Research two cultural celebrations from the First People of Australia

Explain what the celebration is about and its relevance to the First People and consider how it is similar or different to your own culture.

Cultural Celebration 1 from Aboriginal group

What is the celebration?

What does the celebration represent?

How is it celebrated?

How could you share this information with pre-school aged children?

Cultural Celebration 2 from Torres Strait Islander group

What is the celebration?

What does the celebration represent?

How is it celebrated?

How could you share this information with pre-school aged children?"

Dances of the first people of Australia from cultural celebrations.

 Cultural Celebration 1: Corroboree

 What is the Celebration?

 Corroboree is a ceremony held by the Aboriginal Australians people. It encompasses dance, music as well as rite of passage related events, histories and cultural practices.

 What do You Think represents the Celebration?

 From within Corroboree we can derive meanings that relate to a form of entertainment, as well as a way in which the Aboriginal people can get in touch with their culture, tradition, stories and history in the form of performance. it is a way of cultural and social belonging and self-identification.

 How is it Celebrated?

 The event entails arm waving, twirling and ball bouncing accompanied by recitals and chanting by performers in traditonal regalia including body paint and boomerangs or didgeridos. As part of their cultural dance, these performances may recount Dreamtime – a set of cosmological myths that recount the formation of the world and the things within it. The events also entail taking meals together in groups or in other cultural practices that are activity related.

 What might you do to explain this to pre-school aged children?

 Storytelling and Interactive Activities: Aboriginal Dreamtime; books or stories that should be within the age group and should contain illustrations and some explanation of Aboriginal culture on a basic level. Develop such things as basic celebrations in form of dances or songs which are similar to those performed by the Aboriginal in order to give the children a glimpse of what it feels like to be a part of the celebration. Also the colored picture of wearing traditional clothes and body painting improves teaching of the aspect of the Corroboree.

 Second cultural event is the Torres Strait Islander Festival also known as Badu Island Cultural Festival.

 What is the Celebration?

 Torres Strait Islander Festival is a cultural festival which is in particular prevalent in Badu Island and is held annually, showcasing the Torres Strait Islander culture. Some of the activities it covers are music, dancing, art and woodworking.

 Celebrate What it Stands For?

 The festival is showcasing the vibrant capability of the Torres Strait Islander people in terms of arts. There are cultural benefits as it is a chance to appreciate and promote traditional way of living, cultural identity and togetherness of a community.

 How is it Celebrated?

 Traditional dance, music, drum, and vocal music, art exhibitions and sales of locally made handcrafts are displayed and sold . It contains traditional games and others activities and skills and arts including weaving and carving. The event is a colourful presentation of the cultural diversity of the Torres Strait Islander people.

 In what ways can you explain this information to children who are at the age of preschool going?

 Arts and Crafts Projects: All kids should be exposed to easy craft work mimic rite Torres Strait Islander art, for example one may decide to make a mask or patterns with colorful items. Employ the use of immoralisation,written and oral communication to pass messages and information on the festival. Play a different tune on the laptop and guide the children to dance to it or to move around and find some of the features of that tune in their play.

 Comparison with Own Culture

 Similarities: Each of these festivals, as it is the case with most of the cultural festivities across the globe, helps to foster unity among people, preserve their culture and educate them through performance, narratives and actions in large groups.

 Differences: Relative to the particular practices, the customs and practices of honoring this particular event are quite diverse. For instance, the Corroborees of Aboriginal peoples entail elaborate painting of the body and specific dance patterns that are related to Dreamtime stories while the festivals arranged by the Torres Strait Islanders tend to be an appreciation of their seafaring origins and the art forms associated with their island way of life. Such differences call attention to the dynamism of cultural processes as the ways in which people assert their identities and communicate customs.

 These cultural celebrations are arranged and observed and when you explain or introduce these festivals to children you assist in creating an understanding of cultural differences and acknowledging the cultural heritage of the Aboriginal people of Australia.