DIY Thanksgiving Place Setting Crafts

DIY Thanksgiving Place Setting Crafts

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If there is any silver lining to 2020, it’s having more time with our kids — whether homeschooling, quarantining, or simply socially distancing in your own little pod. Crafting is an excellent way to relieve stress, so we’ve compiled a list of fun, easy Thanksgiving place setting crafts to help you bust boredom, while also adding a personal touch to your table spread.

Gratitude Pumpkins

What You Need:

  • Brown Marker
  • Orange and Green Paper
  • Green Pipe Cleaner
  • Hole Puncher
  • Brads (x2)
  • Scissors

How To Do It:

Cut five 8.5 x ¾-inch strips of orange paper. Punch a hole at both ends, and one in the middle, of each strip. Stack the strips on top of each other, placing a brad through the center to hold them together. Fan out the strips to look like an orange sun, writing something your child is thankful for on each strip. Cut out a leaf-shape from the green, write “I’m thankful for…”, and punch a hole in it. Layer the strips on top of each other again, word-side down. Wrap a green pipe-cleaner around the second brad and curl the ends around a pen so they look like curly tendrils. Finally, fasten the brad through the last pumpkin strips holes. Fan the pumpkin back out and voila! You can find more step-by-step photos here.

Spin Art Turkeys

What You Need:

  • A Salad Spinner
  • Toilet Paper Rolls
  • Paper Plates
  • Tempera Paint
  • Googly Eyes
  • Orange foam (or construction paper)
  • Red ribbon (or red-painted apple stems)

How To Do It:

Cut your paper plates to fit inside the salad spinner. Pour tempera paint onto the plates – whatever colors your child likes. Spin, spin, spin! Cut slits into the sides of your toilet paper roll. Fold your spin-art tail in half – colored side out – and insert it into the slits. Add googly eyes, red ribbon (or, in a pinch, red-painted apple stems), and an orange foam triangle beak with glue. Follow along at Dilly-Dali Art.

Pumpkin Handprint Photo Keepsake

What You Need:

  • Flour (1 Cup)
  • Salt (1 Cup)
  • Water (1/2 Cup)
  • Orange Paint
  • Brown Paint
  • Twine, Ribbon, or String
  • Round Cookie Cutter
  • Cookie Stamps
  • Small Piece of Cardboard
  • Craft Glue
  • Photo
  • Scissors
  • Oven

How To Do It:

Mix flour and salt. Add water. Roll the dough to 1 cm thick. Form a pumpkin shape, reserving a small piece of dough, which you’ll attach on top as the stump. Press your child’s handprint into the center of the pumpkin. Use the cookie cutter to make the circle for the photo. Stamp the date with cookie stamps. Add one hole on either side of the top pumpkin for the string. Bake the pumpkin for three hours at 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from the oven, turn upside-down, and cool overnight. Paint and let dry. Add the string and photo, attaching a piece of cardboard backing with strong craft glue for added stability. Get more info at Teach-Me-Mommy.com.

Windsock Turkeys

What You Need:

  • Recycled can – cleaned and dried, with the top and bottom removed
  • Brown Paint
  • Elmer’s Craft Bond Quick Dry Glue
  • Elmer’s Medium Tip Painters Pen (Orange)
  • Large Googly Eyes
  • Fall Color Ribbons
  • Feathers, Felt, or Mix & Match Fall Color Construction Paper
  • Masking Tape

How To Do It:

Paint the can brown, allowing it to dry completely before drawing on the orange beak with the Painters Pen and attaching the eyes with Quick Dry glue. Cut 10-15 pieces of ribbon approximately 18”. Cover the inside rims of the can to protect little fingers, and then place rows of glue overtop the tape. On top, attach the turkey tail feathers made from actual feathers, felt, paper, or any combination of materials. On bottom, attach the decorative ribbons. Use the glue to attach a felt waddle and a ribbon for hanging over a chair. Visit Happiness is Homemade if you need more information.

Table Teepees

What You Need:

How To Do It:

Print out the teepee templates on white or colored paper. Cut along the solid black lines. Fold along the dotted lines so the bottoms align. Apply double-sided tape to the folded flap to connect the two sides of the teepee. Cut two straws into 5” pieces, taping them in a crisscross to the inside of the teepee. Cut out a banner, write a name on it, and use decorative Washi tape to affix it above the door of the teepee.

If you’re interested in more holiday crafts, inquire about upcoming workshops and classes in New York’s East End. We also do pop-up parties, entertaining the kids while you focus on hosting and conversing with your guests!

DIY Thanksgiving Place Setting Crafts

/in , , , /by

If there is any silver lining to 2020, it’s having more time with our kids — whether homeschooling, quarantining, or simply socially distancing in your own little pod. Crafting is an excellent way to relieve stress, so we’ve compiled a list of fun, easy Thanksgiving place setting crafts to help you bust boredom, while also adding a personal touch to your table spread.

Gratitude Pumpkins

What You Need:

  • Brown Marker
  • Orange and Green Paper
  • Green Pipe Cleaner
  • Hole Puncher
  • Brads (x2)
  • Scissors

How To Do It:

Cut five 8.5 x ¾-inch strips of orange paper. Punch a hole at both ends, and one in the middle, of each strip. Stack the strips on top of each other, placing a brad through the center to hold them together. Fan out the strips to look like an orange sun, writing something your child is thankful for on each strip. Cut out a leaf-shape from the green, write “I’m thankful for…”, and punch a hole in it. Layer the strips on top of each other again, word-side down. Wrap a green pipe-cleaner around the second brad and curl the ends around a pen so they look like curly tendrils. Finally, fasten the brad through the last pumpkin strips holes. Fan the pumpkin back out and voila! You can find more step-by-step photos here.

Spin Art Turkeys

What You Need:

  • A Salad Spinner
  • Toilet Paper Rolls
  • Paper Plates
  • Tempera Paint
  • Googly Eyes
  • Orange foam (or construction paper)
  • Red ribbon (or red-painted apple stems)

How To Do It:

Cut your paper plates to fit inside the salad spinner. Pour tempera paint onto the plates – whatever colors your child likes. Spin, spin, spin! Cut slits into the sides of your toilet paper roll. Fold your spin-art tail in half – colored side out – and insert it into the slits. Add googly eyes, red ribbon (or, in a pinch, red-painted apple stems), and an orange foam triangle beak with glue. Follow along at Dilly-Dali Art.

Pumpkin Handprint Photo Keepsake

What You Need:

  • Flour (1 Cup)
  • Salt (1 Cup)
  • Water (1/2 Cup)
  • Orange Paint
  • Brown Paint
  • Twine, Ribbon, or String
  • Round Cookie Cutter
  • Cookie Stamps
  • Small Piece of Cardboard
  • Craft Glue
  • Photo
  • Scissors
  • Oven

How To Do It:

Mix flour and salt. Add water. Roll the dough to 1 cm thick. Form a pumpkin shape, reserving a small piece of dough, which you’ll attach on top as the stump. Press your child’s handprint into the center of the pumpkin. Use the cookie cutter to make the circle for the photo. Stamp the date with cookie stamps. Add one hole on either side of the top pumpkin for the string. Bake the pumpkin for three hours at 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from the oven, turn upside-down, and cool overnight. Paint and let dry. Add the string and photo, attaching a piece of cardboard backing with strong craft glue for added stability. Get more info at Teach-Me-Mommy.com.

