Nov 1, 2022

Culture Fest Family Features

In celebration of Culture Fest, get to know MPCS families and learn more about their cultures. Learn more about Culture Fest.

Culture Fest Family Feature: The Onibokun Family, Nigeria

Favorite Food: Meat Pie

Fun Facts: Yorubas, one of the three largest ethnic groups of Nigeria, have more twins than anywhere else in the world.

Culture Fest Family Feature: The Gebraeel Family, Egypt

Favorite Food: Pasta Bashamel

Fun Facts:

Egypt is very famous for its ancient civilization and pharaonic monuments, such as the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx.
Egyptian civilization has been credited with some popular inventions, including writing (hieroglyphics), ink, make up, advancement in medicine, toothpaste, plow, calendar, and sundial, to name a few.

Culture Fest Family Feature: The Hankins Family, Ecuador

Favorite Food: Ceviche de Camarón, Pan de Yuca, and some Ecuadorian Chocolate

Fun Facts: Ecuador has some of the best chocolate in the world. “Pacari” is one of them. This brand sources its cacao beans from a single farm in Ecuador. The result is a chocolate that’s unlike anything you’ve ever tried. It has a complex flavor profile with hints of citrus, flowers, and even mint. And, the texture is smooth and creamy. Last year, it won 22 awards at the International Chocolate Awards-Americas. It is so good that Switzerland imports the cacao for their famous chocolates.

Culture Fest Family Feature: The Bell Family, Jamaica

Favorite Food: Ackee and Salt Fish (national dish)

Fun Facts: The flag’s three colors represent strength (black), sunlight (gold), and agriculture (green.)

Culture Fest Family Feature: The Savant Family, India

Favorite Food: Samosas with Sweet Chutney

Fun Facts: The country of India has 22 recognized languages!

Culture Fest Family Feature: The Smith Family, Colombia

Favorite Food: Ajiaco (hearty soup made from different kinds of potatoes, chicken, guasca leaves, and corn on the cob)

Fun Facts:

Colombia is a tropical country near the equator, so there are not four seasons.
12% of the world’s coffee is produced in Colombia, making it the third largest coffee exporter in the world.

The movie Encanto takes place in Colombia.

Culture Fest Family Feature: The Bell Family, Thailand

Favorite Food: Pad See Ew (ผัดซีอิ๊ว) - Stir-Fried Noodle Dish

Fun Facts:

Most Thai people have two names – their full, official name and their nickname. But, unlike in other countries where a nickname is usually just a shortened version of your real name, Thai nicknames are meaningful and chosen by your family.
The Thai language has 76 letters and 5 tones. Here is how you write Mount Paran in Thai: ภูเขาปาราน.
Unlike other Asian countries, Thais do not use chopsticks. They use a spoon as their main utensil for eating and cutting, while they use a fork to push food onto their spoon.

Culture Fest Family Feature: The Todd Family, Sweden

Favorite Food: Fika bröd

Fun Facts:

Swedes love good coffee and are one of the world's top coffee consumers. In Sweden, coffee breaks are referred to as "fika". Fika is observed by drinking coffee, having little cakes or cookies, and having pleasant conversations.

Culture Fest Family Feature: The Clark Family, Scotland

Favorite Food: Scottish Shortbread Cookies

Fun Facts:

The official national animal of Scotland is the unicorn, which has been the heraldic symbol for centuries.
Scotland has approximately 500 clans. A clan is a group of people united by a common surname. Each clan has a dedicated tartan.
Golf was invented in Scotland during the 15th century.

Culture Fest Family Feature: The Linkous Family, Venezuela

Favorite Food: Pan de Jamón

Fun Facts:

Venezuela has the most winners of the Miss Universe contest.
Venezuelan players are represented the most in professional sports teams in the U.S.

Culture Fest Family Feature: The Saratsiotis and Lane Families, Greece

Favorite Food: Spanakopita, Tiropitas, and Baklava

Fun Facts:

Greece is the birthplace of democracy, the theatre, and the Olympics.
Greek is one of the oldest languages in the world that is still used.

Culture Fest Family Feature: The Hormes Family, Mexico

Favorite Food: Pan de Muerto or Mexican Hot Chocolate

Fun Facts:

Mexico is comprised of 31 states.
The predominant language spoken is Spanish, but the federal government recognizes 68 linguistic groups and 364 varities of indigenous languages, with Nahuatl being the most widely spoken by more than 1.7 million.

Culture Fest Family Feature: The Torres Family, Dominican Republic

Favorite Food: Majarete (Crema Dulce de Maíz Tierno - Corn Pudding)

Fun Facts:

The Dominican Republic is the only country in the world with a Bible on the flag!
It is popular internationally for the merengue music and dance style.
Exceptionally talented baseball players such as Sammy Sosa, Pedro Martinez, and David Ortiz are from the Dominican Republic.

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