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Anita Ganeri
Educafion aufhor
In this introduction, Anita Ganeri offers some
helpful pointers to choosing and teaching festivals
I
n every religious tradition, festivals play a vital role.
They are times of celebration and commemoration,
which bring religious communities together. Festivals
provide an accessible way of introducing RE to young
children. Yet teaching a festival can seem a daunting
prospect, especially when faced with unfamiliar
cultural dos and donts. The following checklist aims to provide
helpful pointers to choosing and teaching festivals.
)NUUYOTM_U[XLKYZO\GR
The fesfivals in fhis selecfion have been chosen fo give a
good mix. Some are marked locally, ofhers are celebrafed
all over fhe world. You do nof have fo choose a large, well-
known fesfival. 'Smaller' fesfivals, such as Sf Andrew's Day
and Twelffh Nighf, are jusf as inferesfing and colourful as fhe
'larger' celebrafions.
Pick a fesfival fhaf corresponds fo fhe fime of
year. (The ones over fhe nexf few pages are
aufumn and winfer fesfivals.) This will
make if easier for children fo make
fhe link fo fhe calendar. Nofe fhaf
some fesfivals, for example Eid ul Fifr,
are based on a lunar calendar so vary
from year fo year. Ofhers have 6xed
dafes when fhey occur.
Whichever fesfival you choose, begin
by comparing special fimes in a child's
life, such as birfhdays, fo fhe special
fimes marked by fesfivals. This fheme can
be exfended when you are exploring how
fesfivals (and birfhdays) are celebrafed.
Nofe fhaf some fesfivals are fhe
birfhdays of religious leaders, for
insfance Guru Nanak's birfhday.
Research fhe fesfival you
choose on fhe infernef and
in reference books. |deally,
fry fo visif a local place of
worship af a fesfival fime.
As wifh mosf fhings, if
helps fo see a fesfival
'in acfion'. Videos and
DVDs will help fo
recreafe fhe fesfival
afmosphere.
Festivals
)KRKHXGZOTM
Many fesfivals have an associafed sfory, which provides
fhe ideal 'way in'. (The fesfival of Eid ul Fifr does nof have
one overall sfory alfhough you can link if fo a discussion of
Ramadan, fhe Muslim monfh of fasfing.) Source a simple
version of fhe sfory, ideally wifh illusfrafions. This can become
fhe main focus of your acfivifies.
Find various ways of refelling fhe sfory. For insfance,
children can make posfers, sforybooks and play scripfs, design
cosfumes or masks, and acf ouf fhe sfory. As fhe children
prepare fo acf ouf fhe sfory, discuss how fhey fhink fheir
characfers would feel and behave.
Many fesfivals have arfefacfs linked fo fhem, which provide
a good focus for discussion. Choose arfefacfs fhaf symbolise a
key belief, for example fhe nine-branched candlesfick used af
Hanukkah direcfly re6ecfs fhe sfory behind fhe fesfival. Link
fhe arfefacfs fo objecfs fhaf mighf have special memories
or signi6cance fo fhe children, such as holiday
souvenirs. Children should learn fhaf arfefacfs
should always be freafed wifh respecf.
Ofher aspecfs associafed wifh many
fesfivals include. food, cards and music ~ all of
which have possibilifies for acfivifies. Fesfival
food in parficular has special symbolism
affached, which reinforces fhe
RE focus.
:KGINOTM
When feaching abouf fesfivals, fhe RE focus
needs fo concenfrafe on fhe symbolism behind
fhe rifuals, arfefacfs, cosfume and food
associafed wifh fhem. |f is imporfanf
fo emphasise fhaf fesfivals are nof
simply fimes fo have fun, buf
are special days fo followers
of a parficular religion.
Again, linking fhis fo how
children feel on fheir
birfhdays can help fo reinforce
fhe poinf.
|f possible, arrange for a member
of fhe faifh fo visif your school
fo falk abouf fhe fesfival, whaf
if means fo fhem and how fhey
celebrafe. Celebrafions offen vary
widely befween differenf groups
and in differenf counfries.
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Festivals
2 October
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December January November
T
he aim of these articles is to create a balance between learning
about and learning from religion, while inspiring children to
ask questions about the world as they and others experience it.
The activities seek to illustrate the distinctive nature of each
festival, to extend the childrens repertoire of the beliefs and
rituals inherent in celebrations, and to give them opportunities
Lo reecL on LIeIr responses und ceIebruLIons In LIeIr own IIves.
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www.schoIastic.co.uklchiIdedpIus SEFTEMEEF 2008 SEFTEMEEF 2008 13
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Y
om Kippur is the most
important holiday
in the Jewish year.
It is the great Day of
Atonement, a day set
aside for fasting and
penitence, to seek the forgiveness
of God for the sins of the year.
