Jan. 13, 2025
By Alexandra Lourenço
Editor-in-Chief
This piece is part of a four-part in-depth reporting project about culture.
Sebastian Lupinski
freshman
“Fat Thursday, or Tłusty Czwartek, is one of my favorite Polish traditions. It’s celebrated on the last Thursday before Lent, and it’s all about indulging in sweets before the fasting season starts. The main attraction on this day is pączki, which are Polish doughnuts filled with jam or custard and often dusted with powdered sugar or topped with icing.”
George Shekiladze
sophomore
“My favorite cultural tradition is a Georgian feast called Supra. Supras happen after any important event, such as a birthday, holiday, church and other dates. During Supra, the host family cooks a huge feast of traditional food and sets a table that usually has a minimum of 20 people…. Throughout the feast, toasts go on all night…. It’s a truly human moment where everyone opens up and shows their appreciation for each other and talks about life.”
Joy Boinett
junior
“My favorite cultural tradition is Christmas, especially as I experienced it in Kenya…. We would travel to my grandparents’ place, where we’d gather for a big meal with dishes like chapati, chicken, pilau and fruit platters. Traditional barbeques, known as nyama choma, were a highlight of the day. We’d stay for about a week, and I loved staying up all night with my cousins, telling stories and having fun.”
Elona Megally
senior
“My favorite [Egyptian] tradition is El Sham Ennessim, which is a celebration of the beginning of spring, where I go somewhere nice outside and spend time with my family and friends.”
Mr. Cardone
music teacher
“Aug. 15, the feast of Mother Mary [is my favorite tradition]. In Italy, it is a way to celebrate the end of summer. It is kind of just an understood thing [that] no one works for a whole week. Everyone gets together, makes a lot of food and has a good time celebrating the end of the summer and marking hard work for the whole year.”
Mrs. Silvelo
Spanish teacher
“My favorite tradition is Noche Buena. We celebrate Christmas Eve. We usually eat fish and several other Spanish dishes, and then we open gifts at midnight rather than Christmas morning.”
