KEY FESTIVALS AND THEIR CELEBRATIONS
In this post I will share with you, the key festivals, their dates in 2016 and also some fun ways and ideas for children participation in your classroom or a school as a whole.
In this post I will share with you, the key festivals, their dates in 2016 and also some fun ways and ideas for children participation in your classroom or a school as a whole.
CHINESE NEW YEAR---8th FEB 2016:
Background: The Chinese do not celebrate their new year the same day as we do. It is determined by the solar or lunar calendar.Chinese New Year starts with the second new moon after the winter solstice and ends on the full moon 15 days later.Traditionally the doorways are decorated with vertical scrolls of characters on red paper seeking good luck and praising nature.
Activity: Make a simple Chinese lantern. Its a fun activity and all children can take part in it during craft lessons.
Here is a website that gives step by step instructions on how to lanterns and other origami based crafts.
Mothers Day--- 6th March 2016:
Background: The Chinese do not celebrate their new year the same day as we do. It is determined by the solar or lunar calendar.Chinese New Year starts with the second new moon after the winter solstice and ends on the full moon 15 days later.Traditionally the doorways are decorated with vertical scrolls of characters on red paper seeking good luck and praising nature.
Activity: Make a simple Chinese lantern. Its a fun activity and all children can take part in it during craft lessons.
www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/chinesenewyear/
Here is a website that gives step by step instructions on how to lanterns and other origami based crafts.
Mothers Day--- 6th March 2016:
Introduction: In many countries special prayer services are held in churches in honour of mothers. But the most common method of celebrating Mothers Day is to treat mothers with breakfast in bed. Children allow their mothers to sleep till late in the morning while they along with their father juggle in the kitchen to prepare her favourite breakfast. Most often a Mothers Day card and a bunch of bouquet accompany the meticulously laid breakfast. Many children prepare a card themselves a day before Mothers Day. Some also make handmade gifts to show their respect and affection for their mother. Grown up children prefer to buy gifts from the stores ranging from clothes, accessories to jewellery.
Introduction: Baisakhi, also spelled Vaisakhi, is the festival which celebrates Sikh New Year and the founding of the Sikh community, known as the Khalsa, in 1699. It is celebrated on April 13 or 14. It was originally a harvest festival in the Punjab before it became the Sikh's most important festival.
The website below has fabulous ideas, age appropriate and creative.
EID---7th July 2016
Introduction: Eid al-Fitr also called Breaking the Fast Feast, theSugar Feast, Bayram (Bajram), the Sweet Festival or Hari Raya Puasa[3] and the Lesser Eid, is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting (sawm). The religious Eid is a single day during which Muslims are not permitted to fast. The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan.
Activity: Eid activities can range from designing prayer mats to making star and crescent shaped cookies. Watching videos and understanding the meaning of the fast.
This website has some good printables and ideas to do as a class.
Diwali---30th OCT 2016
Introduction: Diwali (or Deepavali, the "festival of lights") is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn (northern hemisphere) or spring (southern hemisphere) every year. Diwali is one of the largest and brightest festivals in India.
Activity: Being a festival of lights, children would enjoy lantern making. Diwali greeting cards are an excellent way to spread the cheer around. The story of Ramayana, the reason why Diwali is celebrated is a great story telling idea. Check out the website blow for even more wonderful ideas.
HALLOWEEN---31st OCT 2016
Introduction:The night of 31 October, the eve of All Saints' Day, often celebrated by children dressing up in frightening masks and costumes. Halloween is thought to be associated with the Celtic festival.
Activity: Halloween activity is usually a fun time around school. Pumpkin carving is an obvious fun activity. A simple jack-o'-lantern mask you can make from a paper plate is easy and keeps up with the Halloween spirit. The website below has many ideas for all age groups and uses material found around the house.
HANUKKHA--- 24th DEC 2016 to 1st Jan 2017
Introduction: Hanukkah or Chanukah is the Jewish Festival of Lights. It dates back to two centuries before the beginning of Christianity. In the western calendar Hanukkah is celebrated in November or December. The word Hanukkah means rededication and celebrates one of the greatest miracles in Jewish history.
Activity: Hanukkha puzzles and colouring sheets are great for younger children. If you would like to challenge higher grades, how about a quiz on Hanukkha. Brighten up the classroom with colourful images or drawings by the childrens on Hanukkha. Activity Village has a good collection of resources for the classroom.
CHRISTMAS---25th DEC 2016
Introduction: This is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed most commonly on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world.
Activity: Before the holidays start, to spread the cheer, staff can have ADVENT CALENDERS in each classroom. A different child gets to open up a window everyday. Nativity plays and choirs are enjoyable ways to learn the story of Jesus Christ. Making Christmas cards and decorations for trees adds to the fun.