Windsock Turkeys

What You Need:

  • Recycled can – cleaned and dried, with the top and bottom removed
  • Brown Paint
  • Elmer’s Craft Bond Quick Dry Glue
  • Elmer’s Medium Tip Painters Pen (Orange)
  • Large Googly Eyes
  • Fall Color Ribbons
  • Feathers, Felt, or Mix & Match Fall Color Construction Paper
  • Masking Tape

How To Do It:

Paint the can brown, allowing it to dry completely before drawing on the orange beak with the Painters Pen and attaching the eyes with Quick Dry glue. Cut 10-15 pieces of ribbon approximately 18”. Cover the inside rims of the can to protect little fingers, and then place rows of glue overtop the tape. On top, attach the turkey tail feathers made from actual feathers, felt, paper, or any combination of materials. On bottom, attach the decorative ribbons. Use the glue to attach a felt waddle and a ribbon for hanging over a chair. Visit Happiness is Homemade if you need more information.

Table Teepees

What You Need:

How To Do It:

Print out the teepee templates on white or colored paper. Cut along the solid black lines. Fold along the dotted lines so the bottoms align. Apply double-sided tape to the folded flap to connect the two sides of the teepee. Cut two straws into 5” pieces, taping them in a crisscross to the inside of the teepee. Cut out a banner, write a name on it, and use decorative Washi tape to affix it above the door of the teepee.

If you’re interested in more holiday crafts, inquire about upcoming workshops and classes in New York’s East End. We also do pop-up parties, entertaining the kids while you focus on hosting and conversing with your guests!

8 Activities for World Kindness Day

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November 13th is World Kindness Day. This international observance was introduced in 1998 by a coalition of kindness NGOs known as the World Kindness Movement. It began as a way to highlight good deeds in the community, overlooking boundaries of race and religion, to recognize the common thread of kindness that we all can share.

What Is Kindness?

Kindness is often confused with niceness or thoughtfulness. Kindness goes one step further than merely being nice. It’s a natural reaction to be nice to others who are nice to us. Kindness, though, is a proactive choice – going out of your way to cheer someone with your words and actions.

Thoughtfulness can be kind, but it’s often a word used to describe how we act toward family and friends. True kindness extends to the people in the community we may not know so well. It’s reaching out to classmates we’ve just met, neighbors we may not see often, and people of different skin colors, faiths, genders, and socioeconomic status.

8 Ways To Exercise Kindness

Of course, the best way to raise kind kids is to model it yourself – listen genuinely; put aside the chores and spend quality time when it’s needed; spend a few minutes playing; read books about kindness; observe and praise kindness in action among siblings; give random notes and gifts; emphasize the importance of recognizing friends and family on birthdays and holidays; wave and smile to strangers; find a passion project and volunteer.

Here are 8 activities to do with your child for World Kindness Day:

  1. Write a note and draw a picture for the teacher. The pandemic has been particularly stressful for teachers, whether they’re working virtually, splitting time in the physical classroom, or all in. Be sure to have your child include mention of what, specifically, is likable about the teacher. When you’re done, take a photo and send by email or messenger.
  2. Thank your mail carrier. Leave a note that says, “Thank you for delivering our mail each day!” USPS allows letter carriers to receive gift cards to specific retailers or eateries valued at $20 or less. FedEx does not allow deliverers cash or gift cards, but may receive gifts valued up to $75. UPS drivers have received knitted items, baked goods, and nominal gratuity tips.
  3. Give out three compliments today. Give out three compliments today. For young children, it can help to write out the compliments onto note cards that they can deliver to people. Another great exercise for young children with siblings is to have them write out three nice things about a brother or sister.
  4. Gift food. Make six giant chocolate chip cookies, place each one in a cellophane bag with a ribbon, including a note that says, “You’re a smart cookie!”, and drop them off to class friends or cousins. Give out bags of chips for the class with a note that says, “You’re all that – and a bag of chips!” Buy a stranger’s coffee or lunch at the drive-thru. Deliver a themed care package to an elderly neighbor – movie snacks, pasta night, chicken soup for the soul, or canned garden themed. If there are leaves or snow in your neighbor’s yard, clearing it is another random act of kindness.
  5. Donate locally. Gift a copy of your favorite book to your librarian. Donate outgrown clothes to Amvets or a homeless shelter. Pack up a grocery bag of popular items for the food pantry. Give food and litter to the animal shelter.
  6. Share Mother Nature’s bounty. Leave a potted plant on a loved one or neighbor’s doorstep. This time of year, you can also paint positive messages on miniature pumpkins and leave them on random doorsteps. Stop by a nursing home or senior center and give a bouquet to someone who hasn’t had a visitor in a while.
  7. Be the first thought in a grandparent’s day. Have your child send a sweet message to a grandparent first thing in the morning. A simple sentiment might be, “My days are brighter because of you!” or “The morning breeze is so gentle and sweet, it reminds me of you. Wish we were together today!” Your child might sing a favorite song to share or just give their own unscripted heartfelt message in a short video clip.
  8. Celebrate diversity. Kindness involves appreciating people who may have different cultures, traditions, beliefs, and preferences than ourselves. Choose a different culture to focus on each week. This week, you might serve up enchiladas with mariachi dinner music and watch “Coco” to celebrate Mexican culture. Next week, you might cook Jerk chicken while listening to steel drums and watch “Pirates of the Caribbean,” which was filmed in Jamaica. Every bit of exposure to something foreign and new helps. Little Passports is a great subscription service that sends curated boxes based on different countries from around the world. You might also consider signing up for one of our Globe Trekker classes geared toward kids 4-10 — which combines music, art, food, and games from around the world.

Ways To Celebrate Dia de los Muertos

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Dia de los Muertos is a holiday celebrating the rebirth of life in death, observed throughout Latin American communities on November 1st and 2nd. Most commonly, celebrations are associated with Mexico, but there are lively celebrations in US cities like Albuquerque, NM; San Diego, CA; San Antonio, TX; Tucson, AZ; and even locally, on Staten Island.

The History of Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos dates back thousands of years to ancient Mesoamerican cultures like the Aztecs, Mayans, and Toltecs. These civilizations believed that a person traveled to Chicunamictlán (the Land of the Dead) after departing from Earth. Souls must pass nine challenges here, over the course of several years, to reach Mictlán (the final resting place).

Ancient Nahua rituals, originally held for the month of August, provided food, water, and tools to help the souls make this arduous journey. Later, the celebration was moved by Christians to correspond with All Saints and All Souls Days on November 1st and 2nd. The souls of children are believed to return on the 1st and the adults on the 2nd.

Modern families commemorate this holiday with culinary traditions and the creation of altars in their homes. In some communities, it is customary to clean gravestones, decorate the plots with flowers, and hold candlelit vigils in honor of their loved ones.

