Language Corner Christmas Newsletter

December 2023

The Language Corner

Multicultural Club This academic year the Multicultural Club takes place on Tuesdays at lunch time in T9. Everyone is welcome to join us to learn about new languages and cultures. If you would like to present at our Multicultural Club email Ms O Gorman eogorman@colaistebride.com.

Our Multicultural Prefects

December 2023

We have three fantastic multicultural prefects in our school this year. Here, Anele, explains to us why she chose multiculralism for her prefect role..

As I grow, I realise the importance of being a multicultural prefect. The role requires fairness, willingness to accept one's beliefs and to cope with everyone in school and understanding where everyone stands.

Being in 6th year helps me to be a role model for those in younger classes and show them that our school, Coláiste Bride, is full of traditions and a school that accepts you the way you are.

I have also come to realise the value of the traditions and culture of my country and to never be ashamed of my cultural heritage, no matter how strange people or my peers think they are.

Finally, I have learned, it is important not look around to see who is looking at you, be yourself, be you and embrace your cultural identity.

Make sure to follow us on X @cbmullticultural

Anele Mbhele, 6th Year, Rang Darragh.

Multicultural Club is on in T9 every Tuesday at lunchtime- Everyone is welcome.

Holiday Time

December 2023

With the school holidays approaching, members of our school community will spend this time in different ways. Sania, Rema and Mariam tell us how they spend the holiday period.

How I spend the holidays My name is Rema, I am a third year student in Colaiste Bride. As the holiday season approaches, it is essential to remember that not everyone celebrates Christmas, and that’s okay.

At this time of year as a Muslim, I embrace the opportunity to spend time with my family as they are on holiday too. Usually, my parents plan a family trip to a different county in Ireland, for example, last year me and my family went to Belfast for a few days to explore and spend some time together doing something we all love. In Belfast we explored the city and the different markets that are usually there. When we are not away, some of my aunts and uncles come to visit because it is one of the rare occasions when everyone is free from work and school throughout the year. My friends and I also try and plan to go out together too. In my opinion, I think the holidays are a perfect time to value your family's company and enjoy spending time together.

Rema Jeend, 3rd Year, Rang Nessa.

The holidays As a Muslim, the Christmas holidays holds a unique significance to me. My name is Mariam Albaghdadi and while I do not celebrate Christmas in the traditional sense, I take this opportunity to spend quality time with my friends and family, enjoying each others company over delicious meals and engaging in fun activities together. Additionally, I take time to appreciate the beauty and diversity of this world, admiring the festive lights and decorations that adorn the city. Despite our religious differences, we are all united in our desire to spread peace and joy during the holiday season.

Mariam Al-Baghdadi, 3rd Year, Rang Nessa.

Holiday time in Bangladesh and Italy বড়দিন বাংলাদেশের জাতীয় ছুটির দিন। শিশুরা বড়দের কাছ থেকে টাকা বা খেলনা পায়। লোকেরা একে অপরকে শুবা বারা দীনের শুভেচ্ছা জানায়। গ্রামাঞ্চলে কলাগাছ ও পাতা সাজসজ্জার কাজে ব্যবহার করা হয় Le vacanze di Natale in Italia durano circa due settimane ed è molto speciale, le piazze sono addobbate con varie luci e ci sono alberi di Natale ovunque, alcune famiglie organizzano una grande cena di famiglia nella vigilia di Natale e altre il giorno di Natale. I bambini hanno sempre un sorriso e sono molto entusiasti di ricevere regali da Babbo Natale! La gioia vive tra tutti, compresi adulti, adolescenti e bambini!!

Sania Hossain, 5th Year, Rang Naoise.

A Focus on Culture

December 2023

Lia Cretu, a 6th Year student in Coláiste Bríde, tells us about Moldova. Lia moved to Ireland from Moldova when she was 8 years old..

My identity

Moldova is a small country that is in Eastern Europe. This country shares borders with Romania and Ukraine. Many people do not recognize this small country and if they do, they will see it as a small poor country located near Romania, but I see it in a unique way. Moldova is a country full of culture, tradition, and amazing food. I might be biased as I was born there. Many people believe that in Moldova the main language that is spoken is Romanian and in fact that is wrong. In Moldova there are two languages spoken; Romanian and Russian. If you visit Moldova and if you speak either of these two languages, you will be able to have a proper conversation.

Our tradition relates to religion and many people in Moldova are religious people.

