From Pi-Day to International Dolphins Day, every calendar date is already filled with various holidays. When it comes to big religious holidays, however, the whole world is aware of them: the free market capitalizes on gift-giving during holiday seasons, companies and administrations send out congratulatory emails and even D2 prepares a special menu.

Specifically at NYU Abu Dhabi, where so many different ethnic and religious groups are present, a lot of holidays make it into the list of big celebrations, and various student groups or administrative offices organize events to honor traditions related to them. One holiday, however, has historically been neglected, or at least put under a blanket celebration: Orthodox Easter. One could argue that the general lack of celebrations of Orthodox Christian holidays is because of the fact that there really are few Orthodox Christians on campus. Even the ones that are present may follow slightly different traditions because, unlike many other religions, Christian Orthodoxy is highly dependent on nationality. However, from the perspective of Orthodox Christians, commemorating Easter on campus only on the date of the Catholic holiday does seem odd.

Christianity is a multifaceted religion with many sects falling under the umbrellas of both Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, the two main divisions. Within each sect, there are certain differences in the expression of your faith, and in Orthodoxy it is often also about blending religious practices with cultural and national traditions. From this perspective, it is unreasonable to expect that every single Easter tradition will be respected and celebrated on campus. Yet having a singular Catholic-focused celebration is quite discordant with the values of inclusion, diversity and community learning that NYUAD exists to foster.

This begs the question, who is responsible for fostering these values? Is it the students within SIGs, the university administration (specifically the Office of Student Life), or the larger community, including external contractors like Royal Catering Services? It’s important to recognize that responsibility does not lie with one entity alone. It starts with students voicing their concerns on this, then Student Government communicating with the Dining Committee and offices on campus, and then that in turn should reach administrators, and people who can implement our desired change.

The neglect of Orthodox Easter celebrations at NYUAD is just one example of a larger issue of underrepresentation and lack of inclusivity towards certain ethnic and religious groups. South Asian New Year’s is one of the holidays students celebrated recently, but only individually, not as part of any larger events on campus. Within certain national SIGs, like Tashan, there are various cultures represented but only few celebrated when it comes to holidays. And despite there being fairly big diasporas of Kazakhs, Tajiks and other Central Asian nationalities, one rarely sees any of their national holidays promoted or observed. Addressing this issue requires a collective effort from students, faculty, staff, and administrators to create a more culturally-aware and inclusive environment. By doing so, NYUAD can truly fulfill its mission of preparing students to be global citizens who are capable of navigating diverse and complex environments.

Creating a more inclusive and culturally-aware environment also means acknowledging and learning about the history and traditions of different ethnic and religious groups. This includes providing resources and opportunities for students to educate themselves and each other on these topics, such as hosting workshops and cultural events. Holidays provide an excellent reason to organize an event and showcase traditions related to the festivities beyond food. In the case of Orthodox Easter, the painting of eggs, baking of sweet bread and weaving wreaths of willow branches are all activities that anybody could participate in and through that learn more about what makes Eastern Orthodox Christianity different from Roman Catholicism. There are surely many traditions and practices that students from other underrepresented ethnicities or religions would love to share but have not had the opportunity to do so.

This is not about the food at D2 or the posters in the elevators. It is about the recognition and appreciation towards various religious practices. The case of the missing Orthodox Easter celebrations calls for a reflection on how many other holidays have been missed, how many other ethnic or national groups have been neglected and how much the intercultural exchange has fallen flat simply because we were not provided with the environment to ask questions and share experiences.

It is important to recognize that cultural awareness is not just a one-time event or a week-long celebration, but a continuous effort that should be integrated into the fabric of NYUAD’s culture.