Celebrating Holidays/Traditions Other Than Christmas

[SilverSabre25]

I'm thinking about spending December teaching my kids about some of the other notable December traditions/celebrations. I have young kids (2.5 to 4) so I don't want to go into too much detail as that might confuse them. I'm also afraid of doing anything "wrong" or that might be viewed as disrespectful by anyone.

I'm having trouble coming up with much beyond Christmas, Hanukkah, and St. Nicholas' Day. What else can I touch on the basics of?

FYI St. Nick's day I'm mostly going to do for fun--I'm going to talk to them about it in the morning and read them a story about it that I have, and then they'll leave their shoes at the ends of their cots and I'll sneak in during nap and put chocolate coins in them.

Hanukkah I was going to do a very basic version of (and use this as a chance to learn a bit more about it myself) and I am trying to decide what else is a good way to "celebrate" it in a basic way...would it be weird/wrong to light a menorah with them each day they're here during it (not a whole lot this year, because it runs Dec. 20th to 28th)? Play with a dreidel, give them some "gelt" each day? Have latkes and other traditional foods for lunch at least one day?

Christmas...I am going to mostly ignore all the religious or even Santa aspects and focus on making gifts for their parents (homemade ornaments, hand/foot print calendar, making our own wrapping paper for the gifts...).

We're also going to be talking about the season change, getting ready for winter, hibernation, etc. On the solstice we'll probably talk about how it's the shortest day of the year and how many, many cultures have celebrations of light and warmth and family and happiness at this time of year.

What do you think? What else can I add to look at, celebration/tradition-wise?

[daycare]

Kwanzaa

In my home county it is Eid - ul - Fitr and Eid - Ul - Adha.... I hope that I remembered how to spell it.. hahha (Egypt)

[Unregistered]

The Mexican holiday of Las Posadas is celebrated for nine days, from December 16 to 24. The posadas are re-enactments of the journey made by Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, that take place each night at a different home within the community. Guests gather at a new neigborhood home each night, dressed as shepards, angels, or even Mary and Joseph, and sing songs and ask for shelter. When the hosts open their home, there is a big party with traditional Mexican foods like ponche and bunuelos, and at the end of the night there is a pinata shaped like a Christmas star.

[MarinaVanessa]

The Mexican holiday of Las Posadas is celebrated for nine days, from December 16 to 24. The posadas are re-enactments of the journey made by Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, that take place each night at a different home within the community. Guests gather at a new neigborhood home each night, dressed as shepards, angels, or even Mary and Joseph, and sing songs and ask for shelter. When the hosts open their home, there is a big party with traditional Mexican foods like ponche and bunuelos, and at the end of the night there is a pinata shaped like a Christmas star.

Yes this! don't know if it's the same for all of Mexico but I know that in my family you bake a bread called a rosca (row-skuh). It's made in a mold with a hole in the middle and you place a small baby in it. On the 16th my family and their neighbors get together and they cut the rosca. Everyone gets a piece and whoever gets the piece with the baby in it has to throw the party.

Traditionally instead of a party it was more of a feast and posada means inn so people would sing in the streets asking for shelter. People would take strangers into their homes and feed them and then offer them shelter for the night. People don't usually offer shelter anymore and it's more of a party but they still walk the streets and sing religious hymns in spanish. A lot like carolers but hoards and hoards of them, like a huge procession. Many carry candles. I got to experience watching this many times while growing up when I visited my family in Jalisco, Mexico. It was quite an experience.

[BigMama]

Kwanzaa
The Winter Solstice/Soyaluna/Dongzhi
St. Lucia Day
Las Posadas
Hannukah
Can talk about the different ways Christmas is celebrated throughout the world.
Learn to say "Merry Christmas" in different languages.

[kidkair]

Jingle Bells by Iza Trapani http://www.amazon.com/Jingle-Bells-I.../dp/1580890954 is the one that came in my FunShine curriculum this month and does a nice job of showing what other kids are doing around the world.

[daycare]

how about ramadan anyone get that one yet??


just got this email today and this was part of the email...

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/collection/celebrating-holidays-classroom?eml=TNL/e/20111201//txtl/December_Update/0/WinterHolidays5/PKK_WID_SL2//////&ym_MID=1382873&ym_rid=11804774

[SandeeAR]

Christmas...I am going to mostly ignore all the religious or even Santa aspects and focus on making gifts for their parents (homemade ornaments, hand/foot print calendar, making our own wrapping paper for the gifts...).

I rarely comment on this board anymore, and I know this will get me flamed on this board, but I MUST comment on this.

You say you are going to mostly ignor all the religious aspects of CHRISTmas. CHRISTmas would not exist without CHRIST. It is a holiday celebrating the BIRTH of CHRIST, not a holiday just to give gifts.

CHRIST is a major part of my life and I could not keep quiet on this.

[daycare]

I rarely comment on this board anymore, and I know this will get me flamed on this board, but I MUST comment on this.

