Here are more resources about the holidays they learned about and ways to further your child's education. Have fun!
Las Posadas
Villages and neighborhoods throughout Mexico celebrate Las Posadas- nine days of candlelight processions and parties starting December 16.
Each day, kids gather to act out the holy family's search for lodging in Bethlehem. The parade of Santos Peregrinos (Holy Pilgrims) stops at a house to sing a traditional song where the Holy Family asks for shelter for the night and are turned away. They continue to a second home where the scene is repeated. At the third stop the pilgrims are told that while there is no room in the posada (inn), they are welcome to stay in the stable.
Afterwards, kids take turns smashing piñatas and enjoy the fruits, sugar cane, peanuts and candies that burst out!
Christmas Eve: Noche Buena
Holiday festivities end on Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) with the celebration of a late-night Misa de Gallo (Rooster's Mass). Afterwards families head home for a traditional Christmas dinner oftamales and atole or other regional dishes. The evening ends with the opening of gifts and, for the children, piñatas and luces de Belen (sparklers). As these happy family gatherings generally last into the wee hours, December 25th is set aside as a day to rest and enjoy el recalentado (leftovers).
Poinsettias: La Flor de Noche Buena (Christmas Eve Flower).
The Poinsettia is named after Dr. Joel R. Poinsett, a U.S. diplomat who served as Minister to Mexico in the 1820's. Like many newcomers to Mexico, he enjoyed the bright red flowers found all over. When he returned home to Charleston, South Carolina, he brought some with him so that he could plant them in the U.S. They have been here ever since!
Ramadan
There is a girl named Ayah who is Muslim. During the Islamic month of Ramadan, she fasts from sunrise to sunset every day. (That means she doesn't eat or drink a thing all day!) Muslims believe that during the month of Ramadan, their holy book (the Quran) was sent from God to guide the people.
Ayah prays five times a day. She prays on a prayer rug, which she lays on the floor facing the sacred city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.At the end of the Fast of Ramadan comes the joyous celebration of Eid ul-Fitr. Eid lasts for three days. On the first day, Ayah puts on new holiday clothes and goes to pray at her mosque with her family. Then she goes home and has a big breakfast with family and friends.During Ramadan and Eid, streets and buildings are sometimes decorated with beautiful lights or lanterns. At Eid, people give to those in need, and exchange cards and gifts. They also wish each other "Eid mubarak!"
Ayah and her relatives enjoy a big feast together. They have all different kinds of foods, like lamb, fruits and nuts, vegetables and sweets. She says these cookies called "ma'amoul" are the best! They are filled with dates and nuts and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Yum!
Check out this cool Ramadan playlist of videos!
We also practiced by doing the marshmallow test.
Winter Solstice
One of the coolest things about the Winter Solstice holiday is that it is based on science (and science topics we study in 2nd grade).
On Winter Solstice, the sun sets earlier than on any other day, making it the darkest and scariest holiday of the year (even scarier than Halloween)! Long ago people believed that the darkness meant there were evil spirits around and many people feared the sun would never return.
We can celebrate Winter Solstice as a time for new beginnings and make wishes for the Earth and people in our lives.
When we celebrated Winter Solstice in class we each made a wish for the Earth and for someone special to us.
Christmas
Oh Christmas Tree! By Lori Mortensen
Where does the tradition of Christmas trees come from? Germany! German people migrated to America and brought the custom of decorated Christmas evergreen trees with them!
Queen Victoria also made Christmas trees very popular when she encouraged her husband, Prince Albert a man from Germany, to decorate their Christmas tree like when he was a boy.
In 1889, the first Christmas tree was set up in the White House; it was for the family of President Benjamin Harrison, our 33rd President of the United States.
In the United States, 25-30 million real Christmas trees are sold each holiday.
In the United States, 25-30 million real Christmas trees are sold each holiday.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah is a Jewish celebration in honor of a victorious battle for religious freedom. The holiday lasts for eight days. There are many traditions when celebrating Hanukkah.
For example, the menorahis lit each night to remember the eight days of Hanukkah.
Also, delicious foods such as potato latkes and jelly filled donuts are enjoyed.
Another fun Hanukkah tradition is the game of dreidel. This is a game where kids spin a four-sided top. They often get chocolate coins if they win!
When we learned about Hanukkah, we learned how to play dreidel. It was tons of fun!
We also listened to this awesome song, “Candlelight,” sung by the Maccabeats.
Chinese New Year
This traditional fest has been celebrated for more than four thousand years.
It came about from ancient celebrations to mark the end of the long winter season and the beginning of spring.
It celebrates the earth coming back to life and the beginning of the growing cycle.
This is why it is also called the Spring Festival.
For Chinese people all over, the Lunar New Year is the celebration of the year, a time for happy reunions, family and friends, rich in colorful traditions and customs.
Activities and games for Chinese New Year: http://www.china-family-adventure.com/chinese-new-year.html
This is the video we watched in class:
St.Lucia Day
Santa Lucia Day is a festival of light celebrated in Swedish homes and schools on one of the darkest days of the year. This holiday, which honors Santa Lucia, patron saint of Sweden, takes place on December 13.
A celebration of hospitality, Santa Lucia Day teaches the values of sharing and caring for others.
St. Lucia’s Day is celebrated because of a little girl named Lucy who lived in Rome, Italy. The story is that Saint Lucy secretly brought food to persecuted Christians in Rome, who were forced to hide underground in the catacombs. Lucy would wear a crown of candles so she could use both of her hands to carry items. The name “Lucy” also means "light," and December 13th falls close to the winter solstice, which is the day with the fewest hours of light.
Diwali
India is a country in the continent of Asia. Diwali is India's most important holiday.It celebrates the New Year and lasts for five (5) days. Diwali means "rows of lighted lamps". People light hundreds of small oil lamps called DIYAS and place them in homes, courtyards , gardens, roof-tops and walls. People also decorate their homes with RANGOLI patterns with rice flour, water
and sand. They are hoping that the goddess
Lakshmi will see the patterns and visit their
homes. It is believed that Lakshmi brings
wealth and good fortune when she visits. During the Diwali holiday celebration, people celebrate
by exchanging gifts (sweets and candles), getting dressed up in traditional clothing, saying prayers and visiting parents to give thanks to them. Then off to the temple they go. Fireworks and lights fill the air!
Here is a video we watched about Diwali:
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