Over 300 Students Get Involved in Cultures Day 2018

Cultures Day is held annually at HSE University in St. Petersburg. This year, it was celebrated on May 24, 2018. International and domestic students came together to share their traditions, customs and heritage.

Participation in such event is always a great opportunity for students to get to know each other better, learn something new and get acquainted with different cultures in the centre of St. Petersburg.

This year, over 300 students from 13 countries attended the event which took place in a modern campus building on Kantemirovskaya street.

The hall on the fourth floor looked like a kaleidoscope of colorful patterns - traditional costumes and objects, ethnic music and appetizing dishes. Students had fun trying their hand at traditional dances and tasting the different national specialities.   

Cultures Day was organized by HSE students from CIS and Baltic Countries Association and the Erasmus Student Network section at HSE University in St. Petersburg, with the support of the International Office and the Unit for Student Extracurricular Activities.

The celebration included contests and performances. While some students performed authentic dances and folk songs, others offered to teach the basics of their languages, test students' knowledge of the geography of their countries and of course serve traditional food and drinks in order to showcase their home cultures.

According to an audience vote, Israel put together the most artistic performance and Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and again Israel were recognized as the winners of the 'most creative desk design' contest.

A group of students from University of Dayton (USA), who have been participating in a two-week study abroad programme entitled 'Tolstoy’s Russia', also had a chance to attend Cultures Day.

They kindly agreed to share their impressions of the event.

I really liked it. I am super interested in learning the cultures in the world and meeting new people and learning about them also having them learn a little bit about me. This is probably one of my favourite parts of the trip. 

Emily Ruebelman
Visiting student

I thought it was very interesting. You see more of Eastern European, European, more of the middle East and the Caucasus area, so it is pretty interesting to see.

Eric Sheffield
Visiting student

I think the cultural programme is eye-opening and important for the students to participate in and understand themselves as one of many foreigners, one of many international groups of students.

Caroline Merithew
Associate Professor of History

Many thanks to all the participants for the joy and fun they brought to campus life!