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Exploring different cultural holidays and the reasons why people celebrate them.
Imagine waking up to the smell of sweet treats, the sound of happy music, and the sight of bright colors everywhere. Why do people all over the world have special days to celebrate together?
A holiday is a special day when people take a break from their normal routine to remember an important event or celebrate their culture. Families often celebrate by eating special food, wearing new clothes, and spending time together. These traditions are passed down from parents to children for many years. Some holidays happen on the same date every year, while others change based on the moon! For example, some celebrations last for day, while others can last for or even days.
Quick Check
What are two things families might do to celebrate a holiday?
Answer
Families might eat special food, wear new clothes, or spend time together.
Diwali is a major holiday celebrated by millions of people, especially those from India. It is known as the Festival of Lights. The main idea behind Diwali is the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. People decorate their homes with small clay lamps called diyas. These lamps are filled with oil and have a small wick that stays lit all night. By lighting the diyas, people welcome luck and happiness into their homes.
Let's look at a symbol for Diwali: 1. Find a small clay pot. 2. Add a cotton wick and some oil. 3. Light the wick to create a warm glow. This is a diya, the most famous symbol of Diwali!
Quick Check
What does the light in Diwali represent?
Answer
It represents the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
Many other holidays use symbols too. Lunar New Year is a spring festival where people wear red for good luck and give money in red envelopes. It marks the start of a new year on the lunar calendar. Hanukkah is an -day Jewish holiday called the Festival of Lights. People light a special candle holder called a menorah. They light candle each night to remember a miracle from long ago when a tiny bit of oil lasted for full days.
Can you match the symbol to the holiday? 1. Red Envelopes: These belong to Lunar New Year to bring luck. 2. Menorah: This belongs to Hanukkah to remember the miracle of the oil. 3. Diyas: These belong to Diwali to show light winning over darkness.
Symbols are like a secret language. When you see a dragon in a parade, you might know it is Lunar New Year. When you see a star or a candle, it tells a story without using any words. These symbols help people feel connected to their history and their community, no matter where they live in the world.
Imagine you wanted to start a 'Kindness Holiday.' 1. Pick a meaning: Celebrating being nice to others. 2. Pick a symbol: Maybe a bright blue heart sticker. 3. Pick an activity: Giving a high-five to friends. Just like real holidays, your symbols and actions help people understand why the day is special!
Which holiday is known as the 'Festival of Lights' and uses diyas?
What color is considered lucky during Lunar New Year?
Hanukkah lasts for 8 days to remember a miracle involving oil.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow, try to remember the names of the three holidays we talked about: Diwali, Lunar New Year, and Hanukkah.
Practice Activity
Draw a picture of a holiday symbol you learned today and explain to a friend what it means!