Category Archives: Festivals and Celebrations

Get your head in the frame

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Happy 21st birthday, European Day of Languages (EDL)!

Thank you to everyone who came along and joined in our ‘European Day of Languages’ celebrations today, celebrating linguistic and cultural diversity, globally. It was amazing to hear how many languages were spoken by passing students and great to get a sense of the languages that people are keen to learn!

Since 2002, it has been the goal of the EDL (26th September) to promote and celebrate linguistic diversity in Europe and beyond. At QUB, we are so fortunate to study and work in such a multi-cultural campus, the EDL is a great opportunity for us to celebrate this!

If you have not come to our Language Centre stand yet, we are keen to meet you at our stands in the McClay Library and the One Elmwood for the Freshers’ Fair in the next couple of days. We would like to help you to learn about all of the opportunities available to you to support your language skills development with The Language Centre.

Please find your photos below in our social media.

Part 1 of EDL Celebrations 2022
Part 2 of EDL Celebrations 2022

International Day of Sign Languages

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Did you know that there are approximately 72 million deaf people in the global population? These people collectively use over 300 different sign languages! Alongside all the national languages, there is a shared international sign language used by the deaf community to communicate socially, on trips abroad, and in international business settings.

This International Day of Sign Languages, celebrated on 23rd September each year, to coincide with the creation of the World Federation of the Deaf in 1951, sits within International Week of Deaf People (19th-25th September 2022). The theme for this year is Building Inclusive Communities for All. Learning basic communication in sign language, whether national or international, can really help to make the global community of deaf people feel more included in society. As actress Rose Ayling-Ellis so aptly puts it, “There’s nothing wrong with being deaf – it’s society that’s the problem”.

The Language Centre offers British Sign Language courses in Levels 1 and 2 and registration for these is open now, via our website: www.qub.ac.uk/lc

Africa Day

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Happy Africa Day!

We would like to invite our staff members and students to join in the celebration of the Africa Day and celebrate their cultures, heritage and achievements.

Complete the Cultural Diversity Survey

African presence at Queen’s

About Africa Day

Africa Day commemorates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (now known as the African Union) on this day, 25 May, in 1963. Formally known as African freedom day and then African Liberation day, its origin lies in the collective African resistance to colonialism and economic exploitation. The day was, and is, intended to highlight Africa’s continued collective struggle against adversity. 

The African Union today strives to represent a vibrant continent of 1.2 Billion people. Today is a day to celebrate how far Africa has come against the odds and to recognise how much more needs to be done to ensure that all Africans can live healthy, happy lives.

Global dimension

Related reading

World Day for Cultural Diversity

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Happy World Day for Cultural Diversity!

The Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and International Staff Network, in collaboration with the Language Centre, would like to invite you to join us in celebrating this year’s World Day for Cultural Diversity!

Visit QUB iRISE webpage for more information

What our BAME&I staff say

‘To protect and promote cultural diversity and expressions, I draw my inspiration from best practices in the development of appropriate responses adapted to university contexts. iRise is intended to be a collaborative and evolving instrument by sharing information that will contribute to a better understanding of diversity and conducive to keeping alive this dynamic platform.’ (Dr Adone Mohd-Sarip)

‘In a world increasingly globalised through corporate interests but fragmented by war and lack of empathy, it is imperative that we foster cultural diversity in our communities, networks and institutions. This is the only way we can achieve understanding and peace. I very much hope that QUB will wake up to this through the agency of iRise.’
(Dr Daniel Roberts)

‘Too often, global conflicts have a cultural dimension, and bridging the gap between cultures and peoples through intercultural dialogue is needed more than ever in our multicultural, multiethnic, and multilingual world. Being a co-chair of QUB iRISE, I am committed to fostering the value of compassion, inclusion, and respect for others. Every effort from each of us constitutes one step further toward embracing diversity.’ (Mrs. Nimmy John)

‘Cultural diversity is a great starting point to recognise the rich, yet complex, societies of diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. As a Language Support Officer at Queen’s, I am committed to helping students and staff members primarily enhance their linguistic and intercultural awareness and sensitivity through the means of workshops, training sessions and cultural celebrations. Together, we can aim for mutual respect, equality and inclusivity.
(Dr Liang Wang)

Cultural Diversity Survey

In addition, we would also like to invite you to contribute to our Cultural Diversity Survey by filling in the form so that we can better plan for the various cultural festivals and special days.

go.qub.ac.uk/CulturalDiversity

World Portuguese Language Day

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In 2019, the 40th session of UNESCO’s General Conference decided to proclaim 5th May as annual “World Portuguese Language Day”. At Queen’s, the Portuguese language (both European and Brazilian) is not only offered in the form of degree pathway modules, but also taught for non-specific purposes. We would like to invite you to join with us in celebrating this day and sending our best wishes to those who speak and learn the Portuguese language at Queen’s and elsewhere.

Happy World Portuguese Language Day!

