This post originally appeared on Christ Methodist Day School's faculty blog. Costumes, trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving, spooky decorations: these are probably some of the things you envision when you think about Halloween. But how do people celebrate this holiday around the world? You might be surprised by the similarities and differences between Halloween in the U.S. and in other countries. Here are just a few countries’ takes on this holiday: Ireland: Where It All Began Ireland is considered to be the place where Halloween originated, and the holiday was initially celebrated to mark the end of summer and beginning of winter. Today, the Irish celebrate Halloween much like we do in the States, with fun (and sometimes scary) costumes, trick-or-treating, and games and activities. In Dublin, Ireland’s capital city, there is an annual parade that ends with a spooky carnival. Mexico: Día de los Muertos While many children celebrate Halloween in Mexico with costumes and candy, the bigger celebration during this time is Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Día de los Muertos takes place on November 1 and 2 and combines ancient Aztec rituals with Catholic traditions for an exciting celebration of life. While the decorations for this holiday usually involve skulls and skeletons, Día de los Muertos is not meant to be scary, and the skulls and skeletons are usually portrayed in a happy, silly manner. During this holiday, families remember loved ones who have passed away by decorating their tombstones and setting up ofrendas (offerings), which are usually tables topped with pictures of loved ones along with candles, flowers, and some of their favorites foods. Czech Republic: Remembering Loved Ones Children in the Czech Republic do not wear costumes or go trick-or-treating, but families place chairs around the fireplace on Halloween night – one for each living family member and one for each family member who has passed away. On November 2, many families visit the graves of their loved ones and decorate them with candles and flowers. In October, the Czech supermarkets are stocked with outdoor votive candles instead of candy, and on November 2, you can drive by the cemeteries and see a sea of flickering lights! The Philippines: Pangagaluluwa Pangagaluluwa, the Filipino version of Halloween, is similar to other Halloween celebrations in the U.S. and abroad. Like in many other countries, the Filipino people spend November 1 & 2 remembering loved ones who have passed away. Filipino children also have a tradition similar to trick-or-treating, but instead of saying “Trick or Treat,” children go from house to house singing special songs in exchange for candy, money, or other treats! There are so many unique ways that Halloween is celebrated around the world, and I hope you enjoyed learning about just a few of them. Happy Halloween! Hasta la próxima (until next time), AM How does your family celebrate Halloween? Do you have any unique traditions? Post your thoughts below!
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This post originally appeared on Christ Methodist Day School's faculty blog. Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! This commemorative month, which lasts from September 15 to October 15, is a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions, cultures, and histories of Hispanic Americans. September 15 is significant because it is the Independence Day of multiple Latin American countries, including Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. Looking for fun ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? Check out the list of events and activities below and find ways to celebrate this important month with the whole family!
I hope you'll choose to enjoy at least one of these fun activities to celebrate the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic Americans this Hispanic Heritage Month. Hasta la próxima (until next time), AM How do you celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? Are there any other fun activities you would add to this list? Post your thoughts below!
In high school, one of my closest friends was a foreign exchange student from Norway. I loved hearing her talk about life in her country and the similarities and differences between American culture and her own. One of the most interesting differences was how Norwegian students learned languages. My friend grew up learning her native language (Norwegian) and began learning English when she was in elementary school. By the time she was in high school, she was fluent in English and was already learning her third language, Spanish. I thought it was fascinating - and a little unfair - that by the time my friend graduated high school, she could be fluent in 3 different languages. Why didn't I get to learn a second language in elementary school? As an American student, my first foreign language class wasn't until 10th grade. Why do so many other countries seem to place a higher value on learning foreign languages? In many European countries, students begin learning a second language by the age of 6-9. In America, the average age that students start learning a foreign language is 11, but many students are not introduced to a second language until they are 13-14 years old. The benefits of bilingualism are well-documented and include:
With all these benefits, why aren't American elementary schools required to offer foreign language classes? It's true that many schools simply don't have the funding or time to add second language classes to students' schedules, but in a global economy, shouldn't elementary schools be working to find a way to include foreign language in the curriculum? I am grateful to work at a school where students are able to start learning a second language as early as 6 years old, but my hope is that all students would have this opportunity. Maybe one day, like my friend from Norway, all of our students will be able to speak not just two, but three languages by the time they graduate high school. Hasta la próxima (until next time), AM What do you think? Should public elementary schools make foreign language education a priority? What are some of the biggest obstacles elementary schools face in adding foreign language to the curriculum? Post your thoughts below!
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Amanda MalloryFreelance Writer. Educator. Child Development Expert. Archives
October 2017
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