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Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission

and the Folklife Program for New Jersey present

The Folklife Program for New Jersey was established by the Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission in 1990 to broaden the appreciation and availability of folk arts, folklore, and folklife within Middlesex County; identify and preserve folk traditions expressed by the people of Central New Jersey; provide a forum for the presentation of New Jersey and regional folk artists, recognized by their community for excellence; encourage public involvement in the folk arts through educational programming and cross-cultural exchange.

Samahan Cultural Heritage, Eastern Seaboard, Inc. is a non-profit cultural group that was created in an effort to preserve and present Philippine traditions to the general public and within the community. Since its inception, this group has gained an expert reputation in the presentation and research of a variety of Philippine traditions, including their Palaspas instructional workshops.

PalaspasTraditional

Filipino Palm Weaving

WorkshopSaturday, March 15, 2008

2:00 - 3:30 pmEast Jersey Olde Towne Village

1050 River Road, PiscatawayOffered Free of Charge

Funded byMiddlesex County

Board of Chosen FreeholdersMiddlesex County

Cultural & Heritage CommissionNew Jersey State Council on the Arts/

Department of State, a Partner Agency of the

National Endowment for the Arts

Pal

aspa

sMIDDLESEX COUNTY

BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS

Stephen J. “Pete” Dalina, Freeholder Deputy Director,

and Liaison to the CommissionDavid B. Crabiel, Freeholder Director

H. James Polos Camille Fernicola John Pulomena Christopher D. Rafano

Blanquita B. ValentiWalter De Angelo, County Administrator

The Workshop Registration

Palaspas is presented without charge, however registration is required due to limited seating. To register, contact the Commission, 732.745.4489. Persons with hearing disabilities may dial 732.745.3888 TTY, or 711, the New Jersey Relay Service.

The Village is a fully accessible site; an Assistive Listening system will be in use during the program. An American Sign Language interpreter can be provided without charge upon a two-week advance request. Visitors may wish to request one of our folding wheelchairs to assist them from the parking lot to the program.

In case of inclement weather the day of the event, please call 732.296.8966.

Palaspas are young coconut palm fronds that are woven into intricate designs, created especially for Palm Sunday, or Domingo de Ramos, as it is called in the Philippines.

For centuries, Filipino families have preserved their own weaving patterns by passing them down orally from one generation to the next.

According to local belief, or pamahiin, blessed Palaspas possess special powers that can prevent any harm that may befall a family. After the Palaspas are prepared, they are often brought to church to be blessed, and then traditionally displayed in the home for protection.

PalaspasEach Palaspas starts with a basic weave. Thin palm fronds are stripped into two halves, leaving the spine intact. The two halves are criss-crossed almost to their ends, then each end is twisted into any number of designs. The palm fronds can be braided, twisted, notched, and woven into various patterns and styles, and it can take from a few minutes to a few hours to finish one Palaspas.

Participants of this hands-on workshop will learn how to create this special folk craft under the instruction of master artists from Samahan Cultural Heritage, Eastern Seaboard, Inc.The program will be presented in a bilingual format, with an interpreter speaking English and Tagalog.

Participants will also have the opportunity to taste suman, a dessert made of sweet rice wrapped in palm leaves, traditionally made for the occasion of Palaspas - weaving.