Holidays Around the World
Los Posadas
http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/2816-las-posadas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4zCOn3TaT8
http://www.inside-mexico.com/Catalog/CatalogPages/5enochebuena.htm
Information Cards and/or artifacts
Los Posadas
The Mexican people have a parade and go to different people’s houses singing songs and carrying parts
of the nativity scene. At each house, they hear “No room.” Once they get to the house where the
posada is planned, there is a big feast.
December 16-24th
Nine days of parades each night. The nine days could signify the nine months Mary carried baby Jesus in
her OR it could represent the nine days of travel to Bethlehem.
Pidiendo Posada
Begging for Shelter
Copied from: http://www.experience-san-miguel-deallende.com/posada-song.html
Spanish
En el nombre del
cielo
os pido posada
pues no puede
andar
mi esposa
amada.
Aquí no es
mesón,
sigan adelante
Yo no debo
abrir,
no sea algún
tunante.
Venimos
rendidos
desde Nazaret.
Yo soy
carpintero
de nombre José.
No me importa
el nombre,
déjenme dormir,
pues que yo les
digo
que nos hemos
de abrir.
Posada te pide,
amado casero,
por sólo una
noche
la Reina del
Cielo.
Pues si es una
English
In the name of Heaven
I ask of you shelter,
For my beloved wife
Can go no farther.With a little practice, you'll be able to join one of the
posadas as they criss-cross san Miguel de Allende, and join in singing
Pidiendo Posada: the Posada Song.
There's no inn here,
Go on with you,
I can't open up
You might be a rogue.
We're weary from traveling
from Nazareth.
I am a carpenter
by the name of Joseph.
I don't care who you are,
Let me sleep.
I already told you
we're not going to open.
I ask you for lodging
dear man of the house.
Just for one night
for the Queen of Heaven.
Well, if it's a queen
reina
who's asking us for it,
quien lo solicita, why does she travel all alone
¿cómo es que de and in the night?
noche
anda tan solita?
Mi esposa es
María,
es Reina del
My wife is Mary
She's the Queen of Heaven
Cielo
y madre va a ser who is going to be the mother
del Divino
of the Divine Word.
Verbo.
¿Eres ú José?
¿Tu esposa es
María?
Entren,
peregrinos,
no los conocía.
Dios pague,
señores,
vuestra caridad,
y que os colme
el cielo
de felicidad.
¡Dichosa la casa
que alberga este
día
a la Virgen pura.
la hermosa
María!
Are you Joseph?
Your wife is Mary?
Enter, pilgrims;
I did not recognize you.
May God repay, kind people,
your charity,
and thus heaven heap
happiness upon you.
Blessed is the house
that shelters this day
the purest Virgin,
the beautiful Mary.
Pastorelas – presentation of shepherds (I use shepherd figurines)
Villancicos – Christmas Carols
Silent Night = Noche de Paz
Rosca de Reyes
Special sweet bread made in the shape of a wreath. It has a figurine of baby Jesus inside. The person
who finds baby Jesus is expected to host a party on Candlemas, Feb. 2nd, marking the end of the
Christmas season.
Nacimientos – Nativity scene (I use a real one)
*Set up on December 16th.
*Baby Jesus is added on the night of Dec. 24th.
*The 3 kings are added on January 5th.
Poinsettia – Flor de Nochebuena ( I use a real one)
This flower blooms in November and December and announces the coming of the Christmas Season in
Mexico.
Christmas Flower Legend
There is a legend surrounding the Poinsettia. A poor peasant girl was going to mass on Christmas Eve
("Noche Buena" in Spanish, which literally means a "good night"). She was very sad because she
didn't have a gift to present to baby Jesus. On her way to the church she gathered a few plants to
take with her. When she arrived at the church she offered the plants she carried and realized that they
had turned from green to bright red.
Copied from: http://gomexico.about.com/od/festivalsholidays/qt/pointsettia.htm
January 6th – Epiphany – “King’s Day” ( I use a figurine of a wise man)
This is the day the children traditionally receive gifts brought by the wise men much like the wise man
took gifts to Baby Jesus.
Feb. 2nd – Candlemas or Dia de la Candelaria
This date marks the end of the Christmas season. Celebrate by going to church in order to be
blessed.
