For the last two summers, we have come together to celebrate Dumpling Day – a joyful community event that explores Rochdale’s rich cultural diversity through the universal language of food.
Coinciding with the start of Refugee Week, Dumpling Day invites people of all ages to share food, stories, and traditions. From Ukrainian varenyky to Bangladeshi guror handesh and even the hearty Lancashire hot pot, dumplings in their many forms have long been part of life in Rochdale. This special day highlights how food travels across borders and kitchens, reminding us that our differences are something to celebrate – and that food has the power to bring us all together.
Why Dumplings?
Dumplings are found in kitchens across the globe – steamed, fried, baked, or boiled – each reflecting the tastes, traditions, and ingredients of the communities who make them.
- In Ukrainian culture, varenyky are more than a dish – they’re seen as talismans, with their crescent shape linked to the young moon and once used in rituals near water sources.
- In Lancashire, hearty dishes like hot pot and pastry-covered pies link to the region’s industrial past and the traditions of Wakes Week, when mill workers took their summer holidays.
- Across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, dumplings continue to evolve through trade, migration, and cultural exchange, making them a perfect symbol of unity in diversity.
What Happens on the Day?
Each year, Dumpling Day fills Touchstones with the sounds, smells, and tastes of celebration. Recent activities have included:
- Dumpling tastings from Ukrainian, Nigerian and Bangladeshi cooks
- Hands-on cooking workshops with Heart & Parcel
- Talks from the museum team, connecting food traditions to our collections and The Dining Room project
- Creative activities such as Argentinian weaving and crochet with Knitty Gritty
- Live music and performances, adding to the festival atmosphere
Why It Matters?
Dumpling Day is about more than just food. It’s about heritage, belonging, and connection. By gathering around a shared table, we honour the histories and traditions that shape Rochdale today – while creating new memories together. The event also connects to the borough’s past, echoing the festival spirit of Wakes Day in Lancashire’s mill towns.
For us at Touchstones, Dumpling Day is an important part of The Dining Room project, showing how food can unlock stories from our collections, bring voices together, and celebrate the diversity of our community.