December 13
Winter Holiday Traditions
Most of us celebrate holiday traditions passed down from our parents. These traditions nurture us and become an essential part of who we are. As part of this year's Holiday Open House, we present to you a few of the holiday traditions which the Nationality Room Committees have shared.
Holiday Open House
Birth of Iron
The Kalevala is Finland’s national epic. Its written form is based on ancient oral traditions that tell of God’s help in first locating deposits of iron ore. Thus is explained how Finns became among the first people to use the life-altering metal.
Chinese New Year Celebration
Celebration of the Chinese New Year
First There Were Trees Exibition
Trees have been cherished objects of art in Turkey for centuries. In this online exhibition, Ms. Birsen İğci Saltık, an artist from Ankara, Turkey presents her paintings that celebrate trees as manifestations of nature’s grace and majesty.
History of Nationality Rooms Recipe Book
When is a cookbook not a cookbook? When it is a Nationality Rooms Recipe Book. Learn about the history of the Nationality Rooms Cookbook in this fun presentation!
Interviews with Summer Study Abroad Scholarship Recipients
COVID-19 is affecting students all over the world. In this presentation, you will hear how the virus has affected the lives of the Women’s International Club’s 2019 and 2020 Summer Study Abroad scholarship recipients.
Lithuanian Christmas Eve Dinner
Lithuania lies in the northern part of Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, along with its neighbors Poland, Latvia and Estonia. A mostly agricultural country, Lithuanian customs highlight their love of nature, family and country. Come see how Lithuanians celebrate the birth of Jesus, when the land is asleep under a white blanket of snow.
Lithuanian Christmas Traditions | Lithuanian Kalėdos Kūčios Traditions
Read about Lithuanian Christmas traditions and recipes.
The 12 Days of Greek Christmas Trivia Game
Every day, beginning on December 7th and ending on December 19, 2020, we will host one game. Viewers can play the game anytime between 7AM-10PM every day. The game consists of 10 multiple choice questions that test your knowledge about the Greek Christmas Period traditions.
At the end of every gameday (10 PM), the players with the top two scores among all participants will win prizes:
- Highest score: A bottle of Σπιτικό ultra-premium authentic extra virgin Greek olive oil (courtesy of Elaiourgiki A.E., Greece) & two cans of "TuVunu" mountain tea/honey-lemon drink
- Second-highest score: A box of 25 assorted Lindt Christmas chocolates
Tradition of the Mari Lwyd
Storyteller Ruthanne Ankney presents the Welsh Tradition of decorating the Mari Lwyd.
Quo Vadis
The Italian Room presented by Quo Vadis
Quo Vadis unfurls some of the Renaissance in Italy, as it informs much of this room, while also telling us of the folk nature of Le Befana, who brings gifts at Christmas.
The Russian Room presented by Quo Vadis
The Russian Room is described in a two guide tandem, with the remotely studying guide also appearing from thousands of miles away in her Russian costume, where she speaks about some good luck beliefs at Christmastime.
The Swedish Room presented by Quo Vadis
Enjoy the whimsical paintings and the emphasis on brightness and cheer in the Swedish Room during the Quo Vadis guide's presentation.