Around 90% of Moldovans practice Orthodox Christianity and there are also Catholics, Jews and Muslims in Moldova. When you are in Moldova you can clearly see that it is a country that has faith. When you go around the capital city you will encounter a church at every corner. Even if you are in the capital, you will hear a church bell ringing on Sunday morning. The first time you visit a church you will notice that chairs are missing and if you do see chairs these are reserved for older people. You might also see that women wear modest clothes and that they are wearing head scarves.

A Focus on Culture

December 2023

Lia Cretu, a 6th Year student in Coláiste Bríde, tells us about Moldova. Lia moved to Ireland from Moldova when she was 8.

My identity

You also might see that men and women are separated from each other. When you enter the church, you will first see the icons (sacred images representing the Saints, Christ, and the Virgin, as well as narrative scenes such as Christ's Baptism and Crucifixion).

I have many favourite dishes from my culture, but I will tell you about my top 3 favourite dishes. My favourite dish is Sarmale. These are cabbage rolls stuffed with rice and minced pork or chicken, along with chopped onion and carrots that are slowly simmered, and they are served with sour cream. My second favourite dish is Zeama. This is traditional Moldovan soup. It is like chicken noodle soup, but it is a bit sour. The ingredients that go into this soup generally consist of chicken, chopped vegetables (such as onions, carrots, bell peppers, and potatoes), and homemade noodles.

To achieve that sour taste, you will add borș acru de casa. This liquid ingredient is bought by most people rather than made at home. It consists of fermented wheat or barley bran or if you want you can just add lemon juice. This dish is good to have on a rainy day. The last dish is Plăcinte. These are Moldovan baked goods, made from a flaky homemade dough, which can be stuffed with a range of sweet and savory fillings.

Lia Cretu, 6th Year, Rang Daragh.

Festival Celebrations

December 2023

This term we celebrated Halloween or Oiche Shamhna. Laura, our multicultural prefect, tells us about the origins of this festival.

Every year Halloween is celebrated on the 31st of October. It is built around traditions that stem back for hundreds of years. Originally it came from an Ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. People used to believe that the barriers between the physical world and the spirit world would break during Samhain, allowing interaction between humans and spirits from another world. People would wear costumes and light bonfires to scare off the spirits. They would knock at people's doors and recite poetry in return for food.

Carving pumpkins originally came from carving turnips to scare off evil spirits.

Over time Halloween has developed into trick-or treating, carving pumpkins and dressing up. Today it is celebrated around the world in many ways. Meaning ‘Oíche Shamhna’ in Irish, in Ireland we celebrate Halloween traditionally with games such as bobbing for apples. As well as traditional foods such as barmbrack cake that can contain a rag, a coin, and a ring that could predict your future. We have colcannon for dinner, which is a combination of potatoes, kale and onions.

In Mexico, El Día de Los Muertos is known as The Day of The Dead.

Like Italy on the 1st and 2nd of November it is a celebration of their ancestors as they come back from the dead to visit their families. They are celebrated through flowers, festivals and images of decorated skulls. In Poland they travel to where their relatives are buried and commemorate them through lighting candles, saying prayers and talking about the good things that they have accomplished.

In China Halloween is ‘Teng Chieh’ and is celebrated through providing offerings to the dead like drink, food and money. They light lanterns as part of a tradition to guide spirits to the next life.

Laura McGuinness, 6th Year, Rang Cronán.

Festival Celebrations

December 2023

Christmas Customs in Latvia

In countries all over the world, each and everyone have their unique traditions and celebrations with the arrival of the Winter season and Latvia is no different. In Latvia Ziemassvētki (Winter Festival) is an important yearly celebration that originally dates back to Baltic pagans and is prominently celebrated on the 24th until the 25th of December. Traditionally, the Balts indulged themselves in these celebrations as a form of honouring the sun as it was the darkest and shortest day of the year, contrasting the Summer solstice celebration Jāņi / Līgo which honours the brightest and longest day of the year. However, nowadays Ziemassvētki is mostly seen as Christmas due to the higher amount of a Christian population increasing in Latvia over the time. Despite this everyone still participates in pagan traditions.

An interesting fact about Latvia is that it is home to the world’s first Christmas tree which is commemorated every year in the center of the capital’s Vecrīga (Old Rīga).

The story of the first Christmas tree talks about A Merchant’s Guild that decorated an evergreen tree with flowers ornaments made of paper, placed it on a square, danced around it and set it ablaze with the possible intention of the flames representing The Sun. In Rīga two large, decorated trees are put up every year, one on the stone marker embedded into the pavement where the first tree stood and the other near Rīga’s yearly Christmas market in which merchant’s usually sell their homemade and handcrafted goods.

