Culture refers to ideas, social behavior and customs of specific people or society. It’s an element that is widely used by different ethnic communities to define them. Culture can be expressed in different versions and this includes music, dances, food, arts, child naming methods and even dressing code. A cultural event therefore is the one that comprises of a live music performance, drama, dance, art work demonstration, and food display as well as poetry recitation. It can as well be a visit to a museum or art gallery
In Los –Angeles, culture is highly appreciated and different ethnic groups use it to define themselves in various events and occasions. These events include Cuban music festivals, festival of Philippine art and culture, French Bastille day festival, Chinese and Vietnamese New Year event, Ecuadorean festival, the Bengali festival and Asian Pacific Islander Lotus festival. I happen to have attended such a cultural event in Los Angelous during this semester and I learnt much about the culture.
This event goes by the name Anatolian Cultures and food festival. It is an art and cultural occasion that includes concerts, live performance, salsas, art craft, trade fairs and food. The event is usually attended by people from different countries and continents. It is a four days event which is held annually in different locations.
This year the event will take place in OC Fairgrounds from the 16th to 19th of May, 2013.
During the event period visitors use the civilizations path to transit the festival area, which has 14 gates. Each of these gates represents different civilizations. Throughout history Anatolia has been a support for these civilizations.
There is assembling of three dimensional big-size reproductions representing the five cities of Anatolia, which has panoramic backgrounds. Demonstrations and displays of traditional handcrafts such as calligraphy, filigree, arts of water marbling and hand woven carpets are done by artisans from Turkey during the fourth day of the festival.
The Traditional coffeehouse ensures that visitors enjoy themselves with glasses of tea or a cup of the Turkish coffee. This coffeehouse is located at the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul which is able to house 130 booths with art exhibits, handcrafts and food. Visitors are given an opportunity to enjoy different types of foods (like desserts, the world famous tough and the stretchy Maras’s ice-cream) from several cultures.
The warm and incredible welcome of the Turkish citizens adds spice to this event and helps the visitors to be more enthusiastic throughout the festival. My unforgettable memories during this festival are the excellent and different kind of food offered, the superb art work displayed, lovely and enjoyable music played, different dancing styles enhanced, the attractive and stylist attires worn during the event and the diversity of languages used by both the citizens and the visitors.
This visit enabled helped me understand the diverse offering of artistic displays and culture in Las Angelous.It broadened my horizons and gave me an exclusive insight to my culture and a global aspect of the diverse cultural practices in the world at large.
In conclusion, every one of us is entitled in culture appreciation, since this is a tool that helps us understand ourselves better and appreciate who we are. Attending this event will enable me understand various cultural heritage and have the opportunity to taste their food.