Georgia’s population has changed remarkably since the 1970s, with the arrival of new ethnic groups from around the world. These immigrants brought with them a diversity of languages, religious practices, culinary and craft traditions, music, styles of clothing and decoration, and ways of celebrating. During ethnic celebrations, immigrants can display and enjoy many of their original cultural traditions while joining with others from their home country.
Ethnic groups of Georgia
Centuries ago, the indigenous populations of Georgia, including Stream And Cherokee Indians and other Native American groups, were joined by settlers from Scotland, Ireland, England, Germany, and other European countries, as well as African slaves from various South African groups. ‘West. Georgia has also had a significant Jewish population since its settlement in 1733, when a shipload of Sephardic (Spanish and Portuguese) and Ashkenazi (German) the Jews arrived in Savannah from England.
Contemporary Georgians of Native American ancestry, as well as African Americans, Scottish and Irish Americans, and other early Americans of European descent, participate in celebrations of their ethnic history. St. Patrick’s Day festivities Savannah And Dublin at the Scottish Highland Games in stone mountain, ethnic celebrations of early Georgian groups continue to develop. While recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the number and diversity of new immigrants, the Portuguese community along the coast, the Chinese communities of Augusta and Atlanta, and Atlanta’s Greek and Middle Eastern communities have been in place for generations.
In recent years, the economic prosperity of Atlanta and the Sunbelt, as well as successful refugee resettlement programs, have made Georgia a magnet for new settlers. Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laotian refugees who began arriving in Georgia in the mid-1970s were followed by more recent refugee populations, including Somalis, Ethiopians, Eritreans, Ukrainians, Russians, and Arabs.
When a group immigrates to a new country, its members find themselves forced to modify their way of life, including their celebrations of important events. An event that can last several days in the country is shortening to accommodate the American work week and the new physical and business environment. In China, Vietnam, and Korea, for example, the New Year’s celebration is a multi-day event that permeates entire cities, but on American soil it becomes a smaller, weekend-long event in a central location. local community. Typically, immigrants find ways to retain the most essential elements of such events.
Types of celebrations
Many ethnic celebrations are calendar events commemorating political holidays, religious holidays, or dates in the lives of such important figures as Mahatma Gandhi. Timelines followed by immigrants and ethnic groups include the BuddhistChinese, Eastern Orthodox, HinduIslamic and Jewish calendars. In some cases, immigrants move the original date of their vacation. Atlanta’s Caribbean community, for example, celebrates Carnival on Memorial Day weekend, in part because May is warmer than February.
New Year celebrations can take place at any time, depending on the schedule followed. They take place in community centers, places of worship or in people’s homes.
Independence Day marks an important historical event: the day a country was founded or reconquered. For those who no longer live in their home country, Independence Day brings people from the same country together. Regardless of their different backgrounds – due to region, group affiliation or religion – Independence Day can be celebrated by everyone. Mexicans, Koreans, Pakistanis, Ghanaians and many other groups celebrate their respective occasions. They typically fly the American flag alongside that of their home country and often gather to celebrate American independence on July 4 as well.
While the Christian calendar commemorates the birth and resurrection of Christ, other religious calendars highlight historical figures and events. They also include periods of fasting – abstinence from food, usually accompanied by prayer and contemplation – which are preceded or followed by feasting and celebration. For example, during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, Muslims fast all day and only break the fast after sunset. Their celebration of Id-al-Fitr (Festival of Breaking the Fast), which takes place at the end of the month, is a festive event with plentiful food and gifts for children.
Carnival, better known in the United States as the Mardi Gras celebration, is widespread throughout the Western world. The name carnival comes from Latin, meaning to take meat. Carnival is celebrated before Lent, a period of fasting (generally abstaining from meat consumption) which lasts forty days before Easter and which is commonly observed by Roman Catholics and some Protestants. In Georgia, Carnival celebrations are hosted by Brazilians, Cajuns, Caribbean immigrants, Germans and others. Festivities and costumes are common during Carnival celebrations.
Some ethnic events are linked to life cycle events such as birth or baptism ceremonies, coming of age, weddings and funerals. These occasions also provide people of the same ethnicity with time to share traditional foods, wear traditional clothing, and enjoy the customs that connect them to their home countries and to each other.
Ethnic festivals
Not all ethnic celebrations are linked to annual calendars or life cycle events; they can celebrate the origins, history and culture of a community and offer samples of ethnic traditions: food, dance, music and other arts. These festivals are growing in number and popularity and include the Greek Festival, the Middle East Festival, the Scottish Highland Games, and the Atlanta and South Hispanic Festival. Pan-African Festival In Mason.
Many celebrations are attended only by members of the community. They can be small, involving members of a single family, or quite large, involving hundreds of people sharing the same ethnic background. These can be described as “group” celebrations. Other celebrations include non-community members and serve as “awareness” events. The Greek Festival is one such celebration. Generally, awareness celebrations receive good publicity in local media. Group celebrations may not be as easy to find, but are often open to the general public.
