Halloween is on its way, so you better get ready to celebrate. This is the time of year for your imagination to take flight and for your creativity to shine. There is lots of fun for families to have while spending some quality creative time together. Take a look at some kid friendly Halloween craft ideas below. Click on the source link to see more information and directions for each Halloween craft. Happy Halloween crafting!
Another of the winter holidays celebrated in December is Kwanzaa (December 26th-January 1st). Dr. Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966 as a way to bring the African-American community together. Kwanzaa celebrates African-American heritage and means “first fruits” in the Swahili language.
Kwanzaa celebrates seven principles of African heritage. Each day of celebration is dedicated to one of the principles. Watch the video below to learn about the seven principles and watch the lighting of candles.
Families celebrate Kwanzaa by decorating their homes with African art, Kente cloth and fresh fruit. To see a family celebrate Kwanzaa in their home take a look at this video:
Music and dancing are a big part of Kwanzaa celebrations. The video below highlights African dancing.
Check out these websites below for Kwanzaa crafts and activities:
Christmas is one of the major holidays celebrated in the month of December. It is celebrated by billions of people around the world. Christmas was traditionally a Christian holiday to commemorate the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem and is celebrated on December 25th. In modern times Christmas is celebrated by people of both Christian and non-Christian religions. Many people celebrate Christmas by exchanging Christmas cards, decorating their homes with lights and Christmas trees, listening to Christmas carols, going to church or community events and having a special dinner and gift exchange with family and friends. Watch the video below to see more about Christmas traditions.
If you want to wish someone a Merry Christmas in another language here is what you would say:
French: Joyeux Noël
German: Froehliche Weihnachten
Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka
Hindi: Bada Din Mubarak Ho
Italian: Buon Natale
Japanese: Kurisumasu Omedeto
Korean: Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Russian: Srozhdestovm Kristovim
Spanish: Feliz Navidad
Tagalog: Maligayang Pasko
Thai: Suksun Wan Christmas
Vietnamese: Chuc Mung Giang Sinh
Watch the video below to hear people give a Christmas greeting in their language.
One of the highlights for Children during Christmastime is the arrival of Santa Claus! Every year on Christmas Eve, Santa Claus leaves his toy workshop at the North Pole and sets off to travel around the world in his sleigh pulled by his flying reindeer. Children who have been good all year get to look forward to Santa Claus coming to their homes on Christmas Eve to leave presents for them underneath their decorated Christmas trees.
Did you know that Santa Claus has different names depending on which country you are in? Here are some of the different names for Santa and the countries of origin:
Brazil: Papai Noel
China: Shengdan Laoren
England: Father Christmas
France: Pere Noel
Germany: Saint Nikolaus
Holland: De Kerstman
India: Santa Claus, Baba
Italy: Babbo Natale
Japan: Hoteiosho
Netherlands: Sinter Klaas
Russia: Ded Moroz
Spain: El Nino Jesus
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) tracks Santa’s trip around the world each year. You can go to the following website to see a recap from last year and a countdown to Christmas Eve this year. Be sure to check it out this Christmas Eve to track Santa’s trip around the world!
There are many holidays celebrated around the world in the month of December. When you hear about festive holiday lights it could be in reference to decorated Christmas trees, candles on a Menorah, or the candlelight of Kwanzaa. It’s a special time of year when families, friends and communities come together to celebrate winter festivities and religious or cultural traditions.
The first celebration we will take a look at is Hanukkah (Chanukah), the Jewish festival of lights. Hanukkah celebrations start on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev and lasts for eight days and nights. This year Hanukkah will be celebrated from December 20th to 28th. Hanukkah commemorates the Maccabean revolt against the Greek pagans and the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in the second century BCE. The Hanukkah story says that the Maccabees rededicated the Temple by lighting the eternal lamp. They found enough oil to last for only one night, but a miracle happened and the oil lasted for eight nights. This is why the holiday lasts for eight nights and why people light a menorah for Hanukkah. A Menorah is a candelabrum that holds nine candles. The candle usually positioned in the center is called the Shamash. The Shamash is lit first and each night of celebration it is used to light one of the remaining eight candles until all are lit. Watch the video below to learn how to light the Menorah.
The Dreidel is a four sided spinning top and is a game played by children during Hanukkah. Each side of the Dreidel has a Hebrew letter that directs the game play. Children take turns spinning the top and the Hebrew letters direct them to either take or give gelt (gold coins or candy). Watch below to see how the Dreidel is played.
Here are some websites with Hanukkah crafts you can create at home:
