The Japan Information & Culture Center, JICC, hosted an exhibit from June 30th to July 31th that showcased traditional Japanese miniatures.
Category: News
The Japan Information & Culture Center, JICC, hosted an exhibit from June 30th to July 31th that showcased traditional Japanese miniatures. Walking through was like stepping 200 years into the past, mixing traditional architecture with playfulness and color. Not only do the miniatures have significant historical implications being from the Edo period (1615-1868), but the endearing tiny recreations were sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face.
Immediately when I entered, the traditional Japanese windows lining the right side of the room and lights angled down to shine on the pieces provided an escape from the bustling street outside. The atmosphere invited visitors to wander from podium to podium where the miniatures were placed, taking in the unique wonders: extremely small deer, chickens, people and more.
Each stand was fashioned with a magnifying glass to see in higher quality the intricate designs in the miniatures, which elevated the beauty crafted into each piece. Certain buildings, such as the Kabuki Theatre, Tobacco Shop, and Matoi (fire flag) were especially vibrant with shades of red, blue, purple and green. Explanations accompanying some of the pieces were helpful, while others such as the sushi shop and chicken coop were self explanatory.
The miniatures were collected by Carol Collins, a retired 6th grade teacher. She spent the latter part of her life running her own children’s entertainment business primarily dressed as a clown, red nose and all. Her junior year of college was spent in Japan, where she developed an immense appreciation for the culture she experienced there. It was during that year, 1964, when she collected all the miniatures presented in the exhibit.
The recreations made it feel like stepping back through time, taking a glimpse at how buildings used to be constructed and decorated. Small pieces of painted wood, bundles of straw, and textured roofs all gave a life to the miniature houses.
“That’s what these little villages looked like, and they’re from the 1800s, those little shops. That’s just interesting to me to see that. When I was there, even, some of those little shops looked like that in 1963,” Collins said. “They’re all handmade with balsa wood, and it’s just amazing how they kept the colors on the little flag shop there. They're 60 years old and they never faded!”
Normally, the miniatures live in Collins’ special encasement in her home, showing how much she values them.
“I have a beautiful showcase since I got them, and I keep them in there behind glass. My own cabinet has four shelves and I have all the different ones in a lighted area behind glass. That’s why they didn’t fade; they were protected,” she said.
Previously, the miniatures were displayed in three different libraries as a result of Collins’ advocating. Admirably, she is dedicated to preserving her treasured mini shops and figurines, and already has a plan for their future.
“These are all I have, and it’s rare to even have that. I find people online who have one or two and try to sell them. Some of them are $200 a piece, or $150,” Collins said. “I don’t want to sell them, I just want them to be donated as long as they’re going to be used for people to see.”
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer Wayne Davis had a distinguished 18-year career with the force. That all ended when his homosexuality was discovered after he visited a gay bar.
“I was called into administration one day, and they said ‘Someone saw you in a gay bar. Why were you in a gay bar?’ I guess I could have said I was there with a gay friend but I was tired and a little bit defiant. I simply said ‘I was in a gay bar because I’m gay,’” Davis told Global News.
Davis's story is one of many featured in Love in a Dangerous Time: Canada’s LGBT Purge, a pop-up exhibition at the Embassy of Canada by the LGBT Purge Fund and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. The title of the exhibition is a play on the popular Canadian song, “Lovers in a Dangerous Time,” by Bruce Cockburn, famously covered by The Barenaked Ladies.
The exhibition details the history of the 2SLGBTQI+ purge in Canada, which was a government campaign that investigated, harassed and expelled 2SLGBTQI+ members of the Canadian Armed Forces, RCMP and federal public service. Over several decades, countless 2SLGBTQI+ individuals were subject to human rights violations by their own government.
A uniquely Canadian term, 2SLGBTQI+ stands for Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and others. Two-Spirit is a term often used by Indigenous populations to describe a person whose identity encompasses both male and female spirits.
“What stays with me is the legacy of these amazing individuals,” Riva Harrison, the museum’s vice‐president for External Relations and Community Engagement said in a promotional video June 20. “They stood up and said no to the most daunting of employers, the Canadian government.”
Harrison shared in the video that one of the most meaningful parts of her job was working with survivors of the purge, when countless Canadians lost their employment in the military, the RCMP and the civil service.
Written in French and English, the exhibition also details legislative and political wins in the country in the struggle for 2SLGBTQI+ rights. Included in the exhibition is a significant milestone when in 2017, former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized for historical injustices against the LGBT community during a speech in the House of Commons.
"It is with shame and sorrow and deep regret for the things we have done that I stand here today and say: We were wrong. We apologise. I am sorry. We are sorry," Trudeau said in the house chamber.
Additionally, Trudeau’s father, former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, also enacted sweeping changes to the criminal code, partially decriminalizing queer sex between men over the age of 21. However, many 2SLGBTQI+ people still continued to be arrested for expressing their sexuality.
This pop-up exhibition has been on tour throughout locations in Canada, from Alberta, to British Columbia, and to Ontario. It will currently be situated at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C., until August 29, before moving its final destination to the National Arts Centre in Ontario.
This travelling exhibition complements a more comprehensive exhibition, Love in a Dangerous Time: Canada's LGBT Purge, which is open at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg until early 2026. Meanwhile, this pop‐up exhibition consists of three square pods that contain images and texts, as well as a bilingual video.
“This pop‐up exhibition speaks to decades of human rights violations against 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians who wanted to serve their country and the brave activists who fought back. It is designed to educate and inspire Canadians to help create a future in which the rights of all 2SLGBTQI+ people are respected,” the museum’s website states.
The exhibit will run until September 5th, 2025. The Embassy of Canada’s gallery is open to the public Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, free of charge, at 501 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. The embassy is accessible via bus and Metro, and hosts bike parking on-site.
In a joint collaboration between producers from Denmark, France, Ukraine and the United States, Olivier Sarbil’s documentary Viktor, screened at the DC/DOX Film Festival, granted the audience a glimpse into what it’s like living in the midst of one of the worst conflicts in Europe since World War II as a young, deaf person.
As Viktor, our titular subject living in Kharkiv, watches an old Japanese movie about samurais with his mother in their living room, the atmosphere of familial warmth shields the outside ongoing violence in Ukraine.
Viktor has a passion for photojournalism, arms, and samurais. He lives with his mother while he tries to navigate his place in the war. Viktor’s father, who passed away before the events of the film, instilled in him a love for old Japanese tales about warriors and swords. Viktor dreamt of fighting for his homeland of Ukraine, defending it in the face of Russian aggression. But as a deaf man, the army denies him the opportunity to fight.
Shot in black and white, the film utilizes elaborate sound designs to mimic Viktor’s hearing impairment—he is only able to hear with a very limited capacity through the use of hearing aids. However, his passion for photojournalism landed him a position as a volunteer photographer for the Ukrainian army, where he was able to follow them through missions and capture the experiences of the soldiers in the war.
In a Q&A panel after the screening, Viktor, Sarbil, and producer Brendan Naylor took questions from the organizers and the audience. Viktor participated through sign language, with two interpreters for Ukrainian and English sign languages.
Viktor shared with the audience what he thought the central message of the film was.
“You know, there are people who do something because they're forced to do it and there are people who do it out of passion—to do something just from a place of passion, and I relate to the second. You know, I do everything with passion. So for me it was very important to be involved in some capacity, whatever that was,” Viktor said.
Viktor added that while he was not allowed to participate in the war as a soldier alongside hearing soldiers, the message is not so much that you have to be one thing, but it is in reality about finding your passion. Sarbil noted that he thought it took immense courage and bravery for Viktor to have volunteered as a deaf person. As someone who is also partially deaf, the film also presented a personal issue for Sarbil.
“Something that's special about how Olivier works is he's truly a one man band,” Naylor said. “It's him and his field producers/tripod holder/fixer/driver. Olivier is doing sound. He's shooting. He's doing everything, which allows for this level of intimacy with his contributors, but also working in a war zone enables him to be incredibly nimble. You know, I think at the beginning of the shoot we had security detail with you and like [you said] ‘You’ve gotta get them off my back’ Iike, you know, ‘I have better instincts than these guys, and I'll be able to move safer on my own.’”
Sarbil said while the cinematography was cinematic, he didn’t plan for it to unfold in that way beforehand.
“That special relationship with my contributor that really allowed me to have a very organic approach, for example, for the black and white sense of the world, they decided to shoot it in black and white,” Sarbil shared. “Just really staying in his space and putting the camera on a tripod and waiting to have the action happening on the lens rather than to rush [with a handheld camera].”
“My intention was to also show that deaf people are capable of producing work that [is], you know, better or as good as or better than anyone else,” Viktor said, “and so, I wanted to be proud of the work that I did and I wanted to display it in a way that would would basically show what I was experiencing throughout that—the experience of the war and filming of the events of the war and just to show the genuine experience. So really what I was doing was living my life and all of you were just following me around.”
The DC/DOX Film Festival showcases different documentaries in Washington, D.C. to foster collaboration and celebrate documentary filmmaking globally. The event occurs each year in D.C. over four days in June.
The Embassy of Australia hosted educator, performer, and artist Cameron McCarthy on Friday, July 11, for two workshops celebrating Indigenous Australian culture. With just under 20 participants, the event offered an intimate setting centered on storytelling—particularly through Indigenous symbols in artwork and traditional sounds in music. McCarthy moved seamlessly from performance and demonstration into a small group discussion.
He began by sharing his background in Australia and his current role teaching middle school social studies in New York, where he has lived since the early 2000s. A lifelong performer of Indigenous Australian dance and didgeridoo, McCarthy’s family originates from Queensland in northern Australia. He brought several instruments from the region and opened the hour-long session with the deep tones of the didgeridoo.
In one sweeping gesture, he played the didgeridoo while pointing it toward each person in the room. He later noted that beeswax is applied to the mouthpiece to prevent splinters and create an airtight seal for better sound projection. He demonstrated how the instrument mimics animal sounds—such as the kookaburra and kangaroo—which are used in storytelling across Indigenous cultures.
McCarthy then introduced tapping sticks—two small, rounded sticks that produce rhythmic sounds when struck together. Different types of wood create different tones, he explained, just as the length of a didgeridoo affects its pitch: the longer the instrument, the deeper the sound.
The workshop also explored Aboriginal Australian art symbols. Handouts featured diagrams of common markings and their meanings. McCarthy highlighted the upside-down “U” shape, which signifies a seated person, and explained how gender is denoted: a spear next to the male figure, a digging tool beside the female.
After thirty minutes of demonstrating the instruments and their cultural significance, the group split into two. Adults and children alike used the brightly-colored markers and paper provided to explore their creativity in connection with Indigenous Australian traditions, while McCarthy answered questions from the remaining attendees.
Many attendees asked about traditional dances, which McCarthy continues to perform. To a small group gathered around him, he demonstrated styles including "shake a leg" and a desert-region shuffle, where dancers kick up dirt by moving their feet side to side.
Using a map of Indigenous Australia, McCarthy traced his family's lineage, explaining his descent from the Kuku-Yalanji people and additional roots in the Yidinjdji and Mbabaram communities. He speaks Kuku-Yalanji and noted that shared vocabulary across dialects allows him to also understand Yidinjdji and Djabuganjdji.