We love the idea of celebrating Dia de los Muertos because it uniquely recognizes the cyclical nature of life, reinforces family customs, and honors departed relatives. It’s also a fun way to reinforce cultural sensitivity. Here are a few ways to partake in this annual tradition.          

Bake Bread of the Dead

Recipes vary, but this version of Pan de Muerto (from a renowned bakery in Mexico City) calls for unbleached flour, sea salt, sugar, crumbled cake yeast, dry yeast, water, over a dozen lightly beaten eggs, unsalted butter, orange rind, and orange flower. Put on the Mariachi music and enjoy the delicious aroma of yeasty bread that fills the air. It only takes 20 minutes to bake, but you’ll need to get your starter ready the day before to allow adequate time for rising.  At the end of your rising period, you’ll be fashioning the dough into a skull and crossbones. We also recommend making Mexican Hot Chocolate in the crockpot to go with your bread!

Decorate Your Home with Ofrenda

Ofrenda means “offering.” On November 1st, older members of the community set up altars to commemorate and attract loved ones who have passed away. A fine white tablecloth is laid out on a small wooden table. Decorative tissue paper is placed over the cloth. Images of saints and a crucifix are generally placed on an elevated altar in the center of the table.

The ofrenda includes:

  • Velas – candles (one for each departed soul) light the way back home
  • Copal – incense elevates the family’s prayers to God
  • Flor de Muerto – marigold “flowers of the dead” also helps attract souls to the altar
  • Calavera – skulls made of granulated sugar, meringue powder, and water
  • Papel picado — perforated papercrafts to denote life’s fragility and invite souls to pass
  • Pan de Muerto – “bread of the dead” feeds the hungry souls that come
  • Sal – salt in the shape of a cross purifies the souls and protects them from corruption
  • Agua – also a purifier, water can quench the thirst of returning souls
  • Fotografias – photographs ensure that your loved ones can cross over

Personal items are also typically added. These belongings may include favorite articles of clothing like hats or shawls, beloved toys/games/stuffies for the kids, vices like coffee/cigarettes /liquors honoring a person’s taste, and favorite foods (mole, tamales, fruit, arroz rojo, hot chocolate, and dried fruits, for instance).

Make Sugar Skull Crafts

Sugar skulls are one of the most famous icons known to Dia de los Muertos, representing the sweetness of life. You can buy the molds and make the sugary treats yourself – or perhaps you’d enjoy one of these handicraft versions instead:

Another easy and popular craft is the Dia de los Muertos garland – comprised of pretty patterned papers, string, clothespins, scissors, and markers.

Watch “Coco” for Family Movie Night

“Coco” is a Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning Disney/Pixar animated film, geared toward ages 7+, but suitable for all ages. What 12-year-old Miguel wants most is to play Mariachi music, but his family believes that music has cursed them. This vibrant, beautiful coming-of-age drama is a tribute to kin and culture, as viewers journey to the underworld to uncover Miguel’s family secrets. Blessed with a wonderful soundtrack and packed with references to Dia de los Muertos traditions, the film is as enjoyable as it is educational.

Alt Picks: If you’ve seen “Coco” hundreds of times already, you might want to try: Let’s Go Luna’s “Day of the Dead” episode on PBS; Film School Shorts’ “Dia de los Muertos” on PBS; Scooby Doo and the Monster of Mexico on Amazon Prime; The Book of Life on Hulu; or Super Monster’s Dia los Monsters on Netflix. Once the kids go to bed, check out the James Bond movie Spectre (also on Hulu) — which inspired the first Dia de los Muertos parade in 2016.

Take a Culture Class

If you live in the NYC region, Shine offers Listillos, a Spanish immersion class combining storytelling, games, art, theater, music, cooking, crafts, Spanish language lessons, and field trips. These fun, engaging classes appeal to students learning Spanish as a second language, as well as native natural speakers who want to participate in cultural activities. The bilingual class is taught by a native Spanish speaker and is open to children of all language levels. Contact us to inquire about availability.

What To Do For Halloween in New York’s East End

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Halloween fun all month long has given us a treat when we needed it most. Still wondering what you should do with the kids on the big day itself? Finally we have a Saturday Halloween, so it won’t be as rushed as years past, AND it’s a full moon, so you can leave your flashlights at home. While you may be tempted to skip festivities this year, mental health experts say it’s important to balance physical risks with mental health risks. There are plenty of ways to reduce the risk of catching coronavirus, while partaking in annual October traditions – some classic, others new for 2020.

Learn About the Science of Getting Spooked

The Center for Science Teaching and Learning is hosting exhibits, character actors, take-home crafts, and a woodland walk at SpookyFest. Ticket times will be spaced so that only one family will be traveling through the woods or crafting at a time. The event is open to ages 3+ and costs $10 for family-friendly fun, with Halloween time slots from 6:30 to 9:30. 

Fly on Down to Dracula’s Farm

The Northshore Horse Rescue at 2330 Sound Avenue in Baiting Hollow is showing off its Halloween-themed horse paddocks with a 30-minute drive-thru tour from 10 am to 2 pm on Halloween. Each vehicle receive a Halloween candy basket, so bring your face masks. Tickets are $32 per car (or $27 for advanced registration), with all proceeds supporting the horse animal sanctuary’s rescue mission. 

Sing with Spookley, the Square Pumpkin

The Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts will present Spookley The Square Pumpkin: The Musical for children ages 3-10. The Halloween performance is at 11 am – outdoors behind Roseneath Cottage (239 Middle Country Road in Smithtown), with social distancing measures in place. Guests must purchase advance tickets online for $18 a person.  

Complete a Virtual Arts & Craft

The Museum of Arts and Design is open on Saturdays from 11am – 7pm, but tickets are limited to 25 percent capacity – so the museum has decided to host a ZOOM Halloween event for all ages instead. 

For a $5 donation, artist Lexy Ho-Tai will walk your child through creating a festive mask using repurposed and recycled household materials at 10 am. 

At 11 am, you can share stories with the Strangers Project. Brandon Doman will be at Washington Square Park adding the tales to the collection.

At noon, you’ll learn how to create edible stained-glass candy and participate in a family-friendly costume contest on Instagram. Learn more about the event and register here.

Plan a Safer Trick-or-Treating Route

Governor Cuomo has refrained from outright banning trick-or-treat activities, but the CDC classifies the house-to-house visits as a “high-risk” activity. 

Spiking infection rates have been reported in neighborhoods like Kew Gardens (2.24%), Edgemere-Far Rockaway (3.69%), Williamsburg (2%), and Midwood/Borough Park/Bensonhurst (4.71%) – so you may want to avoid these communities. 

Instead, you may want to try one of these Best NYC Neighborhoods for Trick-or-Treating. 

Keep the Parade Spirit Alive

The annual Halloween parade in Greenwich Village has been cancelled, but the organizers have promised “a trick that’s actually a treat” – like a pop-up live event — so stay tuned to discover their last-minute surprise announcement. 

You can watch a retrospective look at past parades on NY1 at 7pm Halloween night.

