America is rich with cultural diversity. Our heritage is such that our roots stem from native-to-around the world. That is what makes life in this country so interesting. At any given time, there seems to be a myriad of festivals celebrating the heritage of our assorted backgrounds. The Highland Games at Historic Bethabara Park is a prime example of this. Those of Scottish or Celtic ancestry gather to celebrate what is unique to their lineage. --- “I don’t own a kilt, but I’ll go anyway," I thought to myself.
The setting was ideal. Historic Bethabara Park is on the outskirts of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It is the remains of a Moravian settlement that dates back to 1753. The primitive pole fortress and rock foundations herald an era similar to those one might imagine would be found in the land of the Anglo-Saxons. The park accommodated a sundry of simultaneous activities, including: Heavy athletic competition, folk dancing, Celtic music, colonial games, border collie herding, and (of course) bagpipes.
In addition, various vendors offered handcrafted Scottish items and food. Although I did not sample the meat pies and birdies, they could be had easily.
As I entered the park, I noticed a circle of mini-tents that surrounded an open field. Each tent was marked with a banner indicating a specific clan: Macleod, Windsor, Buchanan, and on. This was serious. This wasn’t silly make-believe. Assigned to each was a specific pattern and color of plaid. Those within the tent were sporting such too. Each tent welcomed you, sharing their knowledge of their lineage in hopes of finding additional relatives. Soon, I realized this open field would become the stage for a stirring bagpipe performance, Parade of Tartans, and Post of Colors (national flags).
What a delightful afternoon it was! I felt transported to a different world not far from my own backyard.
Just as the Scottish were celebrating their roots, the Greeks were making merry too. The Greek Festival has become a major attraction and is strongly supported by the community--as it shares a portion of its proceeds with the children’s hospital, food bank, and youth ministries throughout the city. This was another experience I could not miss!
Much like the Highland Games, the Greek Festival offers a window into a unique culture. This includes a glimpse of: religion, architecture, costume, design, dance, and food. Possessing a voracious curiosity, I roamed the enclave of shops in search of unique patterns, colors, and wares that are associated with this specific ancestry. I was not disappointed.
Similar to the crowd of Scots, there was a sense of pride and jubilation among this lot too. As with most fairs, food takes precedence. The Greeks are well known for their culinary skills. A dinner of pastichio, spanakopita, and loukoumades was veritable proof. As I enjoyed my dinner, the stage before me was a buzz with energy. A program of folk dancing had ensued. The talented participants were dressed in beautifully detailed costumes associated with Greek heritage. Stunning.
Before I knew it, the day was about to end. The gloaming had begun. As I sat in the twilight and looked about the decorated tent, a specific object caught my eye. It was an American flag. The breeze was such that it wasn’t still, but fluttered about proudly revealing its colors. It made me think of the same flag that I had seen earlier in the day at the Scottish fair. Both told the story.
Yes, we are a melding pot of sorts. Our roots may carry us around the world, but we are bound by a particular vein: we are Americans. That, in itself, gives us cause to celebrate.
0 Comments