At the end of the session, McCarthy showed several boomerangs he had brought—each made of smoothed wood and painted with colorful Indigenous symbols. He explained the aerodynamics: boomerangs rounded on both sides fly straight, while those with one flat and one curved side return to the thrower. He closed with a series of playful didgeridoo tricks, including speaking through the instrument.
McCarthy’s presentation offered a vivid introduction to the music, dance, and storytelling traditions of Indigenous Australian culture. His attention to detail and approachable style created a relaxed, conversational space for cultural learning in the Embassy of Australia’s LEED-certified building on Scott Circle.
For Swedes living in the United States, few traditions evoke a stronger sense of home and nostalgia than gathering around a maypole and singing the classic midsommar songs.
On Friday, June 20, the Embassy of Sweden hosted its first-ever Midsummer celebration at the Sylvan Theater on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The free, open-air event drew a large crowd and featured live music, trivia, and the traditional maypole dance. Midsummer, Sweden’s solstice celebration, marks one of the country’s most cherished holidays.
Several dignitaries attended, including Urban Ahlin, Swedish Ambassador to the United States, and Maria Malmer Stenergard, Sweden’s Minister for Migration and former Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Ambassador Ahlin opened the evening with personal reflections on his childhood visits to Washington, recalling his fascination with the John Ericsson Memorial—a tribute to the Swedish-American engineer who designed the ironclad USS Monitor during the U.S. Civil War.
“I felt like a globetrotter coming to this wonderful town. Being here, lots of politics. And then I saw this monument of John Ericsson, and I [was] like, ‘wow, he was here long before I was a globetrotter,’” Ahlin said. “‘Oh, he invented the ironclad warship Monitor. Oh, he played an important role in the Civil War. And he has a monument at the National Mall.’”
Ericsson’s contributions led to the designation of the Monitor’s resting place as the first national marine sanctuary. Ahlin continued: “And [they] decided in 1916 of the American Congress that we should celebrate John Ericsson at that monument down there—that’s worth an applause.”
Ahlin used the anecdote to underscore the longstanding ties between Sweden and the United States, emphasizing why it was fitting to hold Sweden’s most iconic festival in such a symbolic location.
Minister Stenergard echoed the sentiment. “Swedes and Americans are building a shared future every day based on honest work and open arms. Together, we are pioneering the future,” she said. “This friendship is worth celebrating, and I am beyond happy to do it with all of you here today.”
Following the speeches, organizers led attendees to the maypole, placed next to the stage, where people of all ages danced in circles and sang traditional songs—including one that involves mimicking pig sounds: kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack.
Interactive activities surrounded the theater. Guests could scan a QR code to take a Midsummer trivia quiz via Google Forms. Those who answered all questions correctly were awarded small souvenirs, such as wallets and midsommarkrans (flower crowns). Additional stations offered Swedish candy and DIY crown-making kits.
In between performances, participants competed in on-stage trivia games about Sweden. Winners received gift baskets courtesy of Swedish furniture giant IKEA.
Throughout the evening, musical performances ranged from Swedish folk and choral arrangements to jazz and pop. Acts included Lillalag Choir, Washington’s Spelmanslag, and a Swedish jazz trio featuring vocalist Tina Hashemi.
The night’s headliner was Gunhild Carling, known as the “Queen of Swing.” Her high-energy set included American jazz standards, an original song she said she once performed for King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, and a lively crowd-led New Orleans style-parade.
But the most anticipated moment came when Carling performed on three trumpets simultaneously, a feat highlighted repeatedly by the event’s hosts. The audience responded with enthusiastic applause and impromptu swing dancing.
The evening closed with a group sing-along of ABBA’s “Thank You for the Music.” Although a technical glitch cut the song short, embassy staff and attendees finished the chorus together, using phone flashlights to light the stage and honor the organizers.
In a lecture at the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center, Dr. Allen Fromherz, author of The Center of the World, argued that the Persian Gulf has not only been central to world history but has also played a crucial role in trade and cultural development.
In a wide-ranging discussion that included a question-and-answer session, Fromherz examined Oman’s importance to Middle Eastern history, emphasizing the region’s geography, cultural traditions, and political patterns that allowed the Gulf to avoid complete domination by imperial powers.
Opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Majid Al Khalili, executive director of the cultural center. After some light-hearted remarks about historians who struggle to narrow their focus, Al Khalili acknowledged the depth and breadth of Fromherz’s scholarship.
Using photographs of relevant cultural artifacts and landmarks, Fromherz described a distinctive cultural dynamic in Oman.
“The people of the Gulf as a whole have managed to square the circle of identity,” Fromherz said. “How can you be in a cosmopolitan sense, inspired by others, but also maintain identity? This is [where] I think the Gulf shows their own distinctive cosmopolitanism because they are able to maintain distinctive cultural identities along the Gulf, even though people of the Gulf have moved in vast distances across the ocean.”
Fromherz’s book is structured around key Gulf ports that shaped the region’s development. In the lecture, he moved fluidly from the ancient trading center of Dilmun to Basra, then to Siraf in the Medieval Gulf, concluding with the Strait of Hormuz.
The consistent thread across these periods was Oman’s central role in maritime trade. From supplying copper and diorite during the earliest phases of international trade with Dilmun to becoming a nation whose population is now largely composed of foreign nationals, Oman has remained integral to the Gulf’s historical and economic trajectory.
Fromherz noted a compelling contrast: while agriculture historically anchored most economies, Oman followed a different model. Trade and commerce, rather than farming, shaped the Gulf’s economic identity—setting it apart from nearby imperial centers.
With a relaxed and humorous tone, Fromherz connected with the audience through relatable anecdotes as he discussed the region’s major ports. He compared brief conversations with strangers on airplanes to the more immersive relationships formed aboard trading ships centuries ago.
“You had to become friends with people very different from you, you know. You couldn’t just sleep the whole time. You had to find a place to practice, to pray the way that you pray versus the way that they pray,” Fromherz said. “That experience of being on the ship, I think embodies—and of course you’re subject to the same winds, the same storms, you’re subject to the same fate—I think embodies that kind of cosmopolitan experience from people leaving and coming back to the Gulf constantly.”
Challenging conventional assumptions, Fromherz summarized several arguments from his book. He refuted the idea that Siraf, during its height in the Medieval Gulf, was eclipsed by the Red Sea. Instead, he asserted the Gulf remained a vital commercial and cultural corridor, supported by evidence from Jewish traders, as well as period legends and oral histories.
He also addressed Portuguese influence in the region. While neighboring areas experienced colonization, Fromherz contended that Oman’s case was distinct. Rather than being fully subjugated, Omani society and the broader Gulf system had a transformative effect on the Portuguese.
“[The Gulf system] prioritized lower custom duty, getting as many merchants as possible. It wasn’t about agriculture, it was about trade. And [the Portuguese] caught on to this very quickly. So when the inquisition happened, they went to Brazil. It stopped before getting to Hormuz,” Fromherz said. “There were a couple attempts to destroy mosques and churches, but these were quickly reversed on the orders of the king of Portugal himself, because he knew it would destroy the font of silver coming from Hormuz.”
Throughout his presentation, Fromherz made a compelling case for the Gulf’s longstanding relevance. His clear and accessible explanations brought historical complexity into focus, underscoring the enduring importance of Oman and the Gulf.
“It’s not that the Gulf has suddenly become like the rest of the world. It’s that the rest of the world has become like the way the Gulf was, and always has been,” Fromherz said.
Frida Kahlo is internationally renowned for her art, but a recent exhibition at the Mexican Cultural Institute blended her artistic legacy with her culinary traditions.
The exhibition, presented by Jarritos and hosted by the Mexican Cultural Institute of the Embassy of Mexico in the U.S., was staged in honor of the Institute’s 35th anniversary. Mara Cristina and Mara de Anda, two great-granddaughters of the famed Mexican painter, joined the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The exhibition is divided into three sections showcasing aspects of Kahlo’s personal life, including her food recipes and a replica of the Kahlo family kitchen, which is situated outside of the historic building. Multiple statues of Kahlo were also installed in the solarium.
A representative from Jarritos, Kahlo’s great-granddaughters, MCI Executive Director Alejandra Martínez Silva, and Rafael Ruvalcaba—chef, business leader, and host of Los Sabores de mi México—were present at the opening.
“This particular ‘Fridas’ that you see out here, I believe they're a total of 10 or 14. I don't recall, but they were painted by local artists in Mexico City,” Ruvalcaba told Diplomatica Global. A “Frida” is a statue of Kahlo. “For anybody that's there, they can do a scan on their phone, it will take them to who is the actual artist.”
Another part of the exhibition featured a display of Kahlo’s family recipes.
“This particular exhibition also brings something very good, which is, which is the cuisine with the launching of the cookbook,” Ruvalcaba added. “To me, everyone that knows Frida, the fact that she literally put together and or saved all these little recipes and notes. Before she passed away, she handed them to her sister Cristina. ‘Here you go, do whatever you want with them,’ right?”
These recipes have been compiled into a cookbook, which is now available for purchase.
“So they've stayed with the family. All of these little writings of the food and so forth. And a little bit of this, a little bit of that. And finally, the family thought, ‘you know what? We should do something about it,’” Ruvalcaba added. “So they went ahead and chose a great chef out of Mexico City, her name is Monica Patino. She went and looked at all the recipes and then dialed in the exact amounts, right, so that every one of us can know a teaspoon exactly.”
The kitchen, in particular, Ruvalcaba said, could not have been made without the support of the family of Kahlo.
“The key here is being able to work with the actual family, who, without their support, we couldn't make this happen,” he added. “This particular exhibition showcases and comes from different angles of the family, right? The frontage of the house is a replica of the actual house in Mexico.”
The house is still there. In fact, the family lived in it up until last year, when plans were made for it to become a museum. That inauguration will take place on September 27. The red house, or “Casa Roja,” is adjacent to the famous “Casa Azul,” another museum about Kahlo which opened in 1958.
“Frida was such an icon, and everything she did, from the artwork and so forth, was really for the people,” Ruvalcaba added. “She really traveled all over the world with her husband, David Rivera, promoting the indigenous people, promoting the artwork, promoting the cuisine, in fact, everywhere she went, she dressed in that indigenous clothing. So she was always promoting Mexico and Indigenous people.”
The exhibit ran from June 6-28 at the Mexican Cultural Institute.
In partnership with the Embassy of Poland, Polish filmmaker Marcin Modzelewski’s short film Lift Lady had its North American premiere at the DC/DOX Film Festival, along with four other short films in a collection entitled: “Or Forever Hold Your Peace.”
Lift Lady follows Mzia, a woman who maintains a coin-operated elevator in post-Soviet Tbilisi, Georgia. The elevator leads to a sky bridge that connects an entire block of apartment buildings, making it a crucial aspect of life for the community it serves. Despite its significance to these people, the elevator is an often-malfunctioning relic of the Soviet era, and problems arise for Mzia and the community when the lift breaks down.
At just under 25 minutes running time, Lift Lady is an evocative film that tells the story not just of one elevator, but of a woman’s life, a community, a country, and its history.
In his comments after the screening, Modzelewski said he saw the telling of Mzia’s story as a way to demonstrate the larger cultural context of Georgian society.
