Culture Day 2023 by Elaha Moosa, Gumley House School

Students paid weeks of practice preparing dances and songs for the rest of the year group; back-to-back performances that erupted cheers and excitement through the audience. Although there were songs from multitudes of languages, this did not act as a barrier to the appreciation the students showed towards their peers and the expression of their cultures through dance. Performances began with a traditional Albanian folk dance, and ended with a catwalk of continents, infused with performances from countries like the Philippines, Poland, Afghanistan, India, Columbia, Nigeria, and many more throughout.  

Diversity was not only reflected in the traditional dances, but also in the array of foods students brought to share with the year group. Year 11s travelled around the globe with the sweet and savory foods they were keen to share with others, ranging from Jalebi, a sweet snack from South Asia to glass noodles, from East Asia, and baklava from the Middle East. The sharing of our ethnic origins is something to be encouraged, and as seen through the celebration of culture day, it can bring a new-found sense of appreciation and insight into the cultures of others: a way to unite. Zenaida Fernandes, a year 11 student who watched the performance said “It was quite interesting to… see how different all the cultures are. The dancing, songs, and the dresses they wore were beautiful and unique in their own way.” While during the school day students usually remain within their own friend groups, culture day was a time to open up and embrace the diversity we are surrounded with. 

Although GCSE exams are approaching, the year 11s were able to take some time out of their day to celebrate harmony between people; a joyous event. Teachers and students alike were there to cheer for their country and the many others that were shone a light on. Flags were held up proudly as Culture Day 2023 was a small event on track to a larger change, that can bring harmony to the generations to come. We should be inspired by moments like these to appreciate the diversity in our community, and bring about a more cohesive society, open to learning new things.