In this episode of The Celebration Sessions, I sit down with Ambassador Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid at the Embassy of Palestine in Dublin for a powerful and really lovely conversation.

With so much darkness in the world right now, it can be easy to lose sight of hope. But this episode is a reminder of the strength that lives in culture; in memory, in food, in music, in story. Together, we explore Palestinian traditions around weddings, food, and family; from the joyful energy of the zaffa, to the slow-cooked idra shared at celebrations, to the regional variations of kanafa.

We also talk about hakawati, the tradition of storytelling that keeps history alive, and how it finds resonance with the Irish seanchaí.

Throughout the conversation, there’s a lovely resilience in every story shared; a sense of holding onto identity, even in the face of immense challenge.

This episode is about more than celebration. It’s about connection. It’s about spirit.

The sincerest thank you to everyone at the Embassy of Palestine for being so welcoming. Shukran.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.