School Multicultural Night

[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 kid wants, I would totally encourage the Revolutionary War dress-up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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!

But then aren’t they basically saying they’re American and the other first Gen or immigrants aren’t? They’re “othered”? I’m not being flippant in asking.

[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.

Op here. I’m not plain, nor boring. I have interesting ancestors and am proud of a lot. But none of it is from another country.

I also don’t really understand the dressing up part. What would a British person wear?

I wish it was more like “share your family’s history”. Some of dhs family is recent and came through Ellis island. “Prussia” was the country. Lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Op here. I’m not plain, nor boring. I have interesting ancestors and am proud of a lot. But none of it is from another country.

I also don’t really understand the dressing up part. What would a British person wear?

I wish it was more like “share your family’s history”. Some of dhs family is recent and came through Ellis island. “Prussia” was the country. Lol

Just interpret it how you want. It's "cultural" -- history is part of culture. Just share part of your family's history.

Or.....dress like Boris Johnson.

[Anonymous]

Our elementary school did “or state,” so kids whose families were from Wisconsin wore cheeseheads, that kind of thing. Definitely helpful if your roots go back 300 years to some long-since-forgotten African or European locality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary school did “or state,” so kids whose families were from Wisconsin wore cheeseheads, that kind of thing. Definitely helpful if your roots go back 300 years to some long-since-forgotten African or European locality.

How would AAs chose a country?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary school did “or state,” so kids whose families were from Wisconsin wore cheeseheads, that kind of thing. Definitely helpful if your roots go back 300 years to some long-since-forgotten African or European locality.

How would AAs chose a country?

I’m Black. I consider myself Floridian. Maybe we would do like orange juice and oooh and key lime pie taffy to hand out. And no matter how my ancestors got here at this point my heritage is Southern with a Florida’s vibe. Sadly my kid denies her beach heritage by insisting on skiing. Sigh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary school did “or state,” so kids whose families were from Wisconsin wore cheeseheads, that kind of thing. Definitely helpful if your roots go back 300 years to some long-since-forgotten African or European locality.

How would AAs chose a country?

I’m Black. I consider myself Floridian. Maybe we would do like orange juice and oooh and key lime pie taffy to hand out. And no matter how my ancestors got here at this point my heritage is Southern with a Florida’s vibe. Sadly my kid denies her beach heritage by insisting on skiing. Sigh

[Anonymous]

My son wanted to dress like a cowboy and bring BBQ. It was GREAT and uniquely American.

[Anonymous]

I would use your Revolutionary War history for sure. I don't think many Americans can say they had ancestors here during that time! I am white, with a mixed Western European heritage, and all of them came over after the Civil War. DH on the other hand has an ancestor who came over on the Mayflower -- I'll definitely have the kids learn more about that when they're older.

[Anonymous]

Key lime pie taffy? Sounds heavenly!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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!

Where are you from? It is highly likely that your culture comes from "other heritages." And will you be happy for your children and grandchildren to give up your own culture? Because that is what you are expecting others to do.

[Anonymous]

Country of origin: USA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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!

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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 kid wants, I would totally encourage the Revolutionary War dress-up.

My kid would love to bust out a tricorn or a puritan hat or something.