Not so much a Christmas topic...

[Momto2Boyz]

but, my son's class has their "holiday" party every year and I was kind of shocked to learn that they don't learn about any other holidays other than Christmas.

The kicker this year, is that there is a Jewish boy in his class that celebrates Hannakah (99% sure, I spelled that wrong, but it is too early to spell check). I feel for this boy, that he has to sit and learn about what his friends will be doing, but that they won't get a chance to learn about what he is celebrating this time of year.

So, I talked it over with the other room parents, and we've decided to do "Holidays in America" party this year. We thought we would do activities and have treats from each of the different holidays.

We have to do our best to stay away from the religious nature of all of the holidays, because it is a public school. But we thought we would come at it from a different angle and celebrate traditions!

So far, I have the big 3; Christmas, Hannukah (spelled correcltly, there right?) and Kwanza. So if anyone can educate me on these or any other cultural holidays celebrated in America, I would love it!

I am actually more familair with Kwanza than I am with Hannukah, because we have friends who celebrate it, and they invited us to join some of their activities a few years ago. I really thought it was an amazing holiday, and we'd all be better off if we celebrated the 7 principles of Kwanza throughout the year!

Anyhoo, any help on traditions or celebrations would be greatly appreciated! And for references, the kids are 2nd graders, so they are old enough to learn the basic traditions for these holidays, but probably not much more!

[McD]

Here's a link to an Islamic holiday that is being celebrated in December this year:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_ul-Adha

Not really Christmas-y, but you can also talk about the Chinese New Year?

[MoonMommy]

That is a wonderful idea. You could maybe call up a temple in the area and ask them for their advice?

[McD]

Also--you could discuss Yule. I know some of our villagers, including Lady_V, celebrate Yule and may be able to give you some ideas.

[Momto2Boyz]

Oh yeah! I knew you guys could give me the scoop and great info!

I would love to hear any info about Yule, and I'll have to do some research on Eid al Adha. I don't know anything about it, I used to work for a company that had offices in the middle east, and I remember the completely shutting down for Eid al Fitr, but not this holiday...I'll have to get more info on it.

Thanks everyone!

[Lady_V]

As if I heard my name being typed

I'll try to strip any 'religion' out of it so it can pass 'school standards' and no one will chase you down with a torch

Yule/Winter Solstice (shortest day of the year) is basically a celebration of life. Yule roughly translates to wheel... the wheel of life.

In 'old times' a log lit on Yule was lit from a piece of the previous years log. If it burned for 12 hours, you'd have good luck. The yule log was replaced by the tree and candles... and then electric lights.

This is a more solar (no religion) explanation for kids...

The ancients knew that the winter solstice was the longest night of the year -- and that meant that the sun was beginning its long journey back towards earth. It was a time of celebration, and for rejoicing in the knowledge that soon, the warm days of spring would return, and the dormant earth would come back to life.
On this one day, the sun stands still in the sky, and everyone on earth knows that change is coming.



So... warmer weather, being able to grow foods again, another cycle of life.


If you have time for arts & crafts with each unit... depending on their age you can make 'candles' or 'yule logs' from toilet/papertowel rolls or make miseltoe and holly. A lot of the 'symbols' of Yule are the same as Christmas but there are sooooo many other traditions and sets of beliefs.


Food plays a BIG part of Yule. Gifts of food as well as hearty feasts.

A yule song is Deck the Halls Didn't know did ya?

"Deck the Halls"

Deck the halls with boughs of [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly"]holly[/ame],Fa la la la la, la la la la.'Tis the season to be jolly,Fa la la la la, la la la la.Don we now our gay [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apparel"]apparel[/ame],Fa la la, la la la, la la la.Toll the ancient [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule"]Yule tide[/ame] carol,Fa la la la la, la la la la. See the blazing [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule_log"]Yule[/ame] before us,Fa la la la la, la la la la.Strike the harp and join the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choir"]chorus[/ame].Fa la la la la, la la la la.Follow me in merry measure,Fa la la, la gay la, la la la.While I tell of Yule tide treasure,Fa la la la la, la la la la. [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/31_December"]Fast away the old year passes[/ame],Fa la la la la, la la la la.[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1_January"]Hail the new[/ame], ye [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male"]lads[/ame] and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female"]lasses[/ame],Fa la la la la, la la la la.Sing we joyous, all together,Fa la la, la la la, la la la.Heedless of the wind and weather,Fa la la la la, la la la la.

[getnrichslowly]

I teach first and have books on lots of different traditions. (except Yule, I haven't seen one of those but will now look and will print out what Lady V typed and put it in my folder)
Scholastic News ( little magazine type thing, like weekly reader) always does a little book of different celebrations that I will do with the class. I don't have any websites but could mail to you some extra copies of things I have. I am not that far from you, just down by Peoria. PM me if you want.

[IntlMom]

Ah man - you guys stole my thunder as i read your answers hehehe
Here I am, a Christian that celebrates Chrstmas, but as I read the OP, I immediatley thought about Winter Solstice.....so I read the rest of the answers, and I was not the first to mention it........
I gotta say, however, that even as a Christian, I think your idea is good/generous. Our elementary school does something similar throughout December, they do Christmas round the world leading up to Christmas (The party is all Christmas, however)....you could go to different websites and printout games like word searches and stuff for the different holidays and then send them home with the kids at the end of the party.......just a thought
GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN!!

[Katybird]

I think that is so sweet and kind of you to want to make sure that each child feels special and none are left out during the holiday celebration. It is really a shame that the schools can't take a lesson from you about it.

[guest002]

What a wonderful gesture.