Tag Archives: tradition

Celebrating Rosh Hashanah!

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish Holiday commonly referred to as the Jewish New Year.  It is observed on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. Rosh Hashanah is the first of the high Holidays specifically set aside to focus on repentance that concludes with the holiday of Yom Kippur.  Rosh Hashanah is the start of the civil year in the Hebrew calendar.  It is the New Year for people, animals, and legal contracts. Jewish people believe Rosh Hashanah represents either analogically or literally the creation of the World, or Universe.

On Rosh Hashanah, Jewish people all over the world gather in synagogues to celebrate the day.  The holiday is celebrated with sweet foods, like apples dipped in honey and honey cake and round Challot made with honey and raisins as a wish for a sweet year.

Here is a link to children’s games and activities to celebrate the holiday.  It includes information, art projects, crafts, stories and recipes:

http://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/354744/jewish/Rosh-Hashanah.htm

Rosh Hashanah will is celebrated for two days, Monday September 17th and Tuesday September 18th.  The two day holiday will begin at sundown on Sunday evening.

Wishing all our host families,au pairs and friends a very happy Holiday!

FLAG DAY

June 14 is FLAG DAY!images-2

Flying the American flag is more popular than ever. It is a symbol of the country’s values and traditions. Do you know what the stars and stripes mean?   Its 13 red and white stripes represent the original colonies and the 50 stars stand for the states. You might also want to use this day to teach the children about your own flag.  You can find a print out of the American flag and flags of many other countries in the Kids Culture Corner http://aupairinamerica.com/resources/kids/culture_corner/

In honor of Flag Day, Global Awareness sponsored a Flag Day Contest in which au pairs were asked to submit their creative interpretations of their flags.  The photos and descriptions are posted on the GA website www.globalawareness.com Please take a peek-you’ll see cultural exchange in action and, I’m sure, feel a special pride in working with these young women.

Ground Hog Day is February 2nd!

220px-DogGroundHog-smallMV5BODMxNTA4NjIyMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMDkxMjE2MQ@@._V1._SY317_CR4,0,214,317_Traditionally, the groundhog is supposed to wake up on February 2, and come up out
of his burrow. If he sees his shadow, he will return to the burrow for six more weeks
of winter. If he doesn’t see his shadow, he remains outside and starts his year, because
he knows that spring has arrived early. In the U.S., the “official” groundhog is kept in
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and is called “Phil.” Though not based in science, it is a fun
US tradition. The movie, starring Bill Murray is hilarious!