Ss - Special Day Celebrations
Children will have fun learning about celebrations in other countries and other cultures. They will find out what special holidays are only celebrated in the United States, and holidays that are not celebrated in the United States. They will learn about
Kwanza, Hanukkah, Christmas in other countries, Chinese New Year and more. All through fun and exciting hands on activities. They will plan and carry out a great party complete with decorations, and special treats.
Once you have spent time learning about the different holidays, choose your favorite and use the holiday ideas to plan your own party. Read through the traditions and activities listed in each holiday, choose the activities that work in your setting and
plan a great party. You can always add additional activities by researching any holiday.
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year - February 5
Preparations begin a month before Chinese New Year. People start buying presents, decorations and food and clothing. Chinese houses are cleaned from top to bottom, to sweep away any traces of bad luck. Sweeping or dusting should not be done on New
Year’s Day or good fortune will be swept away. After New Year’s Day, the floors may be swept. Beginning at the door, the dust and rubbish are swept to the middle of the parlor, then placed in the corners and is not taken or thrown out until the fifth
day. At no time should the rubbish in the corners be trampled upon. If you sweep the dirt out over the threshold, you will sweep one of the family members away. To sweep the dust and dirt out of your house by the front door is said to sweep away the good
fortune of the family; it must always be swept inwards and then carried out, then no harm will follow. All dirt and rubbish must be taken out the back door.
Doors and windowpanes are given a new coat of paint, usually red. The doors and windows are then decorated with paper cuts and couplets with themes such as happiness, wealth and longevity printed on them.
Every traditional Chinese household should have live blooming plants to symbolize new growth. Flowers are believed to be symbolic of wealth and high positions in one’s career. You are considered lucky if your plant blooms on New Year’s Day. The Chinese
believe that without flowers, there would be no fruits. Therefore, it is important to have flowers and floral decorations.
The eve of the New Year is the most exciting part. Traditions are very carefully observed in everything from food to clothing. Dinner is a feast of seafood and dumplings.
It’s usual to wear something red as this color is meant to ward off evil spirits. After dinner, the family sits up for the night playing cards, board games or watching TV programs dedicated to the occasion. At midnight, the sky is lit up by
fireworks.
On the day itself, an ancient custom called Hong Bao, meaning Red Packet, takes place. This is where married couples give children and unmarried adults money in red envelopes. Then the family begins to say greetings from door to door, first to their
relatives and then their neighbors.
The end of the New Year is marked by the Festival of Lanterns, which is a celebration with singing, dancing and lantern shows.
Here is a lunar calendar to see what Chinese sign you were born under.
Rat 1924 1936 1948 1960 1972 1984 1996
Ox 1925 1937 1949 1961 1973 1985 1997
Tiger 1926 1938 1950 1962 1974 1986 1998
Rabbit 1927 1939 1951 1963 1975 1987 1999
Dragon 1928 1940 1952 1964 1976 1988 2000
Snake 1929 1941 1953 1965 1977 1989 2001
Horse 1930 1942 1954 1966 1978 1990 2002
Sheep 1931 1943 1955 1967 1979 1991 2003
Monkey 1932 1944 1956 1968 1980 1992 2004
Rooster 1933 1945 1957 1969 1981 1993 2005
Dog 1934 1946 1958 1970 1982 1994 2006
Boar 1935 1947 1959 1971 1983 1995 2007
Chinese Dragons
Dragons play a very important part of the Chinese traditions. The mightiest dragon of all is named Shen Lung - Good Luck Dragon. He controls the sky, moon, sun, sea and soil. Legend says he is very lazy and to avoid doing work he shrinks himself to the
size of a mouse and hides in houses most of the year.
Dragon Costume
Paint and decorate a large cardboard box to represent the head of a dragon. Add scales, horns, streamers, flowers, etc. Attach a large sheet to the head for the body. Place the box over one or more child’s heads and have the rest get under the sheet,
have a dragon parade.