“We really wanted to portray Georgian society and the changes which were happening, and which are happening right now, in a society,” said Modzelewski during a Q&A session after the screening. “But making a film [so] wide, talking about [a] whole country, [a] whole nation is not really easy and it's not really possible. So we wanted to extrapolate the characteristics of society and the way of thinking into something smaller. When I realized that we can manage it, to show the changes and show the things which are happening in Georgia as they are happening in a building, in this complex, we just followed through.”
Mzia’s struggles to maintain an elevator and way of life from a bygone era encapsulate the evolving nature of Georgia and Eastern Europe as a whole—both progressing into the modern age while keeping firm, proud roots in the past.
Katarzyna Rybka-Iwańska, Head of Communications and Public Diplomacy at the Embassy of Poland in Washington, D.C., delivered opening remarks prior to the screening. She emphasized Poland’s rich history of producing visionary filmmakers such as Andrzej Fidyk, Krzysztof Kieślowski, and Roman Polanski. Particularly, she pointed to the strong Polish documentarian community.
“The Polish documentary tradition is rich and globally respected. Polish documentarians have received top honors at Cannes, IDFA, Sundance, Berlinale, and other major film festivals. Some of the most powerful contributions have come in the form of geopolitical storytelling. Consider Andrzej Fidyk’s Yodok Stories, a political documentary about North Korean defectors living in South Korea as they create musical stage plays based on their harrowing experiences in the infamous Yodok concentration camp. Or Ewa Ewart’s Who is Putin?, a chillingly prescient film that revealed, long before the global consensus had caught up, the true nature of Vladimir Putin’s regime. These are documentaries that not only inform but also warn, and demand attention from the international community.”
She noted that several of these talented creatives graduated from the Polish Łódź Film School, Modzelewski’s alma mater.
“The Łódź Film School is not only a symbol of cinematic excellence in Poland, but also a global creative powerhouse. It has long been recognized for combining rigorous artistic education with a strong emphasis on ethical storytelling and visual experimentation— qualities that continue to define the next generation of Polish filmmakers, including Marcin himself.”
Finally, she emphasized the success that Lift Lady has already seen within the film community prior to its North American premiere, stating: “The film has already made waves internationally, winning the audience award at the Thessaloniki International Documentary Film Festival, and receiving special recognition at Poland’s renowned Docs Against Gravity.”
The DC/DOX Film Festival brings documentarians and film enthusiasts together in the nation’s capital to celebrate the latest achievements in documentary filmmaking from around the world. The event occurs each year in D.C. over four days in June.
We’re pleased to welcome three outstanding students from William & Mary to the Diplomatica Global Media 2025 Summer Internship Cohort. Based on-site in Washington, DC, they will play a key role in advancing several of our core initiatives, including:
Providing on-the-ground event coverage in the nation’s capital
Expanding our signature Great Reads from Around the World program
Supporting a range of other editorial and strategic projects that align with Diplomatica’s mission
This cohort continues our growing relationship with William & Mary, and we are excited to build on this partnership. These interns bring energy, insight, and a global perspective to our newsroom—qualities that reflect the caliber of both the institution and its students.
As our programs continue to scale, we’re actively working to expand internship opportunities in other diplomatic hubs and for remote placements. Stay tuned for updates as we grow this next phase of Diplomatica’s development.
Abigail Furcy: Abigail is a rising junior at the College of William and Mary, studying government and sociology. She has been reporting on topics important to her for many years, writing for her high school and college newspapers. She currently serves as a Variety Editor for the Flat Hat, aiming to engage with as much of the student body as possible. With a passion for politics, she has been involved in local campaigns on the William and Mary campus. She hopes to further her interest in environmental justice and sustainability through this internship by learning more about how diplomatic properties engage with the environment.
Shannon Raymond: Shannon is a rising junior at the College of William & Mary studying government and economics. She is particularly interested in international political economy and international security. She aims to pursue a doctoral degree in political science.
Peerawut Ruangsawasdi: Peerawaut is a senior studying Government at William & Mary. He loves community-based journalism and is passionate about issues affecting ordinary people. He is excited to help Diplomatica explore Diplomatic micro-cities.
Diplomatica Global Media offers a range of in-person and remote internship opportunities customized to a student’s experiences and interests. To enquire about upcoming opportunities, please contact us.
Days after a tense meeting between President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, a group of tour operators from Skagway crossed the border to meet with their Yukon counterparts.
The event, called a Reunion, is part of a series of ongoing diplomatic efforts designed to lure Canadians back to Alaska amid growing tensions.
Listen to the full story on KHNS, the regional NPR and Alaska Public Media affiliate.
In a move to reinforce diplomatic and economic relations between the United States and Austria, Representatives Greg Murphy (R-NC) and Rick Larsen (D-WA) announced the formation of the bipartisan Congressional Austria Caucus.
The initiative aims to deepen transatlantic cooperation through policy dialogue, cultural exchange, and economic collaboration. The co-chairs emphasized the strategic importance of Austria as a democratic ally and economic partner in Central Europe.
“The United States and Austria share many cultural traditions and enjoy a mutually beneficial friendship,” Murphy and Larsen said in a joint statement. “This caucus will ensure that our cooperation continues to strengthen both our economies and our shared national security interests.”
Austrian Ambassador to the United States Petra Schneebauer welcomed the initiative as a significant milestone in U.S.-Austria relations.
“This is a historic moment in our bilateral relationship,” Schneebauer said. “It creates new opportunities for dialogue and cooperation at a time when transatlantic unity is more important than ever.”
Austria maintains a strong commercial footprint in the U.S., with over 650 Austrian companies operating across the country and supporting more than 40,000 American jobs. The new caucus will serve as a formal mechanism to support and expand these ties across government, business, and cultural sectors.
As part of our May Month of Culture coverage, Diplomatica photographer Stephen Staudigl attended the EU Open House on May 10.
Some gifts are so obvious just from the box that you don’t have to open them to know what is inside. A flat rectangular orange and brown box has to be an Hermès scarf. Dark blue long rectangular boxes must be ties from Brooks Brothers. Other gifts are a big surprise when you open them.
I expected that the Tulip Festival at the Residence of the ambassador from the Netherlands this year would be the first kind of gift. It seemed hard to imagine what could be surprising about a lovely celebration of colorful spring tulips in one of the prettiest embassies in Washington, hosted by the Ambassador, Birgitta Tazelaar, herself. As you approached the Ambassador’s Residence at 2347 S St NW, you were greeted with festive boxes of tall orange tulips on the steps leading to the front door. Clearly, there was a tulip party happening.
However, once inside, the 2025 Tulip Festival, which commemorated the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, was surprisingly moving. This year’s tulip festival celebrated the friendship between the US and the Netherlands at the end of World War II, the flowers in Anne Frank’s short life, the American Military Cemetery in the Netherlands, and our very own Rosie the Riveter.
The commemoration began in the entry hall with a pair of tall photos of Dutch citizens greeting US troops on Liberation Day at the end of the war. Red, white, and blue tulips, evoking the US flag, marched up the steps of the grand marble staircase which was inspired by the staircase at the Petit Trianon in the Palace of Versailles. The staircase was framed with more tulips in clear glass vases hanging from the ceiling. (Who gets to water those tulips?) At the top of the stairs were even more boxes of orange-pink tulips that contrasted beautifully with an impressive modern flower tapestry by Martin van Vreden. The tapestry itself was woven as part of an occupational therapy project for disabled adults in a social work center.
Ambassador Tazelaar, in her welcome speech, talked about the close friendship between the Dutch and US people, which was strengthened by the US soldiers fighting for Dutch freedom. She shared that her own father, at the age of 8, remembered celebrating the arrival of the American soldiers in his town and climbing up on a US tank that day.
Upstairs on the second level of the Residence, in the dining room, was a display of tulips and other spring flowers dedicated to Anne Frank. As the Ambassador explained, in Anne Frank’s diary, she wrote about the much-appreciated gift of flowers from friends and helpers like Miep. On the tables in the dining room were arrangements of spring flowers such as those mentioned in The Diary of Anne Frank. There were bright yellow daffodils, pink and white peonies, carnations, violets, roses, and purple hyacinths, together with quotations from Anne in the diary about the flowers. Besides the occasional gifts of flowers, Anne kept in touch with the changing seasons by looking through the only window in the annex at the 100-year-old chestnut. Celebrating that historic chestnut were three horse chestnut trees silhouetted against the tall windows of the dining room, and there were chestnuts scattered around the tables between the vases of flowers. Standing in that beautiful room, which has been the location of so many diplomatic festivities, you could still sense the sadness of a young girl locked away in a secret annex, watching the seasons change on the branches of that lone chestnut tree. Saplings from that tree have been collected, cultivated, and then replanted in several locations in the US, including in Los Angeles, Omaha, Pittsburgh, White Plains, NY, and Branchburg, NJ.
The Residence library is a large but inviting room with contemporary Dutch upholstered furniture and a stunning ornamental plaster ceiling. The library was decorated with simple white tulips to commemorate the American military cemetery in the Netherlands, located in the village of Margraten, 10 km east of Maastricht. The 8,000+ graves at Margraten have been adopted by Dutch families, who keep the headstones clean and bring flowers to celebrate special holidays, such as Memorial Day. While the other fireplaces in the residence were filled with multicolored tulips to evoke the flames that would be there on a chilly winter day, the fireplace in the library was filled with white tulips that echoed the white tombstones in the cemetery. Laid out on the coffee table between two large modern Dutch sofas was a cross filled with white tulips. Both the dining room and the library were silent and moving testaments to the devastation and grief that the Netherlands suffered during WWII.
After those strong emotions, it was time to be uplifted. In the living room was a large poster of Rosie the Riveter, a fictionalized woman who stands for all the women who took part in the war effort in the United States, turning out thousands of airplanes and other war supplies.
The large poster of Rosie with her red headscarf and strong arm is matched by a mirrored display of flowers that reflects the image of Rosie as you would see it in a pool of water. When you first look at the floral display, you don't appreciate the detail that went into making this incredible exhibit. You have to take a step back and look at the large poster with the flowers spread out beneath it to grasp how magical this presentation is.
The flowers at the base of the poster were a reflection of the poster itself in the same colors. In pinks, reds, blues, yellows, white, and peach flowers was the poster of Rosie herself. The florist explained that the flowers were misted and carefully watered several times a day to maintain their exquisite freshness and color. The theme of Rosie the Riveter was so popular that there is a new tulip, which was announced during this year’s tulip celebration, named in her honor.
There were flowers throughout the living room, from the colorful flowers in the fireplace and in vases in the windows to a charming arrangement of blue and yellow tulips on the piano in honor of the Ukrainian flag, which also flew outside the Residence next to the Dutch flag.
Other arrangements of tulips highlighted some of the beautiful art throughout the Residence. For instance, the 1618 Portrait of a Lady by Paul Moreelse was matched with a traditional arrangement of pink, burgundy, and orange tulips, while the 1993 photograph by Dana Lixenberg, Wilteysha, was complemented by a more casual arrangement of pinks and yellows with accents of tall thin branches. Near the entrance to the dining room is a tall white tulip vase pyramid made by the Royal Porceleyne Fles, which is the only survivor of the approximately 32 pottery factories that were found in Delft in the mid-17th century. That historic pyramid vase, filled with pink, white, and purple tulips, had a very contemporary air. In another room was a classic blue and white Delft vase filled with splashy pink and white tulips, placed in front of a late 18th-century Flemish landscape painting by Henri van Assche.