You say you are going to mostly ignor all the religious aspects of CHRISTmas. CHRISTmas would not exist without CHRIST. It is a holiday celebrating the BIRTH of CHRIST, not a holiday just to give gifts.

CHRIST is a major part of my life and I could not keep quiet on this.

No flaming
We are talking about what we will teach or NOT teach the kids.

I don't think it's our place to teach them about Christ If we are not a religious daycare setup!

[SandeeAR]

I rarely comment on this board anymore, and I know this will get me flamed on this board, but I MUST comment on this.

You say you are going to mostly ignor all the religious aspects of CHRISTmas. CHRISTmas would not exist without CHRIST. It is a holiday celebrating the BIRTH of CHRIST, not a holiday just to give gifts.

CHRIST is a major part of my life and I could not keep quiet on this.

No flaming
We are talking about what we will teach or NOT teach the kids.

I don't think it's our place to teach them about Christ If we are not a religious daycare setup!

If it is not her place to teach them about CHRIST because of religion, it isn't her place to teach them about Hanukah either, it is based on the Jewish Religion.

[daycare]

If it is not her place to teach them about CHRIST because of religion, it isn't her place to teach them about Hanukah either, it is based on the Jewish Religion.

Understand what you are saying, but she is focusing on the more traditional and commercial side of these holidays/celebrations. Just as they would teach them on a public school setting.

Like what other kids around the world do for Christmas or what do they eat for Christmas. What kind of games do they play?
It's risky to do, but if done right it can be done. I think she can do it ...

[sharlan]

I rarely comment on this board anymore, and I know this will get me flamed on this board, but I MUST comment on this.

You say you are going to mostly ignor all the religious aspects of CHRISTmas. CHRISTmas would not exist without CHRIST. It is a holiday celebrating the BIRTH of CHRIST, not a holiday just to give gifts.

CHRIST is a major part of my life and I could not keep quiet on this.

I understand where you are coming from. You most definitely have that right. But you also have to respect other's rights to not teach the religious side of Christmas.

Daycare was not raised Christian (correct me if I am wrong), so it would be wrong for her to incorporate the religious side. I believe that another member of this forum does not believe in God, so she again, wouldn't incorporate the religious side.

[SandeeAR]

I understand where you are coming from. You most definitely have that right. But you also have to respect other's rights to not teach the religious side of Christmas.

Daycare was not raised Christian (correct me if I am wrong), so it would be wrong for her to incorporate the religious side. I believe that another member of this forum does not believe in God, so she again, wouldn't incorporate the religious side.

My point being, if you feel that way, you should not celebrate or teach or whatever about CHRISTmas. Celebrate whatever you want, but if you are talking about December 25th, that is the BIRTH of CHRIST and THAT is CHRISTmas. Notice the first word in the holiday.

If you don't believe in CHRIST, than you are not celebrating CHRISTmas. Saying you are not going to use the reglion aspects of CHRISTmas, is like saying you are going to teach about Independence Day and not talk about America.

[AnneCordelia]

My point being, if you feel that way, you should not celebrate or teach or whatever about CHRISTmas. Celebrate whatever you want, but if you are talking about December 25th, that is the BIRTH of CHRIST and THAT is CHRISTmas. Notice the first word in the holiday.

If you don't believe in CHRIST, than you are not celebrating CHRISTmas. Saying you are not going to use the reglion aspects of CHRISTmas, is like saying you are going to teach about Independence Day and not talk about America.

Like many things, the word 'Christmas' has evolved over time. Christmas is much more than the just Christian religion at this point, and is a very real secular holiday as well. Just as Christmas evolved originally as Pagan holiday to a Christian one, and now to a secular one.

I am not Christian but I celebrate Christmas. I celebrate gift-giving, good food, family, friends, decorating my home, listening to music, and the many other traditions from this holiday that aren't religious.

With that in mind, I do see what you're saying. I am an atheist, and hope for my children to also be agnostic/atheist, but I believe in being educated about religious options. I teach the kids about the basic religious background of Hannukah, Christmas, the Winter Solstice, Ramadan, and other religious holidays throughout the year. We eat traditional foods on those days too; it's lots of fun.

[SilverSabre25]

I am not going to flame you. BUT I am also not going to start a religious debate with you, either. My beliefs are my own and they have no place here--I'm not sure I've even ever said whether or not I'm Christian and I plan not to ever say specifically because *it should not matter*. In fact, as far as I know, *my daycare families* aren't even sure what my religious beliefs are.

SandeeAR, would it sit better with you if I said simply that I plan to teach an overview of many of the major world celebrations that occur at this time of year? What do YOU think is a fair, simple way to present your holiday of choice (Christmas)? What is a way that it could be presented so that it would not be offensive if YOUR child were in my (non-religious) daycare? This is exactly the reason I posted the thread in the first place...to get opinions and input from people with beliefs that may be different from mine.

Please, share what you think--politely, please.