From handmade garments to garb totaling around $500, HHS culture day brought out diverse roots found in the hallways. Staff members Muhamed Kareem, Yolanda Blake and Valentina Sokolyuk all celebrated their heritage through their dress.

Blake, native to Argentina, dressed as a “china”, (which is a nickname for a women in Argentina). She made the dress herself.

“The colors of the dress are on purpose. It’s the blue and white of the Argentinian flag,” Blake said. Her hair was also in the traditionally long braid, and she carried a mate container.

“[Mate] is green tea. Chinas serve it for the gauchos [an Argentine cowboy] breakfast. A metal straw filters the loose tea leaf,” Blake said.

Sokolyuk celebrated her Ukrainian roots with a handmade top from her home country.

“My husband bought [the blouse] when he was in Ukraine,” Sokolyuk said. The shirt is one that would most likely be worn for special occasions like parades or weddings, and the pattern is very common in Ukrainian culture.

“[Ukrainians] likes cross-stitches… and the red, black, and white [coloring] traditional Ukrainian costume,” Sokolyuk said.

Kareem’s three piece traditional Kurdish clothing cost $500, and he had to go to Kurdistan to buy all of it.

“The pants are called sharwal. The top is called mrad kani, and the middle [belt] is called pittishan. The [scarf] is jamadani,” Kareem said. His shoes- klash- were also expensive.

“[Klash] cannot go in water because all they are, are layers of wool pressed by machines,” Kareem said.

This clothing is also for special events. Kareem specifies its use for Nauroz, the Persian and Iranian new year on March 31, and Eid, a religious holiday.

“[The clothes are] part of our culture,” Kareem said.