Humber College covered the e-concourse at the North campus in green on Friday, creating a St. Patrick’s Day event that many students enjoyed attending, some for the first time.
“I just want to enjoy myself here,” said Vandana Dhiman, a first-year Wireless Telecommunication student.
Dhiman told Humber News that she is unfamiliar with the event and joined the First Year Experience students to engage with other students and educate herself on Irish culture.
Vandana Dhiman, a first-year Wireless Telecommunication student, told Humber News she was excited to learn more about the Irish culture.
“I’m from India so I don’t know what St.Patrick’s Day is and I want to know more,” she said.
March 17 around the world is a celebration for the Roman Catholic patron saint of Ireland.
Originally celebrated with religious feasts and services, St. Patrick’s Day became a secular celebration of Irish culture when it reached North America with Irish immigrants.
The First Year Experience students decorated the e-concourse all in green, from green tablecloths to green streamers for its photo booth, also set up was a cotton candy machine, colouring sheets, a cookie decorating table, a Karaoke machine and a scavenger hunt.
FYE hosts St.Patrick's day at the e-concourse at the North Campus. Photo credit: Khiana Gutierrez
Linda Persaud, a Student Life Facilitator at Humber College, told Humber News that the importance behind the cultural events on campus is to have students interact with one another, especially after the pandemic.
Linda Persaud, a Student Life Facilitator at Humber College, told Humber News she does not celebrate St. Patrick's day. However, she wants to create student experiences for on campus students. Photo credit: Khiana Gutierrez
“One of the reasons I believe that is truly important to having these events at Humber has a lot to due to the fact that were coming out to the pandemic right now,” Persaud said.
“A lot of our student are missing the community sense, so this is one of the first years that we are running a lot of our events in person and on campus, so students get the chance to mix and mingle with new students,” she said.
Persaud told Humber News that Humber students enjoy the “enriching” events that highlight their culture such as Lunar New Year, International Women’s Day, Diwali and more, which is the reason FYE tries to incorporate cultural events into their planned calendar.
Shiwani Prajapati, a first-year Paralegal student, was in attendance for the St. Patrick’s Day event to socialize with Humber students since this is her first year on campus and at the school.
Shiwani Prajapati, a first-year Paralegal student, was in attendance for the St. Patrick’s day event at Humber to socialize with Humber students. Photo credit: Khiana Gutierrez
“I came for networking and to learn about St. Patrick’s Day,” Prajapati said.
She told Humber News that she is an International student, and what she perceived of the event was a day to get together and wear all green.
“I just saw green and learned that on St. Patrick’s day everything is green,” she said.
According to the National Geographical website, “Leprechauns are actually one reason you’re supposed to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day or risk getting pinched! The tradition is tied to traditional customs that say wearing green makes you invisible to leprechauns.”