As I'm planning my wedding, there are a lot of Celtic themes and traditions I want to incorporate. As I'm doing this, I'm realizing that's the heritage I most identify with. It's weird, it's really not something I'd thought about much before. I'm just as Slovak, Eastern European, as I am a Celt, if not more so because that side of the family got here in the 19-teens, whereas the Celts got here.... maybe before the American Revolutionary war.
It's the culture; it's the history, music, traditions, tales, religion - as a bridge between Christianity and Paganism, it's that my Mamgu (grandmother) reads Gaelic poetry and prayers at family functions.
Anyway, it's an interesting moment, at 28, to suddenly think about your identity. As a white-bread american, I kind of blend in. The first taste I got of recognizing my identity was while I was in New Zealand. There, it was the first time I really saw myself as an American (I know that sounds weird,) but as Americans, we identify ourselves as our heritage: Polish, German, English, Irish, Chinese, African etc. Outside the "walls" of this country, everyone else just sees us as Americans.
We are the children of the world.
In New Zealand, riding on the bus, I could be a fellow countrywoman; until I opened my mouth to say "thank you" to the bus driver with my American accent, instead of "cheers" in a Kiwi accent.
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The question is do those Kiwis like Americans? I hate how we as "Americans" have to categorize eachother. You want Celtic themes in your wedding. Someone may ask why do you? And you will explain that it is your heritage. That is great and everything, but that does that mean that someone who doesn't have that heritage can't have Celtic themes in their wedding. We pick eachother apart too much. I say design your wedding in a way that will make you happy. Put whatever theme you want into it without pushing for its meaning. If anyone asks you about why you are doing it. Tell them your New Zealand story and then walk away. Give those Americans something to ponder
ReplyDeleteYou are a lovely woman and a gifted writer. I am glad to know you, and proud to be your relative.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm supposed to comment on the content of the entry, but for me, context is everything.