When it comes to Christmas decor, Latvians love to go all out. In Latvia, natural decorations are key and some even put candles on their Christmas trees for a natural light. Two significant decorations are the advent wreath made with evergreen branches and 4 candles which are lit up bit by bit over the days in December; and the Puzurs, which is a handmade straw ornament that represents the universe in the ways that it spins and is said to “suck the negative energy of the house or room”.

Festival Celebrations

December 2023

Christmas Customs in Latvia

However, before any decorations are put up or made, there is an intense cleaning process that the house has to go through, some even get new, clean clothes for the celebration of Ziemassvētki to represent the coming of the new year.

The children love receiving gifts for Christmas but for Latvian children they are faced with two challenges. To get a gift under the Christmas tree, children must behave well throughout the year, otherwise Salavecītis/ Ziemassvētku vecītis (The Grandfather of Frost) will be leaving you nothing but twigs! Another challenge the little ones in Latvia have to face is the recital of any Christmas song or poem off by heart, otherwise, Salavecītis won’t be able to give them a gift on Ziemassvētku Eve! Finally, on the 24th of December (Christmas Eve) Latvians gather their whole family together and prepare for the day. The dinner table usually has 9 dishes representing the pagan believe of 9 being a number of the beginning of the world and the Ancient Latvian belief that the number 9 had magical forces and brought upon luck. Among the nine dishes, the Ziemassvētku table isn’t shy of Pīrāgi (buns filled with meat or cabbage), Pelēkie zirņi ar speķi (gray peas with pig’s fat), various salads and Pork or Carp for the main course.

A sweet addition to the Christmas table are Piparkūkas which in the West are best known as Gingerbread cookies! All that being said, in Latvia all the food is mostly homemade and families cooking together are said to strengthen the bonds, especially over Ziemassvētki! Though I mentioned a lot of traditions above, that’s not even half of the ones that Latvians partake in. Our culture is rich in traditions and rituals and we make sure to keep in touch with them as much as possible.

Millie Saukuma, 5th year, Rang Oisín.

Novēlu visiem priecīgus Ziemassvētkus un laimīgu jauno gadu!

Festival Celebrations

December 2023

Persian New Year

Persian new year also known as nowruz is a time for families to get together and celebrate the arrival of spring.It's a time for having traditional foods and setting up a haft seen table.

A haft seen table is a traditional display that Iranians set up for Persian New Year. It typically includes seven items and represent different symbols of good fortune and prosperity. Some common items include Sabzeh (sprouts), Samanu (sweet pudding), Senjed (dried fruit), and Seer (garlic). Each item has its own significance. During Persian New Year, people also do activities like spring cleaning, visiting friends and family, and exchanging gifts. It's a time of, reflection, and gratitude. The celebrations usually last for 13 days, and on the 13th day, people go outdoors for a picnic and walks.During Persian New Year, people have various traditions. One of them is the Chaharshanbe Suri, or the Festival of Fire, which involves jumping over bonfires to symbolize letting go of the past year's troubles and welcoming a fresh start. Another tradition is the practice of giving and receiving money, known as "Eidi," as a symbol of good luck. People also visit the graves of their loved ones to pay respects and honor their memory. It's a time of joy, and new beginnings.

People enjoy lots of traditional foods. One popular dish is Sabzi Polo ba Mahi, which is herbed rice served with fish. Another favourite is Reshteh Polo, a rice dish with noodles and saffron. Dolmeh, stuffed vegetables with a mixture of rice, herbs, and meat, is also a common food. And of course, there are plenty of sweets like baklava and halva too. The food is not only delicious but also holds symbolic meaning, representing abundance and good fortune for the new year.

Lilia Meftaei, 2nd Year, Rang Conn.

Holiday Greetings from around the world Vietnames e

Polish

Chúc Ngày Nghỉ Vui Vẻ Chúc Ngày Giáng Sinh Vui Vẻ Chúc Mừng Năm Mới

Wesołych Świąt Wesołego Nowego Roku Miłych Wakacji

Spanish

Georgian

Feliz año nuevo r bbbO text Felices fiestas

ბედნიერი შობა / შობას გილოცავ. ბედნიერი ახალი წელი/ გილოცავ ახალ წელს. ბედნიერი არდადეგები. ბედნიერ შობას გისურვებ. გისურვებ.

Feliz Navidad

Ukrainian Shchaslyvykh svyat Shchaslyvoho Rizdva Shchaslyvoho Novoho roku