After admiring all the colorful tulips throughout the Residence, it was time to leave. Happily, however, the surprises were not done. Just inside the front door was a beautiful flower cart filled with buckets of tulips. There was a bouquet for each of the visitors to take. It was hard to choose.
Lise Howe is an Associate Broker with Keller Williams Capital Properties, licensed in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Recognized as a Best Realtor by Washingtonian magazine for nine consecutive years (2016–2024), Howe is also a licensed attorney in Washington, D.C., a trusted local expert on the region’s dynamic real estate market, and an advisor to Diplomatica Global Media on real estate issues. https://thelisehowegroup.com/
Every Lunar New Year, Mongolians celebrate Tsagaan Sar or “White Moon” in English, symbolizing purity and the coming arrival of spring. To honor the traditions of the festival, the New Neighbor Initiative—a non-profit working to foster the development of the Mongolian American community through cultural exchange, business partnerships, and opportunities for sustainable growth—hosted the second annual Congressional Mongolian Lunar New Year celebration on March 7th, 2025. The event, unofficially the first fully student-led gathering at the Rayburn House Office Building, brought together members of the Mongolian diaspora, federal and state employees, civil society representatives, and members of Congress for a celebration of Mongolian tradition.
First to address the crowd were student organizers Tergel Dulguun and Emujin Dasher, who shared how their Mongolian heritage shapes their values, perspectives, and daily lives. They spoke about their upbringing, both in the United States and in Mongolia, and the importance of staying connected to their cultural roots while navigating life in a multicultural society.
Keynote speaker Uyemaa Gantulga, Director of Technical Development at the Mongolian Aerospace Research and Science Association (MARSA), continued reflecting on the importance of preserving and understanding heritage. She shared the Mongolian saying, “if you don’t know your history, you are like a monkey lost in the forest,” underscoring the value of cultural knowledge. Gantulga noted that Mongolian history is passed down orally, through songs and stories, rather than written texts: “We sing from the bottom of our bellies...and we tell the stories of our ancestors," she said. “Our history is in our genes; it is not written on paper by pen... As we are a nomadic nation, no matter where we go, we are still Mongols.” She connected this cultural heritage to MARSA’s work, where they are drawing inspiration from Mongolian traditional nomadic practices, such as the yurt, to design modern solutions for space exploration. The association’s Mars analog mission, which emphasizes resilience and adaptability, mirrors the Mongolian spirit of overcoming challenges in harsh conditions, just as their ancestors once did.
Building on themes of cultural preservation and nomadic heritage, the evening continued with a musical performance that brought to life Mongolia’s deep connection between man and nature. Hailing from Chicago, the Tenger Khuur Ensemble captivated the audience with a mesmerizing performance of traditional Mongolian music, echoing the sounds and vibrations of nature. As part of US-Mongolia cultural exchange, the ensemble seeks to celebrate and preserve the rich traditions of Mongolian music. The performance featured unique Mongolian elements, including the ancient art of Khoomii, or throat singing, while the troupe played traditional Mongolian stringed instruments such as the Morin Khuur. Adorned with a horsehead and strung with thick chords of horsehair, the instrument symbolizes Mongolia’s nomadic traditions, legendary horses, and the spirit of the land. With a membership largely composed of youth, the group also plays a vital role in helping Mongolian American children connect with their cultural heritage, fostering a sense of pride and preserving traditions for future generations.
Later in the event, economic experts—Angana Banerji from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Jamile Ramadan from the World Bank Group—offered their perspectives on Mongolia’s economic landscape. Ramadan highlighted the country’s ability to balance its economic interests despite its landlocked position between geopolitical giants—China and Russia. She emphasized that while Mongolia’s mining sector serves as a critical source of economic revenue, it also presents challenges due to over-reliance on a single industry. Diversifying the economy is crucial for long-term stability. Both experts also acknowledged the significant role of Mongolia’s rich cultural heritage in shaping its modern identity. Banerji, who noted the strong democratic spirit among Mongolians, also pointed out the need to preserve the country’s nomadic culture while fostering modernization. She stressed that modernity and cultural heritage must go hand in hand, with policies supporting both development and cultural preservation.
A key focus of international organizations, such as the World Bank, is ensuring that Mongolia’s economic growth translates into improved quality of life for its citizens, particularly in rural areas. Ramadan discussed efforts to improve infrastructure, healthcare, and education for nomadic herders. She also urged for more sustainable development practices and better disaster preparedness, especially when considering the harsh winter storms, or dzuds, that frequently disrupt rural communities. Furthermore, the disparity between urban and rural Mongolia must be addressed, with more focus on affordable housing and infrastructure. Both Banerji and Ramadan concluded that the success of these initiatives hinges not only on international support but also on the Mongolian government’s ability to build long-term, sustainable solutions.
Described as Mongolia’s “Third Neighbor,” the United States and Mongolia have developed a strong partnership focused on security cooperation, educational and cultural exchanges, and a growing trade and investment portfolio since establishing formal relations in 1987. In fact, the United States has been a key partner in supporting Mongolia’s democratic development, especially after their peaceful transition to democracy in the 1990s—making Mongolia the only post-communist consolidated democracy in Asia. Counterbalancing Russian and Chinese influence, the United States also supports Mongolia’s growing focus on education by providing opportunities for Mongolian students to study in the States. As a result, the United States has become the second most popular destination for Mongolian students studying abroad, with the number increasing by more than 12% within the past year. Notably, approximately one-third of Mongolia’s parliament are alumni of US exchange or training programs, and this figure grows when including other government officials, military commanders, business executives, and influential civil society representatives who have participated in US exchange programs or studied in the United States.
According to the US Department of State, more than 30,000 Mongolians live in the United States, with the highest concentrations in Illinois and California. As this partnership continues to flourish, it paves the way for deeper collaboration in security, trade, and people-to-people exchanges, strengthening the bonds between the United States and Mongolia. Celebrating cultural milestones, such as the second annual Congressional Lunar New Year event, mirrors Mongolia’s own commitment to preserving its rich cultural heritage. With the United States being home to the second-largest Mongolian population outside of Mongolia after South Korea, such celebrations not only honor traditions but also foster mutual respect, ensuring the continued success and growth of the US-Mongolia partnership for generations to come.
Emma Potts is a Spring 2025 Young Professional at the East-West Center in Washington. Emma recently graduated from Columbia University, majoring in Political Science and East Asian Languages & Cultures.
Tommis Meyer is a Spring 2025 Young Professional Intern at the East-West Center in Washington. Tommis is also in his final semester pursuing an undergraduate degree in Global International Relations at American University under its Joint Degree Program with Ritsumeikan University in Japan.
This post originally was published by the East-West Center in Washington.
Luis Angel, an internationally recognized Argentine tango expert, performer, historian, and instructor, recently brought the elegance and intensity of traditional tango to the U.S. Senate.
Luis Angel performed alongside his dance partner Damacia at "Embassy Night," an event hosted by the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association (CHSA), in the Hart Senate Building.
Born and raised in Argentina in a family of musicians, Luis Angel focuses on traditional tango in both performance and instruction. “It’s easier to learn and then adapt to other forms than vice versa,” he explains. Contrasting traditional tango with the more fluid nuevo tango, he adds, “The music of nuevo tango is more fluid, and because it’s more fluid, it’s more elastic—the dancing itself is softer, this change. If I tried to dance with all this fluid movement to traditional music, it’s going to be hard. But traditional dance with fluid music is going to work because the root is there, the sense is there.”
The performance was made possible through the sponsorship of the Embassy of Uruguay, which supported the event as part of its public diplomacy efforts.
“It is important for Uruguay to participate in events inside Congress and those organized by congressional staffers to showcase our country—our culture, music, dances, food,” Gustavos Piegas Marsiglia, a spokesperson for the embassy, told Diplomatica. “It is an outstanding opportunity to exhibit our country and to educate people about a place that, in general, is not on top of the newspaper headlines.”
Although Luis Angel was initially surprised by the request to perform that evening, Piegas confirmed the performance had always been part of the embassy’s plan. The venue was reserved with that purpose in mind.
“This performance wasn’t just about showcasing tango; it was about honoring the legacy of Hispanic contributions to art, music, and culture both in the U.S. and beyond,” said Luis Angel, who has previously taught and performed at the Kennedy Center, George Washington University, the U.S. State Department, and the Library of Congress. “The Senate is a place of great importance, and it was surreal to be able to share our heritage in such a meaningful way.”
“The audience was fully engaged with the music and the sensual and elegant tango moves that define this dance,” Piegas added. “Many were surprised to learn that Uruguay is also a tango country—and that we produce such extraordinary wines.”
The Embassy’s Cultural Department coordinates with political, economic-commercial, and consular divisions to support broader diplomatic goals. “In this particular case, it is a priority to be present in Congress, reinforcing our political and legislative outreach, and attracting new staffers and audiences who may not yet know, ‘we are here,’” said Piegas.
After the event, Luis Angel conducted research and couldn't find any record of any similar dance performances being conducted in the Senate.
"I couldn't find anyone performing any type of things inside of the Senate, because, you know, the Senate is not for gathering or dancing or performing," Luis Angel told Diplomatica. "Normally, when the Senate organized something, they did it outside of the Senate itself. You know, it's maybe in the garden, on the park, something outside."
Luis Angel said that, if true, being the first performers in the Senate would hold special meaning for him and Damacia."Not only that we danced at the Senate, inside of the Senate, in the Capitol itself, but that I couldn't find anyone who have done or achieved the same type of milestone," he said.
The evening was apparently meaningful for those in attendance, as well. Luis Angel said he was approached after the performance by a member of Congress and their spouse, expressing how deeply moved they were. When several members subsequently expressed interest in learning tango, Piegas and Luis Angel hosted lessons for them and their staff at the embassy, further deepening engagement through the art form.
Luis Angel’s work continues to span embassies, cultural institutions such as the Mexican Cultural Institute, and festivals including the DC Tango Festival. His political foray aside, he remains focused on his mission of art as cultural exchange. “Whenever people applaud at the end of class, I say no. Do not thank me,” he says. “I thank you for wanting to learn about my culture.”
You don't have to wait for a special occasion to visit several of Diplomatica's favorite diplomatic properties. Here are four embassies and cultural centers offering great exhibits in March. (Don't forget to sign the guest books!)
It's almost cherry blossom season and the Japan Information & Culture Center is hosting Sakura & Friendship, a photography exhibit on the rich tradition of greeting spring in the U.S. and Japan. Free and open to the public during business hours. Closes March 18. Learn more about the exhibit. Mexican Cultural Institute is hosting Oaxaca Central: Contemporary Mexican Printmaking, a special preview of the upcoming exhibition at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia offering a glimpse into the vibrant tradition of Oaxacan printmaking. February 20, 2025 — May 11, 2025. Free and open to the public during business hours. Just ring the bell. Learn about the Mexican Cultural Institute in The Mysterious Mansion With History Written on its Walls. The Embassy of Canada would like to remind the U.S. that they two countries have been friends since both of their foundings. In case anyone's forgotten, there's a great exhibit showcasing the long friendships between Canadian Prime Ministers and U.S. presidents. It opened on Inauguration Day and will run until May 2, 2025. Free and open to the public during business hours. Security screening required. Learn about the Embassy of Canada and its Home on the Nation's Avenue. Opening March 20 at the House of Sweden, Snow and Rain Shall Pass by Swedish Photographer Karin Alfredsson includes works from the series Disappearing Landscapes and The Arctic Ocean: A Journey to the North Pole. Viewing information available on the embassy’s website. Learn why Sweden sold its ambassador's residence to meet the needs of modern diplomacy in As Diplomacy Changes, So Must Its Architecture.