If you prefer to be out and about — at the same time, you can see one beloved tradition live on, as Master Puppeteer Basil Twist releases a giant spider out of Greenwich Village’s Jefferson Market Library tower.

Host Your Own Ghosts

The CDC has listed several “low-risk” activities to enjoy with your family this Halloween:

  • Carving, painting, or decorating pumpkins
  • Decorating your living space
  • Organizing a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt 
  • Watching spooky movies
  • Holding a virtual costume contest with friends on Zoom.

You can also cook up one of these kid-friendly Celtic Halloween recipes together. 

Entertain Boys and Ghouls at a Private Pod Party

If you have a small group of close friends or relatives you’ve been seeing already, you may feel comfortable having a modest gathering. Remove the stress by calling in party planners to assist. Shine organizers can drop by your location for a pandemic-friendly Halloween crafts, storytelling, songs, games, and culinary delights. Our fully customizable party solutions are a great way to make your child’s party stand out – or to entertain the kids, freeing moms an dads to enjoy adult conversation. Contact us to inquire about availability. 

Everything You Need To Know About Kid Parties in a Socially Distant NYC

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There’s good news if your child has a summer birthday: New York City moving toward reopening after the statewide PAUSE. As of June 8th, our region entered phase one, meaning that 10 or fewer people may gather. By phase three, we’ll be allowed to gather in groups up to 25.

Is a Kid Birthday Party Risky During a Coronavirus Pandemic?

At this point, any contact outside your home pod elevates your risk of COVID-19 transmission, but the 1 percent virus positive test rate is minuscule enough that having a small backyard gathering may not raise the hairs on the back of your neck, especially if you’re friends with several other families that generally minimal contact with others and practice social distancing.

True social distancing can be a challenge with young children. Ideally, each guest would remain six feet apart and wear masks in close passing or when dishing food. Older kids may be able to follow these guidelines, but you may want to consider hosting a Zoom party or a more structured format for younger kids.

Socially Distant Kids’ Birthday Party Ideas

There are many ways to celebrate a child’s birthday, even with social distancing in place:

  • Birthday Parades – Decorate a special chair into an honorary “throne” for the day and set it up curbside, while friends and family drive by with balloons, signs, and music playing. Oriental Trading has a number of themed decorations you can pass out to guests before the big day. You could also ask your guests to dress up in old Halloween costumes to make the parade more entertaining. Gifts can be dropped off to a point person at the end of the caravan if you wish.
  • Movie Parties – Drive-ins are likely to be all the rage this summer. Staten Island BBQ will be showing classic kid-friendly films like Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Greenpoint’s new Skyline Drive-In overlooks the East River and Manhattan skyline and welcomes guests who may not have a car to park as well. If you have a grand to spend and would like a more intimate backyard movie party, you could hire Arcade Specialties – or you could source your own materials for less.
  • Picnic Parties – A number of NYC restaurants offer picnic takeout and there are plenty of parks to choose for your setting. Blue Moon Mexican Café offers birthday takeout for six, which includes fixins’ for tacos or fajitas, a dessert platter, beverages, sombreros, and birthday candles. Armed with little more than a cooler, a basket, and a blanket, you’ll have a unique and memorable way to celebrate a birthday with one or two other families. Social distancing will be easier to follow, using the blankets themselves as “safe zones.”
  • Zoom Parties and Virtual Performers – Everyone can join a party from their own comfortable space at home, while a virtual performer sets the agenda so it’s meaningful for the participants and not just anarchy. BubbleDad can wow kids with bubble characters, smoke bubbles, square bubbles, and shared secrets on how to blow the perfect bubble. Yogi Beans will virtually host up to 25 kids with themes like unicorn, safari, or undersea that take kids through yoga activities, a Choose-Your-Own adventure, and a birthday singing – all recorded for your viewing pleasure later. Hire My Fairytale Party to have your child’s favorite princess, hero, or character sing, read, and play games with your group. Sammie & Tudie’s Imagination Playhouse offers an interactive 30-minute Zoom “comedy magic circus” geared toward ages 3 to 8. Kids ages 7+ can make a clay creation – like a bird, shark, dish, cupcake, or dinosaur — led by Clay Art Center or you can have your group make something yummier (like pizza, soft pretzels, muffins, or cookies) along with Taste Buds Kitchen.

Shine Party Boxes Make Your Social Distancing Event Special

This summer, we are pleased to offer the best in high-quality child birthday entertainment, whether you’re celebrating in the backyard with a small group or connecting virtually with friends from afar.

Custom Curated Birthday Party Boxes have been in high demand during quarantine. It’s the next best thing to a fully hosted event. We’ll create custom curated party boxes based on whatever theme you’d like and send them out to all the kids attending your virtual party.

Our first-ever party box, delivered to the birthday child and each invited guest, featured a jolly good pirate theme, complete with costumes, props, treasure maps, gold doubloons, treasure, stickers, tattoos, and all the art supplies needed to make our signature treasure chest craft.

On the day of your event, we’ll dress the part, singing, dancing, and performing live music to complement your theme. Our programming is highly customizable with games, surprise character visits, and baking or crafting activities. We’ll work with you to ensure your child feels attended to on this momentous occasion.

Other Shine birthday options include:

  • Online classes – Enjoy our signature mix of art, music, cooking, crafts, exercise, and more from the comfort of your own home – in a private family session or with friends!
  • Craft bags – Shine Director Aaron Goldschmidt leads engaging Zoom classes paired with craft bags delivered to the homes of all party attendees. Complete up to four signature Shine crafts. We’ve done lanterns, wreaths, decorated journals, puppets, masks, flower pots, vases, bird feeders, tie-dye, bridge paintings, sand art, and more. Check out our quarantine craft bag highlight to see some of what we offer.
  • Private day camps – Host up to eight kids (ages 4-11) with activities ranging from arts and crafts, outdoor science, and nature exploration, to sports and games, percussion workshops, and educational programming. Space is very limited, so email info@shinenyc.net to reserve your spot asap!

We want to help you through this difficult time! Call 212-414-5427 or email info@shinenyc.net to learn more about offerings, options, and pricing.

Storytelling Activities for World Storytelling Day

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World Storytelling Day is celebrated on the spring equinox and during the following week. This year’s festivities kick off Friday, March 20th and the 2020 theme is “Voyages.”

Storytelling has played an integral role in passing on cultural knowledge, beliefs, and traditions from one generation to the next. Without cave paintings, Bard stories, or recorded myths, so much human history would be lost forever.

Consider the many ways storytelling enriched the lives of people around the world:

  • Thanks to early storytellers like Aesop and Homer, the ancient Greeks were familiar with stories dating back to 12th century BCE.
  • Ancient Egyptians told detailed narratives about life, death, and their belief in an afterlife in picture form, as preserved hieroglyphics show.
  • In medieval Europe, troubadours relayed histories and information about neighboring communities, as well as presenting topics for political debate.
  • The Norse Viking sagas were the culmination of nearly 300 years of oral storytelling tradition by the time they were finally published and shared with the world.
  • Storytelling saved the life of Scheherazade, the heroine of 1,001 Arabian Nights.
  • In West African regions, griot storytellers served as historians and politicians – a tradition still thriving in Mali, Senegal, and Gambia.
  • In Australia, Aboriginal storytellers were performance artists who entertained during the long, dark winter months.
  • The Native Americans used stories as a way of imparting values, character traits, and tribal identity upon their young.

