Laos Well Wishes Lunch Activity One of Many Activities to Celebrate AAPI Month at Hoover
Students learned more about Laos culture by tying colored string to one another at lunch, in a baci, a traditional Laos practice.
May 16, 2022
Hoover’s Well Wishes lunch activity on Tuesday, May 10th, highlighted an important Laos tradition, Baci. A traditional Baci ceremony consists of tying white cloth strings around other’s wrists followed with a prayer of well wishes.
In Laos culture, the human body is believed to be made of 32 different organs, each one represented by a different khuan (spirit). The tied string represents tying all the khuans together to better harmonize the human body, therefore bringing good fortune, health, and relationships.
Miss Chen explained that Baci celebrates, “all types of ceremonies.”
She later demonstrated how to tie a Baci for others. By rubbing the string away from the person’s wrist, it symbolizes washing away all the bad luck and cleaning the body. The next step is to tie on the string, vocalizing all the well wishes.
Miss Chen emphasized how important it is to celebrate and acknowledge AAPI this month. It allows Hoover High’s students to learn more about the AAPI culture along with people who identify with AAPI to find their lost roots.
Mariah Martinez stated that, “I feel like this is important since we are such a diverse school.”
Hoover is a diverse community. At times in diverse groups some groups may feel like outcasts. AAPI allows Hoover to honor and recognize many group’s cultures. Continue to learn and celebrate other cultures by participating in the many AAPI events this month.