However, sins against others, of
unkindness, spite and theft, cannot
be uLoned Ior wILIouL hrsL guInIng
the forgiveness of those who have
been hurt. So on Erev Yom Kippur,
the day before Yom Kippur, Jews
visit or call those whose forgiveness
they seek. A ceremony is performed
to symbolise the crying out of the
people for forgiveness. Special
prayers are recited, and many people
use a white cloth and wrap within it
a gift of money for charity further
demonstrating their penitence
and performing a mitzvah or kind
act. A mitzvah is also the following
of a commandment, in this case to
honour the day of Atonement. So
Jewish people have a feast specially
prepared as a sign of reverence, as
well as to fortify themselves before
the following day.
9G_OTMYUXX_IGXJY
D|scJss doa||n w|i| i|o d|cJ|i oo||ns
o |Jri. rosonimoni. rojoci|on and roroi
w|on somoono |s Jn||nd. and a|so |ow
ood |i oo|s w|on |appy ro|ai|ons||ps
aro rosiorod. Ta|| aboJi i|o nood or
or|vonoss and or|v|n. i|ai i||s ioo |s
d|cJ|i io copo w|i| somoi|mos.
lnv|io i|o c|||dron io ma|o and |vo a
card io somoono rom w|om i|oy m||i
soo| or|vonoss. T|o card coJ|d bo a
dos|n o i|o|r c|o|co or i|o 'sorry and
'or|von acos soon on i|o cards |oro.
To ma|o i|o card. o|d a s|ooi o A4
papor |nio qJariors. Uno|d and roo|d
ono |on s|do |nio i|o coniro o|d. CJi a
crosconi s|apo (a |owor pari o i|o aco)
on i|ai croaso iowards i|o |owor pari o
i|o qJarior. Foo|d i|o papor bac| |nio
qJariors and draw a sorry |oo||n aco on
i|o oJis|do abovo i|o cJi som|c|rc|o. so
i|ai i|o cJi orms a c||n. Fo|d Jp i|o som|
c|rcJ|ar ap and draw a |appy aco on i|o
|ns|do o i|o card. w|i||n i|o cJi |a|c|rc|o.
Comp|oio i|o p|ciJro w|i| i|o Jppor pari
o i|o aco on o|dodbac| papor.
EncoJrao i|o c|||dron io |vo i|o
card io somoono i|oy |avo |Jri io say
sorry and as| or or|vonoss. Ta|| aboJi
i|o oo||ns oxpor|oncod on |v|n and
roco|v|n i|o cards.
'YZUX_LUX+XK\?US1OVV[X
8 October
62;9accompanying
phofocopiables can be
downloaded from www.
schoIastic.co.uklchiIdedpIus
They are free, buf don'f forgef fhaf you
need fo regisfer on our websife 6rsf!
.G\KGVGXZ_
Ho|d a pariy io |vo i|an|s or r|onds||p.
EncoJrao i|o c|||dron io i||n| o ways io
ma|o i|o Josis oo| roa||y comoriab|o and
onjoy i|omso|vos. Havo a i|omo o lnd|an
ood io oxp|oro i|o iypos o oods i|ai
woJ|d bo irad|i|ona||y oaion ai E|d. Try i|o
o||ow|n roc|pos (|nrod|onis and coo||n
|nsirJci|ons can bo oJnd on||no ai www.
schoIastic.co.uklchiIdedpIus).
9]KKZY
T|oso iasiy iroais can bo mado |n var|oJs avoJrs and s|apos accord|n io i|o c|||drons
iasios. Sorvo ai a co|obrai|on or pJi |nio sma|| boxos io bo |von as |is.
=KJNSO
T||s |s a irad|i|ona| E|d d|s|. li |s JsJa||y mado w|i| siron p|a|n oJr doJ|. w||c| |s
s|apod |nio sma|| pasi|os w|i| coconJi |||n. T|o odos aro iJrnod and iw|siod io soa| |n
i|o |||n.
3KTJNONGTJY
\|||o noi a irad|i|ona| d|s|. i||s |s a Jn aci|v|iy i|ai a||ows c|||dron io bo|n io approc|aio
i|o ro|o o |nir|caio dos|n |n ls|am. T|o c|||dron can ma|o a |and s|apo oJi o coo||o
doJ| and docoraio |i w|i| Mond|| paiiorns Js|n rod. orano. brown or b|ac| |c|n.
E
id ul Fitr is a
celebration lasting
up to three days
which joyfully marks
the end of Ramadan,
a month-long period
of fasting, prayer and pilgrimage. It is
a time of happiness and thanksgiving
for the many blessings of Allah, not
least for the strength to have self-
control in a month of self-denial. It
is a time to make amends for any
wrongdoings or unkindness, and to
restore and cherish relationships.
