Category Archives: Festival

Juneteenth

Nationality: African American
Age: 60
Occupation: part time elementary school supervision aid
Residence: Carson, CA
Performance Date: April 24, 2018
Primary Language: English

What is being performed?
LA: I think Juneteenth might be the most important celebration in the City of Carson.
AA: What is juneteenth?
LA: Juneteenth is a festival that takes place every year in mid June to celebrate the day the
slaves were freed. I think they were freed on June 13th, but the story goes that the slaves
couldn’t say “June thirteenth” so they said “Juneteenth” and that’s where the festival name
comes from
AA: What kind of activities happen at Juneteenth festivals?
LA: There’s a lot of food. A lot of Watermelon. A lot of children, African dancing to remind you of
your roots, and jazz music.
AA: Where do Juneteenth festivals usually take place?
LA: They are almost always outdoors in parks
AA: Is there any structure to the festivals?
LA: There’s usually an opening ceremony of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a main event of praise
dance or other African dance styles, and a closing where you pray to your ancestors
Why do they know or like this piece? where/who did they learn it from? What does it mean to
them?
AA: Why do you like this piece?
LA: It’s a reminder that freedom can’t be taken for granted.
AA: How did you find out about this festival?
LA: I grew up in Compton and my mother used to take me to Juneteenth. Now, I hear about it
through flyers from the city of Carson.

Context of the performance- where do you perform it? History?
Juneteenth is performed around June 13th annually predominantly in Black communities but
could be found in other places. It’s meant to celebrate the freedom of slaves in America and
give thanks to ancestors that were enslaved and beaten for the freedom of future generations.

Reflection
Growing up I have been to multiple Juneteenth festivals and see them as a safe space to be
joyous about my culture, black excellence, and African aesthetics. I have participated in praise
dances that usually take part in these events and see this festival as very important festival to
take place in America, especially today.

Winchester Rubber Duckie Festival

Nationality: Venezuelan American
Age: 18
Occupation: student
Residence: usc
Performance Date: april 17, 2018
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

What is being performed?
TA: I’m from Winchester, Massachusetts which is like 30 minutes from Boston and every year
we have a Rubber Duckie Festival that the whole town comes to.
AA: What’s the rubber duckie festival?
TA: I don’t even really know. But I’ve been going my whole life. Basically, though, it happens
every summer and every kid brings a rubber duckie and a crane drops all the rubber duckies
into the river and they race. The duckie that makes it to the end gets a cash prize but it’s really
hard and completely dependent on luck.
AA: What are you celebrating?
TA: It’s about summer. I’m not exactly sure if other places do this but the rubber duckies are
supposed to just be symbols of happiness.

Why do they know or like this piece? where/who did they learn it from? What does it mean to
them?
AA: When did you first discover this festival?
TA: When I was a little kid my parents took me. And then I kept coming back because my dance
class would always perform.
AA: Do you like the festival?
TA: When I was a kid it was super fun because I would want my duck to win but now it’s just a
time for me to catch up with my friends and do something for Winchester. For my incredibly
small town, it means the world.
Context of the performance- where do you perform it? History?
The Winchester Rubber Duckie Festival happens annually in June. It brings the entire
community out, features youth performers, and has live music. It is a way for Winchester to be
united for a day.

Reflection
I have never heard of this festival before but think it’s cool and wish my town did something like
that. Having the racing of the rubber duckies is a fun way to get even the littlest children
involved. I think this is something that only works super well in small towns like Winchester but
is a good idea in theory for all towns.

