A Few of our Favorite Things : Holiday Folk Fair, International

These Czech pastries shine like jewels!

For me, The Holiday Folk Fair in Milwaukee, WI, is what being an American is all about. The coming-together of so many different cultures, traditions, foods, languages, dances, music ... It IS The Global Village.

It never fails, when I'm in The ALL Nations Theater watching a group of dance performances, the tears start to well up in my eyes--amid all those bright colors, happy music, and bright smiles. It gets to me--every culture has a way (many ways) to celebrate. None of them are right or wrong, and we gather to celebrate the diversity of it ALL.

In one performance, you can see a dance from Serbia, and the next might be from Croatia. Here they are dancing on the same stage--peacefully represented. It breaks my heart to see know what has happened in the Old Country for some of these cultures. At least here (Milwaukee, WI), there is no war.

They also have a Naturalization Ceremony to recognize today's immigrants who are becoming citizens. This is an incredibly MOVING ceremony.

So when Congress fights over immigration laws, I would remind them : We were ALL (or our ancestors were) immigrants here at some point in history. It just depends on how far back in time you go. Even the Native Americans came from somewhere else if you go far enough back in time ... I truly believe the next civil rights movement in the US will be about Immigrant Rights.

I first went to this magical event in high school about 25 years ago. The language clubs always organized a trip (It was a 5-hour bus ride one-way from Antigo) to Milwaukee for this event.

It's always a weekend filled with color, dancing, folk costumes, merchandise and cuisine from all over the world. I love it! Where else but Finland can you get the wonderful hand knit mittens, or gorgeous hand-made wooden boxes from Poland?

People-watching at the Folk Fair :

Lithuanian (or Latvian?) folk dance costume. I believe the fabric is woven linen. They also wear a lovely crown-like headpiece (not pictured).

Pomoranean Dancers heading back to the stage for another performance. These have always been some of my favorite costumes! I love the red!

The other great thing about the Folk Fair is that you don't need to be some rail-thin person to dance. Normal people dance these dances and wear the costumes. The Folk ARE regular people!