Activities
Find the activity pages for Chinese New Year and complete them.
Cinco De Mayo
Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on the 5th of May and is one of 2 days which commemorate the independence of Mexico. Although Mexico’s official independence day is September 16th, Cinco de Mayo is also considered a day of great importance. Cinco de Mayo
commemorates a Mexican army victory in the Batalla de Puebla against the French in 1862, during the French occupation of Mexico.
In the United States, the Batalla de Puebla came to be known as simply 5 de Mayo. Over, the years Cinco de Mayo has become commercialized and people see this holiday as a time for fun and dance. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on a much larger scale here
in the United States than it is in Mexico. People of Mexican descent in the United States celebrate this significant day by having parades, mariachi music, folklorico dancing and other types of festive activities.
In addition to its importance in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is significant to all Americans because it marks the last time that any foreign power has acted the aggressor on North American soil.
This is a day to dress up, eat, listen to music and dance in Mexican tradition. If your community does not sponsor an annual Cinco de Mayo festival, plan a Cinco de Mayo party of your own.
Parades usually start moving about 11 o’clock, followed by dancing, bull fights and reenactments. At night there are pinatas for the children and the celebration ends with beautiful displays of fireworks
Plan a snack or a feast.
Make a homemade piñata fun for Cinco De Mayo
1 large balloon
1 cup flour
1/2 cup water
a squeeze of two of white glue, newspaper torn (not cut) into strips, colored tissue streamers
thin cardboard, decorations, glitter, gems, hole punch, string, strong cord, candies and small trinkets
Inflate the balloon (just air, not helium) Tie the balloon with a string to hang it up.
Make papier-mâché paste, by combining flour, a little water, and a little glue. Keep mixing until the consistency of glue has been reached.
Soak newspaper strips in paste, squeeze off excess, and lay over the balloon.
Continue adding strips, slightly overlapping them, cover the entire balloon, except a small opening at the top for putting in candy and small toys. Add a second layer, then let dry 24 hours. Add two more layers of papier-mâché, let dry 24 hours.
Now for the real fun.
Glue on the colored tissue paper. To make fringe, cut the streamers every 1/4 inch. Wrap around the piñata, Make cones from the cardboard, decorate and attach to make a star. If the balloon is still inflated, pop it. With the hole punch, punch a hole at
the top by the opening, and another hole on the opposite side of the opening. Loop string though the holes, tie off. Fill the piñata with candies and small toys. Tie a rope to the sting.
To Play
:
Hang the piñata on a hook or over a tree branch.
Someone will need to pull on the rope to move the piñata around.
Each child in turn will get a chance to break the piñata.
Blindfold the child, spin them around once or twice, and let them whack at it with a long stick.
Be careful: Don’t let the children scramble to get goodies until the blindfolded child is aware the piñata has broken and stops swinging.
Chile Pepper Garden
You will need
Pepper seeds, 3-4 varieties—best varieties for containers are Bermuda, Pueblo, and Thai peppers.
A combination of 1/3 good garden/potting soil, 1/3 vermiculite, and 1/3 sand (Hot pepper plants due well in sandy soil), peat pots, plastic wrap.
Directions
Soak seeds in warm water overnight, fill the peat pots 1/4 inch from the top with soil.
Water thoroughly; let stand 2-4 hours. Place 2-3 seeds per pot 1/4 inch deep. Cover the peat pots with plastic wrap and place in a sunny location (at least six hours of sun). Keep seeds moist, but do not soak.
Seeds can take 7 days or up to 5 weeks to germinate. When seedlings start to show, remove the plastic wrap. Once they begin to grow, cut the weaker seedlings off so the hardiest can take over.
If any variety starts to grow tall and too “leggy”, open the window just a bit to shock the plant with cooler air. This will slow down their growth and make their stem thicker. Once the seedlings have at least two mature leaves, you’re ready to
transplant. Fill your large pot with the soil mixture. Bury you peat pots in the soil. Plant the hardiest, one of each variety in the pot. You don’t have to remove the peat container. The roots will grow right through it.
Once the weather is warm, move the pot outdoors.Keep moist, harvest, and eat.
Paper Peppers
Make 4 peppers, 1 each of yellow, green, red, and orange. Punch holes in these peppers and lace them on a string. Hang outside the door. They hang real peppers outside their doors in Mexico.
Paper Chain
Make a red, white and green paper chain to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
Mexican Hat Dance
Step - 1. Stand with feet together and hands at sides. Begin the dance by folding your left arm across your stomach. Place your right elbow on your left hand. Your right hand is open like you are waving. Fling your right hand back. At the same time, put
your right heel out.
Step 2. Fold your right arm across your stomach. Your right hand can have a soft fist. Place your left elbow on your right hand. Your left hand is open like you are waving. Fling your left hand back. At the same time, put your left heel out.
Step - 3. Fold your left arm across your stomach. Your left hand can have a soft fist. Place your right elbow on your left hand. Your right hand is open like you are waving. Fling your right hand back. At the same time, put your right heel out.
Step - 4. Clap two times very fast.
Start over and repeat the motions seven times.
Mexican Fudge
3, 6 ounce packages chocolate chips
1, 14-ounce can eagle brand sweetened condensed milk
dash of salt
1/2-1 cup chopped nuts, optional
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon instant coffee
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Line an 8-inch square baking pan with waxed paper.
Melt chips, add condensed milk and salt.
Stir until combined.
Add nuts (if desired), vanilla, instant coffee, and cinnamon.
Spread evenly into prepared pan.
Cool in a cold place for two hours or until firm.
Cut and serve
Activities
Find the activity sheets for Cinco De Mayo and complete them.
Christmas In Other Countries
Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Christ almost 2,000 years ago. Read a story about the birth of Jesus. Christmas is celebrated from country to country in many different ways.
In The United States
We all know how Christmas is celebrated in the United States. Have the children talk about what family traditions they each have (going to Grandparents, hanging stocking, meals, etc.) Have each child draw a picture of their favorite Christmas family
tradition.
In China
The Christians light their houses with pretty paper lanterns. Their Christmas trees are called trees of light, they decorate them with paper flowers and paper lanterns. Santa visits China also, his name in China is Dun Che Lao Ren (dwyn-chuh-lah-oh-run).
The children in China also hang up stockings but they are made of muslin.
In Sweden
Christmas time begins on December 13th. This is called St. Lucia day. St. Lucia was a brave young women who lived in the fourth century. Back then Christians had to hide because they were not liked, St. Lucia brought them food every night to the dark
tunnels where they hid. St. Lucia wore candles on her head so she could see the way.
On St. Lucia day, they celebrate the “Festival of Lights” Before the sun comes up, the oldest girl in the family dresses up in all white. She wears an evergreen wreath with candles in it on her head. She carries coffee and buns to the other family
members in their rooms.
On Christmas Eve the family has a special dinner of ham and fish. On Christmas day they all open their gifts, go to church and then relax.
In Iraq
Christians celebrate Christmas in a special way. The family gathers together on Christmas Eve. One of the children reads the story about the birth of Jesus, the other family members hold lit candles. After the story a bon fire is made in the yard, it is
made from thorn bushes. It is said that if the thorn bushes burn to ashes it means good luck for the next year. When the fire dies, everyone jumps over the ashes three times and makes a wish.
On Christmas Day another bon fire is lit on the church yard. The Bishop starts the service by carrying in a figure of baby Jesus on a red pillow. After the service the Bishop touches one person to be blessed. That person touches the person next to him
and so on until everyone is blessed and has felt the touch of peace on Christmas Day.
