At Be the Voice of Girls, learning is never just about acquiring facts—it’s about exploring the deeper connections between history, culture, and personal identity. This week, our participants had the opportunity to engage with Andrew McCrea, journalist, historian, and longtime supporter of our program, as he led a dynamic discussion on the significance of cultural holidays.
Speaking from his farm in Missouri, Andrew used storytelling to illuminate how certain holidays in the United States—especially St. Patrick’s Day—are not just days on the calendar but reflections of migration, resilience, and cultural identity. More than just a history lesson, the session encouraged the girls to think about their own traditions and how sharing these stories keeps culture alive.
St. Patrick’s Day: A Legacy of Immigration and Identity
March 17 is widely recognized in the U.S. as St. Patrick’s Day, a day of parades, green attire, and festive gatherings. But beyond the revelry lies a deeper history—one rooted in the struggles and triumphs of Irish immigrants who shaped American society.
Andrew began by explaining the Great Irish Famine of the 1840s, when potato crops across Ireland failed, leading to widespread starvation. In search of survival, millions of Irish men and women left their homeland for America, settling primarily in cities like New York and Boston. While they faced discrimination upon arrival, they also built tight-knit communities, preserving their customs and traditions. Over time, St. Patrick’s Day became a celebration not just of Irish heritage but of the broader immigrant experience in America.
Today, St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most widely celebrated cultural holidays in the U.S. From the grand parades of New York City and Boston to the tradition of dyeing the Chicago River green, the holiday stands as a testament to how immigrant communities have shaped American culture.
Nevruz: A Celebration of Renewal and Cultural Continuity
Holidays like St. Patrick’s Day do more than mark a date—they tell a story. Andrew challenged the girls to think about the traditions in their own communities. What holidays do they celebrate? What histories do those celebrations represent?
This sparked a fascinating exchange about cultural traditions in Türkiye, including Nevruz, a festival marking the arrival of spring, particularly celebrated in Türkiye’s eastern and southeastern regions. Recognized as an ancient tradition observed by many cultures across Eurasia, Nevruz symbolizes renewal, unity, and the changing of seasons.
In Türkiye, Nevruz celebrations often include symbolic rituals such as lighting fires and jumping over flames, which represent purification and the welcoming of a new year. The festival is an occasion for gathering with loved ones, sharing special foods, and reflecting on the themes of renewal and hope. To learn more about Nevruz and its cultural significance, visit the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s official page on Nevruz.
Andrew emphasized that understanding and sharing these stories is a vital part of cultural preservation. “When we tell the stories behind our holidays,” he explained, “we keep history alive. We remind ourselves and others where we come from and what has shaped us.”
Finding Common Threads
One of the most remarkable aspects of this session was the realization that, despite differences in geography or history, cultural holidays around the world share common themes—migration, resilience, identity, and remembrance. Just as Irish immigrants used St. Patrick’s Day to maintain a connection to their heritage, other cultural celebrations serve similar purposes in different communities.
Andrew’s discussion didn’t just teach history—it invited the girls to see themselves as storytellers, carrying forward the traditions that define their families and communities.
As Be the Voice of Girls continues to empower young women through education and cultural exchange, sessions like these reinforce the importance of not just learning history but becoming part of it. By understanding the past, these young women are shaping the future—one story at a time.
