Language Corner - April Newsletter

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Multicultural Club The Multicultural Club has been continuing this term with many new languages showcased. These included Bangla and Mina. All students are welcome in the Multicultural Club and this club focuses on the cultural and linguistic diversity of all members of our school community.

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March/April 2022

the Multicultural Club - Our Prefects

This term three new multicultural prefects took up their new role for the coming year. Here, they tell us why they put themselves forward for the role and why multicultuarlism is so important in our school community.

Hi, my name is Senthya Uddin and I am a 5th year student and multicultural prefect in Colaiste Bríde.

I chose to be a prefect because I wanted to make sure everyone felt included in our school community so that everyone could feel proud of their culture and show it off. I have always noticed how each year the diversity of our school kept growing, specifically with first year students.

The thought of appreciating all our diverse cultures and learning together is something I would love to make happen. I have participated in activities within the multicultural club like speaking my native language through the intercom and participating in the fashion show during Language Day. I found it so much fun and would love for others to experience the fun that I had.

Multiculturalism is important as it makes us more aware of the world around us and lets us be open-minded instead of staying ignorant. The more of an understanding we have with other cultures, the less negative stereotypes we think of. It allows us to communicate and accept all these diverse cultures which creates a safe, positive community in the end. Gaining knowledge from one another is far more accurate than through textbooks; people might even learn more about their own culture as well. Without multiculturalism, many people in our society would feel left out and possibly ashamed of their culture which would leave us clueless about the society and world we live in.

If you would like to present about a culture or language make sure to get in touch with us on Twitter @cbMulticultural. Multicultural club takes place every Thursday in T9 at 8.10am.

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This y three ear we h ave mult icult ural prefe cts

Senthya Uddin Laetitia Ajavon Ismat Iffat Imran

s u w o l l Fo r e t t i w on T

March/April 2022

the Multicultural Club - Our Prefects

Our multicultural prefects for 20222023

Hey! My name is Laetitia Ajavon and I am one of the new multicultural prefects in our school. I love learning about new cultures and teaching others about my own culture too. I believe that it is very important for students in our school to have the opportunity to learn and educate themselves about all the different languages, celebrations and cultures that many people have. Especially the fact that our school is so culturally diverse, which isn’t something that you will find in many schools, I am certain that we have a big advantage in that way. I can’t wait to work on new projects to increase the awareness of different cultures in our school and to celebrate our diversity.

Hi, my name is Iffat Imran and I’m a 5th Year Student and a multicultural prefect. I chose to be a multicultural prefect as I believe that multiculturalism is a very important part of todays society.

Cultural diversity is important because I believe our country, workplaces, and schools always consist of various cultural, racial, and ethnic groups. We can learn from one another, but first, we must have a level of understanding about each other. Learning about other cultures helps us understand different perspectives within the world in which we live. It helps get rid of negative stereotypes and personal biases about different groups.

It helps us recognise and respect others traditions and cultures. As we interact with others we can build bridges to trust, respect, and understand other cultures. Furthermore, this diversity makes our country and school community a more interesting place to live in and learn from. As people from diverse cultures contribute language skills, new ways of thinking, new knowledge, and different experiences.

From including multiculturalism starting with our school community it can hopefully increase our level of understanding about other cultures by interacting with people outside of your own culture and avoid being ignorant to others.

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March/April 2022

A Focus on Culture Georgia Georgia is small county between Asia and Europe. It is part of the Caucus region, bounded to the west by the black sea, to the north by Russia, to the south by Turkey and Armenia , and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of Georgia is Tbilisi Georgian culture is exotic, mysterious and an ancient culture dating back many millennia. The culture of Georgia has evolved over country’s long history, providing it with a unique national identity and strong literary tradition based on the Georgian language and alphabet .

Georgian Literature Georgian literature began to take shape in the 5th century AD. Religious writings of the country’s early Christian era recounted the lives of martyrs and saints, while folklore from later centuries were filled with legends of national heroes and instructive poems. The knight in the Panther’s Skin is a Georgian medieval epic poem, written in the 12th century by Georgia's national poet Shota Rustaveli. A definitive work of the Georgian Golden age, the poem consists of over 1600 Rustavelian Quatrians and is considered to be a "masterpiece of the Georgian literature". The Knight in the Panther’s Skin remained one of the favourite books for Georgians. His influence increased even more in modern Georgian writers. Today the panther is considered one of the masterpieces of world literature. .

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march/April 2022

A Focus on culture Georgia Georgian Painting and Architecture Georgian painting and architecture is represented by the works of such masters as legendary Niko Pirosmani, Gigo Gabashvili, David Kakabadze, Lado Gudiashvili, Cornelius Sanadze, Elena Akhvlediani, Sergey Kobuladze, Simon Virsalasze and Ekaterina Bagdavadze. Famous Georgian sculptors include Eldudzha Amashukeli, Irakli Ochiauri and Zurab Tsereteli.

Georgian Supra Georgian social culture is encapsulated in a single ceremonial feast of traditional Georgian cuisine, multitudes of Georgian wine and the traditional Georgian toastmaster – “Tamada”. This banquet is called “supra”.

These convivial gatherings often last from early afternoon well into the early morning. Toasts are delivered by Tamada which can last upwards of thirty minutes. During the interim while Tamada is speaking, drinking is prohibited.

One of the most known and delicious foods are: ხინკალი (khinkali), ხაჭაპური (Xatchapuri) and so on.

