LESSON 3: CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS
Students have read how three individuals from different Asian American cultures celebrate their New Year through family traditions, food
and celebrations.
READING COMPREHENSION
Make a list on the board including the following categories: Lao, Native Hawai’ian, Chinese and Individual Cultures. Give students 10
minutes to review the chapters and take notes regarding the cultural celebrations that were discussed. Ask students about the customs they
learned about in Chapters 1-3, and write down their answers.
Lao
• Giving blessings to family and friends, making offerings at Buddhist temples, and asking for forgiveness from elders.
• Participating in a “baci” ceremony, where words of blessings and good fortune are spoken to loved ones as yarn is tied around
their wrist.
• Splashing scented water on friends and family members as a blessing.
• Having a procession with a replica of the king’s head which is led by a young woman who is chosen to represent the daughters
of the king.
Native Hawai’ian
• Observing the ancient tradition of Makahiki, Native Hawai’ian New Year, by giving thanks, playing games and letting the land
replenish after the harvest season.
• Making special Hawai’ian foods
• Reflecting on family, community and culture.
Chinese
• Having a feast of special foods, including goose, taro, bean curd soup, oysters, lettuce and tay (sweet pastry).
• Setting off firecrackers early on New Year’s Day.
• Giving out red envelopes with money inside to children and wishing for prosperity and good times for everybody.
• Playing games of luck, watching a lion dance, and going to the Lantern Festival.
INDIVIDUAL CULTURES
• What cultures are represented in class?
• Ask students what traditions they celebrate in their own families.
• Will they continue these traditions when they have a family of their own?
EXTENSION ACTIVITY: LOOKING AT YOUR HERITAGE
Ask students to write or illustrate a celebration or tradition from their own cultural, ethnic or religious community through a short story,
poem, collage or drawing. Have them try to answer the following questions with their story or poem. Or if a collage or drawing is created,
have the student prepare a short written or oral statement to answer the questions:
• What is the historical origin of the tradition, including when and why it began?
• If this tradition has originated in another country, has it changed in any way in order to be celebrated in the United States?
• Why is it important for your community or family to preserve this tradition?
• What background information would you explain to a friend from outside your cultural community if you were to invite him/her to join
you in the celebration of this cultural tradition, if any?
• Would you continue this tradition when you have your own family? Why or why not?
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