This year, Oxford High School hosted its fourth annual Festival of Nations. The Festival of Nations is an event at the high school where various countries and cultures are represented by families that volunteered to bring various foods and snacks that are involved with their culture. Every year, around. 17-20 cultures are represented, and it is a great way to have a good time, try new foods, and learn more about the cultures that are present at our high school.
“The main goal of the Festival of Nations is to provide a parent and community engagement opportunity for international families and community members,” Event director Nancy McCurdy said. “The Festival of Nations focuses on celebrating the variety of cultures that we have in our town and how this representation enhances the uniqueness of Oxford.”
It is a very popular event among the community and students at the high school. Each country has a tent that they use to showcase their food, making it easy for people to walk around and try all of the different food from the different countries.
“My first impression was that it was pretty cool trying out all the new food,” junior Rashad Alabdi said. “My favorite one was the Yemen food because it actually had a lot of food to try out, and not just snacks.”
French teacher Lydia King set up a France tent and gave her students the opportunity to host the booth.
“The OHS French Club has participated in the Festival of Nations for several years now,” King said. “My students wanted to host a booth because they thought it would be a fun and interesting way to share French culture with other people in our community. It was a great success.”
The festival serves as a way to bring together the community, giving students an opportunity to share their culture and connect with others who are involved in the festival.
“I see joy in everyone’s face when they attend the festival,” McCurdy said. “I think this gives international students a great sense of pride knowing that their peers and community members value and celebrate their culture. I witness connections being made between students and community members who may not have otherwise had an opportunity to learn about each other outside of school or work.”
Learning about different cultures is very important for high school students. It helps them have a better understanding of the world around them.
“I think it is important for students to be exposed to new cultures like France because our world is interconnected, and it teaches us compassion and empathy,” King said. “When we are knowledgeable about other cultures, our lives are richer and more fulfilling.”
Ultimately, this experience is very beneficial in many ways to those who were in attendance and can leave a lasting impact. McCurdy hopes that everyone was inspired and influenced by the families that represented their culture and were willing to share their traditions with the community.
“I hope that everyone who attends the festival takes home with them a love for learning about new people and places, especially those represented in our community,” McCurdy said. “I am so grateful for the generosity of all of the participants who freely shared their time, energy, and delicious food so that the festival participants could take home a warm memory of all the different cultures they experienced at the festival that night.”