Canada and the United States share one of the world’s most significant and enduring partnerships. Geography, history, economics, and security have bound these two nations together, but it is the leadership at the highest levels that has shaped and sustained this relationship. Over the decades, Canadian prime ministers and U.S. presidents have worked side by side, navigating global crises, strengthening trade, and reinforcing a commitment to democratic values. Amid growing tensions between the current president and the U.S.’s closest ally, a new exhibition at the Embassy of Canada’s gallery offers a compelling look at the defining moments of the bilateral relationship, seen through the lens of key leaders from both nations.
The Evolution of Diplomatic Leadership
The restrospective exhibit, Presidents & Prime Ministers: The Legacy of Canada-U.S. Leadership, spotlights critical moments in diplomatic history, featuring historic visits, landmark speeches, and defining agreements that have shaped Canada-U.S. relations. It provides an opportunity to examine how generations of prime ministers and presidents have tackled shared challenges and seized opportunities for cooperation.
One focal point is the role of historic diplomacy. Canadian and American leaders have frequently come together to address global and regional issues, from the military alliances of World War II to Cold War strategy and the fight against terrorism. The exhibit revisits Franklin D. Roosevelt and William Lyon Mackenzie King’s wartime partnership, the impact of John F. Kennedy’s and Lester B. Pearson’s contrasting foreign policies, and the collaboration between Ronald Reagan and Brian Mulroney that led to groundbreaking trade agreements.
The landmark agreements that have cemented the Canada-U.S. partnership are highlighted throughout. From the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement of 1988 to NAFTA and its successor, USMCA, these pacts have defined economic cooperation between the two countries. The exhibition explores how these deals were negotiated, the tensions they provoked, and the long-term effects they have had on cross-border commerce and industry.
The exhibition also takes a closer look at times of crisis, when Canada and the United States have stood by each other. Whether responding to economic downturns, natural disasters, or security threats, cooperation has remained a cornerstone of the alliance. From the Cold War’s NORAD defense partnership to the close coordination in the aftermath of 9/11 and the COVID-19 pandemic, the display highlights moments when unity mattered most.
Why It Matters Now
The Canada-U.S. relationship is facing renewed strain, with political rhetoric and shifting priorities testing long-standing diplomatic ties. Recent comments by President Donald Trump, suggesting Canada should be the 51st U.S. state, have added to a growing list of friction points between the two nations. Trade disputes, defense spending disagreements, and differing foreign policy approaches have further complicated the partnership.
While the historical foundation of cooperation remains strong, the increasing unpredictability in U.S. politics raises concerns about the future of North American relations. The exhibition serves as a reminder that, despite tensions, Canada and the U.S. have repeatedly found ways to navigate challenges and uphold their partnership. Examining past leadership dynamics offers valuable context for understanding how today’s political landscape may evolve and what it means for the future of diplomatic engagement between the two allies.
A Must-See Exhibition
This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to reflect on the leaders who have shaped North America’s political and economic landscape. Open from January 20 to May 2, 2025, at the Embassy of Canada, located at 501 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., it provides an engaging and informative experience for anyone interested in diplomacy, history, or international affairs.
Hours of Operation:
Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Admission: Free of charge. Security screening and identification required.
How to Visit
The Embassy of Canada is easily accessible by transit. The bus stop immediately outside the embassy on Pennsylvania Avenue is served by the 32, 36 and P6 (WMATA) and the 230 and 250 (MTA) bus lines. The Judiciary Square metro stop (red line) is less than a five-minute walk. There are several bike-sharing stations nearby on Pennsylvania Avenue and the embassy plaza features a bike rack for staff and guests.
Learn More
Explore the Embassy’s unique artwork, sustainability features, and history in our feature, A Home on the Nation’s Avenue.
Many US presidents have lived in Washington before and after they occupied the White House, and several of their homes have gone on to become embassies, ambassadors’ residences and other houses of diplomacy. Here are some of our favorite presidential properties we've covered at Diplomatica. Enjoy!
In what is now the Monégasque Ambassador’s residence, a newspaper publisher turned senator wrote steamy love letters to his mistresses, and drafted what would become his presidential inaugural speech.
In the gentleman’s study in the house at 2314 Wyoming NW in Washington, D.C., cigar smoke once hung so thick in the air that it was nearly one hundred years before it could all be cleared away. It was in this study that a newspaper publisher turned senator wrote steamy love letters to his mistresses, plotted to pay off those mistresses with his friend and fixer, and drafted the speech that would become his inaugural address when he would be sworn in as president in March, 1921.
Now the residence of the Ambassador from Monaco, and redecorated personally by the current ambassador, Maguy Maccario Doyle, to be a suitable home for diplomatic entertaining, the house that once belonged to Warren G. Harding might have become just another home in Washington were it not for an extraordinary series of events that left their imprint, like the smoke that clung to the walls, for many years after.
Read You Can’t Sell Sentiment in Washington.
Two hours after President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas on November 22, 1963, Lyndon Johnson, standing beside a shellshocked and blood-stained Jackie Kennedy, was sworn in as President on Air Force One at Love Field. That evening, when the plane returned to Washington, Kennedy returned to the White House, and Johnson returned to The Elms.
In 1963, there was no formal residence for the Vice President. Number One, Observatory Circle, wouldn't become the “temporary permanent residence” for the nation’s second-in-command until a public law declared it so in 1974. Instead, for the two years prior to his moving into The White House, Johnson and Lady Bird lived at The Elms at 4040 52nd Street, a 12-room, French chateau-style estate they had purchased from former ambassador to Luxembourg, socialite and infamous "hostess with the mostess" Perle Mesta.
Until December 6, when the Kennedy family moved out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the Elms would serve as a temporary White House.
Six months later, it would be sold to the government of Algeria.
Read A Presidential Act of Defiance.
"Historic home within city for sale,” read a listing in The Washington Post in 1939. “Rock of Dumbarton stands on ridge once figured for Capitol site.”
“One part of the Rock of Dumbarton tract has been called Single Oak because it is dominated by a giant age-old tree of that variety, standing out in stately grandeur from among many other beautiful old trees,” it continued.
It may have just been a claim to enhance the mystique of the property, but legend has it that George Washington himself once looked at Single Oak and thought, “Now there would make an ideal spot for our federal seat.”
In 1926, future Vice President Henry Wallace built a house there.
For the past several years, we’ve been asking embassy representatives for their favorite holiday traditions that our readers could explore from home. This year, we’re mainly focused on our favorite tradition from Iceland, Jólabókaflóðið, which helps us celebrate Great Reads from Around the World. So join us as we explore literature, and cultures, from around the world in our third annual holiday round-up, featuring all of the responses we’ve received so far.
🇮🇸 A good book and a cup of hot chocolate on Christmas Eve make Jólabókaflóðið a treasured tradition in Iceland.
🇫🇮 In Finland, not surprisingly, Christmas saunas are a big thing. Suvi Jarvela-Hagstrom, the Head of Cultural Affairs and Public Diplomacy at the Embassy of Finland shared another haunting tradition. "People visit graveyards and light candles at the graves of their loved ones,” she told Diplomatica. “The graveyards are seas of candles at Christmas time.”
🇮🇩 Take a note from Indonesia, and celebrate a holiday other than your own. "Indonesia is very diverse in terms of traditions and religions. The festivities of our religious holiday celebration, including Christmas, Eid al-Fitr, Galungan, Lunar New Year, are often celebrated not only by the followers of the specific religion, but also others in the area," Dian Permana of the Embassy of Indonesia told us. "Some Muslims might help to decorate or provide security for the church during Christmas, and the Christians might help provide the same support during Eid al-Fitr, and the food is shared to those regardless of their religions."
🇦🇹 Hannes Richter of the Embassy of Austria recommends the new year's tradition Bleigießen in which you predict your future by melting a tin figurine over a candle, dropping it in water, and interpreting its shape. Finja Draxler, also of the Austrian Embassy, reminds us that the Danube Waltz at midnight is another classic way to usher in the new year.
🇺🇾 Celebrate like the Uruguayans by eating twelve grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve to attract good luck, or walking around the block with a suitcase (also a midnight) to welcome travel into your life in the coming year. Maria Fernanda Garcia, a counselor at the Embassy of Uruguay, also points to the tradition of throwing a bucket of water out of your house to remove bad energy and begin the year clean of bad vibrations. "It's a popular tradition throughout the country," she told us. "But in the cities, people throw water out the windows of their apartments, so if you're walking through Montevideo at midnight, be careful! You're probably going to get wet."
🇲🇹 Ryan Meilak, the head of outreach at European Parliament's Liaison Office, shares that in his native Malta, presepju, or a crib depicting the nativity scene, is a popular holiday tradition, with most families having a locally-crafted crib to fit their budget and home.
🇵🇭 Mark Lim of the Public Diplomacy section of the Embassy of the Philippines reminds us of the importance of gathering with friends and family over a lovingly-prepared meal. "The Noche Buena (Christmas Eve Feast) and the Media Noche (New Years Eve Feast) highlight the gathering as well as how Filipino families traditionally bond over food," he told Diplomatica. Enjoy a traditional Filipino treat by cooking Puto bumbong, made from a purple-colored ground rice cooked in bamboo tubes that are placed on a custom-made steamer-cooker. and best paired with hot chocolate. (Recipe here.)
🇪🇸 Ana Fernández of the Embassy of Spain's Cultural Office passes along this gem, with echoes of Uruguay: “We have plenty of Christmas traditions in Spain, as varied as our regions are. For instance, the 'Caga Tió' - the 'Pooping Log'- is a magic log from Catalonia with two or four stick legs, a lovely face, and a big smile. During all of December, one takes care of it, feeding it and keeping it warm with a blanket and the barretina, a traditional Catalan hat. On Christmas Eve, Children sing songs and beat him with a stick or a wooden spoon. And as crazy as it might sound, they receive presents in exchange. But besides our particular celebrations, there is something shared across the country: the 12 grapes on New Year's Eve - symbolizing the 12 months ahead. Eating them on time during the twelve chimes at midnight will bring good luck to those who succeed.”
🇳🇴 “In Norway, in the holiday season, it’s common to hear a sudden knock on your door and when you open it, you will find a group of children gathered outside, dressed up in costumes, singing carols. When they’ve finished with their song, they ask for candy,” Mirjam Christine Ehl, Communications and Cultural Affairs Counsellor at the Embassy of Norway, told Diplomatica. “This tradition is called ‘gå julebukk,’ or ‘going Christmas goat,’ which historically takes place between Christmas and New Year's Day. While not as widespread as it once was, this tradition was brought to the United States in the late 1800s, after thousands of Norwegians immigrated here. It’s still practiced in some American towns!”