Quicenera

Main Content:  A quincenera is when a girl turns 15 and they do a big party to celebrate that she is no longer alittle girl but instead a woman. Parents usually start to save money from the day theirdaughters are born because it is very expensive to throw a quincenera. For a quincenera girlsusually wear puffy dresses and have damas (female court) and chambelanes (male court) who are wearing the same color as her dress. First they have to go to church and have a mass. Then they go take pictures and then the party starts. In the middle of the party the girl’s dad takes off the girl’s flat shoes and puts on some heels. Then they give the girl a doll which is the last doll she is going to get meaning that she is no longer a little girl. After the dad and girl dance together. This is one of the most sentimental parts of the quincenera because the next time they would dance together would be at her wedding. After this, there is a surprise dance.  Context: This piece is an interview that I directly copied every word said. The participants name is Jonathan. I had asked the participate in advance over phone if he had any folklore and he asked what I meant by that. After giving a few examples he said he actually did have something to share. So we met in his apartment a few hour later. We entered the kitchen and sat down at the table. Background: Jonathan is a 19-year-old college student whose ethnicity is half Cuban and Half Mexican. He is a sophomore attending UCLA.  Analysis: A quincenera is a common example of Hispanic life cycle folklore. It is more common for woman, but it can also be for a male. A quincenera is transition from a child to an adult. In the quincenera there is a motif, the high heel. It represents a woman and therefore the father removes the flat shoe and puts on the heel. I find it fascinating that there is no scientific evidence stating that when a female turns 15, she become an adult. This transition from childhood to adult hood does have different variations across different cultures. For example, other cultures have a sweet 16. The basis is the same but instead of transitioning to adulthood at 15, it is at 16. 

The Governors Ball Music Festival

Nationality: Polish American
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: NYC, USA
Performance Date: 4/6/18
Primary Language: English

‘My friend Rachel first told me about this music festival. She told me about how her sister had been to several festivals and told her to go experience a music festival. Music festivals our way to bond with friends and having experience of listening to so many musicians over the course of 1 to 5 days and even longer. These festivals in food live music of all sorts, however their specialties amongst different festivals. Every festival has food and beverage lineups, musical lineup, special festival vendors such as flower crowns and sponsored booths by big companies. I have found it so fun To experience festivals with my friends because we all enjoy the same music and get to experience it live with thousands of other people. There are so many different elements to a festival including learning music before (if you want to). Our first music festival was the Governor’s Ball music festival in New York City, our hometown. We wanted to go to a festival that was close to home in case anything were to happen and also because we love the musicians playing. We realized upon arriving that it was a festival where pictures were being taken left and right, and we got to experience the festival life. Festival life usually entails consuming illegal substances and reminiscing about the Woodstock days. While there are many more regulations at festivals nowadays, it still was done by most festival goers. There festivals all over the world that pertain to many different events, such as Oktoberfest in Germany and the flying lantern Festival is in Asia. In America there is a huge interest in music festival is because of the experience link to it. While the Governors Ball is one of the most popular festivals to attend, There are so many other festivals to experience in the future.

Bibliography

Norwegian Christmas

Nationality: Norwegian
Age: 19
Performance Date: 04/24/18

Well…all of my mom’s side of the family is Norwegian. Norway and Scandinavian traditions are actually quite dark. SO for example, one of the traditions we always do, is my mom always like to say the tradition of Santa Claus in the Norwegian manner. It’s very different… I don’t really remember it. But Santa looks very different in like his look and his style. I think he wears elk boots. My mom has a pair of elk boots she likes to put on display. We also have a Norwegian accordion. So that’s always fun to play around Christmas time. I’ve attempted to play it but I’m not really that good. But every year we play it and dance to polka.

 

  1. Do you ever play the accordion for any other occasions?

Not really, it’s just a Christmas thing.

  1. Are the boots for human feet, made of elk fur, or are they for elk hooves?

I think they’re human boots. They kind of look like elf boots in that they’re pointed at the toe.

My Thoughts

Every culture has different traditions for Christmas.   American traditions really idealize Santa Claus in the red suit and the white beard. But the reason for that is actually the Coca Cola Company. They were the ones who dressed Santa as that.   Many other cultures might dress him very differently. Also, elk v. reindeer, is there really a massive difference there? I’m intrigued that polka is the type of music they listen to and dance to around Christmas time