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Chinese martial arts fighters perform at the Holiday Tour Around the World at Pioneers Museum in Imperial on Saturday evening. (STEVEN ESPERANZA PHOTO / December 4, 2012) |
IMPERIAL — For 9-year-old Victor Venegas, sampling the traditional dishes of the Valley’s various ethnic groups has become a family tradition.
Victor, of Calexico, has been coming to the Holiday Around the World event with his family for the past three years, to eat tasty and sometimes exotic foods and see his brother perform with a martial arts group.
The event hosted by the Imperial County Historical Society kicked off for the 22nd year at Pioneers Museum and Cultural Center on Saturday evening.
“It brings people into the museum and gets them to learn about the different ethnic groups in the Valley and how they celebrate the holidays,” said Lynn Housouer, chief executive officer of the Imperial County Historical Society.
With 16 different ethnic groups and local agencies participating in the tour, assortments of tasty holiday dishes were available throughout the event.
“We handed cookies and cheese to the people, for most of the time,” Christina Vogel, Swiss gallery manager for the Cultural Center, said.
“It’s important to be a part of these events because it lets people know about your country. As they go through the museum it might open their eyes a little bit to see what’s going on,” Vogel said.
The event also included entertaining performances from a variety of gallery collections, from a martial arts performance to a traditional Chinese dragon dance.
With about 200 volunteers helping make the holiday event as memorable and fun as possible, event-goers were captivated by the many local ethnic groups represented.
The majority of volunteers at the event help to create and maintain the 14 individual ethnic galleries throughout the museum.
“This is a wonderful event; it’s just a way for the galleries to get together to say merry Christmas to the community,” Calexico resident and French gallery volunteer, Valerie Claverie, said.
Staff Writer Celeste Alvarez can be reached at 760-337-3442 or at calvarez@ivpressonline.com
All ethnic galleries in Pioneers Museum:
African-American, Chinese, East Indian, Filipino, French, German, Greek, Irish, Italian, Japanese-American, Korean, Lebanese, Mexican, Portuguese and Swiss
How they arrived
Individual Christina Vogel
Country Switzerland
Year the majority migrated 1910-1920
Year the Vogel’s earliest family migrated 1948
Why the Vogel’s earliest family migrated Opportunity in owning their own land and farming
How they celebrate the holidays The Vogel family would traditionally cut down their own tree the night before Christmas Eve and decorated it with real candles.
Holiday food Hot apple cider and a sausage dinner
Individual Janet James
Country Mexico
Year the majority migrated 1900s Year the James’ earliest family migrated early 1900s
Why the James’ earliest family migrated In search of better opportunities after the Mexican Revolution
How they celebrate the Holidays A week before Christmas, the James family gets together with their neighbors to hold a soup party; bringing their own traditional dishes.
Holiday food Tamales, beans and rise
Individual Dr. William Quan
Country China
Year the majority migrated 1920-1930
Year the Quan’s earliest family migrated 1930s
Why the Quan’s earliest family migrated Economic opportunity
How they celebrate the Holidays Toward the end of January, the Quan family celebrates the Chinese New Year.
Holiday food Jong, sweet rise wrapped similar to tamales, with posh chicken, a chicken cooked with the head and feet attached to represent completeness
Individual Maria Mainas
Country Greece
Year the majority migrated 1900-1910
Year the Mainas’ earliest family migrated 1924
Why the Mainas’ earliest family migrated Opportunity for work and the chance at a good living, with a majority in the restaurant and grocery business.
How they celebrate the Holidays On New Year’s Day the Mainas Family celebrates the new year by eating a vasilopita; a bread with a single coin placed in the dough to bring good luck to whoever receives the slice with the coin.
Holiday food Pastitso, a type of Greek lasagna, lamb and an assortment of traditional Greek cookies
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