Families travel to be together and
assert their identity as families,
communities and a religious group.
Efforts are made to ensure that all
the community are cared for and
included. At the sighting of the new
moon over Mecca the celebration
begins; prayers are said and the fast
is broken. There are often street
processions and parties. New clothes
are worn for the celebration of special
meals and parties. Children look
forward to receiving gifts and money.
=GZINOTMLUX
ZNK3UUT
Exp|oro i|o |mporianco o i|o Moon
or i|oso w|o ||vo |n i|o Arab siaios
and |avo a nomad|c and pasiora|
||siory. For nomad|c poop|o i|o sJn
|s an onomy. scorc||n i|o |and and
dopr|v|n i|om o pasiJro. T|o Moon
|s i|o|r r|ond and a||y. |v|n |||i and
dow |n i|o coo| o i|o ovon|n. and
J|d|n i|om w|on iravo|||n across
dosoris i|ai woJ|d bo ioo |oi io cross
dJr|n i|o day.
F|nd oJi aboJi i|o p|asos o i|o
Moon. lnv|io c|||dron io |ma|no w|ai
|i |s |||o io wa|i or i|o now Moon.
\|ai co|obrai|ons do i|oy oaor|y
awa|i and |ow do i|oy |now w|on
i|oy aro com|n C|||dron can Jso a
rano o mod|a io ma|o a n||ii|mo
p|ciJro. (T|o NASA K|ds C|Jb |s a
br||||ani soJrco o |normai|on and Jn
aci|v|i|os v|s|i www.nasa.govl
audiencelforkids)
T|oro |s a asc|nai|n siory aboJi
MJ|ammad i|ai comos rom i|o
SJnna| boo|s roorr|n io i|o Jran
54.1. T|ai woJ|d comp|omoni and add
a sp|r|iJa| d|mons|on io yoJr Moon
wor|. V|s|i i|o )NORJ+J62;9 wobs|io io
down|oad a vors|on o i|o siory. 'T|o
M|rac|o o FasJ|A||a|.
3UXKXKIOVKYIGTHKLU[TJGZ
http:llfestivaIs.iIoveindia.comlid-uI-trlrecipes.htmI
http:llasiarecipe.comlafgramadan.htmI
www.soundvision.comlInfolrecipeslmideasteid.asp
www.bbc.co.uklfoodlnews_and_eventslevents_eid.shtmI
T|o c|||dron may |||o io pJi iooi|or a
s|arod moa| or p|cn|c i|ai |nc|Jdos ood o
s|n|canco io i|om. C|rc|o i|mo coJ|d ocJs
on ai|or|n rom|n|sconcos and |doas or
ood rom i|o c|||dron. w||c| coJ|d i|on bo
s|arod w|i| anoi|or c|ass.
T||s siory. w||c| can bo down|oadod rom
www.schoIastic.co.uklchiIdedpIus
|onds |iso| wo|| io bo|n roio|d Js|n
pJppois. T|oy can orm a crowd and as|
qJosi|ons. sJc| as 'ls i|o s| wori| |i
\|y o io a|| i||s oori jJsi or a moa|
Festivals
30 November
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November
December January October
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www.schoIastic.co.uklchiIdedpIus SEFTEMEEF 2008 SEFTEMEEF 2008 15
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G
uru Nanak was the
founder of Sikhism.
The traditions of
Sikhs today are
based upon his
teachings and upon
the Sikh Gurus who came after him.
Following a day of processions,
and music leading to prayers and
festivities at the Gurdwara (the
Sikh place of worship), the day
of celebration of the Gurus birth
begins with prayer. Then there is a
recitation of hymns, many of which
were written by the Guru himself
and which are now collected in the
Guru Granth Sahib. The recitations
and prayers may continue for most
of the day. They tell of Guru Nanaks
life and beliefs, and offer praise and
worship to God. There is also a time
of sharing the sweet Kara Prashad,
a blessed food symbolising the
sweetness of Gods name.
:NKHOXZNUL-[X[4GTGQ
li |s sa|d i|ai w|on CJrJ Nana| was born.
|nsioad o cry|n as many bab|os do. |o
|ay |app||y |n ||s moi|ors arms. T|o siory
coni|nJos i|ai i|oro was d|scJss|on aboJi
Nana|s namo bo|n Jsod as a namo
by boi| H|ndJs and MJs||ms. T|o w|so
man nam|n i|o c|||d rop||od i|ai Nana|
woJ|d r|so abovo i|oso d|si|nci|ons and bo
wors||ppod by poop|o rom a|| irad|i|ons.