A sample of phrases in Georgian Hello - გამარჯობა, How are you - როგორ ხარ, My name is - ჩემი სახელია… or მე მქვია…, I am very well - მე კარგად ვარ Its nice to meet you - სასიამოვნოა შენი გაცნობა, Thank you - მადლობა, Goodbye - ნახვამდის.

By Miriam Samkanashvili, 3rd Year, Rang Cronán.

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march/april 2022

Festival Celebrations

HOLI Holi is known as the colour festival. It is one among India's most important celebrations.

Holi is a Hindu festival that is celebrated with zest and excitement every year in the month of March. Those who participate in this event look forward to it every year, anticipating the opportunity to play with colours and eat tasty dishes.

Holi is a festival of colour that is meant to be shared with friends and family. People forget about their problems and enjoy this festival of brotherhood. To put it another way, we forget about our differences and get into the festival atmosphere. Holi is known as the 'Festival of Colours' because people play with colours and apply them on each other's faces to 'colour' each other.

People perform a ritual called ‘Holika Dahan’ one day before Holi. People pile stacks of wood in public spaces to burn during this event. It represents the annihilation of evil forces. The next day in India is likely to be the most colourful. People rise early in the morning to perform pooja for God. Then they dress in white and experiment with colours.

They splatter each other with water.

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Children splatter water colours with water cannons as they run around. Similarly, even adults are transformed into children on this day.

They paint each other’s faces with colour and submerge themselves in water. Overall, this vibrant celebration brings people together and clears the air of negativity.

By Senthya Uddin, 5th Year, Rang Fiachra.

This year Holi takes place on 18th March

march/April 2022

Festival Celebrations Ramadan Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year in Islamic culture. Muslims observe the month of Ramadan, to mark the time that Allah, or God, gave the first chapters of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) in 610. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise until sunset, keep away from sinful things, pray and read Quran to become closer to God and their faith. It is also a time for families to gather and celebrate. Fasting will typically start from after Fajr, the sunrise prayer and ends after Maghrib, the sunrise prayer.

Fasts will typically be broken with a date and water and many traditional foods. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, which is a lunar calendar based on the cycles of the moon. Observances begin the morning after the crescent moon is visibly sighted, marking the beginning of the new month. Ramadan still does not begin until religious leaders announce that they have personally seen the crescent moon. Ramadan 2022 will begin in the evening of Friday 1st April and ends in the evening of Saturday 30th April.

In Ireland we celebrate Ramadan at our local mosques and distribute food among ourselves. Every day for Ramadan one family makes the food for everyone at the mosque.

Everyone is able to give back to the community in this way and it’s a lovely way to bring us together as the Muslim community. Everyone is of different backgrounds and cultures, cultures Ramadan the variety of food is wonderful. After we have eaten, we all pray together in the mosque, women downstairs and men upstairs. Since last year, that has not been able to happen due to COVID but hopefully we can celebrate it together again this year.

Ramadan still does not begin until religious leaders announce that they have personally seen the crescent moon. Ramadan 2022 will begin in the evening of Friday 1st April and ends in the evening of Saturday 30th April.

By Ismat Iffat Imran, 5th Year, Rang Emer.

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march/April 2022

Festival Celebrations

Saint Patrick's Day

Blossom Festival

St. Patrick was born in Wales some time at the end of the fourth century. St. Patrick was stolen by Irish pirates at the age of 16 and kept to mind cattle and sheep. He then had a dream and God told him that he had to return Ireland and spread the word of the Lord. He drove snakes out of Ireland by banging a drum and trapping the king of snakes in a box and kicking it into the sea. His feast day usually takes place on March 17th.

We usually celebrate this day with a parade and a party. Some might go to the church on this day and pray. Schools will usually wear green before this day and have the students make paper shamrocks, hats and St. Patrick pictures.

Christina Shaw, 1st Year, Rang Bríde.

The Cherry Blossom festival in Japan is also known as Hanami and this festival has been celebrated in Japan for thousands of years.

Depending on the location this festival starts towards the end of March and it runs for approximately two weeks.The date of the festival can depend on weather. People gather together under the Cherry Blossom's and celebrate as the blossoms are flowering. The Cherry Blossom is also known as Sakura and this bloom has played a pivotal role in Japanese culture for centuries. The festival is a flower viewing and people come together to celebrate the important of the Cherry Blossom in Japanese culture. The origins of the festival are said to date back to the Nara period from 710 AD to 794 AD. The celebrations at this time took place under Ume (plum trees). Important terms for the festival include the following; Sakura - Cherry Blossom, Hanami - viewing of the flowers, Migoro - the best time to view the Cherry Blossom, Mikkaminumanosakura- the period that the flowerloses its bloom and starts to scatter.

One of the biggest celebrations takes place every year in Hirosaki Park in Northern Japan and people from all over attend.

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. When he was 16, he was taken from his home in Britain and brought to Ireland. He lived here for 6 years. He learned the native language and converted to Christianity. While in captivity he worked as a shepard and got closer to God. The holiday has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture with parades, special foods, music, dancing, drinking and a whole lot of green.

By Chloe Acton, TYD.

By Iona Xin Wilkie, 1st Year, Rang Bríde.

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march/April 2022

wellbeing week - Cultural dress Wellbeing Week is always a highly anticipated week in the Colaiste Bríde Calendar. This year was no exception. As part of the celebrations, members of our school community took the opportunity to wear their cultural dress to school, showcasing their cultural diversity and heritage.

Wellb eing week

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March 10th

ral u t l u C Dress