Ramadan
For Ramadan, I use the video for traditional Arab music from Safari Montag – see main document
Information cards and/or artifacts
Ramadan
Muslim Holiday
Time of Fasting (going without food)
Last for a month
The Spirit of Ramadan
The Spirit of Ramadan
Muslims use many phrases in various languages to congratulate one another for the completion
of the obligation of fasting and the 'Eid-ul-Fitr festival. Here is a sampling of them:
"Kullu am wa antum bi-khair" (May you be well throughout the year) - Arabic
"Atyab at-tihani bi-munasabat hulul shahru Ramadan al-Mubarak" (The most precious
congratulations on the occasion of the coming of Ramadan) - Arabic
"Elveda, ey Ramazan" (Farewell, O Ramadan) - Turkish
"Kullu am wa antum bi-khair" (May you be well throughout the year) - Arabic
"'Eid mubarak (A Blessed 'Eid)" - universal
Copied from http://www.colostate.edu/Orgs/MSA/events/Ramadan
Traditional Clothing (I have a student who brings in the real clothing)
Abaya – long black robe worn by Muslim women
Bangles – jewelry
Scarf – for neck or covering the head
Fast
Fasting starts at the break of dawn and ends at the setting of the sun
Pre-fast meal – suhoor (before dawn)
Post-fast meal – iftar (after sunset)
Henna Hand
Temporary elaborate hand tattoos worn for celebrations – Eid (at end of Ramadan) or at
weddings
Qur’an
Their holy reading
Prayer
Five times a day
Ramadan
Muslims celebrate this holiday. Ramadan is the holiest month on the Muslim calendar. Muslims
believe that Allah, or God, first showed the Koran, or holy book, to the prophet Muhammad
during this month. Most Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan. The Islamic
calendar goes by the lunar month. Ramadan starts when Muslims see the crescent moon. When
they see the crescent again, they know it is Eid, the end of Ramadan celebration. (The writing at
the bottom was done a mom at school).
________________________________________________________________________
TET- Vietnamese NewYear (similar to Chinese NewYear)
I use the Safari Montag video of counting to ten – see main document
Information cards/artifacts
They believe this is when the kitchen god reports on the family to the jade emperor. They do their best
to impress him and usher in good luck for their family.
Begins on the first night of the new moon – sometime between Jan.21-Feb.19th.
Cay Neu (I use a small bamboo tree and tie the streamers and flowers on it.)
Bamboo tree tied with red streamers and flowers – believed to welcome good luck and ward off evil.
Good Luck Omens
Beating drums (real drum)
Lighting firecrackers (picture)
Making dogs bark (stuffed dog)
The wealth of the first person through the door on New Year’s Eve reflects the family’s luck for the year
to come. Everyone wants the rich and popular to come.
Bad luck Omen
Hooting Owl ( stuffed owl)
Incense (use incense sticks)
To pay tribute to their deceased ancestors, they place offerings upon the family altar and burn incense.
Family and Friends
First day is spent with parents and close friends.
Next day is spent with in-laws and other friends.
Third day is spent with distant relatives like cousins.
Birthdays (use a red envelope)
Tet is considered the birthday of everyone. Children are usually given red envelopes of “lucky money.”
Pleasing the Kitchen God (I used a live fish in a bowl last year)
A week before Tet, the people burn gold leaf paper and offer a carp (fish) – live in a bucket of water –
upon the altar. This is so he can ride on it.
Copied from http://goseasia.about.com/od/eventsfes6/a/tet.htm
Kwanzaa
I found this holiday hard to explain but I used books and pictures. I have a Kwanzaa set on order.
http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.shtml
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/kwanzaa1.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaUDypcoH60
http://www.history.com/topics/kwanzaa-history/videos#history-of-kwanzaa
Information cards and/or artifacts
Kwanzaa
African-American holiday which celebrates family, community responsibility, commerce, and self
improvement.
Prayer Mat
Often made of straw
Called Mkekka in the Swahili language
The Symbols of Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa has seven basic symbols and two supplemental ones. Each represents values and concepts reflective of African culture and
contributive to community building and reinforcement. The basic symbols in Swahili and then in English are:
Mazao (The Crops)
These are symbolic of African harvest celebrations and of the rewards of productive and collective labor.
Mkeka (The Mat)
This is symbolic of our tradition and history and therefore, the foundation on which we build.
Kinara (The Candle Holder)
This is symbolic of our roots, our parent people -- continental Africans.
Muhindi (The Corn)
This is symbolic of our children and our future which they embody.
Mishumaa Saba (The Seven Candles)
These are symbolic of the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles, the matrix
and minimum set of values which African people are urged to live by in
order to rescue and reconstruct their lives in their own image and
according to their own needs.
Kikombe cha Umoja (The Unity Cup)
This is symbolic of the foundational principle and practice of unity which makes all else possible.
Zawadi (The Gifts)
These are symbolic of the labor and love of parents and the commitments made and kept by the children.
The two supplemental symbols are:
Bendera (The Flag)
The colors of the Kwanzaa flag are the colors of the Organization Us, black, red and green; black for the people, red
for their struggle, and green for the future and hope that comes from their struggle. It is based on the colors given by
the Hon. Marcus Garvey as national colors for African people throughout the world.
Nguzo Saba Poster (Poster of The Seven Principles)
Copied from: http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/symbols.shtml
Copied from: http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/NguzoSaba.shtml
Hanukkah
Chanukkah Song- http://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/442619/jewish/Oh-Chanukah-OhChanukah.htm
Information: Be sure and click the different areas
http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/default_cdo/jewish/Hanukkah.htm
Info cards and/or artifacts:
Hanukkah – Festival of Lights
Holiday of the Jewish people
8 Days of Celebration to Remember the Re-dedication of the Temple and the Miracles
Menorrah
This candle holder has a place for 9 candles. The middle candle is the “shamash” – the helper candle. It
is used to light one candle during each of the 8 days of celebration.