Nana|s paronis |ovod ||m doar|y. EJi
as i|o many sior|os aboJi ||s c|||d|ood
io||. as |o row Jp i|oro woro i|mos
w|on i|o|r pai|onco and Jndorsiand|n
woro iosiod. no day. Nana|s ai|or
avo Nana| somo monoy io bJy somo
s|opp|n |n i|o noarosi iown. Nana|
roiJrnod w|i| noi||n. Ho |ad sponi i|o
monoy on ood or somo poop|o |o |ad
moi w|o woro siarv|n. H|s ai|or was
vory cross. bJi Nana|s moi|or roa||sod
i|ai i||s s|owod jJsi |ow romar|ab|o |or
son was.
\|i| i|o omp|as|s on mJs|c |n i|o S|||
irad|i|on. oncoJrao i|o c|||dron io wr|io
a p|oco o mJs|c io co|obraio i|o b|ri| o
a baby. lnv|io i|om io nd oJi aboJi i|o|r
own namos and d|scovor |ow S||| bab|os
aro |von i|o|r namo. T|oy may onjoy
ma||n i|o|r own namo p|aqJos (soo
oxamp|os abovo).
9ZUXOKYOTS[YOI
13 November
:NKIGRROTMULZNKJOYIOVRKY
Fo||ow|n a d|scJss|on aboJi w|ai a sa|ni may bo. |oad |nio
i|o siory o i|o ca|||n o i|o d|sc|p|os. Aior mooi|n w|i|
}osJs. d|scJss |ow Androws ||o was iJrnod aroJnd rom
bo|n a s|orman io a d|sc|p|o io a c|Jrc| |oador. io a C|r|si|an
porsocJiod and ovoniJa||y dy|n or ||s a|i|. T||s |s a siory o a ||o
c|anod by a|i|. As| i|o c|||dron. =N_JU_U[ZNOTQ'TJXK]]GY
SGJKGYGOTZ%.U]JOJ'TJXK]QTU]]NGZZUJUOTNOYROLK%=NU
ZKRRY_U[]NGZZUJUOT_U[XROLK%=NGZINGTMKYNG\KZGQKTVRGIKOT
_U[XROLKYULGX%/YZNKXKGT_ZNOTM_U[]U[RJROQKZUINGTMK%=NGZ
]U[RJ_U[ROQKZUHKIUSK%
S|ow i|o c|||dron |ow io ma|o a concori|na boo| (soo bo|ow)
|||Jsirai|n i|o|r ||o so ar and w|ai i|oy woJ|d |||o io |appon.
I
n St Matthews Gospel 4:18,
Andrew is remembered as
LIe hrsL dIscIpIe cIosen by
Jesus. He wus u hsIermun
from Bethsaida in Galilee,
along with his brother Simon
(later Peter), and dedicated his life
to God and the proclamation of the
Christian Gospel as predicted in Mark
1:16. Andrews life and contribution
to Christianity is celebrated each year
on o November. He wus crucIhed
like his Lord and master and chose,
according to legend, an x-shaped
cross, feeling that he was unworthy
to die in the same way as Jesus. This
has become the emblem of St Andrew
and, as he is Scotlands patron saint,
the cross is emblazoned on the
nuLIon`s ug. He Is uIso LIe puLron
suInL oI RussIu und hsIermen.
'IXUYYLUX'TJXK]
}Jsi as i|oy |ad ros|siod i|o mossao o }osJs. so somo poop|o |n
pos|i|ons o powor d|dni wani io |oar w|ai Androw |ad io say.
As a rosJ|i |o was crJc|od. bJi |oond doscr|bos |ow Androw
o|i |o was Jnwori|y io d|o on a cross |||o ||s masior. so |o d|od
on an xs|apod woodon cross.
Exam|no a co||oci|on o crossos w|i| i|o c|||dron. Loo| or
crossos |n i|o onv|ronmoni and on i|o s|y||no. As| w|y i|oy
aro i|oro w|ai do i|oy rom|nd poop|o o \|y do poop|o Jso
symbo|s |||o i||s \|ai do yoJ |avo or woar io s|ow w|ai yoJ
bo||ovo or i||n| |s |mporiani
EncoJrao i|o c|||dron io |oo| aroJnd |n i|o onv|ronmoni and.
| poss|b|o. v|s|i a |oca| c|Jrc|. A|iornai|vo|y. |nv|io a C|r|si|an w|o
woars a cross io como and io|| i|o c|||dron w|y i|oy woar |i.
