The Pioneer, Vol. 51 Issue 8

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Features MAY DAY TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD Celebrate with a dance, drink or lei Carl Carallas / Contributing Illustration By NICK NELSON Staff Writer WITH MAY UPON US, it’s officially time to celebrate May Day customs. A holiday with ancient roots, May Day is observed around the world, often to welcome a change of season. In places like the United Kingdom, people honor May Day by dancing around the maypole, watching or participating in Morris dancing, and crowning a May Queen, according to British media site, metro.co.uk. Maypole dancing is a folk dance from Germany, England and Sweden, according to a historical music group website, historicalharmonies.org. A common form of maypole dancing involves intertwining colored ribbon around the pole. The dancers weave around each other to form a plait with the ribbons. The other version of maypole dancing still includes participants dancing around the pole, but the ribbons are left out. The historical music group site also said maypoles are believed by historians to have originated in Germanic Pagan fertility rituals. The rituals are from a holiday called Beltane that mixed traditions with Floralia, an old Roman holiday with many similarities. When it comes to fertility, not only is the maypole representative of a phallus, but the ribbons used represent femininity. Also, the point of Beltane is celebrating the sexual union of the Pagan God and Goddess, according to nicoleeveline.com. Because of this, celebrants would have sex to emulate the gods. Scotland celebrates Beltane, as well as many of today’s Wiccans and Pagans. According to a lifelong learning website, thoughtco.com, Beltane is celebrated with bonfires, maypoles and dancing. For Finland, May Day is a drinking and party holiday. According to Finnish website, saunalahti.fi, Finland has loud festivals with a carnival atmosphere. It’s a celebration of spring and, if the weather is good, celebrants will enjoy the outdoors on a walk or go for a picnic. Many festivities are held on May Day Eve. The next day, May Day lunch is held at home, restaurants or as a picnic. Although May Day isn’t celebrated in the United States (besides Beltane festivities held by Pagan groups), Hawaii does have Lei Day, held on May 1. According to travel site, hawaii.com, Lei Day is honored by making leis, watching live music and hula performances, eating food and crowning a Lei Queen. The Lei Queen is decided based on her lei-making skills, hula proficiency and Hawaiian language fluency. 8 / piercepioneernews.com May 7, 2018 / Vol. 51, Issue 8
CELEBRATE ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH Get to know this rich culture Features By BEATRIX CENDANA Staff Writer ASIAN PACIFIC HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATES and pays tribute to a rich Asian Pacific culture in May. Pierce College’s ASPIRE helps fund low-income Asian Pacific American students and teaches and shares a common culture through many kinds of activities, such as volunteering with NW Furniture that serves over 130 families a month by building the furniture. This year they hosted Pierce’s Earth Day events which included a carnival to teach students how to separate the trash and to analyze the garbage. Asian Pacific American Heritage Month was first started in a 1979 as a way to acknowledge the significant role Asian Pacific Americans play in U.S. society with their contributions they’ve made to the sciences, arts, industry, government and commerce. Then-American president Jimmy Carter described America as a land of hope, opportunity and freedom. In creating the month, he pointed out that Asian Pacific Americans face many challenges such as education, employment and acquiring the rights necessary to live on their own and be treated equally. On May 7, 1990, then-U.S. President George H.W. Bush issued a proclamation designating the month of May as the first Asian Pacific Heritage Month. The people of the United States were called upon to observe Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with appropriate ceremonies, programs and activities. Since then, Americans have found many ways to honor Asian Pacific Americans who have and continue to enrich our country. Some suggestions in how to participate in the month: Join activities in Asian Pacific American temples, mosques, or churches Visiting a place of worship is a way to learn about the beliefs of others and how to respect others’ religious perspectives. The Asian-Pacific Cultural Center in Tacoma offers programs and services, and represent 47 different countries and cultures. Events vary from culinary journeys exploring different foods traditionally served in various countries to celebration festivals. The center is located at 4851 South Tacoma Way. More information can be found at asiapacificculturalcenter.org. Learn about the history of Asian Pacific Americans Talking to Asian American immigrants and their families is a positive way to Lorelei Watson / Staff Illustration learn about their history. One way to do this is by visiting an Asian restaurant and talking to the owners while waiting or eating. Many restaurant owners are open to sharing about their experiences and struggles as immigrants, and what it is like to start a new business in a new country. Read books about Asian Pacific Americans There are many books written by Asian Pacific Americans describing their experiences as immigrants. Author Amy Tan, whose parents immigrated from China to San Francisco when she was young, learned how to blend the culture from her native country with America’s culture. In the novel, “The Joy of Luck Club,” Tan describes the relationships between Chinese immigrant mothers and their American-born daughters. Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Celebration 11:45 a.m. – 5 p.m. May 6 Free Admission Seattle Center Armory Thousand Faces Chinese Opera 7:15 p.m. May 12 Chief Sealth International High School 7:15 p.m. May 13 Pantages Theatre, Tacoma More information about Asian Pacific American events asianpacificheritage.gov. Participate in ASPIRE’s events tinyurl.com/ya5oro9w. May 7, 2018 / Vol. 51, Issue 8 piercepioneernews.com / 9
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The Pioneer, Vol. 51 Issue 8

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