🇯🇵 “While Japan does not recognize Christmas as a holiday, thanks to some successful marketing campaigns in recent history, it is not unusual to eat cake, usually strawberry shortcake or a simple roll cake, and fried chicken on Christmas Day,” Tomoko Nakamura, a spokesperson for the Embassy of Japan, told Diplomatica. “Those looking for a more traditional food enjoy osechi dishes around the new year. Osechi-ryori are traditional Japanese New Years foods in special stacked boxes called jubako. There are many dishes in these boxes including sweet rolled omelet, broiled fish cake, herring roe, black soybeans, mochi rice cakes, shrimp and many more. Osechi carries meaning of "stacking luck and happiness" which is why these many dishes are served in stackable boxes!” (See a receipe for sweet rolled omelet here.)
🇨🇦 “Canadians look forward to winter activities like skating, snowmobiling, tobogganing and skiing, but a big part of the holidays is also about getting together with family and friends over a meal. Some classic Canadian foods include nanaimo bars and butter tarts, while bûche de Nöel and tortière (meat pie) are common in French-speaking parts of the country,” says Michelle Mahoney, Senior Media Relations Officer at the Embassy of Canada. “Residents in the North might enjoy a feast of ‘country food’ such as arctic char, caribou or bannock, a type of bread that served as a staple in the diets of early settlers and fur traders. Canadians also love maple syrup and a maple syrup lollipop (hot syrup poured into snow and rolled with a popsicle stick) is a must-have winter treat.” Mahoney advises, “Have wipes nearby! It’s sticky.”
🇪🇨 “The preparation in Ecuador for New Year’s Eve is full of rituals. For women the most popular is to use the red underwear if you want to reach love the next year or yellow if you want good fortune! I personally use new shoes and put a dollar (or the highest denomination bill you have) in my right shoe to guarantee to have money all the year, and also we do have dollars in our pockets to guarantee that the new year arrives with money,” Erika Coppa, a spokesperson for the Embassy of Ecuador, told Diplomatica. “But I believe something really unique is that we make like a doll called ‘monigote’ or ‘año viejo’ that can be filled of old newspapers or sawdust. Sometimes this doll has the face and dressing of politicians or is a famous personality of tv or even a cartoon. Its size may vary, but the important thing is that we burn it at 12am of December 31st to burn all the bad things and begin the new year with good vibes.”
🇱🇧 “In Lebanon, no Christmas tree is complete without a Birth Grotto Cave under it and streets, squares, balconies, homes, offices, everything gets decorated in a scene that really transcends religious boundaries,” Rawi Hamdan, First Secretary at the Embassy of Lebanon, told us. “From midnight mass to Christmas morning visits, the exchange of gifts, and festive feasts, there’s no skipping what happens after the main course. Enter Meghli (مغلي), a cinnamon-flavored dessert made to celebrate the newborn and Christmas. It’s almost always homemade, and usually made by the elders and it includes rice flour, water, sugar, cinnamon, caraway, and anise. Together, they form a creamy brown sweet mixture, and you garnish it with almonds, pistachios, pine nuts and coconut flakes. It symbolizes rebirth, as this dessert has a brown color resembling the earth. Savor every bite!” (See a recipe for Meghli here.)
🇬🇷 “In Greece, Christmas is a time of joy, celebration, and deeply rooted traditions, both religious and cultural. One of the most cherished customs is the decorating of ships instead of Christmas trees, symbolizing Greece's maritime history,” says Christina Fiorentzi, First Secretary for Public Diplomacy, at the Embassy of Greece. “On Christmas and New Year’s Eve, caroling, known as 'kalanda,' is a beloved tradition where children and adults visit homes, singing seasonal songs and spreading good cheer. On New Year’s Day, families share Vasilopita (a round-shaped sweet bread) and search for the so-called 'flouri' (lucky coin) hidden within it. In everyone’s heart, including mine, there is a special place for the season's sweets, including melomakarona, kourabiedes, and diples.” (See a receipe for Vasilopita here.)
🇸🇬 “Christmas is a very festive time in Singapore. Many of our buildings, neighbourhoods and streets will be adorned with Christmas lights and ornaments. There is an annual Christmas light-up along our popular shopping belt, Orchard Road, that transforms it into a festive wonderland on a sunny island,” says Faustina Lim, a spokesperson for the Embassy of Singapore. “Other places of interest such as the Gardens by the Bay are similarly illuminated to celebrate Christmas. Strolling among the Christmas lights and decorations with family and friends to soak in the festive atmosphere in these areas has become a popular activity among Singaporeans.”
🇵🇱 “On Christmas Eve, Poles gather with family and friends for the Wigilia feast, which begins after the first star appears in the night sky. In Poland, it's common for families to craft their ornaments, adding a personal and heartfelt touch to the festive ambiance,” Katarzyna Rybka-Iwańska, Head of Public and Cultural Diplomacy for the Embassy of Poland, told Diplomatica. “Add a taste of Poland to your holiday table with Barszcz z Uszkami, a traditional beetroot soup served with mushroom-filled dumplings. As you embrace these Polish traditions, remember that the true essence lies in the joy of togetherness and the creation of lasting memories. May your home be filled with the warmth and spirit of a Polish Wigilia this holiday season. Wesołych Świąt! (Merry Christmas!)” (See a receipe for Barszcz z Uszkami here.)
🇱🇹 “Christmas Eve in Lithuania is considered the most important day of the whole holiday season. Twelve simple dishes that do not contain any meat, eggs or dairy products should be prepared for Christmas Eve dinner,” Marijus Petrušonis, political counselor at the Embassy of Lithuania, told Diplomatica. “You can find different herring dishes on every Christmas Eve dinner table as well as kūčiukai (small pastries with poppy seeds made from leavened dough), poppy seed milk, grains, different kinds of nuts and dried fruits, kissel drink, kūčia (a dish made from different grains), potato salad, etc. Recently you can find more variety on Christmas Eve dinner table like salmon or even sushi. Those 12 dishes represented 12 months of the year that passed. Everyone had to try all the dishes so all the following months would be successful. One dish for one month.”
The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs has announced plans to open a Consulate General in Houston, Texas, marking its third such mission in the United States. The new consulate is slated to begin operations in 2025.
Currently, Finland operates an embassy in Washington, D.C., and Consulates General in New York and Los Angeles. The addition of a Houston location aligns with the Finnish government’s strategy to strengthen its presence in the U.S., a key partner in both political and economic spheres.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen emphasized the significance of the move, highlighting the deepening transatlantic relationship. “The relationship between Finland and the United States is very close at both the political and commercial levels. Opening a Consulate General in Texas will bolster trade and investment alliances and enhance the operating conditions for Finnish companies in the U.S. market,” she said.
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio also pointed to the economic potential of the region. “The United States is one of Finland’s most important trading partners and a major source of investment. Texas and its neighboring states offer significant opportunities for advancing Finland’s commercial interests,” he said.
Texas, with a population of over 31 million, boasts a GDP that ranks among the top ten globally. Houston, the state’s largest city with over two million residents, plays a pivotal role in industries such as health technology, energy, and space exploration. Notably, the city serves as a hub for renewable energy initiatives and logistics, hosting the largest port in the United States.
The new Consulate General will aim to support Finnish companies by facilitating market access, forging connections with key stakeholders, and enhancing Finland’s image as an innovative and reliable partner. In addition to promoting business and trade, the consulate will offer consular and immigration services.
This move underscores Finland’s commitment to expanding its global footprint and fostering stronger international partnerships, particularly with a country as strategically important as the United States.
Learn more about the history of the Embassy of Finland in Washington, and its status as a LEED-certified embassy, in The Passionate Soul on Diplomatica.
The 2024 Dutch Tulip Days celebration was held April 10-12 at the Dutch Ambassador's residence in Kalorama, with Ambassador Birgitta Tazelaar hosting the showcase dedicated to the themes of freedom, innovation, and sustainability. The Netherlands has over 54,000 acres of flower bulbs, and exports nearly half a billion tulip bulbs to the US yearly.
Dutch Floral Master Susanne Schrijvers, who has arranged the exhibition previously, as well as served as a florist in the Obama, Trump and Biden White Houses, arranged the nearly 15,000 tulips. For the exhibition, Schrijvers used Bloomia, a Virginia-based American company with Dutch owners that imports its bulbs from the Netherlands. To emphasize the relationship with the U.S. and honor the residence's place in Washington, D.C., Tulip Days also incorporated native plants displays from the mid-Atlantic region.
Read about the history of the residence, tulips' role in the Netherlands, and US-Dutch bilateral relations, in Kalorama's Dutch Beauty Riot and explore the flower, author Michael Pollan once wrote, “…whose very genes carry reflections of people's ideas and desires through time like great books.”
From wild gardens that encourage pollinators, to hosting local beekeepers' hives, there are a number of ways to foster biodiversity this spring, regardless of budget or space.
~ See how embassies and ambassador's residences are incorporating native landscaping in Redefining Environmental Diplomacy.
~ Learn how the Embassy of Switzerland is using its bee ambassadors to foster goodwill with its neighbors.
~ Get some inspiration from the Embassy of Canada, one of the most environmentally sustainable buildings in Washington, with a green roof, thriving container garden, and living exterior walls. (And no, they didn't get the property as a thank you for the Canadian Caper.)
~ Want to do some planting of your own? Diplomatica advisor Lise Howe shares her list of native plants that should be in gardens in the Washington DC area or join a volunteer pollinator plant gardening gathering along Connecticut Avenue in north Van Ness.
~ Need some guidance on greening your property? Diplomatica offers complimentary consultations providing certified urban gardening advice and guidance on making your building or property more sustainable through LEED. Get in touch.
On Friday, March 1, the Ibero-American Cultural Attachés Association hosted their annual Carnaval fête, with the 19 Latin American Embassies, including Spain and Portugal, presenting a wide array of food, drinks, dancing, and more. Dancers from the Dominican Republic, Panama, Ecuador, and Cuba offered dazzling exhibitions, and member nations offered ceviche, empanadas, pupusas, pão de queijo, and arroz moro con yuca, along with mezcal, pisco sour, Spanish beer, and a curated wine selection from Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Chile.
“Ibero American Night 2024, in tandem with educating and engaging the D.C. public about our cultures, aims to demonstrate solidarity and mutual appreciation among our member nations, emphasizing how our diplomatic missions are collectively uplifted when we work together," AACIA President, Enrique Quiroz, said.
In honor of the annual event, here are some of the Ibero-American embassies and residences Diplomatica has profiled, including the venue of the gala, the residence of the Colombian Ambassador.
Mexican Cultural Institute
The history of Mexico winds along the walls of the main staircase of 2829 16th Street, part of Mary Foote Henderson's diplomatic enclave and once the country's embassy.
Painted by the artist Roberto Cueva del Río, who began work on the mural in 1931, the sweeping series depicts various scenes floor-to-ceiling scenes - the Tehuantepec Festival of the Flowers; a rural scene from Ixtaccihuatl and Popocatepetl, scenes of industrial Mexico, the landing of Columbus and pre-Columbian Mexico and others.
The dramatic images grace three floors' worth of walls and their landings, adding vivid color and life to the interior of the Beaux Arts mansion on 16th Street that is virtually undetectable from its stately, austere, exterior.
