Last month I got an opportunity to attend Holy Trinity Oktoberfest that has been taking place in Georgia for several years. This annual cross-cultural event promoted by HT Lutheran Church gathered the representatives from different cultures and attracted the attention of a wide circle of the American society. The success of Holy Trinity Oktoberfest convinces of the importance of such cross-cultural events for the sharing of knowledge between people from different cultural communities.
This time the activities on the Oktoberfest were out of the ordinary. I had a chance to try an authentic German food. Besides, all activities of the day were accompanied by the LIVE Polka music. Now I regret that I didn’t dare to dance in a tent. My parents, on the contrary, were brave enough to take part in the horseshoes tournament. It was my first experience of such cross-cultural event. I felt the German influence throughout the city during the whole day.
Being one of the most recognized cultural events, Oktoberfest is a world-wide celebration of the German traditions within the multiply society. The tradition of its celebration began at 1810. It is obvious that through the years celebration got some additional characteristics. However, today Oktoberfest still has its own distinctive features such as German national music, dances, traditional clothes and historical uniform, food, beverages, bright parade, numerous park amusements and attractions for children. Thereby the people of all ages can take part in the celebration.
If the cross-cultural event is organized well, it can provide a great chance for people from different communities to share their traditions and to learn more about the culture of other nationalities. Although it could be very informative to hear or to read about the difference between national traditions, participation in such event as Oktoberfest can give much more experience of the cooperation and cultural exchange within the multiplex American society. It is a chance to forget all prejudices and suspicions and to open your mind. It is a possibility to get new knowledge by participating in the activities.
The example of Holy Trinity Oktoberfest can be used in a course work about the psychological solution of multicultural problems in the American society. The popularity of such researches indicates the understanding of importance of cross-cultural exchanges. While the government places cross-cultural programs into the school’s system, the organization of such events as Holy Trinity Oktoberfest could be much more effective for understanding of the future perspectives by children. The analysis of local culture and customs can demonstrate the perspectives and new ways of development of the American society.
An understanding of cultural difference can help open new horizons. It could be useful for international business development in the prevention of cross-cultural conflicts. With the increasing of global trade the importance of cross-cultural understanding grows exceedingly fast. Such events can help reveal the problem of cultural depersonalization within the age of Globalization and mass-culture.
This event broadened my cultural background. Now I ruminate about the organization of similar cross-cultural event in our city during the Christmas holidays.
The importance of such cross-cultural events consists in the gathering representatives from different communities. It is difficult to undervalue the significance of such cross-cultural events today as a main power of sharing the cultural knowledge in the context of social development in the age of Globalization.