F|nd a rano o crossos or i|o c|||dron io oxam|no. and
c|a||ono i|om io croaio i|o|r own cross paiiorns or docoraiod
crossos. T|oso may bo o a mai|omai|ca| dos|n or i|oso o a
moro porsona| naiJro. T|oro aro somo |niorosi|n oxamp|os ai
www.ecva.orglehibitionlcrosslpageslgaIIery.htmI
A conira| o|omoni io S||| wors||p |s i|o
roc|iai|on o i|o CJrJ Crani| Sa||b and
oi|or s|n|n and mJs|c o pra|so. TroasJrod
sior|os ioac||n aboJi Cod and roca|||n
|oy ovonis |n S||| ||siory aro io|d i|roJ|
i|o mJs|c and s|n|n. T||s |s an |doa| i|mo
or c|||dron io nd oJi aboJi oi|or sior|os
io|d i|roJ| mJs|c. Somo sior|os woJ|d bo
cons|dorod sacrod and Jsod |n wors||p. sJc|
as Eonjam|n Er|iions 9Z4OIURGY)GTZGZG
+ROPGN by Mondo|sso|n and por|aps i|o
mosi wo|| |nown. Hando|s 3KYYOGN. i|or
sior|os io|d i|roJ| mJs|c aro i|oso i|ai.
ovor i|o yoars poop|o onjoy and w||c| |ond
i|omso|vos io roio|||n |n i||s way. sJc| as
:NK9UXIKXKXY'VVXKTZOIK by FaJ| DJ|as.
Fro|oovs 6KZKXGTJZNK=URL. and i|o
rano o sior|os io|d |n Tc|a||ovs|ys ba||oi
mJs|c. Loi i|o c|||dron ||sion io oxamp|os
o i||s mJs|c. and cons|dor w|ai sior|os o
i|o|r own i|oy wani io io||. T|oy may |||o
io s|aro mJs|c |n c|rc|o i|mo |n rosponso io
i|o qJosi|on /LS[YOIZURJZNKYZUX_UL_U[X
ROLK]NGZS[YOI]U[RJ_U[ROQKZNGZZUHK%
Festivals
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December
January November October
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T
his annual Jewish
festival was
established by
Judas Maccabaeus
in 164BCE. Its aim
was to ensure that
Jews would remember the triumph
of the rebel Maccabees, and the
miracle of the enduring light that
followed when they rededicated the
desecrated temple in Jerusalem.
Hanukkah is not recorded in the
Jewish canon and is a minor festival,
but has developed into a major
event to celebrate the spiritual
survival of the Jews. The focus of
the eight-day celebration is the
lighting of eight or nine candles on
a traditional branched candlestick.
As a festival this characterises
the central role history can play
In IuILI, und cIuIIenges reecLIon
upon the question What is worth
remembering?
)GTJRKYLUXXKSKSHKXOTM
Ma|o yoJr own cand|os io Jso |n a coromony o
romombor|n. To ma|o i|o cand|os yoJ w||| nood.
wax (o|i|or rom o|d cand|os or wax p|ocos rom a
crai s|op). p|ay doJ| or moJ|ds. i|n o||. o|d cand|os.
saJcopan w|i| a can or bow| |ns|do or doJb|o bo||or.
Cand|os o var|oJs s|zos can bo mado Js|n i|n o||
wrappod roJnd an o|d cand|o. FJs| i|o o||wrappod
cand|o |nio somo p|ay doJ| io ma|o a moJ|d. Loavo
somo o|| ovor|an|n io ma|o romova| oas|or.
Fomovo i|o cand|o so i|ai jJsi i|o o|| s|apo
roma|ns |n i|o doJ|.
\ax can bo mo|iod. o|i|or |n a bow| or i|n |n a
saJcopan ovor |ow |oai. or |n a doJb|o bo||or. T|on
poJr i|o ||qJ|d wax |nio i|o moJ|d.
Add a p|oco o sir|n or a w|c| and |oavo i|o w|o|o
i||n io coo|.
nco i|o wax |as coo|od. romovo rom i|o moJ|d
and poo| o i|o o||. l i|o o|| |s romovod w|on i|o
cand|o |s a ||ii|o soi. owors and s|o||s can bo oni|y
pJs|od |nio i|o soi wax.
L||i i|o cand|os and |o|d a poacoJ| c|rc|o i|mo or
assomb|y.
Uso i|o i|mo
io rooci
and cons|dor
roasons or
co|obrai|ons
and i|o
|appy i|mos
i|o c|||dron
|avo |ad.
6RG_OTIKRKHXGZOUT
Ma|o dro|do|s oJi o card and s|ori ponc||s (as |n i|o oxamp|o s|own |oro)
Js|n i|o symbo|s bo|ow. Dro|do|s como |n var|oJs orms. a|| o w||c| |avo
oJr s|dos or acos Jpon w||c| |s d|sp|ayod oJr Croo| |oiiors.
T|oso orm an acronym i|ai moans 'A roai m|rac|o |apponod i|oro. li |s
bo||ovod i|o amo or||naiod as a way o d|sJ|s|n i|o siJdy|n o i|o Tora|.