It's a stunning display now publicly accessible in a building once shrouded in secrecy.
Read The Mysterious Mansion with History Written on Its Walls on Diplomatica.
Residence of the Ambassador of Colombia
Built in 1906 to resemble the Château de Balleroy in Normandy from the outside, the residence of the Colombian ambassador blends a hodgepodge of styles to create a building that was whimsically described as "varied" in its inclusion in the roster for the Dupont Circle National Historic District. The residence replaced three other family homes that had previously sat on the lot. Built in 1906 to resemble the Château de Balleroy in Normandy from the outside, de Sibour blended a hodgepodge of styles to create a building that was whimsically described as "varied" in its inclusion in the roster for the Dupont Circle National Historic District. The residence replaced three other family homes that had previously sat on the lot.
And, despite the home having no rooftop patio or balcony, on a crisp, clear autumn night, I found myself standing on its roof, overlooking Dupont Circle.
Read The Invisible Dance on Diplomatica.
Former Residence of the Ambassadors of Spain
The building that serves as the home of the Spanish embassy's cultural office is one of many current and former embassies along 16th Street, willed into being by Mary Henderson in the Gilded Age who envisioned creating a diplomatic enclave in Washington on the hill. Within a short walking distance are also the former Italian embassy (now apartments), the Cuban Embassy, the former French embassy (now the Council for Professional Recognition), the Polish Embassy, the Ecuadorean Embassy, Meridian International Center, and of course, Spain's immediate neighbor, the Mexican Cultural Institute, which has a nearly identical history of being an embassy and residence, and now a cultural center.
Designed by George Oakley Totten Jr., Ms. Henderson's preferred architect for her grand vision, the building that is now the Former Residence of the Ambassadors of Spain was meant to be the home of the American Vice President. She offered it as a gift, but Congress declined, saying the upkeep was too extravagant for a Vice President's salary. When Spain purchased the building in 1926, they were already using another Henderson building nearby as their embassy. (That building, 2620, now is also an apartment complex.) After purchasing the building, the Spanish government built a chancery, for which they hired Jules Henri de Sibour, who had designed the Colombian Ambassador's residence and the former Canadian, now Uzbek, embassy.
Read The Inside-Out Residence on Diplomatica.
Embassy of Uruguay
There are few tools of cultural diplomacy quite like tango. Originating in the poorer districts of Buenos Aires and Montevideo along the Río de la Plata basin, the music, dance, and poetry of tango are now listed on the UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a nomination put forth by both Argentina and Uruguay. The origins of tango were heavily influenced by Candombe, another honoree on the UNESCO list, which originated in Uruguay by the descendants of enslaved Africans, more than 200,000 of whom arrived in the twin ports of Buenos Aires and Montevideo between the 16th and 19th centuries. Meetings of the community were known as "tangos." Along with local Indigenous influences, as well as later contributions by immigrants from Europe, these cultures merged to create a distinctive, new, cultural identity.
"Tango can be debated, and we have debates over it, but it still encloses, as does all that which is truthful, a secret,” wrote Argentine writer and poet Jorge Luis Borges.
Read Born in a River on Diplomatica. 
For those looking to explore new cultures, the winter (in the Northern Hemisphere) holiday season offers a cornucopia of options. There is arguably no other time of the year when it’s as easy to discover new traditions, food, music and more from countries around the world, even without leaving your own home.
For the second year, we asked embassies throughout D.C. to share their favorite holiday traditions from their countries, specifically those we could experience wherever we happen to be when the tree lights turn on or the clock strikes twelve on New Year’s. Whether you want to try your hand at rolling hot maple syrup in the snow to make a lollipop like the Canadians, or eating traditional Japanese New Year’s foods in a jubako to stack luck and happiness, or embracing the spirit of Wigilia and crafting your own holiday ornaments like the Poles do, there’s plenty from which to choose.
Here are some of the responses we received for 2023.
🇳🇴 “In Norway, in the holiday season, it’s common to hear a sudden knock on your door and when you open it, you will find a group of children gathered outside, dressed up in costumes, singing carols. When they’ve finished with their song, they ask for candy,” Mirjam Christine Ehl, Communications and Cultural Affairs Counsellor at the Embassy of Norway, told Diplomatica. “This tradition is called ‘gå julebukk,’ or ‘going Christmas goat,’ which historically takes place between Christmas and New Year's Day. While not as widespread as it once was, this tradition was brought to the United States in the late 1800s, after thousands of Norwegians immigrated here. It’s still practiced in some American towns!”
🇯🇵 “While Japan does not recognize Christmas as a holiday, thanks to some successful marketing campaigns in recent history, it is not unusual to eat cake, usually strawberry shortcake or a simple roll cake, and fried chicken on Christmas Day,” Tomoko Nakamura, a spokesperson for the Embassy of Japan, told Diplomatica. “Those looking for a more traditional food enjoy osechi dishes around the new year. Osechi-ryori are traditional Japanese New Years foods in special stacked boxes called jubako. There are many dishes in these boxes including sweet rolled omelet, broiled fish cake, herring roe, black soybeans, mochi rice cakes, shrimp and many more. Osechi carries meaning of "stacking luck and happiness" which is why these many dishes are served in stackable boxes!” (See a receipe for sweet rolled omelet here.)
🇨🇦 “Canadians look forward to winter activities like skating, snowmobiling, tobogganing and skiing, but a big part of the holidays is also about getting together with family and friends over a meal. Some classic Canadian foods include nanaimo bars and butter tarts, while bûche de Nöel and tortière (meat pie) are common in French-speaking parts of the country,” says Michelle Mahoney, Senior Media Relations Officer at the Embassy of Canada. “Residents in the North might enjoy a feast of ‘country food’ such as arctic char, caribou or bannock, a type of bread that served as a staple in the diets of early settlers and fur traders. Canadians also love maple syrup and a maple syrup lollipop (hot syrup poured into snow and rolled with a popsicle stick) is a must-have winter treat.” Mahoney advises, “Have wipes nearby! It’s sticky.”
🇪🇨 Ecuador: “The preparation in Ecuador for New Year’s Eve is full of rituals. For women the most popular is to use the red underwear if you want to reach love the next year or yellow if you want good fortune! I personally use new shoes and put a dollar (or the highest denomination bill you have) in my right shoe to guarantee to have money all the year, and also we do have dollars in our pockets to guarantee that the new year arrives with money,” Erika Coppa, a spokesperson for the Embassy of Ecuador, told Diplomatica. “But I believe something really unique is that we make like a doll called ‘monigote’ or ‘año viejo’ that can be filled of old newspapers or sawdust. Sometimes this doll has the face and dressing of politicians or is a famous personality of tv or even a cartoon. Its size may vary, but the important thing is that we burn it at 12am of December 31st to burn all the bad things and begin the new year with good vibes.”
🇱🇧 “In Lebanon, no Christmas tree is complete without a Birth Grotto Cave under it and streets, squares, balconies, homes, offices, everything gets decorated in a scene that really transcends religious boundaries,” Rawi Hamdan, First Secretary at the Embassy of Lebanon, told us. “From midnight mass to Christmas morning visits, the exchange of gifts, and festive feasts, there’s no skipping what happens after the main course. Enter Meghli (مغلي), a cinnamon-flavored dessert made to celebrate the newborn and Christmas. It’s almost always homemade, and usually made by the elders and it includes rice flour, water, sugar, cinnamon, caraway, and anise. Together, they form a creamy brown sweet mixture, and you garnish it with almonds, pistachios, pine nuts and coconut flakes. It symbolizes rebirth, as this dessert has a brown color resembling the earth. Savor every bite!” (See a recipe for Meghli here.)
🇬🇷 “In Greece, Christmas is a time of joy, celebration, and deeply rooted traditions, both religious and cultural. One of the most cherished customs is the decorating of ships instead of Christmas trees, symbolizing Greece's maritime history,” says Christina Fiorentzi, First Secretary for Public Diplomacy, at the Embassy of Greece. “On Christmas and New Year’s Eve, caroling, known as 'kalanda,' is a beloved tradition where children and adults visit homes, singing seasonal songs and spreading good cheer. On New Year’s Day, families share Vasilopita (a round-shaped sweet bread) and search for the so-called 'flouri' (lucky coin) hidden within it. In everyone’s heart, including mine, there is a special place for the season's sweets, including melomakarona, kourabiedes, and diples.” (See a receipe for Vasilopita here.)
🇸🇬 “Christmas is a very festive time in Singapore. Many of our buildings, neighbourhoods and streets will be adorned with Christmas lights and ornaments. There is an annual Christmas light-up along our popular shopping belt, Orchard Road, that transforms it into a festive wonderland on a sunny island,” says Faustina Lim, a spokesperson for the Embassy of Singapore. “Other places of interest such as the Gardens by the Bay are similarly illuminated to celebrate Christmas. Strolling among the Christmas lights and decorations with family and friends to soak in the festive atmosphere in these areas has become a popular activity among Singaporeans.”
🇵🇱 “On Christmas Eve, Poles gather with family and friends for the Wigilia feast, which begins after the first star appears in the night sky. In Poland, it's common for families to craft their ornaments, adding a personal and heartfelt touch to the festive ambiance,” Katarzyna Rybka-Iwańska, Head of Public and Cultural Diplomacy for the Embassy of Poland, told Diplomatica. “Add a taste of Poland to your holiday table with Barszcz z Uszkami, a traditional beetroot soup served with mushroom-filled dumplings. As you embrace these Polish traditions, remember that the true essence lies in the joy of togetherness and the creation of lasting memories. May your home be filled with the warmth and spirit of a Polish Wigilia this holiday season. Wesołych Świąt! (Merry Christmas!)” (See a receipe for Barszcz z Uszkami here.)
🇱🇹 “Christmas Eve in Lithuania is considered the most important day of the whole holiday season. Twelve simple dishes that do not contain any meat, eggs or dairy products should be prepared for Christmas Eve dinner,” Marijus Petrušonis, political counselor at the Embassy of Lithuania, told Diplomatica. “You can find different herring dishes on every Christmas Eve dinner table as well as kūčiukai (small pastries with poppy seeds made from leavened dough), poppy seed milk, grains, different kinds of nuts and dried fruits, kissel drink, kūčia (a dish made from different grains), potato salad, etc. Recently you can find more variety on Christmas Eve dinner table like salmon or even sushi. Those 12 dishes represented 12 months of the year that passed. Everyone had to try all the dishes so all the following months would be successful. One dish for one month.”
Looking for more holiday inspiration? Check out our Happy Holidays from Around the World 2022 edition.
Have you tried some of these traditions with your own friends and family? Let us know!
On a recent afternoon, visitors to the Embassy of the Philippines’s consular building at 1617 Massachusetts Avenue could sample authentic Filipino cuisine from a food truck, get their flu shot, explore a new exhibition on the interconnected communities, ecosystems, and shared challenges of an archipelagic state; learn about the Jeepney through an art exhibit created by one of the embassy’s attachés; attend a citizenship ceremony, and get lost in murals and artwork in the recently renovated property.
It’s all part of a combined celebration of Filipino American History Month in the US and Philippine Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month recognized in the Philippines.