In Spain
Like most other countries people go to church on Christmas morning, The day is spent with family and friends. On Christmas night many people go to the village square to find the “urn of fate:. They write their name on a slip of paper and put them in the
urn. Someone draws out names two at a time. Those two people will be best friends for the coming year.
A very old Spanish tradition is still celebrated in Cadiz Spain. It is called Swinging In The Sun. In the center of town swings are set up and the children of Cadiz take turns seeing who can swing the highest. When they swing they are trying to push the
sun north so that winter will change to spring.
In Norway
Norway has many traditions that began long long ago. Their favorite custom starts at harvest time in late fall. The best of the wheat is saved and is put on poles made of tree branches at Christmas time. A large circle of snow is made beneath each pole.
This is a place they say the birds can dance between their meals. Just before sunset on Christmas Eve the father or grandfather or mother or grandmother checks on the wheat. If many birds are eating it means good luck for the crops.
On Christmas Eve the family has a big dinner and then they open their presents. After that all the brooms in the house are hidden. They thought (a long time ago) that witches and naughty spirits came out on Christmas Eve and they didn’t want the witches
riding their brooms. The fire place tools were also hidden so the naughty spirits could not play with them.
Other Countries
Choose a country not written about in this unit. Find out how Christmas is celebrated there.
Make A St. Lucia Wreath Hat
Make a headband from construction paper. Glue on candles and paper leaves. Wear on your head. Dress in all white as they do and serve a special treat to others.
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday about the festival of the first harvest of the crops. It begins on December 26, and lasts for seven days. The name Kwanzaa comes from a phrase which means first fruits in Swahili, an East African language.
Celebrated from December 26th to January 1st, it is based on Nguzo Saba (seven guiding principles), one for each of the seven days.
CELEBRATING KWANZAA
It is always better to get an early start. You will need an Kinara (candle holder); Mkeka (placemat preferably made of straw); Mazao (crops, i.e., fruits and vegetables); Vibunzi (ears of corn to reflect the number of children in the household);
Kikombe cha umoja (communal unity cup); Mishumaa saba (seven candles, one black, three red, and three green); and Zawadi (gifts that are enriching).
Make a Kinara
3 Red short taper candles, 3 Green short taper candles , 1 Black short taper candles,
7 Small terra cotta pots, 1 Very large terra cotta dish (the dishes that go under the pots)
Black craft paint , Red craft paint, Green craft paint, Gold Painters paint markers
Paintbrush, artificial gourds and other harvest items, loose or garland, clay.
Paint the large terra cotta dish black. Paint 3 terra cotta pots green. Paint 3 terra cotta pots red.
Paint 1 terra cotta pot black. Use the Gold paint marker to write along the outer lip (or side) of the terra cotta dish the principles of Kwanzaa. Add the tapers to the small pots, adding a small clay ball in the bottom of the pot to help hold taper
straight.
Arrange the pots in a circle in the large terra cotta dish. Fill in the area around the pots with the artificial gourds and other harvest items. Enjoy your Kinara and your holiday.
Make A Mkeka
Red ribbon (1/4" wide), Green ribbon (1/4" wide), Black ribbon (1/4" wide), Foam core sheet
Thumb tacks, Scissors, Iron-on interfacing, Fray Check or glue, Iron
Determine the size of mat you want to make. Cut ribbons in each color to the correct length. Place 1/2 of the ribbons in rows (face down) on the foam core board. Tack down the ends of the ribbons on the foam core board with tacks. Weave the other 1/2
of the ribbons (face down) across the tacked down ribbons. Cut a piece of interfacing to fit the back of the ribbons. Place the interfacing adhesive-side down on the ribbons. Iron the interfacing onto the ribbons. Remove the tacks from the ribbons.
Trim the ribbons below the holes on the ribbon. Use the Fray Check or glue to seal the ends of the ribbons. Display with your Kwanzaa keepsakes.
