MELTING POT GATHERINGS FOR OUR NEW IRELAND

In 2020, we are bringing Nollaig na mBan into the 21st century in celebration of our new multi-cultural Ireland. Herstory has partnered with Our Table to create the Melting Pot gatherings, inviting people from all cultures to come together to share food, stories, music and our common humanity.

We are barraged daily by divisive forces and the power of politics, but the real power lies with the people. The power of sharing, of breaking bread together and the healing power of storytelling are rituals that are enjoyed by every culture and creed.

On the 6th January every year, Ireland celebrates an old rural ritual with a patriarchal past. Traditionally, Nollaig na mBan (Women’s Little Christmas) is the day after Christmas when women are set free from the kitchen to enjoy a well-earned night off with their girlfriends. Now we are calling on the women of Ireland to create a new multi-cultural Nollaig na mBan and host Melting Pot gatherings in our homes, community centres, local restaurants and direct provision centres.

Melting Pot is another initiative from the Herstory 20/20 project with RTÉ and EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, and this particular initiative is inspired by Our Table, a social enterprise which aims at creating a connected and inclusive community through food. Founded by activist Ellie Kisyombe and Michelle Darmody, they met through a shared belief that a conversation needed to be started about Direct Provision, and the idea that food was a good way to get conversation started. Ellie has been in the asylum process for many years and she is a vocal campaigner to end Direct Provision in Ireland as a volunteer with the Irish Refugee Council. In 2019, Ellie became the first person to run for office whilst living in Direct Provision. Ellie is a Herstory heroine and her awe-inspiring story will be featured with the stories of women living in Direct Provision as part of the Herstory 20/20 Project in partnership with RTÉ and EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum.

It’s so simple to organise a Melting Pot gathering: just pick a venue and invite people to bring a dish and a story or music from their culture. The story can be a personal tale, local legend or folklore from anywhere in the world. Then let the stories flow and the bonds grow over a deliciously diverse dinner.

Nollaig na mBan has always been a women’s night off but we don’t want to exclude men and children from these fascinating storytelling suppers so there’s a twist - the men can come if they do the dishes!

“We are connected as human beings, whether we are women of colour, Hispanic, Asian or white Caucasian. No matter where we are from in the world, all women want the same things: to nurture our communities, raise our families, and create a homely home. Food plays a big part in this. When we come together sitting on the long tables, sharing food, stories, and ideas, we build harmony and peace. We realise we are every woman, who wants nothing but stability for our families and communities,” says Ellie Kisyombé, Founder of Our Table.

“Christmas has been consumed by consumerism, drifting from its Christian origins of compassion and inclusion. To be human is to migrate, to share stories and break bread together. Ireland has the biggest diaspora in the world with 70 million people cherishing their Irish roots worldwide. However, the Irish migration story is marked by successes and struggles. We know only too well what it feels like to be excluded, stereotyped and discriminated against. In these divisive times, we can forget that immigration and emigration are two sides of the same story. It’s only right that we open our doors and our hearts to the New Irish who have joined our communities from distant shores. If Ireland has the greatest diaspora we should be the most compassionate country in the world.” says Herstory Founder Melanie Lynch.

Above are images from the first Melting Pot gathering, hosted by Domini and Peaches Kemp at The Commons restaurant in the Museum of Literature.

Click here to contact your local Direct Provision centre and invite people to join your Melting Pot gathering.

Please donate any profits from your gathering to the Irish Refugee Council Education Fund which is making a big difference to the migrant community in Ireland.

Click here for recipe ideas from around the world.

To register your Melting Pot gathering click here to complete this simple event form.

On Nollaig na mBan share your photos online with the hashtag #MeltingPot

Thanks to Susan Quirke and Ruairí McKiernan for advising on this special project.