Culinary Inspiration by Otao Kitchen

Bringing Communities Together This Harmony Day

Harmony Day is a celebration of who we are as a community — diverse, connected, and stronger together. It’s a chance to recognise the many cultures that shape our everyday lives and to create moments where everyone feels welcome and valued.

For schools, clubs, and community groups, Harmony Day also presents a wonderful opportunity: to combine celebration with purpose. By weaving fundraising into the day’s activities, you can support a cause while creating joyful, inclusive experiences that bring people together.

Here are some creative and flexible ways to mark Harmony Day — whether you’re planning a small gathering or a large community event.

Taste the World: A Shared Food Experience

Across cultures, food is a language of connection. Hosting a shared food event is one of the most engaging ways to celebrate cultural diversity.

Invite families and community members to contribute dishes that reflect their heritage. Your event can be a relaxed shared meal, or you can turn it into a fundraiser by selling tasting portions, plates, or meal vouchers.

Global Flavours to Inspire Your Menu

From Europe
– Italian favourites like baked pasta dishes and tiramisu
– French pastries, savoury quiche, and delicate macarons
– Greek spinach and feta pastries or grilled souvlaki
– German sausages served with pretzels and mustard

From the Americas
– Mexican tacos, churros, and flavoured fruit drinks
– Brazilian cheese bread and chocolate truffles
– Canadian poutine or classic butter tarts
– American apple pie and pancakes with maple syrup

From Africa
– Ethiopian injera with lentils and vegetables
– Moroccan couscous and slow-cooked tagines
– South African bobotie and syrup-soaked koeksisters
– Nigerian jollof rice, full of spice and colour

From Asia
– Chinese dumplings, spring rolls, and bubble tea
– Indian samosas, creamy curries, and mango lassi
– Japanese sushi, skewers, and soft mochi treats
– Vietnamese bánh mì rolls and warming pho

From Oceania
– Australian classics like lamingtons and ANZAC biscuits
– New Zealand pavlova and hokey pokey ice cream
– Papua New Guinea–inspired mumu-style roasted dishes

To deepen the experience, encourage participants to share the story behind their dish, bring a written recipe, or wear traditional clothing.

Activities That Celebrate Culture (and Can Raise Funds)

Food doesn’t have to stand alone. Pair it with activities that spark curiosity, creativity, and connection.

🎨 Cultural Art Showcase
Have children or community members create artworks inspired by cultures around the world. Display them as an exhibition, or host a silent auction to raise funds.

🧡 Wear Orange Day
Orange symbolises inclusion on Harmony Day. Sell orange-themed accessories such as ribbons, wristbands, or hair ties to raise money and create a strong visual statement.

🎶 Global Beats Dance Party
Run a school or community disco featuring music from different countries. Ask for a small entry donation, sell snacks, and encourage cultural dress.

🎲 World Games Stations
Set up rotating activity stations with traditional games from different cultures — such as bocce, sepak takraw, or cornhole. Use gold-coin donations or team challenges as a fundraiser.

📖 Stories That Connect Us
Invite parents, elders, or community members to share folktales or personal migration journeys. Raise funds through the sale of bookmarks, tea, or simple snacks.

A Day That Reflects Belonging

At its heart, Harmony Day is about recognising that everyone belongs. When people come together to share food, stories, laughter, and experiences, understanding grows naturally.

With thoughtful planning and a creative approach, your Harmony Day celebration can strengthen community bonds — and make a positive impact through fundraising at the same time.

Celebrate culture. Celebrate connection. Celebrate together. 

Chunky cookies with crisp edges and soft centres have a special appeal. Re-creating that bakery texture at home calls for careful attention to technique rather than complicated tricks. Ingredient choices, mixing habits, and temperature control all shape how a cookie looks and tastes. The following seven sections outline practical ways to produce generous cookies with consistent results.

If you’ve ever watched a well-meant present gather dust, you know the problem. This year, skip the shelf-fillers and give something people will talk about long after Christmas dinner.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is more than just a date on the calendar—it’s a celebration of family, unity, and traditions passed down through generations. And at the heart of this festival sits the mooncake: round, rich, and full of meaning. But here’s the thing: while mooncakes are delicious, how you present them matters just as much as what’s inside.

When you think of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the first image that comes to mind is probably a golden mooncake. These round pastries are more than just sweets—they carry centuries of tradition, family togetherness, and cultural symbolism. 

The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most beautiful celebrations in Asian culture—a time for family reunions, moon-gazing, and of course, sharing mooncakes. It’s a festival that’s all about togetherness, and what better way to celebrate than by hosting your own party? 

Mooncakes are one of the most iconic treats of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Traditionally filled with lotus seed paste or red bean and sometimes paired with salted egg yolk, they’ve been enjoyed for centuries as symbols of reunion and harmony. 

When you think of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the first image that probably comes to mind is the mooncake. These round pastries, often beautifully stamped with patterns, are more than just desserts—they’re symbols of reunion, tradition, and celebration.

Across Asia, festivals are as much about food as they are about tradition. While savory dishes often take the spotlight, it’s the sweets and desserts that bring people together, mark new beginnings, and sweeten the celebrations.