UNESCO

About World Portuguese Language Day

The date of 5 May was officially established in 2009 by the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP) – an intergovernmental organization that has been in official partnership with UNESCO since 2000, and which brings together peoples with the Portuguese language as one of the foundations of their specific identity – to celebrate the Portuguese language and Lusophone cultures. In 2019, the 40th session of UNESCO’s General Conference decided to proclaim 5 May of each year as “World Portuguese Language Day”.

UNesco

Happy International Dance Day

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About the International Dance Day

In 1982 the Dance Committee of ITI founded International Dance Day to be celebrated every year on the 29th April, the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), creator of modern ballet. The intention of the International Dance Day Message is to celebrate dance, revel in the universality of this art form, cross all political, cultural and ethnic barriers, and bring people together with a common language – dance.

InternationalDanceday.org

While you can watch the International Dance Day performance online on Friday 29th April, we would like to invite you to join us in the celebration of the International Dance Day by reviewing the photos of some multicultural dance performances at the Qulture Night 2022, one of the Queen’s branded celebrations led by the International Student Society.

  • Photo: LiangWang
  • Photo: LiangWang
  • Photo: LiangWang
  • Photo: LiangWang
  • Photo: LiangWang
  • Photo: LiangWang
  • Photo: LiangWang
  • Photo: LiangWang

Do you know what dances they are? Write your answers in the Comment box below.

If you have Qulture Night dance performance photos, feel free to share through FB and Instagram, using #LoveQUB, #CulturalDiversity, #QultureNight2022, and tagging us and the International Student Society in the post.

Multiple cultural celebrations and Easter break

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April is a busy month with many important days and festivals to reflect cultural diversity at Queen’s. While we wish all those who celebrate Ramadan well on their fasting during the month, we would like to invite you to join us in sharing our greetings and best wishes to the communities at Queen’s and elsewhere who celebrate their traditional New Year on and around today 14/04:

Bengali / Cambodian / Hindu / Lao / Myanmar / Nepali / Tamil / Thai

Happy New Year! We’d be pleased to if you are happy to share your photos/videos of celebrations with us in your posts and use hash tag #CulturalDiversity #LoveQUB.

Calling QUB international staff and students –

Tell us what cultural festivals and days you celebrate by filling in the form below and we will do our best to help with circulation and celebration at Queen’s.

Cultural Diversity at QUB Survey

We also wish you all a happy and healthy Easter Break. While our office will be closed during the holidays, our course enrolment remains open until Thursday 21st April at 5pm. Visit Language Centre April Enrolment page and do not miss out!

International Nowruz Day

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Happy International Nowruz Day to all those who celebrate!

Nowruz, meaning the ‘new day’, has its spelling varying from country to country, marking the first day of spring (usually occurs on 21 March) and celebrated as the beginning of the new year by more than 300 million people across the globe, with over 3,000-year-long tradition of celebrations in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and other regions.

Nowruz is a rite dating back to at least the 6th century BCE, marking the new year and ushering in spring. Variously known as Novruz, Nowrouz, Nooruz, Navruz, Nauroz or Nevruz, this historic rite is observed on 21 March in many countries along the Silk Roads, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

UNESCO

As such, The UN perceives Nowruz as “a significant role in strengthening the ties among peoples based on mutual respect and the ideals of peace and good neighbourliness”, a bridge between “the civilizations of the East and West, which influenced those civilizations through the interchange of human values”, to achieve “life in harmony with nature, awareness of the inseparable link between constructive labour and natural cycles of renewal and a solicitous and respectful attitude towards natural sources of life. (UN – International Nowruz Day)

The UNESCO also marks the significance of Nowrus through their platform Celebrating the New Year on the Silk Roads.

Calling QUB international staff and students –

Tell us what cultural festivals and days you celebrate by filling in the form below and we will do our best to help with circulation and celebration at Queen’s.

Cultural Diversity at QUB Survey

Happy Holi

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Happy Holi to those who are celebrating!

Holi, or the festival of colours, is a religious occasion considered the second biggest Hindu festival after Diwali. It marks the beginning of spring after a long winter and signifies the triumph of good over evil.

Typically spanning two days, the eve of Holi is when traditions commence with singing and dancing, while the actual day is the fun time that family and friends gather to playfully throw colorful paint and bright powders at each other and in the air.

Calling QUB international staff and students –

Tell us what cultural festivals and days you celebrate by filling in the form below and we will do our best to help with circulation and celebration at Queen’s.

Cultural Diversity at QUB Survey

International Mother Language Day

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Happy International Mother Language Day!

The idea to celebrate International Mother Language Day was the initiative of Bangladesh. It was approved at the 1999 UNESCO General Conference and has been observed throughout the world since 2000.

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The theme of the 2022 International Mother Language Day, “Using technology for multilingual learning: Challenges and opportunities”, will discuss the potential role of technology to advance multilingual education and support the development of quality teaching and learning for all.

UNESCO

This day is celebrated annually to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity. Why not further your own linguistic and cultural awareness by signing up for one of our third semester language courses?

Registration will open on 1st March on our website for courses beginning in April.