Tag Archives: celebrate

Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year is is the most important holiday in China. Tied to the Chinese lunar calendar, the holiday began as a time for feasting and honoring ancestors as well as deities. Lunar New Year celebrations begin on February 1st.  The year 2022 is slated to be the year of the tiger. The tiger is known as the king of all beasts in China and the zodiac is associated with strength and bravery.

Chinese people celebrate Lunar New Year with the traditional greeting, “Kung hei fat choi”  Sounds like (gung – hay – fah – choy) in Cantonese!

Lunar New Year covers a long span, not just one day. Two weeks is the typical time frame. Traditionally this time is used to celebrate with family and friends. It’s important to start the new year with a clean home. Red envelopes are handed out to others, typically children or young people, containing Lucky Money. Foods are important in the celebration and have meaning. Long noodle dishes, for instance, represent longevity or long life, while dumplings represent wealth. Interestingly, fortune cookies are not authentic Chinese treats, though enjoyable and fun, you can read more about their unique history here.

You can read more about Lunar New Year here.

Crafts, recipes, activities, and games related to Lunar New Year can be found on the APIA Winter Pinterest board. Try some of these great ideas!

Arts & Crafts:

Kids in the Kitchen:

Virtual Field Trips can be a great way for kids to learn and have new experiences. Here are a couple of virtual field trips that fit this theme:

Videos – Online you can find many examples of celebrations. Please review the content for appropriateness for your own host kids before watching with the children.

Webcams – You can do a google search for Lunar New Year celebrations with webcams. Here is a popular one for the upcoming season:

Books – Check out your local library or bookseller for books to order / reserve and pick up /read online:

 

Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day in the U.S. is Sunday, May 9.

Mother’s Day recognizes mothers, motherhood and maternal bonds in general, as well as the positive contributions that they make to society. It was established by Anna Jarvis, with the first official Mother’s Day was celebrated at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia, on May 10, 1908.

Mother’s Day was officially established by President Woodrow Wilson as a holiday in the United States in 1911. The celebration of mother;s in not unique to the United States, however. More than 40 countries celebrate in some way! How about your country? Do you celebrate Mother’s Day? If so, this is a good opportunity to share culturally how you celebrate. Compare and contrast between the two countries! You can read about how several countries celebrate Mother’s Day here.

You will find great ideas for projects you can make with your host children here on the Au Pair in America Mother’s Day pinboard.

How about printable cards to color? Or a tin can butterfly planter! Try making some salt dough to capture hand or footprints.

Photo: Mrs. Flinger (Flickr)

Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day in the U.S. is Sunday, May 10.

Mother’s Day recognizes mothers, motherhood and maternal bonds in general, as well as the positive contributions that they make to society. It was established by Anna Jarvis, with the first official Mother’s Day was celebrated at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia, on May 10, 1908.

Mother’s Day was officially established by President Woodrow Wilson as a holiday in the United States in 1911. The celebration of mother;s in not unique to the United States, however. More than 40 countries celebrate in some way! How about your country? Do you celebrate Mother’s Day? If so, this is a good opportunity to share culturally how you celebrate. Compare and contrast between the two countries! You can read about how several countries celebrate Mother’s Day here.

You will find great ideas for projects you can make with your host children here on the Au Pair in America Mother’s Day pinboard.

How about printable cards to color? Or a tin can butterfly planter! Try making some salt dough to capture hand or footprints.

Photo: Mrs. Flinger (Flickr)