Words to know
cultural element
A part of a culture that carries meaning, such as a value, ritual, building style, artwork, dance, food or clothing.
value
A belief about what is important or right, such as generosity, equality or respect for elders.
ritual
An action or set of actions done in a set way, often repeated, that carries meaning.
ceremony
A formal event with rituals that marks something important.
architecture
The design of buildings and spaces, which can express beliefs and values.
identity
Who you are, including your culture, language, family, beliefs and experiences.
belonging
The feeling of being accepted and part of a group or community.
Remember from Grade 6
In Grade 6 you investigated values, rituals and ceremonies, architecture, art and dance through texts about rangoli, pysanky, bayanihan and more. You learned to use the meanings that people inside a culture give.
In Grade 7 the expectation is the same, so you'll go deeper: you'll investigate how several cultural elements work together in a text, and share your interpretations in a thoughtful, respectful way.
Celebrations in Cedar Bend (a feature from a school magazine, written for this website; the students are made up)
Nowruz: A Table for New Beginnings (by Darya)
Nowruz means new day in Persian. My family celebrates it at the spring equinox in March. We set up a haft-sin table with seven items whose names start with the letter s in Persian, like sabzeh (sprouts) for new life and sib (apples) for health. We add a mirror, candles and a bowl of goldfish. My grandmother says the table reminds us that spring always comes back, and that we should start the year with a clean house and a kind heart.
The Gurdwara: Everyone Eats Together (by Harjot)
On Sundays my family goes to our gurdwara, the Sikh place of worship. Outside, a tall flagpole holds the Nishan Sahib, a triangular flag, so people can find the gurdwara from far away. Inside, we take off our shoes and cover our heads. After the service, everyone shares langar, a free meal cooked by volunteers. Everyone sits on the floor together, rich or poor, Sikh or not. My dad says that's the point: no one is above anyone else.
Día de los Muertos: Remembering with Colour (by Lucía)
On November 1 and 2, my family makes an ofrenda, an altar for our relatives who have died. We put out photos of my abuelo, his favourite foods, candles and orange marigolds. My mom and I cut papel picado, paper banners with patterns of flowers and skeletons. People think it sounds sad, but it isn't, mostly. It's a way of saying they're still part of our family.
Tinikling: Dancing Between the Poles (by Miguel)
At our Filipino community festival, my sister and I danced tinikling. Two people kneel and clap two long bamboo poles together and apart in a rhythm, and the dancers hop in and out without getting caught. The dance comes from the Philippines, and its name comes from the tikling bird. My lola says it shows how people can be quick, light and graceful, even in hard times. Practising takes a lot of teamwork, because the pole-clappers and the dancers have to trust each other.
Culture, identity and belonging
Notice how each writer connects the cultural element to who they are: Darya's grandmother, Harjot's dad, Lucía's abuelo, Miguel's lola. Cultural elements are often passed between generations, and they help people feel they belong to a family and a community.
In Canada, many cultures live side by side. Learning about each other's cultural elements can help everyone feel seen and welcome, as long as we learn respectfully.