In a society increasingly dominated by social media, smart devices, and artificial intelligence, one wonders if there is still room for coming together to share hopes, dreams, ideas, and the moments and stories that made us who we are. This, after all, is our culture.
I remember when the culture of a particular community, school, church, or other social hub brought people together for something meaningful, such as an annual festival, seasonal ritual, or traditional celebration. In certain ways, that’s still the case today, with many cultural events on the calendar.
You can get a taste of Irish culture in Butte on St. Patrick’s Day or at the annual An Ri Ra Festival in August. For a touch of German culture, many places around the state celebrate Oktoberfest, including Helena next month. To honor Hispanic culture, we have Cinco de Mayo and Dia de Los Muertos events. Personally, I’ve had the good fortune to one time be in New Orleans for Mardi Gras.