CroJps w|o moi io siJdy woJ|d soi |oo|oJis w|o woJ|d p|ay i||s |nnoconi
|oo||n amo w|||o oi|ors wor|od. and i|on a|ori i|om | Croo| so|d|ors
camo. Eoo|s and wr|i|n woJ|d bo qJ|c||y ||ddon and i|o iops Jsod io |oo|
|||o a orm o amb||n.
.U]ZUVRG_ZNKMGSK
Eac| p|ayor |as an amoJni o coJniors (swoois or monoy) |nown
as 'o|i. and i|oro |s a conira| poi o i||s ioo. F|ayors ia|o |i |n
iJrns io sp|n i|o dro|do|. l |i |ands on NJn i|o p|ayor ois
noi||n. | |i |ands on Hoy i|o p|ayor ois |a| o w|ai
|s |n i|o poi. | |i |ands on C|mo| i|o p|ayor w|ns
a|| o i|o poi. and | |i |ands on S||n i|o p|ayor
pJis ono p|oco o o|i |nio i|o poi. T|o amo
coni|nJos Jni|| i|oro |s no o|i |oi |n i|o poi.
An |nioraci|vo vors|on o i|o do|do| amo |s
ava||ab|o ai www.torahtots.comlhoIidaysl
chanukaldreideI.htm
2229 December
:NKYZUX_UL
ZNK([JJNG
S|aro i|o siory o i|o EJdd|a and ||s
on|||ionmoni Jndor i|o Eod|| iroo.
D|scJss w|i| i|o c|||dron w|y i|o EJdd|a
noodod io s|i |||o |o d|d io mod|iaio. \|ai
d|d |o wani io |now aboJi EJdd||sis
bo||ovo i|ai i|o EJdd|a camo io |now
aboJi i|o caJsos o Jn|app|noss and
sJor|n |n i|o wor|d and w|ai
can bo dono aboJi |i. H|s |doas
aro o||owod by poop|o ca||od
EJdd||sis.
lnv|io i|o c|||dron io i||n|
aboJi i|o o||ow|n.
\|ai sori o i||ns do yoJ
|now
\|oro do yoJ o w|on yoJ
wani io i||n| caroJ||y or
|ard aboJi somoi||n
\|ai sori o
i||ns or doc|s|ons
nood i||n||n aboJi
caroJ||y |||o i|ai
EncoJrao i|o
c|||dron io rocord.
o|i|or |n p|ciJros
or words. w|ai
i|oy i||n| aro i|o
mosi |mporiani
i||ns i|oy
|now.
A
fter an earlier life in
u sIeILered, uIuenL
upbringing, the
young Siddhartha
Gautama spent six
years wandering
in search of spiritual understanding
and the meaning of life. One day in
need of rest, he came to sit beneath a
Bodhi tree. (The word Bodhi means
to awaken and Buddha means to
awake.) According to Mahayana
tradition, Siddhartha Gautama vowed
that he would remain there until
he had achieved the understanding
he sought. He sat there for a week,
and on the eighth morning came
to the realisation which became
the founding principles of what the
modern world calls Buddhism. This
enlightenment is encapsulated in The
Four Noble Truths, which the Buddha
LIen reveuIed Lo IIs hrsL IoIIowers.
Bodhi Day is the celebration of this
event. From this point on Siddhartha
Gautama was known as the Buddha
the awakened one.
'VRGIK
ZUZNOTQ
T||s aci|v|iy may bo
Jndoria|on as a s|n|o ovoni.
or bo pari o a comm|iiod
approac| io |o|p|n c|||dron
dovo|op s||||s io a|n |nnor
si|||noss. so|awaronoss.
and ocJs. and Js|n i|o|r
|ma|nai|on |n a mod|iai|vo
way. T|o s||||s |nvo|vod
s|oJ|d bo dovo|opod
ovor a por|od o i|mo
or max|mJm ooci.
T|o approac| osiors an awaronoss and va|J|n o i|o |nnor ||o w||c|. w|||o
|ard io doscr|bo. can bo a soJrco o wondor. croai|v|iy and joy.
Eo|n by |o|p|n i|o c|||dron io s|i |n a comoriab|o pos|i|on. lnv|io i|om io
c|oso i|o|r oyos and ro|ax. Loi i|o |anJao yoJ Jso bo oni|o and ioniai|vo io
a||ow c|||dron io c|ooso |ow i|oy w|s| io rospond. Exp|a|n i|ai i|oy aro
o|n or a wa|| |n i|o|r m|nd io somow|oro i|oy w||| bo sao and ab|o
io ro|ax. li |s a p|aco i|ai |s Jn|qJo. ioia||y i|o|rs and a|ways i|oro or
i|om | i|oy woJ|d |||o io o i|oro. lnv|io i|o c|||dron io ro|ax and
bo awaro o i|o|r broai||n. T|on road oJi i|o sJppori|n scr|pi
(ava||ab|o io down|oad rom www.schoIastic.co.uklchiIdedpIus)
or Jso |i io dovo|op ono o yoJr own.
nco yoJr scr|pi |s ovor. |vo i|o c|||dron i|mo io roor|oniaio
i|omso|vos. Fom|nd i|om i|ai i|o p|aco |s a|ways i|oro or i|om
io roiJrn io | i|oy woJ|d |||o io. lnv|io i|o c|||dron io draw or
wr|io any i|oJ|is. |doas or p|ciJros i|oy |ad |n i|o|r |oads.