What started as Sweden’s “Alla Berättares Dag” (All Narrators Day) in 1991 has now spread around the globe from South Africa and Singapore, to Canada and Croatia. As Indian storyteller Vyasa said in the poem Mahabharata: “If you listen [to a story] carefully, at the end, you’ll be someone else.”

If you’re looking for a way to celebrate World Storytelling Day in 2020, consider one of these activities…

1. Learn the art of storytelling.

The Art of Storytelling by Pixar was produced with Khan Academy to take students on a full curriculum of using human interest and emotion to tell a story. Filmmakers from Pixar share insights into how to develop storytelling skills that can be particularly useful in the elementary school years. The videos are just three or four minutes long per section and are followed by writing prompts and activities that facilitate learning. The idea that “we are all storytellers” is a meaningful point to share with our children.

2. Play a game.

The award-winning “Tall Tales” game inspires your family’s storytelling by providing thought-provoking settings and characters. The rest is left to your imagination! Younger children will immediately launch into free play, while older kids might find inspiration in the five rule variations. Small figurines come with the game, so it is recommended for children past the age of putting random objects into their mouths.

3. Write your own creative “voyage” story as a group.

Folding stories were classic 80s sleepover games. The story begins with a title or opening line prompt. Each person writes two lines of text. Ideally, the last sentence will end abruptly to leave a thought-provoking start for the next player. The paper is folded so each of the players can only see what the person immediately before them has written. Once the paper gets around the group a few times, the first writer will read the whole story from start to finish.

Here are 15 story prompt ideas to get you started…

  • I don’t know how I am going to get home. Worse yet, I am alone and have to…
  • The water is always calm when I go out at 4 a.m…
  • Many things get the hair on the back of my neck up, but nothing more so than…
  • From behind a lacy curtain she watched as four riders galloped toward the house…
  • There are a few rules to live by if you want to survive an overseas voyage on this ship…
  • When I opened my eyes, I found myself sitting…
  • The rain fell hard, for the third week in a row…
  • The moment I stepped out of the plane, I knew I had come to the wrong place…
  • I don’t know the first thing about flying a hot air balloon, and yet, here I am…
  • My hair blew back in exhilarating fashion with each beat of the Pegasus’ wings…
  • The only thing that could get me back to that island is gold… well, and love for adventure…
  • The entire city was in ruins…
  • “Pssst, wake up,” someone said into my ear in the dead of night. “I have a mission for you…”
  • There’s an island where all lost items turn up. I woke up, cold and wet, on the beach…
  • Humans return from Mars for the first time. But something is not quite right about them…

4. Read with your children.

There are countless literary “voyages” you can take with your children. Perhaps you have favorite stories you read in your childhood you’d like to share with your children. The New York Public Library’s list of most-checked-out books of all time is likely to remind you of a few! Otherwise, try these:

Why: Dive into 10 classic folk tales from India, China, Japan, the US, England, Scandinavia, Russia, Greece, the Middle East, and South Africa, which feature interesting characters like a talking tree, an ill-tempered genie, and a greedy witch. Kids will love the bold, colorful illustrations that accompany each story.

Ideal Ages: 3-8

Why: Geronimo Stilton is the publisher of The Rodent’s Gazette newspaper. In this colorful, 320-page adventure, he returns to the Kingdom of Fantasy to find the land plagued by endless winter. He travels by magical talking ship, hoping to restore peace and springtime to the land by contending with a threatening volcano and rescuing the Queen of the Fairies.

Ideal Ages: 5-8

Why: These picture books combine charming illustrations with simple explanations of the sights, character, and traditions of each region covered. 

Ideal Ages: 5-8

Why: In this chapter book, the voyage of Doctor Dolittle is told by 9-year-old Tommy Stubbins, a crewman and naturalist accompanying the animal healer to Spidermonkey Island. After surviving a perilous shipwreck, Doctor Dolittle, Polynesia the parrot, and Chee-Chee the monkey meet a wondrous sea snail who holds the key to a great mystery. Parents and children alike will enjoy this adventure from start to finish. Afterward, you can watch the movie!

Ideal Ages: 8-12

Why: The reader is not just a passive entity in these unique books. The reader acts as decision maker and storyteller as well, choosing which actions the characters should take to determine the end of the story. With the original R.A. Montgomery series, you and your child can journey through the jungle, Mayan ruins, under the sea, the highest mountain peaks, and even out of this world, into space. With the Oregon Trail books, you can voyage across America in a covered wagon circa 1850, while trying to avoid perilous conditions from wild animals and natural disasters, to strangers, and sicknesses – with 22 different endings to choose from. 

Ideal Ages: 8-12

Why: This treasury combines myths, fairy tales, and legends from around the globe with a story for every week of the year. The 12 chapters correspond with the 12 months of the year and match stories to important holidays, festivals, events, and seasonal themes.

Ideal Ages: 8-12

5. Speak with an elder.

If your child has grandparents living, plan a day to visit and hear stories from the older person’s life.

You can use these prompts to get grandma or grandpa recalling childhood memories:

  • What’s your earliest childhood memory?
  • Who was your best friend? What did you do together?
  • What places do you remember fondly?
  • Describe your mother’s kitchen. What were family dinners like?
  • Describe the most unusual place you have lived or visited.
  • Were you ever injured or ill during your childhood? What was that experience like?
  • Do you have any quirky relatives in your family tree? Tell us about them.
  • What values did your parents try to instill in you as a child?
  • What sayings or expressions did you hear often while growing up?
  • Describe your most memorable family vacation.
  • Describe your favorite holiday traditions.
  • What was your most beloved toy like?
  • How are you and your parents alike or different?
  • What personal achievements made you proud?
  • What was one lesson you learned the hard way?

All and all, World Storytelling Day is the ideal opportunity to focus on reading, writing, and recollecting. You can find many, many more ideas at StoryArts.org that are ideal for the classroom or at home. If you’d like to carry on the tradition, consider joining one of Shine’s workshops or year-round classes, where we combine storytelling, music, art, cooking, and play from cultures around the world.

Fun Ways To Observe Presidents Day With Kids in NYC

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Monday, February 17th is a federal holiday established in 1885 to celebrate the birth of first U.S. president George Washington. His birthday was February 22nd, but the holiday can range from the 17th through the 21st, depending on where the third Monday of the month falls. This arrangement was part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968. Observance of 16th President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (which falls on February 12th) was also included as one of the provisions in the new act. Other February birthdays include Ronald Reagan (6th) and William Henry Harrison (9th). Nowadays, we typically celebrate ALL presidents on this civic holiday, but you can observe it however you wish. 

Do not tell a lie – and bake a cherry pie. 