Star of David
The Star of David is a six pointed star made up of two triangles superimposed over each other. In
Judaism it is often called the Magen David, which means the “shield of David” in Hebrew.
Copied for http://judaism.about.com/od/judaismbasics/a/star ofdavid.htm
Ancient Jewish Oil Lamp
(google image of a picture)
Gelt (I use the gold chocolate coins)
Gelt refers to either money given as a gift on Hanukkah, or more commonly today, to a coin shaped
piece of chocolate. Usually the chocolate coin is wrapped in gold or silver foil and given to children in
small mesh bags on Hanukkah.
Copied from http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/a/What-Is-Hanukkah-Gelt.htm
Dreidel
A dreidel is a popular spinning top game among Jewish children.
A dreidel has one Hebrew letter on each side. Outside of Israel, those letters are: ‫( נ‬Nun), ‫( ג‬Gimmel),
‫( ה‬Hay) and ‫( ש‬Shin), which stand for the Hebrew phrase "Nes Gadol Haya Sham." This phrase means
"A great miracle happened there [in Israel]."
Copied from http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/a/dreidel.htm
Dreidel Song
I have a little dreidel
I made it out of clay
And when it's dry andready
Then dreidel I shall play!
chorus:
Oh - dreidel, dreidel,dreidel
I made it out of clay
And when it's dry and ready
Then dreidelI shall play!
source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/h/hanukkahsongslyrics/dreideldreideldreidellyrics.html
Traditional American Christmas
Information and/or artifact cards. I used real objects for each of these information cards.
The Fir Tree – The green represents the everlasting hope of mankind.
Gifts – Represent baby Jesus
Star – Represents the heavenly sign of promises
Angel – Represent the singing of the angels as they appeared to the shepherds
Candle – Represents that Christ is the light of the world
Candy Cane – Crook shape represents the shepherds who watched the sheep – we should also always
watch out for our friends.
Ornament – Represents generosity
Wreath – Represents the nature of love as a continuous wreath
From Safari Montag- I just copied my playlist since I can’t share it to another school.
Multicultural Holidays
Add More Clips to My Playlist
Sharing:
MY PLAYLIST (SHARED TO SCHOOL)
Folder:
My Playlists
Creator:
Sharon Prince
Viewable By: All Users
Grade Range: Pre-K to Adult
Created:
Saturday, December 3, 2011, 02:39:58 PM
Multimedia Slide Show
Automatic
Manual
Running Time: 49 min 14 sec
Introduction to Ramadan
Type:
Chapter
Media:
Running Time: 1 min 54 sec
Segment From:
Ramadan
17949
1985
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1985
The Story of Muhammad
Type:
Chapter
Media:
Running Time: 1 min 18 sec
Ramadan
Segment From:
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1985
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Fasting & Ramadan
Type:
Chapter
Media:
Running Time: 3 min 13 sec
Segment From:
Ramadan
17951
1985
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Storybook for Ramadan
Type:
Chapter
1985
Media:
Running Time: 4 min 9 sec
Segment From:
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1985
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Musical Performance: Traditional Arab Music
Type:
Chapter
Media:
Running Time: 2 min 56 sec
Segment From:
Ramadan
17953
1985
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Introduction to Vietnamese-American Heritage
Type:
Chapter
Media:
Running Time: 46 sec
Segment From:
Vietnamese-American Heritage
17954
1985
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A Vietnamese Folktale: ''The First Dragon''
Type:
Chapter
Media:
Running Time: 5 min 18 sec
Segment From:
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17955
1985
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''The First Dragon'' is a Vietnamese folktale that explains how the first
dragon in the world came into being.
Type:
Key Concept
Media:
Running Time: 2 min 45 sec
Segment From:
Vietnamese-American Heritage
17956
1985
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Examples and demonstrations of many Vietnamese musical instruments.
Type:
Key Concept
Media:
Running Time: 54 sec
Segment From:
Vietnamese-American Heritage
17957
1985
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Learn to count from one to ten in the Vietnamese language.
Type:
Key Concept
Media:
Running Time: 31 sec
Segment From:
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17958
1985
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Craft: Making a Kwanzaa Necklace, Part I
Type:
Chapter
1985
Media:
Running Time: 1 min 8 sec
Segment From:
Kwanzaa
17959
1985
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1985
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Musical Performance: West African Drumming and Mandiane Dancing
Type:
Chapter
Media:
Running Time: 2 min 52 sec
Segment From:
Kwanzaa
17960
1985
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Symbols of Kwanzaa
Type:
Chapter
Media:
Running Time: 2 min 31 sec
Segment From:
Kwanzaa
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1985
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Christmas Around the World
Media:
Running Time: 18 min 56 sec
17962
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1985
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