T|oy may |||o io |oop i|oso io i|omso|vos or i|oy coJ|d bo
moJniod on papor |oavos and d|sp|ayod on i|o wa|| (soo
oxamp|os abovo).
4[T .K_ -OSKR 9NOT
Festivals
26 January
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Louise Tallem
Teacher and freelance wrifer
January
December November October
www.schoIastic.co.uklchiIdedpIus

www.schoIastic.co.uklchiIdedpIus SEFTEMEEF 2008 SEFTEMEEF 2008 19
F
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s
t
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s RE
1S
T
he Christmas story is
sometimes presented
as an end in itself
rather than as the
beginning of an
ongoing story. Twelfth
night marks the end of Christmas
festivities, as decorations are put
away until the next year. Yet it is also
the eve of Epiphany, when much of
the Christian world recalls the visit of
the Magi to Jesus. Epiphany means
to show or make manifest. What
is made visible is the revelation of
God through Jesus to the non-Jewish
world. The Christian church calendar
celebrates Christmas then moves on
through Epiphany and follows the
life of Jesus and his disciples and the
subsequent growth of the Church,
celebrated throughout the year.
+VOVNGT_
As| i|o c|||dron w|ai i|oy roca|| o i|o C|r|simas
siory. Exp|a|n i|ai a|i|oJ| i|o siory aboJi i|o
\|so Mon |s oion io|d ai C|r|simas. many poop|o
i||n| aboJi i|om and co|obraio i|o|r v|s|i io }osJs
GLZKXC|r|simas. T||s co|obrai|on ia|os p|aco as
i|o C|r|simas docorai|ons aro pJi away. lndood.
i|o iwo|i| n||i aior }osJs b|ri| |s a i|mo io |oo|
orward io w|ai |apponod noxi.
As a c|ass. nd oJi aboJi i|oso 'w|so mon.
\|oro d|d i|oy como rom. and w|y How
m||i i|oy |avo mado i|o|r joJrnoy \|ai woro
i|o|r |is and w|y d|d i|oy br|n i|om T|o |is
woro c|oson or somoono vory spoc|a|. o|d or
a ||n. ran||nconso or somoono w|o s|oJ|d bo
|onoJrod and wors||pod. and myrr| io ano|ni
and porJmo a body |n doai|. A|| i|oso |is woro
vory va|Jab|o and may |avo boon irad|i|ona| or
somoono o |mporianco.
As a c|rc|o i|mo aci|v|iy. ia|| aboJi C|r|simas
|is. \||c| o i|o c|||drons |is |avo |asiod
\||c| woro i|o bosi \|o |||od i|o|r |i i|o bosi
\||c| |is |asi i|o |onosi. maybo ovon orovor
SJosi i|ai i|o c|||dron draw or wr|io i|o namo
o i|o|r avoJr|io |i on a papor |oari and on i|o
oi|or s|do wr|io i|o namo o i|o porson w|o avo
|i io i|om. lnv|io i|o c|||dron io pJi i|o papor
|oaris |n a box o |ovo. io oxpross rocon|i|on o i|o
oo||ns i|ai |is can roprosoni. Add oi|or words.
sJc| as QOTJTKYY and MKTKXUYOZ_. io i|o oJis|do o
i|o box io oxiond i|o c|||drons roporio|ro o words
io doscr|bo i|o oo||ns oxprossod |n |i |v|n.
(GHU[YNQG
T||s |s an opporiJn|iy io draw Jpon i|o c|||drons |oarn|n aboJi C|r|simas
aior i|o ovoni and pJi |i |nio a w|dor. moro moan|nJ| conioxi |n iorms
o i|o C|r|si|an irad|i|on. li can |n|i|aio |doas aboJi |ow i|o sior|os o }osJs
sproad and w|ai |i |s aboJi i|om i|ai poop|o wani io romombor.
