83rd Annual Holiday Folk Fair International Theme
Celebrate the Culture of Traditional Dance
Traditional dance is more than movement. It is a living expression of culture—carried through rhythm, gesture, and shared experiences across generations. Across the world, dance has long been a way for communities to preserve identity, celebrate milestones, and pass down stories that words alone cannot fully express.
In Mexico, folklórico dance brings history to life through vibrant costumes and expressive choreography, reflecting regional traditions and the blending of Indigenous and Spanish influences. In India, classical dances such as Bharatanatyam use intricate hand gestures and precise movements to tell stories rooted in mythology, spirituality, and devotion. In Poland, traditional dances like the Polonaise and Mazurka embody national pride and heritage, often performed during celebrations and formal gatherings, with graceful movements that reflect both elegance and cultural identity.
Across Polynesian cultures, dance is deeply connected to storytelling and nature. Hawaiian hula, for example, uses fluid movements and chants to preserve history, honor the land, and pass knowledge from one generation to the next.
Each step, each motion, carries meaning. Dance is not only performed—it is felt, shared, and experienced together.
Across continents and cultures, dance creates connection. It brings people into the same space, inviting them to witness, participate, and understand one another beyond language. It reminds us that while traditions may differ, the desire to express, celebrate, and belong is something we all share.
The Holiday Folk Fair International continues this tradition of connection. For more than 80 years, it has brought the world to Milwaukee—creating a space where cultures are not only showcased, but truly experienced. Through dance, music, food, and storytelling, communities share what is most meaningful to them.
This year, as we celebrate DANCE, we celebrate movement as a universal language—one that invites us all to step in, learn, and connect.
Because when we dance, we don’t just observe culture.
We become part of it.
2025 Featured Food: Celebratory Cultural Foods
Food is social. In all areas of the world, humans use food as a tool to bond, socialize, and connect.
Foods and recipes passed down from generation to generation are about more than just nutrition; they are living links to cultural heritage and traditions. Food is symbolic of celebration and an integral part of any celebration in many cultures.
In China, food served at weddings has meaning. Main dishes include fish, chicken, and noodles. The Chinese word for fish sounds like the word for plentiful, so the serving of this dish wishes the couple abundance. Chicken is always served whole, with its head and feet, to represent a complete family and a fulfilling life. Noodles represent long life due to their long strands of noodles.
The Dutch give their new mothers a sweet and colorful treat after the birth of their child — biscuits with mice. The mice are sugar-covered seeds of aniseed, which are meant to symbolize fertility and help new moms with milk flow. The seeds are colored differently based on the gender of the baby: blue and white for boys and pink and white for girls. In addition, bringing any treats and celebrating a new child, grandchild, niece, or nephew at work or school is common in Holland.
For comfort after the loss of a loved one, Ukrainians serve kolache at celebrations of life. Kolache is a braided, round bread with a hole in the middle symbolizing eternity and the circle of life. The bottom layer of the cake is shared with mourners, while some other parts of the bread are saved, dried, or varnished for display in homes as memorials.
There’s nothing that brings people together like food. It’s the vessel that helps introduce people from different backgrounds and helps us understand one another.
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