At our International Conversation Café today, we talked about Easter and Passover, chocolate and dyed eggs, Seder feasts and matzo, the last day of classes, Earth Day, honoring one’s ancestors, and more.
I was asked if there was an Easter egg hunt at Duke and sure enough, there is, Saturday, April 23, starting at 10 a.m. at the East Campus gazebo: https://community.duke.edu/news_events/index.php The Herald Sun mentions that the egg hunt will last until noon. It also notes that there will be another egg hunt, saying: “The nonprofit Arc of Durham County will host an Easter Egg Hunt on Monday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.at Northgate Park, 300 W Club Blvd.” Those items are here: http://www.heraldsun.com/view/full_story_news_durham/12852884/article-LOCAL-BRIEFS?instance=main_article
After the Saturday egg hunt, there is a picnic for Duke international students and scholars from 1 to 3 pm at the same gazebo. Details: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=z7nktccab&oeidk=a07e3otsitp14a50906 On the bottom of that web page, there is a photo of the gazebo and it is marked on a map of East campus. If you can, bring a bit of food to share, as that sharing food (potluck) idea is mentioned here (where you can also read about more of the group’s activities): http://www.facebook.com/pages/International-Students-Inc-at-Duke-ISIDuke/165202676844052
Another participant asked what Duke event was coming up on Wednesday. That would be LDOC, the last day of classes celebration. Information is here: http://www.duke.edu/web/ldoc/schedule.html In the policies section, it says that Duke students, faculty, and staff are welcome for the entire event, with wristbands needed after 4 pm or so. If you are a visiting scholar, I’m not sure what the policy is. You could ask at the wristband table to see if your Duke card will work. If you cannot get a wristband, you will be able to stay in the LDOC party area until about 4 p.m. If you go, keep your wits about you (pay attention), as drinking alcohol seems to be part of the LDOC tradition.
And get ready to celebrate Earth Day in Durham ~ May 1 on Foster Street (downtown) in Durham Central Park. Read more about that here: http://act.earthday.org/event/2011-durham-earth-day-festival Also check out the Durham Farmers’ Market held there: http://www.durhamfarmersmarket.com/ (Check out means to see what it’s like.)
Festivities in other cultures:
Our participants from China, South Korea, and Taiwan mentioned that April 5 (or thereabouts) was an important holiday for honoring one’s ancestors. For more on that festival, known as the Qingming Festival or Tomb-Sweeping Festival, read http://www.canton168.com/2011/04/qingming-festival-along-with-useful-terms/ This notes that colored boiled eggs used to be broken on tomb-sweeping day: http://english.bhes.tpc.edu.tw/holiday/0405_tomb_sweeping_festival.asp Some people at our gathering today mentioned eating eggs at Qingming, while two said that where they live in China, hard boiled eggs are used in a fight of sorts as a show of strength.
Let’s not forget Children’s Day, which one of our Taiwanese attendees mentioned was celebrated on April 4 this year, just before the above festival: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=200664219968218. That holiday is celebrated in South Korea, Turkey, and Japan, too: http://www.vivienne-mackie.com/articles/holidays/family/childrens_days.html
We had hamentashen (courtesy of Beth) to try today. For a recipe with a variety of fillings: http://jewishappleseed.org/apple/hamnrecp.htm
What other festivals and holidays does your cultural celebrate in April or the spring season? Post a comment to tell us all.
Rene
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