Passover 2013 begins at sundown on Monday, March 25th.
For more information on Passover please check the link below:
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/03/23/13-things-need-to-know-for-passover-2013/
Things to do with kids during passover: http://pinterest.com/ahappymamabear/celebrate-passover/
March 17th: St. Patrick’s Day. This Irish holiday has been celebrated in the USA since 1737. Traditional icons that mark the holiday: Leprechauns, Pots of Gold, Rainbows, Shamrocks and the Color Green! There will be local parades in many of our towns…Boston,(!!!) Stamford, Danbury and of course in NYC. It might be fun to go and experience this tradition.
Info of the Boston St.Patrick’s Day Parade you will find here:
http://www.bostoncentral.com/events/boston_st_patricks_day_parade/p1130.php
Activities on fun things to do with the kids for St. Patricks Day you will find here:
http://pinterest.com/aupairinamerica/st-patrick-s-day-shenanigans/
International Women’s Day (8 March) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future.
Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women’s craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.
The United States even designates the whole month of March as ‘Women’s History Month’.
March 10th: Daylight Savings Time. Be sure to set your clocks forward before going to sleep. The kids maybe groggy this week as they adjust to the time change. Please be sensitive to that as you go through the week.
March 25: Passover begins. Passover, also known as Pesach or Pesah, is a Holy Day, observed by several religions, began March 1 and lasts seven or eight days, depending on your beliefs. It commemorates the exodus and freedom of the Israelites from Egypt.
March 31: Easter is an annual festival commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is always celebrated on a Sunday
On Thursday, February 14th we celebrate Valentine’s Day in the United States by giving flowers, candy and cards to those we love. We do this in honor of Saint Valentine. You may be wondering, “Who is St. Valentine”? Time to brush up on your Valentine’s history!
Legend has it that Valentine was a priest who served during third century Rome. The Emperor at that time, Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those that were married. With this thought in mind he outlawed marriage for young men in hopes of building a stronger army. Supposedly, Valentine, decided this decree was not fair and married young couples in secret. When Emperor Claudius II found out about Valentine’s actions he had his head cut off making him a martyr of love. Another legend has it that Valentine was an imprisoned man who fell in love with his jailor’s daughter. Before he was put to death he sent the first ‘valentine’ himself when he wrote her a letter and signed it ‘Your Valentine’, words still used on cards today.
Perhaps we’ll never know the true identity and story behind the man named St. Valentine, but this much is for sure…February has been the month to celebrate love for a long time, dating back to the Middle Ages. In fact, Valentines ranks second only to Christmas in number of greeting cards sent. For some fun children’s activities including crafts, coloring pages, games, puzzles and poems go to:
Please see many ideas for Valentine’Day in the following link:
http://pinterest.com/aupairinamerica/valentine-s-day/
Despite fridig temperatures we had many aupairs attending the January cluster meeting at Nashoba Valley snow tubing park. Everybody was great prepared for the weather conditions with many layers of clothing and warmed up inside during breaks with hot chocolate and hot tea.
It was a lot of fun for all and for many aupairs who had never experienced snow a really special event. Our cluster met with 4 other cluster from the greater Boston area who offer the snow tubing as a yearly tradition from Au Pair in America during the winter season.
Birgit, Kim and Katja from Germany. Katja is in the Educare program that is offered for host families who will need less childcare hours while their kids are already in school age.
Amy from South Africa, Jannika from Germany and Chloe from the UK, who just arrived last week
Judith from Germany who also just arrived last week to start her year as extraordinaire aupair in Brookline
Annika from Germany, Charlotte from France, Tamy from Germany and Petra from the Czech Republic
Judith enjoyed the doughnuts during break times indoors
Judith and Veronika who both just arrived last week in the US to provide childcare with host families in Brookline
Jamie and Sammi from South Korea, Nina from Germany and Joyce from China warming up with hot chocolate
Sandra and Charlotte from France with Mariana and Ivonne from Mexico
To view all pictures please go to: Snowtubing 2013
Here in the Northeast we are experiencing a week of the coldest weather in 2 years!