One of the most famous stories of George Washington’s life dates back to his childhood. As the story goes, George was six years old when his father bought him his first hatchet. He loved it so much, he cut down everything in his path. He hacked away at the bark of an English cherry tree in his mother’s garden until it died. When his father confronted him wondering what had happened to the tree, George confessed: “I cannot tell a lie, you know, I cannot tell a lie; I did it, I cut it with my hatchet.” This story was first chronicled in a biography by Mason Weems, but it has been passed down generation after generation as the sort of honesty and respect for one’s parents we hope will stick with our own children.

Given the story, a popular Presidents Day tradition around the country involves the symbolic baking of cherry pie. This basic recipe calls for little more than Crisco, flour, egg, sugar, and a can of pie filling to whip up something spectacular with your child in the kitchen. Oh, and don’t forget the vanilla ice cream! If you’re looking for a more five-star recipe that doesn’t sacrifice some measure of taste for simplicity, you can try Food Network’s “Best Cherry Pie” recipe, which uses tart cherries, lemon juice, and almond extract for extra flavor. Strangely, there is no record of cherry pie in Martha Washington’s cookbook, but we did unearth her recipe for Cherry Bread and Butter Pudding you might try for something more authentic!

Take an historic trip.

Just over four hours south of here — in Alexandria, Virginia – you’ll find a month-long tribute to George Washington himself, not to mention one of the best family-friendly vacation destinations. The nation’s largest and longest-running George Washington Birthday Parade dates back to 1976 and snakes one-mile through the streets of historic Old Town Alexandria. 

Other events include:

  • The 12th Annual Cherry Challenge 
  • George Washington’s Alexandria Walking Tours
  • Chocolate with General Washington for Kids
  • George Washington’s 18th Century Evening Banquet and Ball
  • A Family-Friendly Scavenger Hunt for Washington
  • Free Concert at Market Square

Visit Washingtonbirthday.com for more details. 

In addition to these special events, Alexandria has more than 140 locations with ties to America’s first president. George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon, is a must for families with a live blacksmith, interactive exhibits, farm animals, gardens, and pet-friendly walking trails. Be sure to grab a bite at Gadsby’s Tavern, which served as a central hub for founding father social life with distinguished patrons such as George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe. 

Of course, history is not the only reason to cart the whole family down to Virginia. While you’re visiting, be sure to blow off steam at Scramble, a café and colorful indoor play space geared toward kids 0-8. Bundle up to stroll the independent boutiques down King Street, or ice skate in the winter village at Cameron Run. Alexandria is home to a world-class archaeology museum, the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame, art galleries, and an African-American History Museum – enough family-friendly attractions to keep you busy the whole break week long. And remember, you’re just a hop, skip, and a DC Metro jump from the Smithsonian Museums and other delights of our nation’s capital. 

If you’re looking for something warmer, you might consider heading to GeorgeFest in Eustis, Florida – a lakeside community north of Orlando. This celebration of Washington’s birthday dates back to 1902 and features parades, carnivals, chili cookoffs, races, character breakfasts, and concerts.

Ponder the presidency with an activity book, story, or video. 

Presidential trivia doesn’t have to be boring. Consider these fun ways to explore history together: 

If you’re crafty, consider making these adorable mini president figures out of wood, pipe-cleaners, acrylic paint, and cloth. Or create a George Washington wig and Abe Lincoln hat out of construction paper for a Presidents Day photoshoot with your little one.  

  • For elementary-aged kids: Who doesn’t love the catchy songs, adorable animations, and guest star cameos of The Storybots? They’ve got a free downloadable Presidents Day activity book with coin quizzes, mazes, illustration prompts, word search, spot the difference game, and instructions how to make an Abraham Lincoln mask out of a paper plate to keep the kids busy for a while. 

Grades 2-6 can learn more about the presidency with the Constitution Center’s 22-minute newsy rundown of the Executive Branch. Next, embark upon The Smithsonian’s virtual tour of The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden, an exhibit featuring Lady Bird Johnson’s dessert plates, Lincoln’s split rail fence, and a collection of First Lady inaugural gowns, among other items. 

If your child is a budding reader, What Presidents Are Made Of is a unique combination of mixed-media art and small vignettes from the lives of our chief executives for grades 1-5. Kids just getting into chapter books can be inspired by NY Times best-selling “Who HQ” series, where you’ll find kid-friendly accounts detailing the lives of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, in addition to so many others.  

Be sure to check out Kid Presidents: True Tales of Childhood from America’s Presidents — a neat read for adults and nine to 12-year-olds alike.

Presidents vs. Aliens is a cool downloadable app for Apple and Android devices, which teaches presidential facts, quotes, historical events, and nicknames mixed with a chance to fling president heads at aliens in a bowling-style game.

For a more sophisticated problem-solving game, try iCivic’s Executive Command game for PCs, which allows kids the opportunity to try their hand at the presidency for a term. They’ll propose an agenda, build a cabinet, sign bills into laws, and delegate tasks to federal agencies. Even adults find it’s a fun, interactive way to brush up on the powers of the presidency. 

Check out local NYC Presidents Day events taking place all week long.

There’s no shortage of presidential activities in NYC:

When: February 21, 10:30 am

For Kids ages 6 and under: Hear humorous stories about Washington and Lincoln, dig through a trunk of historic clothes, and make a finger puppet in a historic setting. 

When: February 15, 16, and 17th, 12–4 pm

For all ages: Meet and mingle with costumed characters resembling George Washington, James Madison, and others. They’re happy to tell stories of how they made their mark on history before you enter the new Meet the Presidents exhibit at the New York Historical Society.

When: February 17th-21st, 12:00 – 4:00 pm

For all ages: Prospect Park Alliance hosts family-friendly programming at Lefferts Historic House and the Prospect Park Audubon Center all week long:

  • Wild in Winter: See what the birds are doing this winter.
  • Discovery Pack: Pick up a ready-to-go nature kit with activities for families.
  • Migration Games: Play floor games replicating the stages of bird migration.
  • Animal Encounter: Learn about the animals in the Audubon Center’s collection.
  • Great Backyard Bird Count: Submit checklists to help researchers assess bird health.
  • President’s Day Trivia: Enjoy trivia and birthday cake for George and Abe.
  • Coming in from the Cold: Create a small jar of scented salve for a healthy home.

When: February 16th, 1:00 – 3:00 pm

For all ages: Sample historic recipes, take a museum scavenger hunt, and learn 19th century dances with costumed characters. Adults 21+ are invited to toast to George Washington.

When: February 15-16th, guided tours 1-2 pm 

For ages 8+: Visit the Scott Gallery, where you’ll see a new exhibit — A Stoic Countenance: Portraits of George Washington exhibition. Then see a lock of Washington’s hair and a fragment of his tooth in the McEntee Gallery! If you arrive for the special guided tour included with your $1 museum admission, you’ll hear all about President Washington’s connections to NYC, from his early years as a militia colonel, to his greatest military defeat, to his ascension to the presidency.

If you’re looking for more enrichment, consider programming offered by Shine, TriState New York’s leading provider of pop-up classes and parties for kids.

