Ideas for the Year
A wonderful way to introduce another culture to your classroom is to explore a holiday celebrated in another part of the world. Here are some ideas from Cultural Ambassador and world holiday explorer Kristie Burns:
* Ask students to research the holiday and bring in a traditional food, clothing, game, or other item to share. (I changed some of the words here)
* Ask students who celebrate these holidays if they would like to give a talk to the class about the holiday.
* Tell a story about the holiday or play a game, share a tradition or create a craft that goes with it. (I changed a few words here, too)
* Bring in a World of Difference Cultural Ambassador for a hands-on, cultural immersion & learning experience using movement, music, traditional dress and more.
* Ask students to research the holiday and write a newspaper article or advertisement about the holiday or in math class, ask students to research and calculate the cost of preparing for the celebration and then convert the currency.
October 2009
Chinese National Day: October 1st
Did you know that every country has its own version of the American 4th of July? This month China celebrates their “4th of July”. They even enjoy fireworks and picnics just like we do in America!
Cultural Ambassador Programs about China: Chinese Celebrations or Introduction to Tai Chi with Huei Jiuan Jaros, Chinese Waist Drum Dance, Chinese Calligraphy with Zhisheng (Jason) Qing, Chinese Tea with Grace Guo or Chinese Children's Games with Jaros.
Sukkot: October 2-9th
Sukkot, a Hebrew word meaning "booths", refers to the Jewish festival of giving thanks for the fall harvest, as well as the commemoration of the forty years of Jewish wandering in the desert after Sinai. You can read more about it at: http://www.urj.org/holidays/sukkot.
Cultural Ambassador Programs about Jewish Culture: Marion Blumenthal Lazan, Holocaust Survivor, to visit West Des Moines Area Schools. Marion is currently scheduled to appear at three different West Des Moines schools during the week of April 19, 2010. If your school is interested in getting on her schedule, please send an email to Stacie.palmer@worldofdifference.us.
Thanksgiving in Canada: October 12th
Canadian thanksgiving comes from the European tradition of giving thanks for a bountiful harvest rather than from the celebrations of the first pilgrims.
Columbus Day: (2nd Monday in October): October 12th
Many people in South America celebrate this holiday too – not just those in the United States. Other people mark this occasion by celebrating all the explorers that came to the Americas (current evidence show that Columbus was not the first) or to celebrate Native American heritage and history in the Americas.
Cultural Ambassador Programs about The Americas & Native American History: Tonalpohualli - The significance of the Aztec Calendar with Oropeza and Romero.
Diwali: October 17th
Diwali is one of the biggest festivals of Hindus, celebrated with great enthusiasm and happiness in India. The festival is celebrated for five continuous days, where the third days is celebrated as the main Diwali festival or 'Festival of lights'. Different colorful varieties of fireworks are always associated with this festival. On this auspicious day, people light up diyas and candles all around their house. You can read more about it at: http://www.diwalifestival.org/
Cultural Ambassador Programs about India: Mehendi, Rural Schools in India, India Through the Eyes of a Yogi, Dandiya - Folk Dance of Gujarat, India, Classical Sitar Music, Ayurveda & Yoga, Kathak Dance.
Puerto Rico Day: October 18th
Puerto Rico became a US territory today in 1898.
UN Day: October 23rd
In 1946 the UN convened for the first time in New York.
Cultural Ambassador Programs about World Peace, Unity and Community: Refugee's Journey, Immigration Stories, Around the World in 80 Stories, Sweet Treats, Breaking Bread Together, Tea Time, A World of Stories, Global Tales, and more!
Chung Yuan Festival: October 26th
This would be the equivalent to the American Halloween in the East. This festival lasts for a month. During this time people pray for their dead ancestors during this period and they pray that the ghosts do not come to haunt them or their loved ones. You can read more about this at: http://aglobalworld.com/holidays-around-the-world/lunar-chung-yuan-festival/
Halloween: October 31st
Halloween is celebrated in many countries around the world in many different ways. In Austria Catholics celebrate the entire period between October 30 and November 8 as Seleenwoche or Alls Souls' Week. The Celts referred to Halloween as The Samhain Festival. During the Hungry Ghosts Festival or Yue Lan, ghosts and spirits roam the world for 24 hours. Read about different celebrations around the globe at:
http://www.loc.gov/folklife/halloween.html. A great book, recommended by our cultural consultant, Riki Saltzman is: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Halloween-and-Other-Festivals-of-Death-and-Life/Jack-Santino/e/9780870498138
November 2009
Culture Day in Japan: November 3rd
Although this is celebrated on November 3rd in Japan, it can be celebrated any time this month in your classroom! Don't worry if you miss a holiday by a few weeks or days. The main lesson you want to convey is cultural awareness.