For more fun ideas, check out the website below.
Activity: There are a lot of games and activities which may be planned on Mothers Day. But besides the euphoria of celebration people must not forget that the day is meant to make mothers feel special. On Mothers Day, children must be nice to their mum and give them a days rest. Its a wonderful idea to complete household chores on the day and make your mama feel that you acknowledge the importance of all she does to run the house so smoothly. Elder children may book a parlour or a spa treatment for mothers and make them care for themselves as most mothers find it difficult to get time for themselves.
Click on "games and activities" for many fun ideas.
Easter Monday---28th March 2016:
Introduction: Easter Monday, also known as Bright Monday, Renewal Monday, Wet Monday, and Dyngus Day, is the Monday immediately after Easter Sunday. Different cultures observe Easter Monday very differently. For some, Easter Monday is a solemn remembrance of Christ’s death and resurrection marked by an outdoor procession. For others, there are Easter egg-rolling competitions.
Activity: A decorated hat parade is the most common way to get all children involved in the festivities. The best decorated hat to be given a prize, almost always makes children work hard at it.
There are printable pages available on the net for colouring, Easter egg decorations are often very creative and a fun activity to do.
Netmums for kids is a wonderful resource for varied activities. Here is the link below.
www.netmums.com/activities/spring/mother-s-day
Baisakhi---13th April 2016
Introduction: Baisakhi, also spelled Vaisakhi, is the festival which celebrates Sikh New Year and the founding of the Sikh community, known as the Khalsa, in 1699. It is celebrated on April 13 or 14. It was originally a harvest festival in the Punjab before it became the Sikh's most important festival.
Activity: Baisakhi is a harvest festival, so a great activity could be to do with planting. A planting exercise would encourage children to learn about crops and plants while enjoying themselves.
Other activities are making Baisaikhi cards, learning a bhangra dance or even making kites and flying them.
Fathers Day---19th June 2016
Introduction: Father's Day is a celebration honouring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. Many countries celebrate it on the third Sunday of June, though it is also celebrated widely on other days by many other countries.
Fathers Day---19th June 2016
Activity: Activity around fathers day can be really fun. By far the most interesting one is printing and filling a special booklet for dad "MY DAD IS SPECIAL BECAUSE....".
The website below has fabulous ideas, age appropriate and creative.
lessonplanspage.com/fathersday-htm/
EID---7th July 2016
Activity: Eid activities can range from designing prayer mats to making star and crescent shaped cookies. Watching videos and understanding the meaning of the fast.
www.twinkl.co.uk/resources/eid-ul-fitr/1
This website has some good printables and ideas to do as a class.
Diwali---30th OCT 2016
Introduction: Diwali (or Deepavali, the "festival of lights") is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn (northern hemisphere) or spring (southern hemisphere) every year. Diwali is one of the largest and brightest festivals in India.
Activity: Being a festival of lights, children would enjoy lantern making. Diwali greeting cards are an excellent way to spread the cheer around. The story of Ramayana, the reason why Diwali is celebrated is a great story telling idea. Check out the website blow for even more wonderful ideas.
www.momjunction.com › Kid › Play & Activities
HALLOWEEN---31st OCT 2016
Introduction:The night of 31 October, the eve of All Saints' Day, often celebrated by children dressing up in frightening masks and costumes. Halloween is thought to be associated with the Celtic festival.
Activity: Halloween activity is usually a fun time around school. Pumpkin carving is an obvious fun activity. A simple jack-o'-lantern mask you can make from a paper plate is easy and keeps up with the Halloween spirit. The website below has many ideas for all age groups and uses material found around the house.
www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/halloween/
HANUKKHA--- 24th DEC 2016 to 1st Jan 2017
Introduction: Hanukkah or Chanukah is the Jewish Festival of Lights. It dates back to two centuries before the beginning of Christianity. In the western calendar Hanukkah is celebrated in November or December. The word Hanukkah means rededication and celebrates one of the greatest miracles in Jewish history.
Activity: Hanukkha puzzles and colouring sheets are great for younger children. If you would like to challenge higher grades, how about a quiz on Hanukkha. Brighten up the classroom with colourful images or drawings by the childrens on Hanukkha. Activity Village has a good collection of resources for the classroom.
www.activityvillage.co.uk/hanukkah-crafts
CHRISTMAS---25th DEC 2016
Activity: Before the holidays start, to spread the cheer, staff can have ADVENT CALENDERS in each classroom. A different child gets to open up a window everyday. Nativity plays and choirs are enjoyable ways to learn the story of Jesus Christ. Making Christmas cards and decorations for trees adds to the fun.
For more fun ideas, check out the website below.
www.education.com › Christmas Central › Christmas Activities
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