The Seven Days of Kwanzaaa
The seven days definitions may be a little hard for the children to understand as written, you may have to improvise a little.
Umoja (ooh-MOE-jah) means Unity, it is the principle for the first day of Kwanzaa. Families and communities need unity in order for them to be productive and to survive. On this day they pledge to strive for and maintain unity in the family, in the
community, in the nation that we have helped to build with their people.
Kujichagulia (koo-gee-cha-goo-LEE-ah) means self-determination and is the second day of Kwanzaa. On this day they pledge to define themselves and to speak for themselves, instead of being defined, named by, created for and spoken for by others. On this
day they design for themselves a positive future and then vow to make that prophecy that DREAM a self-fulfilling one.
Ujima (ooh-GEE-mah) is the third day of Kwanzaa and means collective work and responsibility. On this day they celebrate working together in the community to help others. For Ujima, they pledge to build their communities and to help their people solve
their own problems by working together to do it. It takes a whole village...
Ujamaa (OOH-jah mah) means cooperative economics and is the fourth day of Kwanzaa. On this day of Kwanzaa, they pledge to develop our their businesses and to support them, to maintain shops, stores and industry that contribute to the well-being of their
community and to drive out businesses (boycott, etc.) that take FROM our communities and give nothing back.
Nia (NEE-ah) is the fifth day of Kwanzaa and it means purpose. On this day, they pledge to build and develop their communities, their schools and their families. They also pledge to provide a strong communal foundation from which their children can
develop into strong and productive people
Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah) is the sixth day of Kwanzaa, and it means creativity. On this day, they pledge several things. They pledge to do whatever they can to make their communities and homes more beautiful and better than they found them. They also pledge
to use their creative talents and energies to improve young minds and hearts.
Imani (ee-MAH-nee) is the seventh and last day of Kwanzaa. Imani means faith. On this day, the beginning of the new year they pledge to believe with all their hearts and minds in their people, their parents, their good and dedicated teachers and leaders,
and in the greater good of the work they do with and for one another, for the community and for the PEOPLE.
Kwanzaaa Activities
Get out the photograph album and tell your children about their ancestors and relatives.
Show some movies (from the library or the video store) about Africa and about her people.
Take the children to the library or put them onto the World Wide Web for a scavenger hunt for information about Africa.
Create a family tree.
Do some arts and craft activities Make collages (family or Africa), Kwanzaa gifts, etc.
Use the provided activity sheets and complete them.
Hanukkah
Every year between the end of November and the end of December, Jewish people around the world celebrate the holiday of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights. Chanukah begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, but the starting date on the western
calender varies from year to year. The holiday celebrates the events which took place over 2,300 years ago in the land of Judea, which is now Israel
Today the families celebrate the “Festival of Lights” by lighting a special candle called a menorah. The holiday begins on the day the first day a candle is lit, another candle is lit each night until all eight candles are burning together. When all
eight candles are burning the family say blessing of thanks to God.
The Story of Hanukkah (Chanukkah)
A long time ago, in Judea there was a king named Antiochus. The king ordered the Jewish people to reject their God, their religion, their customs and beliefs and made to worship the Greek gods. There were some who did as they were told, but many refused
to do so. One of those who refused was Judah Maccabee
Judah had four brothers and they formed an army and chose as their name the word Maccabee”, which means hammer. The Maccabees were finally successful in driving the Syrians out of Israel and reclaimed the Temple in Jerusalem after three years of
fighting. The Maccabees wanted to clean the building and to take out the Greek symbols and statues. On the 25th day of the month of Kislev, they finished the job and the temple was rededicated.
When Judah and his followers finished cleaning the temple, they wanted to light the eternal light, known as the N’er Tamid. Once lit, the oil lamp should never be put out.
Only a small jug of oil was found with enough for one day. The oil lamp was filled and lit. A miracle occurred as the small amount of oil stayed lit for eight days, not just one.