Cultural Kid-Friendly Food: Top 5 Jewish Recipes for Hanukkah

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For many Jewish families, Hanukkah is synonymous with home-cooking. It’s a time where our mothers toil in the kitchen to embrace their love of feeding us, and our fathers pause from work for a moment to enjoy connection with the family around the table. Food is a language of love, so it makes perfect sense to share your love of culture, cooking, and family with your children. What follows are some of our favorite recipes for a Hanukkah feast that are easy enough for kids to share in the making and tasty enough for the plates to hit the sink empty.    

1. Latkes

(Recipe From Chef Eli Sussman of Mile End, Courtesy of AM New York)

Potato pancakes known as latkes are the most well-known Hanukkah food – and a symbolic one at that. The oil these crispy flats are fried in reminds us of the rededication of the Holy Temple, where one day’s worth of oil miraculously lasted for eight days. If you’re not planning on visiting one of New York City’s best latke hotspots this month, try this recipe (from Chef Eli Sussman of the famous Mile End restaurant) with your kids at home. For a basic latke, you’ll need Idaho potatoes, white onions, eggs, Matzo Meal, vegetable oil, and a slotted fish spatula for flipping. Fancier recipes may throw in scallions, butter, and baking powder or corn starch. We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel here, but the Chicago Tribune has an interesting take – with eight latke recipes for the eight days of Hanukkah. Different toppings include sour cream, applesauce, or smoked salmon. Freeze leftovers and reheat for 2-3 minutes at 350 in the oven. 

Get a traditional NYC latke recipe.

2. Matzo Ball Soup 

(Recipe From Joan Nathan, courtesy of NY Times Cooking)

Soup is something most kids look forward to as much as a warm scarf and hot cocoa in the winter. This recipe comes from “the Queen of American Jewish Cooking” Joan Nathan, a James Beard Foundation award-winning cookbook author and NYC culinary class instructor. You get the basic idea of eggs, schmaltz, Matzo Meal, ginger, and nutmeg, but you can exercise creativity in choosing chicken or vegetable stock, and either dill, cilantro, or parsley as a garnish. If you’re not serving the soup immediately, you can freeze the Matzo balls on a baking sheet, transfer to a freezer bag, and thaw a few hours before heating in broth to serve. 

Get a soul-warming Matzo Ball soup recipe.

3. Challah

(Recipe From Upper East Side Pastry Chef Adam Levin, courtesy of Haaretz)

Challah is a staple of the holiday table, whether it’s braided for Shabbat, served round for Jewish New Year, or however you prefer it for Hanukkah. This braided egg-washed bread is supple like brioche and full of flavor. You can eat it as a side with chopped liver pate or bake it into French Toast come morning. Check out the many variations here. We like this recipe because it gets into the nitty-gritty of technique and answers crucial questions that arise while baking – like: What kind of yeast should I use? What if I don’t have a standing mixer? Is the dough too wet? Should I add more flour? How long should the braid be? And how much honey should I add to the wash? Recipe author Adam Levin found his love of baking with his grandmother whose recipe he’s immortalized here — with a few helpful tweaks he picked up before graduating from the Culinary Institute of America at the top of his class. 

Get a detailed recipe that shares the secrets of great Challah.

4. Herb-and-Lemon Roasted Chicken

(Recipe From NYC based food writer Gail Simmons, Courtesy of Food & Wine Magazine)

Brisket is the most popular meat main course, as it’s a hearty, welcoming winter dish capable of feeding a crowd. However, many families enjoy roasted, spiced chicken as an alternate choice. This foolproof roasted chicken recipe uses a whole chicken seasoned with garlic, rosemary, thyme, and lemon zest, but you can also opt to roast chicken pieces if you prefer. More than 2,500 five-star reviewers can’t be wrong, can they? A few tricks you may find helpful: brown the chicken in a skillet for a crispy golden crust, and roast the thighs and breasts in separate dishes, so each cooks to perfect readiness. Serve the chicken over top roasted potatoes, fennel, carrots, or another root vegetable of your choice.  

Get a versatile roasted chicken recipe beloved by all.

5. Sufganiyot

(Recipe From Breads Bakery’s Uri Scheft, courtesy of Bon Appetit Magazine)

Uri Scheft of Breads Bakery in Chelsea knows a thing or two about sufganiyot (pronounced soof-gone-YOT). In just one day of Hanukkah, they sell three months’ worth of the warm, ball-sized, golden, jam-filled, sugar-dusted donuts. You can use any kind of neutral oil, be it vegetable or safflower, but don’t skimp on the whole milk. You can whisk chunky jam in a food processor for pro piping. If you don’t have a piping bag, a toothpick and plastic bag with a hole cut in it will suffice. Adding orange zest and juice will ensure your recipe is bursting with fresh fruit flavor. The options for sufganiyot preserves, pastry creams, and sugar coatings are endless once you’ve gotten the basics down. Chocolate cream and cinnamon sugar is a recommended variation. 

Get your sweet, kid-favorite sufganiyot dessert recipe.

About Shine

Founded by Aaron Goldschmidt in 2004, Shine is a creative, modern child enrichment program that accepts children of all faiths and cultures. If your child loves helping in the kitchen, you’ll find more Jewish recipes for the New Year here, or you can try one of Shine’s cooking classes.  We also offer “Vitamin J,” a Jewish art and culture classes geared toward ages 5-10. We hope to see you in 2020! 

How Different Cultures Celebrate December Holidays

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When the ground freezes and the earth is covered in a blanket of snow, we tend to think of hibernation, rest, and quietude. Busy cultural calendars around the world stand in juxtaposition, as the colder months prove a time of feast and festivity. Learning about other traditions around the world is an interesting lesson in history, religion, and culture, but also an important opportunity to promote greater tolerance, acceptance, and celebration of diversity. Here are 10 different December holidays you may introduce to your child to provoke discussion and reflection of the winter season.

St. Nicholas Day (December 6, 2019)

St. Nicholas Day is celebrated in Eastern Christian religions — particularly in Russia and Greece, where Saint Nicholas is the patron saint. The Roman Empire bishop is known for generosity, kindness toward children, calming the seas, and performing miracles. The feast day is celebrated with children’s masses, special hymns, and prayer. In Western and Central European countries like Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and the Netherlands — where children put out a boot for St. Nicholas on December 5th in hopes of receiving small coins, candy, oranges, toys, or glass ornaments in the morning. Historical recordings dating back to medieval times allege that nuns used the night of December 6th to distribute anonymous baskets of food and clothing at the doorsteps of the needy. 

St. Lucia Day (December 13, 2019)

St. Lucia’s Day is celebrated in Sweden, Norway, and Swedish-speaking parts of Finland to honor the third-century virgin martyr. She is recognized as a symbol of light and purity, so the eldest daughter of the family dresses up in a long white gown with a red sash and wreath of burning candles on her head. She awakens the family by singing songs and bringing them coffee and twisted saffron buns called lussekatter (Lucia cats). Finland celebrates the day with a torchbearer parade of light. Norwegians hold processions through schools, hospitals, nursing homes, daycares, and senior centers to warm the heart and celebrate emergence out of the darkest winter nights. 

