but American way.

[Anonymous]

Don't you have a family recipe? I’m first Gen so don’t have this issue but my friends who aren’t have done like Grandma’s famous casserole or whatever. Don’t overthink it!

[Anonymous]

Dress your kid like Uncle Sam, perch your bald eagle on your shoulder, and ride in on a monster truck with Lee Greenwoods lyrics blasting

"And I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free"

With hamburgers and hot dogs for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary school is having a multicultural night. It's fun and we will definitely attend. A lot of the students are immigrants or first gen.

But... what do we tell DD about our "country of origin"? My background is at least 8 western European countries and DH covers most of Eastern Europe. We aren't even sure what country dh's last name comes from (my maiden name was generic English like Jones/Smith). DD is supposed to dress up and bring food. She keeps asking, but we don't have anything for her to dress up in or foods from our ancestors. My family actually has some fun history, but it's all American (one was a revolutionary war hero and another founded a town that's named after our family). Do we choose a random European country?

I'm sure I'm overthinking this.

If you honestly don't think that you have a cultural heritage, why not choose one of the countries and learn about it. This is such a problem that "white people" are told that they are boring, don't have a culture, etc. Teach your child that their heritage is special, just like the other kids.

[Anonymous]

Everyone has a culture. The USA has its own culture, that is no less legitimate than any other. It has been enriched by waves of immigration, voluntary or not, just like most other places that were invaded by different groups throughout the ages. Please don't teach your kids that they are just "plain boring Americans", it's subjective and short-sighted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone has a culture. The USA has its own culture, that is no less legitimate than any other. It has been enriched by waves of immigration, voluntary or not, just like most other places that were invaded by different groups throughout the ages. Please don't teach your kids that they are just "plain boring Americans", it's subjective and short-sighted.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dress your kid like Uncle Sam, perch your bald eagle on your shoulder, and ride in on a monster truck with Lee Greenwoods lyrics blasting

"And I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free"

With hamburgers and hot dogs for everyone.

Sounds like fun! The kids would love it!

[Anonymous]

I’m an immigrant and it bugs me a little when multi generational Americans claim another country as their heritage as I find that most of them don’t actually know much about that country. At this point your cultural background is American!