The Jewesh people celebrate Chanukah to mark their victory over the Syrians and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. The Festival of the Lights, Chanukah, lasts for eight days to commemorate the miracle of the oil. The word Chanukah means
rededication.
In America, families celebrate Chanukah at home. They give and receive gifts, decorate the house, entertain friends and family, eat special foods, and light the holiday menorah.
The Menorah
The Chanukah menorah is called a HANUKIYAH. It has nine candle holders. There are eight candles, one for each night of Chanukah. The ninth is called the SHAMASH
The Shamash is used to light the other eight candles. The Shamash is lit first and then is used to light the other candles.
The candles are placed in the HANUKIYAH from right to left. But when the candles are lit, you light from left to right
The Dreidel
One of the best known symbols of Chanukah is the Dreidel. A dreidel is a four sided top with a Hebrew letter on each side.
These letters mean A Great Miracle Happened There. Dreidel is also a popular game played during the Holiday. Players use pennies, nuts, raisins, or chocolate coins (gelt) as tokens or chips.
The dreidel is a four-sided spinning top, also called a s’vivon, in Hebrew. It is traditionally used to play a lively Chanukah game. The dreidel has on it’s four sides, letters that tell the Chanukah message: a great miracle happened there - as if to
say, “Play children, enjoy your beautiful gifts and your even more beautiful holiday. But remember, it was given us as a miracle by Hashem, our Creator and we will show our gratitude with renewed dedication to Him.
The player spins the dreidel. When the dreidel stops, the letter that is facing up decides the fate.
NUN- nothing happens - next player takes their turn
GIMEL - player takes all of the tokens in the pot
HEY - player takes half of what is in the pot
SHIN - player must put one token into the pot
Traditions
On Chanukah, it is traditional to give children Chanukah gelt (money) and/or presents. This custom adds to the children’s happiness and festive spirit. In addition, it allows parents an opportunity to give children positive reinforcement for very good
behavior, such as doing their studies, and acts of charity.
Star of David
Use a piece of poster board and cut out a six sided star. Paint with bright colors. Hang inside the house. Or Use popscicle sticks and glue in the shape of a six sided star. Paint with glitter, hang from the ceiling.
Gelt Hunt
Parents hide real coins for the children to find.
Hina Matsuri - Japan
March 3rd is Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival or Girls’ Festival), when people pray for the happiness and healthy growth of girls. Families with young daughters mark this day by setting up a display of dolls inside the house.
The dolls wear costumes of the imperial court and are placed on a tiered platform covered with red felt. The size of the dolls and number of steps vary, but usually the displays are of five or seven layers; single-tiered decorations with one male and one
female doll are also common.
The top tier is reserved for the emperor and the empress. A miniature gilded folding screen is placed behind them, just like the real Imperial throne of the ancient court.
On the second tier are three ladies-in-waiting, and on the third are five male court musicians. Ministers sit on either side of trays of food on the fourth step, and the fifth row features guards flanked by an orange tree to the left and a cherry tree to
the right.
The practice of displaying these dolls on the third day of the third month on the traditional Japanese calendar began during the Edo period (1603-1868). It started as a way of warding off evil spirits, with the dolls acting as a charm. Even today, people
in some parts of the country release paper dolls into rivers after the festival, praying that the dolls take people’s place in carrying away sickness and bad fortune.
Most families take their beautiful collection of dolls out of the closet around mid-February and put it away again as soon as Hina Matsuri is over. This is because of an old superstition that families that are slow in putting back the dolls have trouble
marrying off their daughters.
Holiday Dates
New Year’s Day
M. Luther King Jr Day
Inauguration Day
Presidents’ Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
Veterans’ Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas
Can you think of some other holidays that are not mentioned above?
Valentines Day, Groundhogs Day, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Grandparents Day, Easter. Are there any others not mentioned?
Find out what dates these other holidays will be in the year 2001.
Choose a way to make them special when the day arrives.