By GARRETT NEESE

gneese@mininggazette.com

HOUGHTON – Food, song and dance from around the world were presented Saturday at Michigan Technological University’s annual International Night.

This year’s celebration was centered on the holidays.

“Every year, we like to change the theme, so people can know different aspects of international culture,” said Ankith Ullal, president of International Club.

Ullal said initial planning begins in summer, then logistics begins after the Parade of Nations in September.

Performances included “Arirang,” described as the unofficial national anthem of Korea, the Houghton Hoopers’ celebration of World Hoop Day, and Chinese’ students performance of a song about a Chinese girl away from home during the holidays.

The program was preceded by a meal of several international foods, including the Indonesian chicken dish ayam ungkep, the Korean noodle dish japchae and the Nigerian dessert puff puff.

Hilary Virtanen of Ripley came for the first time because her daughter is a member of the Kivajat Dancers, a traditional Finnish dancing group, which performed Midsummer Festival dances.

“I thought it was really wonderful,” she said. “It’s really great to have different foods from around the world, and to get to see different entertainment, different performances. For me, anytime there’s something like this, it’s really worth going.”