Created by the Filipino American National Historical Society in 1992, Congress officially recognized October as Filipino American History Month beginning in 2009. Coming on the heels of September being recognized in the Philippines as Philippine Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month, the Embassy of the Philippines threw a multi-faceted celebration that felt deceptively casual given the myriad of activities occurring.
The archipelago exhibition runs until the end of October, and is available during consulate hours. It is also available online. Calling or emailing ahead is recommended. 
The British Embassy celebrated the coronation of King Charles III with a Sidewalk Celebration corresponding with Around the World Embassy Tour as part of Passport DC. Massive crowds of onlookers crawling up Massachusetts Ave and onto Observatory Circle took selfies in front of a 15-foot Big Ben, explored a photography exhibit of King Charles' relationship with the US, and enjoyed a "coronation cake." With the residence under construction, the gates to the embassy compound remained closed to the public, and the bees in its lush gardens could buzz undisturbed.
This is the first such open house the embassy has participated in since 2019, when it was then a prime feature in the EU Open House Day. With Brexit finalized on January 31, 2020, the UK embassy was no longer able to participate with the other European embassies. The pandemic cancelled Passport DC in 2020, and 2021 saw many embassies host virtual events. The residence, which shares grounds with the embassy, has been under renovation since 2020, which has prevented the UK from throwing the massive open embassy events that is has in years past.
While other embassies have hosted sidewalk events during Passport DC and EU Open House to complement their interior festivities, this entirely exterior function was something rare, if not entirely new. It was, by all appearances, a success.
Embassy spokeswoman Charlotte North told Diplomatica, "We were thrilled with how it went." She added that the embassy hopes to be able to fully participate again next year, when the refurbishment work on the residence is complete.
While the tradition of spring embassy open house tours goes back at least until the 1950s in Washington, what we now know officially as EU Open House is a much newer invention. Building on a push for public diplomacy beginning about eighteen years ago when members of European Parliament would host public days of cultural exchange in Brussels, the embassies in Washington now offer an annual Smörgåsbord of music, dance, food, exhibitions and more.
EU Open House returns in full force after being cancelled in 2020, going virtual in 2021, and having reduced capacity in 2022. Most (not all!) European embassies will be participating, with some in new venues, some co-locating, and one new partner embassy, Ukraine, opening the doors to Ukraine House (as it also did during Passport DC.)
A number of embassies are sharing space this year, making it easier to explore multiple countries with fewer stops. This is particularly helpful as event-sponsored shuttles are a thing of the past. "We used to sponsor 28 shuttles each year. Not only is that a lot of gas to go around the city but they used to get incredibly crowded," Travis Smith, a spokesperson at the EU Delegation, which hosts the Open House, told Diplomatica. "Both because of a directive from Brussels, and for our own peace of mind, we stopped sponsoring the shuttles during the pandemic, and we've gotten very little push back."
As always, driving is not recommended. Many of the EU embassies are near transit - Metro stops, Metro buses, and/or Circulators - and most EU embassies offer bike racks on or near their properties. EU Open House has also partnered with Capital Bikeshare. Last year's scooter partnership won't be repeated due this year due to low demand.
Here are some of the open houses to note:
The embassies of Austria and Slovakia, neighbors in the world and in Washington, will turn their International Circle cul-de-sac into an exploration of the Danube river, with festivities inside both embassies and in their shared drive.
After selling its larger-than-needed embassy to Vietnam in 2019, the Embassy of Belgium co-located last year at the EU Delegation. This year, they'll be joining Luxembourg at the Netherlands' sprawling embassy for a BeNeLux celebration. As the embassies say, "When three neighbors are best friends… they throw a party together!"
Estonia, whose building is under construction, will be exhibiting with the Ukrainians at Ukraine House in Kalorama.
The Embassy of Greece's new exhibit features gorgeous photos of doors throughout the country; fitting as they opens theirs.
Poland will be hosting several famous explorers, who will be discussing their expeditions from the tops of the tallest mountains to across the widest of oceans. Their immediate neighbors on Sixteenth Street, the Former Residence of the Ambassadors of Spain, and the Lithuanian Embassy, often are fan favorites, so plan to get their early. Last year, the Mexico Cultural Institute joined the festivities by opening their doors on EU Open House as well, and their gorgeous murals are worth popping in for.
Tips for the Day:
The EU has put together a comprensive guide to Open House, with a complete listing of who's participating and a specially curated Google Map showing where each is located.
Taking transit? Load up your Metro card before you go.
Weather reports are calling for rain and thunderstorms on Saturday so be prepared!
Like Passport DC, it's impossible to fully experience everything every embassy has to offer in the six-hour window of EU Open House. Stay tuned to Diplomatica for opportunities throughout the year to learn more about these properties, attend events, and more. And if there's an embassy or residence you wanted to visit but couldn't make this weekend, please let us know.
Two weeks after a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake rocked the Turkish and Syrian border region, killing tens of thousands, the area was rocked by a second, 6.8-magnitude quake.
On Monday, as many embassies and other businesses were closed in observation of the President’s Day holiday in the U.S., staff and volunteers at the Turkish Embassy were continuing to prepare for shipment the tons of donations that have poured in over the past two weeks. The Embassy regularly updates their list of most-needed items on their Twitter and other social media feeds. Embassy staff told Diplomatica that they have received enough donations of clothing and are most in need of larger items. They ask that people contact the embassy in advance of delivery.
Because the U.S. and Syria have no formal diplomatic relations, those wishing to support relief efforts in Syria should contact The White Helmets, or Medecins Sans Frontieres.
The Ibero-American Cultural Attachés Association (AACIA) will be hosting a fundraising gala at the historic Colombian Ambassador’s residence in Dupont Circle on February 23.
Diplomatica readers may recall this property as the site of a “hidden” ballroom and more importantly, some splendid rooftof views. Check out our profile, “The Invisible Dance” ahead of the event, and purchase your tickets while they’re still available.
St. Brigid’s Day, celebrated February 1 of each year, marks the first day of spring in the Gaelic calendar, and the beginning of the end of the cold, dark days of winter. This year, the Irish Consulate in New York City and the women of AwakenHub, the all-Ireland organization supporting female founders, celebrated by showcasing women-led start-ups by Irish women and the diaspora.
It was the first official transatlantic visit by AwakenHub and their women-led investor syndicate, AwakenAngels Fund, a women-founded community with predominantly women investors supporting women led startups across the island of Ireland. Co-founders Mary McKenna, Clare McGee, Sinead Crowley, Mary Carty, and Denise McQuaid were joined by Brighde Barnes, AwakenHub’s head of community development, AwakenHub Global Disapora Ambassador Mary Ann Pierce, and other prominent Irish-affiliated women in New York, including Tami Ellen McLaughlin, and author Kelly Hoey. The organization was supported by Irish Business Organization of New York, the Bank of Ireland, Invest Northern Ireland, Digital Irish, and Map Digital.
*Diplomatica Global Media is a member of AwakenHub.
Today is the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere. While some believe it's the start of the winter season, others see it as a midway point until spring. Regardless of your perspective, it's a great time to remember the beautiful Albert Camus quote - “In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”
There are many wonderful holidays around the world happening in December and January. We are mid-way through Hanukkah, Christmas is this weekend, Kwanzaa begins on the 26th. January brings Orthodox Christmas, Lunar New Year, and my favorite, Nollaig na mBan.
Before we take our year-end hiatus, we asked embassies throughout D.C. to share their favorite holiday traditions from their countries. While not everyone may be able to chop down their own Christmas tree from their private forests like the Finns, there are many traditions that can be adopted anywhere in the world.
Here are some of the responses we received.
🇮🇸 A good book and a cup of hot chocolate on Christmas Eve make Jólabókaflóðið a treasured tradition in Iceland.
🇫🇮 In Finland, not surprisingly, Christmas saunas are a big thing. Suvi Jarvela-Hagstrom, the Head of Cultural Affairs and Public Diplomacy at the Embassy of Finland shared another haunting tradition. "People visit graveyards and light candles at the graves of their loved ones,” she told Diplomatica. “The graveyards are seas of candles at Christmas time.”
🇮🇩 Take a note from Indonesia, and celebrate a holiday other than your own. "Indonesia is very diverse in terms of traditions and religions. The festivities of our religious holiday celebration, including Christmas, Eid al-Fitr, Galungan, Lunar New Year, are often celebrated not only by the followers of the specific religion, but also others in the area," Dian Permana of the Embassy of Indonesia told us. "Some Muslims might help to decorate or provide security for the church during Christmas, and the Christians might help provide the same support during Eid al-Fitr, and the food is shared to those regardless of their religions."
🇦🇹 Hannes Richter of the Embassy of Austria recommends the new year's tradition Bleigießen in which you predict your future by melting a tin figurine over a candle, dropping it in water, and interpreting its shape. Finja Draxler, also of the Austrian Embassy, reminds us that the Danube Waltz at midnight is another classic way to usher in the new year.
🇺🇾 Celebrate like the Uruguayans by eating twelve grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve to attract good luck, or walking around the block with a suitcase (also a midnight) to welcome travel into your life in the coming year. Maria Fernanda Garcia, a counselor at the Embassy of Uruguay, also points to the tradition of throwing a bucket of water out of your house to remove bad energy and begin the year clean of bad vibrations. "It's a popular tradition throughout the country," she told us. "But in the cities, people throw water out the windows of their apartments, so if you're walking through Montevideo at midnight, be careful! You're probably going to get wet."
🇲🇹 Ryan Meilak, the head of outreach at European Parliament's Liaison Office, shares that in his native Malta, presepju, or a crib depicting the nativity scene, is a popular holiday tradition, with most families having a locally-crafted crib to fit their budget and home.
🇵🇭 Mark Lim of the Public Diplomacy section of the Embassy of the Philippines reminds us of the importance of gathering with friends and family over a lovingly-prepared meal. "The Noche Buena (Christmas Eve Feast) and the Media Noche (New Years Eve Feast) highlight the gathering as well as how Filipino families traditionally bond over food," he told Diplomatica. Enjoy a traditional Filipino treat by cooking Puto bumbong, made from a purple-colored ground rice cooked in bamboo tubes that are placed on a custom-made steamer-cooker. and best paired with hot chocolate. (Recipe here.)
🇪🇸 Ana Fernández of the Embassy of Spain's Cultural Office passes along this gem, with echoes of Uruguay: “We have plenty of Christmas traditions in Spain, as varied as our regions are. For instance, the 'Caga Tió' - the 'Pooping Log'- is a magic log from Catalonia with two or four stick legs, a lovely face, and a big smile. During all of December, one takes care of it, feeding it and keeping it warm with a blanket and the barretina, a traditional Catalan hat. On Christmas Eve, Children sing songs and beat him with a stick or a wooden spoon. And as crazy as it might sound, they receive presents in exchange. But besides our particular celebrations, there is something shared across the country: the 12 grapes on New Year's Eve - symbolizing the 12 months ahead. Eating them on time during the twelve chimes at midnight will bring good luck to those who succeed.”
What are some of your favorite holiday traditions? Share them with us!
From December 9-11, the Embassy of the Netherlands hosted a special exhibition of the World Press Photo in conjunction with the World Press Freedom Conference, which was held virtually by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNESCO. This exhibition highlighted ten iconic images from 2011-2020, winners of the annual World Press Photo Contest.