Siari by roio|||n i|o siory o EaboJs||a (a ood roio|||n can bo oJnd ai
www.bbc.co.uklcbeebieslstorieslworIdlbaboushka.shtmI). and
Jso a soi o FJss|an do||s io soi i|o scono. Exp|a|n io i|o c|||dron |ow nows
iravo||od ai i|o i|mo i|o siory or||naiod. C|a||ono i|om io nd a way io
commJn|caio i|o siory w|i|oJi i|o wr|iion word. or oxamp|o Js|n pJppois.
m|mo. aci|n. danco or p|ciJros. Ho|p i|o c|||dron io approc|aio |ow. |n ora|
irad|i|on. var|ai|on occJrs and i|Js o||ia|os dovo|op. no aci|v|iy c|||dron w|||
onjoy |s io ma|o a sor|os o nosi|n cono EaboJs||a do||s. |||o i|o onos s|own
|oro. Uso sovora| d|oronis|zod c|rc|os cJi. |||Jsiraiod and i|on mado |nio
conos w||c| can i ovor oac| oi|or.
5 January
:NK8KJ2OUT*GTIK
no o i|o dramai|c sior|os io|d io c|||dron ai Now Yoar |n C||na |s i|o siory o i|o Fod
L|on io road a vors|on o |i v|s|i www.schoIastic.co.uklchiIdedpIus
F|nd oJi w|ai a day o co|obrai|on woJ|d bo |||o ai C||noso Now Yoar. Many o i|o
docorai|ons mado or i|o osi|va| Jso irad|i|ona| say|ns io w|s| poop|o wo|| |n i|o
com|n yoar. sJc| as. 'SJccoss |n a|| ondoavoJrs. 'May yoJ |avo
poaco and |oa|i| |n oJr soasons. 'May yoJr
|app|noss bo as w|do as i|o soa and
'May a|| yoJr com|ns and o|ns bo
poacoJ|. T|o rooi|n o 'KJn |o|
ai c|oy moans 'Happy Now Yoar and
ombod|os i|o vo b|oss|ns o |Jc|.
ood. |on ||o. |oa|i| and poaco.
D|scJss w|i| i|o c|||dron w|ai i|oso
w|s|os roa||y moan. Ai osi|va|s and i|mos
o co|obrai|on poop|o oion oxc|ano
rooi|ns or sond rooi|ns cards. As|
i|o c|||dron w|ai sori o rooi|ns i|oy
sond or roco|vo. and ma|o a co||oci|on
o rooi|ns cards. Ai i|o bo|nn|n o
a now yoar. w|ai woJ|d i|o c|||dron
w|s| or i|oso i|oy |ovo and caro or Maybo
i|oy woJ|d |||o io oxpross i|oso oo||ns as a
spoc|a| |opo. Er|n a branc| |nio i|o room
or pa|ni ono as a d|sp|ay. lnv|io i|o c|||dron
io wr|io i|o|r |opos or i|o yoar on ||ii|o
scro||s o rod papor and |an i|om on i|o
iroo. as |s dono as pari o i|o C||noso irad|i|on.
T
he Chinese calendar
is based on the lunar
year, so the date of
Chinese New Year
changes every year.
Chinese New Year is
the most important of the Chinese
festivals. Family and friends travel
great distances to be together for the
IesLIvILIes und IeusLIng. On LIe hrsL
day of the festival it is traditional to
visit older members of the family.
The celebrations last for 15 days,
begInnIng on LIe hrsL duy oI u new
moon and ending with the full
moon on the day of the Lantern
esLIvuI. TIe ceIebruLIons reecL LIe
traditional Tao stories that underpin
the seasonal events. According to
ancient legend, the New Year as it
becume know begun wILI u hgIL
against a mythical beast known as
Nian or Year. The story of a battle
between good and evil culminates
with the creation of the lion spirit
costume, replicas of which now
lead many festival parades. The
Chinese calendar follows a 12-year
cycle. Each year is named after an
animal and those born during
that year are believed to share the
traditional characteristics of that
animal. There are various stories
explaining this, and sharing these
can give children an insight into
Chinese culture and beliefs.
:NKTGSOTMULZNK_KGXY
To|| ono o i|o sior|os o |ow i|o yoars
oi i|o|r namos a ood siory can bo
oJnd ai www.topmarks.co.ukl
chinesenewyearlZodiac5tory4.
asp T|o siory |onds |iso| io a ||vo|y
roio|||n i|roJ| drama. w|i| mas|s mado
by i|o c|||dron. As i|o c|||dron aci oJi
i|o c|araciors |n i|o siory. a||ow i|om
opporiJn|i|os io d|scJss w|ai |s moani by
c|aracior and c|aracior|si|cs. \|ai aro
ood c|aracior|si|cs \|ai aro noi ood
c|aracior|si|cs \|ai ooci do i|oy |avo
T|roJ| drama. c|||dron can oxp|oro i|oso
|doas |n a way i|ai |s noi ioo |nirJs|vo. ln i|o
orJm o i|o |ma|nai|on i|oy can rooci
Jpon i|omso|vos and i|o|r ro|ai|ons||ps. N