Cultural Ambassador Programs about Japan: Tea Time (includes Japan), 80 Stories Around the World (includes Japan), Japanese Kanji, Origami - Let's Play with Paper, & Folktales of Asia
Guy Fawkes Day: November 5th
Celebrated in the UK. is celebrated in England as the anniversary of the failure of the Gunpowder Plot, a conspiracy to blow up the Houses of Parliament on November 5, 1605, the day that King James I was to open Parliament. The date is traditionally celebrated with bonfires, fireworks and the burning of cloth effigies or "guys". Detailed information including a transcript of the conspiracy is available at: Guy Fawkes Day
Cultural Ambassador Programs about the UK: Tea Time (includes UK), Global Stories, Stories Around the World and 80 Stories Around the World (includes UK)
Russian Revolution Day: November 7th
Russia's Bolshevik Revolution began in 1917. You can read more about this at: Revolution
Cultural Ambassador Programs about Russia: Welcome to Russia, Global Stories, Stories Around the World and 80 Stories Around the World (includes Russia)
Great Wall of China Opened: November 10th
The Great Wall of China opened to the world for tourism in 1970 on November 10th. The Great Wall of China was built over 2,000 years ago, by Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China during the Qin Dynasty. In Chinese the wall is called "Wan-Li Qang-Qeng" which means 10,000-Li Long Wall (10,000 Li = about 5,000 Km).
Cultural Ambassador Programs about China: Chinese Celebrations or Introduction to Tai Chi with Huei Jiuan Jaros, Chinese Waist Drum Dance, Chinese Calligraphy with Zhisheng (Jason) Qing, Chinese Tea with Grace Guo or Chinese Children's Games with Jaros.
St. Martin's Day: November 11th
St. Martin was the bishop of Tours, France and lived in the 4th century. This day is the most popular St. Day in all of Europe (much like our St. Valentine's Day here), St. Martin's Day celebrates the end of the agrarian year and the beginning of harvesting.
Cultural Ambassador Programs about Europe: Yugoslavian Culture, Irish Folktales, Tea Time (includes Europe), Global Stories, Stories Around the World and 80 Stories Around the World (includes Europe)
Rememberance Day/Veterans Day: November 11th
This is celebrated in Canada and the USA.
Hungary Republic Day: November 16th
Hungary became a Republic in 1918 on this day.
Spanish Democracy Day: November 18th
Spain became a democracy on this day in 1976.
Mexican Revolution Day: November 20th
On this date, in 1910, the war to overthrow the dictator, Porfirio Diaz, began. You can find a short summary of this event here: Mexican Revolution Day
Cultural Ambassador Programs about Mexico: Musical Tour of Mexico, Life and Art of Mexico, The Salsa Culture, and The Whole Enchilada
Labor Thanksgiving Day, Japan: November 23rd
This became a holiday in 1948 as a day for citizens to express gratitude to one other for work done throughout the year and for the fruits of those labors. Labor Thanksgiving Day (Kinro Kansha no Hi) is actually a modern name for an ancient ritual called Niinamesai (Harvest Festival). In the ritual, the Emperor makes the season's first offering of freshly harvested rice to the gods and then partakes of the rice himself.
Cultural Ambassador Programs about Japan: Tea Time (includes Japan), 80 Stories Around the World (includes Japan), Japanese Kanji, Origami - Let's Play with Paper, & Folktales of Asia
Thanksgiving: November 26th
Celebrated mainly in America.
Cultural Ambassador Programs about The Americas & Native American History: Tonalpohualli - The significance of the Aztec Calendar with Oropeza and Romero.
Bakrid or Eid-Al-Adha: November 28th
Celebrated in The Middle East, India and other Muslim countries.
Cultural Ambassador Programs about The Middle East: A Meal in the Middle East, Danse Oriental, The Middle Eastern Marketplace, Arabic Calligraphy and Language, The Arabic New Year, Girls in the Middle East.
King Tut's Tomb Opened: November 29th
Not an actual holiday, but a significant event in Egyptian history.
Cultural Ambassador Programs about The Middle East: A Meal in the Middle East, Danse Oriental, The Middle Eastern Marketplace, Arabic Calligraphy and Language, The Arabic New Year, Girls in the Middle East.