By Elaine Dunn
When is it?
Duan Wu Festival, also known as Double Fifth or Dragon Boat Festival, as it is known in the western hemisphere, is possibly one of the most well-known Chinese festivals internationally. As one of its names implies, it falls on and is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in China, which happens to be June 12 in 2013.
Although long-celebrated all over Asia, the festival was not declared a public holiday in the People’s Republic of China (mainland) until 2008 – the first time since the 1940s.
There are many legends and myths connected with this festival.
By James Yang, Student at Breck School
I saw the basketball game of Timberwolves and Houston Rockets. I saw the only Chinese on the court, Jeremy Lin. He is well known and popular. Many Chinese are proud of him as he does a fantastic job in the NBA, but maybe not so many Americans think so. As soon as Jeremy got the ball, some Americans began to tease him loudly. At first I thought it was because they didn’t like the Houston Rockets, but later, I found out that they only shouted when Jeremy held the ball, and I began to wonder why.
By Chang Wang
If I’ve ever doubted that Italy is a place where all miracles are possible, or wondered if a dream can ultimately come true through uncompromised love and unequivocal devotion, or questioned the complete thoughtfulness of the “almighty”, Oct. 6, 2012 provided me with an answer.
First, you must make two assumptions: one, that you are bicultural in some way. Two, you must (or pretend to) have a sense of humor. This is how writer Cathy Bao Bean opened her presentation to the Chinese Heritage Foundation last October. In her in presentation that served as both a memoir and teaching lesson, Bao Bean expanded on how her own experiences of growing up as an immigrant, marrying a Caucasian American artist, and raising a biracial family
shaped what she refers to as “The Chopstick Fork Principle.” In its essence, it is an idea on how to approach diversity and multiculturalism in a world where many people take several cultural excursions every day. In her talk and accompanying book, Bao Bean utilizes her own stories and anecdotes as an immigrant as a framework in which every person can make their personal cultural journey in understanding others as well as themselves.