REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (KGO) — Thousands came out to celebrate the 46th annual Palestine Cultural Day in Redwood City.
“The main thing I want them to experience is what Palestinians are known for: the hospitality,” said Yazan Elayyan, who lives in San Jose. “You go to any booth, they will greet you with a smile.” Elayyan attended the event with his non-Palestinian friends to share a bit of Palestinian culture with them.
Booths displayed tatreez, traditional Palestinian embroidery, and handicrafts, alongside authentic Palestinian food, fashion, and music. Draped in an outfit made of traditional Palestinian keffiyehs, or scarves, internationally acclaimed Palestinian artist Dana Salah was one of the headliners, drawing large crowds who sang along in Arabic to her hits.
It was a full day devoted to celebrating Palestinian heritage. But with a fragile ceasefire holding, many Palestinian Americans are holding out hope for lasting peace and a fully sovereign Palestinian state.
“Having saying I was Palestinian a year ago felt like a taboo. But now, I say, ‘I’m Palestinian’ and everybody’s like, ‘Yes!’” said Joulyana Ibrahim, a Milpitas resident. Born and raised in the West Bank, Ibrahim immigrated to the U.S. in 2007.
She and her friends emphasized that, against the backdrop of ongoing conflict, the day was not about politics or protests but about Palestinian resilience.
“The biggest highlight, honestly, is seeing the little kids running around in keffiyehs and just being present, growing up knowing this is who we are, and this is how we celebrate. And so, that has been very special this year,” said Hayat Barakat, a San Francisco resident.
Elayyan noted that attendance at Palestine Day has grown significantly over the past two years as solidarity with the Palestinian cause has increased. “You see way more people out now than before because of everything going on. You can really see the support with all the different races and ethnicities out here today. And it’s mainly support and solidarity with us,” he added.
Nasser Tarazi and his family drove all the way from Orange County to participate in Palestine Day.
“It is amazing. It is so beautiful. It reminds you of your background, your hometown. I am from Gaza. It feels really good to be here,” Tarazi shared.
Given the current situation in Gaza, the Tarazi family emphasized the importance of celebrating Palestinian culture and standing in solidarity with their community.
“It is spreading awareness for what is going on back home in Palestine. Again, it is genocide. Thousands and thousands of people have been killed. Again, there is nothing more than community. Community is the most important thing,” said Sammer Tarazi.
“We are all here for one cause. We support a free Palestine.”