Winter Solstice (December 21, 2019)

Winter Solstice has been celebrated for thousands of years by cultures all around the world. The shortest day of the year may have been observed as early as the Neolithic Period (the end of the Stone Age) in 10,200 BC. Archaeologists theorize monuments like Newgrange in Ireland, Maeshowe in Scotland, and Stonehenge in England were a place of December ritual. Today, there are large gatherings at these sites. Ancient Romans celebrated Saturnalia, a weeklong holiday of feasting and drinking in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture. The Norsemen of Scandinavia celebrated Yule from the winter solstice through January, where they would feast until a large Yule log burned out. Zuni and Hopi Native American tribes commemorate the beginning of the new year with ceremonial mask dances, fires, and gift-giving. From hot yuzu fruit baths in Japan, to the “Burning of Clocks” in Brighton, England, Winter Solstice is celebrated in different ways around the world.

Hanukkah (December 22-30, 2019)

Jewish people around the world celebrate Hanukkah, a religious holiday honoring the Maccabee’s victory over King Antiochus, who forbade Jews from practicing their religion. During the re-dedication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, the menorah’s candles were said to have miraculously burned for eight nights, even though there was only enough oil for a single day. Today, nine menorah candles are lit in the home for eight nights. During Hanukkah, blessings are said, special foods like potato pancakes (latkes) and jam-filled donuts (sufganiyot) are eaten, songs are sung, and children spin tops called dreidels to win nuts, raisins, and chocolate coins. Holidays like Passover and Rosh Hashanah are much more significant to the religion, but Hanukkah is special to many families as a cherished winter tradition nonetheless.   

Christmas (December 25, 2019)

Christmas originated as a religious holiday celebrated by Christians around the world to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, the son of God. Religious celebrations involve candle-lit wreaths to represent the four weeks of Advent, songs like “O Come O Come Emmanuel,” readings of Christmas stories in the Bible, the display of Nativity Scenes, and December 24th Midnight mass in darkness to celebrate the birth of light. Over the years, Christmas has been adopted by non-Christian peoples as a secular holiday of gift-giving, decorating, caroling, storytelling, and feasting. Traditions vary around the world.  Evergreen trees decorated with ornaments and lights date back to 16thCentury Germany. In Australia, where Christmas falls during summer, people head out to the beach and decorate a Christmas Bush. Depictions of Father Christmas or Santa Claus, based loosely on Saint Nicholas, go back at least as far as the reign of Henry VIII, where he appeared in plays wearing fur-lined green or red robes to deliver peace, joy, food, wine, and good cheer. Some say Santa arrives on Christmas Eve in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer to deliver gifts to good girls and boys, but he arrives by boat in Hawaii and on water skis in Australia. Instead of leaving milk and cookies out for Santa Claus, children in England leave mince pies and brandy for Father Christmas. Iceland has thirteen Santas known as Yule Lads who leave small gifts for good children in shoes left on the window sill, and potatoes in the shoes of naughty children. From lantern festivals in the Philippines and Kentucky Fried Chicken dinners in Japan, to 42-foot-tall straw yule goats in Sweden and late night fireworks in Brazil, there is no shortage of ways to observe Christmas around the world.  

Kwanzaa (December 26, 2019 – January 1, 2020)

Kwanzaa is a relatively young holiday created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 following the Watts riots in Los Angeles. He wanted to reconnect African Americans to African culture roots, borrowing traditions from Swahili “first fruit” harvest celebrations. Celebrations include song, dance, drumming, storytelling, poetry reading, and feasts. On each of the seven nights, a child lights a candle on the Kinara to represent the seven principle values of African culture: Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith. Though it is celebrated mostly in America, more than 20 million people now celebrate the holiday from Jamaica, London, and South Africa, to Ghana, Toronto, and Paris — as seen in the documentary “The Black Candle.” 

Boxing Day (December 26, 2019)

The observation of Boxing Day originated in the United Kingdom during the Middle Ages as a day where the church collection boxes for the poor were distributed to communities. Servants were given the day off to celebrate Christmas with their families. Boxing Day is now a public holiday in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, where mail carriers and trade professionals enjoy a day of rest. For retail workers, Boxing Day is the busiest shopping day of the year, due to post-Christmas sales. In Ireland, they celebrate St. Stephen’s Day. In the Bahamas, the Junkanoo street parade and festival is held on Boxing Day. Not only is it a popular day of continued celebration and shopping, but also sport – with horse races, soccer matches, and ice hockey contests in European nations.  

Ōmisoka (December 31, 2019)

Japan’s New Year’s Eve called Ōmisoka is considered one of the most important days of the year. Families visit shrines or temples at midnight for joya-no-kane, the striking of large cast bells for each of the 108 earthly desires that cause human suffering. Families gather to enjoy a feast of soba or udon noodles for one last time in the old year. Homes are cleaned and de-cluttered from top to bottom in osoji (the big cleaning). Many people also look forward to the national broadcast of the Red vs. White Singing Competition, which is akin to our “American Idol” competition.

Hogmanay (December 31, 2019)

During the Protestant Reformation, Christmas was banned in Scotland for some 400 years, so prior to 1958, the biggest winter holiday was Hogmanay, which started on December 31stand spilled over into the New Year. Families gathered for bonfires, large feasts, and the cleaning out of the fireplace. Many people still recognize the ancient tradition of “first-footing,” where it is believed the household is presented with good fortune when the first person to cross the threshold is a dark-haired male. (In those days, a red or blonde-haired stranger was probably an invading Norseman!) Different parts of Scotland have their own quaint Hogmanay traditions as well. For instance, Edinburgh is home to a huge street party and torchlight processions; balls of fire swing through the fishing village of Stonehaven; and fancy-dressed partiers swim in the icy waters of  Firth of Forth at South Queensferry in what is called “the Loony Dook.” 

New Year’s Eve (December 31, 2019)

“Out with the old and in with the new” is the idea behind the celebration of New Year’s Eve. Since New Year’s Day is a public holiday, the night before is spent feasting, partying, and ringing in the New Year at midnight. Most countries celebrate New Year’s Eve with fireworks – with the largest displays in New York’s Times Square; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Sydney, Australia; London, England; Edinburgh, Scotland; and Dubai, UAE. In Spain, 12 grapes are eaten at midnight to represent each month of the New Year. In Denmark, old plates and glasses are broken against the doors of friends and family to banish bad spirits. In Columbia, three “fortune-telling” potatoes are placed under the bed and pulled out at midnight – one peeled (financial problems), one unpeeled (abundance), and one half-peeled (something in between). In Ecuador, families symbolically burn a straw man at midnight in hopes that their faults with disappear with him. In Canada, New Year’s Eve is a popular ice-fishing day. 

No matter what you’re celebrating this holiday season, you can find a place at Shine. We foster natural curiosity about cultures from around the world through crafts, storytelling, music, and culinary delights. Contact us to learn more about our wide range of inclusive workshops, classes, parties, and enrichment activities. 

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