Secular Charlotte Mason

Do any of you celebrate or study holidays from around the world?  We did when my kids were in school and our first years of homeschooling but haven't in years. I want to get back into it with a friend (hi Deepali!) but I am feeling quite rusty and need some ideas/inspiration. Any ideas you want to share?

I know I use to always begin my planning with the following book.  Even if I didn't use it with the kids I would read the informational page about the holiday to get me in the right frame of mind.  It is actually a book I used with my ESL students when teaching them about each others' cultures. It's called The Whole Earth Holiday Book by Linda Polon and Aileen Cantwell and is quite public schoolish (ie work sheetish).

Oops.  I think the heat is addling my wits.  That title should have read Holidays not Hildays.  Although my kids would probably think Hildays are fun too--as long as it involved rolling down actual hills lol. Hope you all aren't melting!

Gina

I am looking forward to working with you on this, G : ) I think kids will have fun doing this together and appreciate and adapt all other cultures/religion/ traditions. I think it's a great way to introduce the world to them thru holidays. Geography, recipes from different cultures, language, art and crafts.. Am I missing something? Let me know what you think? Brainstorming.................. : )

BTW, Kids had a great time with their friend on Sunday : ) Thanks! D

This may not be exactly what you are looking for since it appears to be mostly Western holidays but I found some information on About.com last year.  Also, if you look at their mini units by month, you'll find a day for just about everything which can be kinda fun.  Like waffle cone day.   Some of them are actual national holidays.

http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/unitstudies/a/miniholidays.htm

And Fun Day Calendars here.

Please share your resouces for world holidays.  It would be nice to introduce my kids to holidays that are also celebrated by adults.  I'd like to know how to do them respectfully.

ETA: I am looking around on the fun days and they aren't all silly.  Canada Day was on there with some links.  Also important dates are on there...   Must go to Echoes. 

G, Rakhi came by really fast and we didn't even plan it well. I can tell you about it more if you want but the gist of it is all that I wrote to you on FB. That's all there it is for brother-sister holidays.. your kids might enjoy that and bro might love the attention too ; )

Deepali,

I would love to hear about the holidays your family celebrates.

Gina

Anytime, G! I will be happy to share our holidays!

From the top of my head as I remember right now-- are-

1. Rakhi- brother sister holiday-was Aug 5th

2. India's Independence Day- Aug 15th- people usually celebrate by flying kites. Honestly, the whole sky is usually filled with colorful kites that day! Fun!

3. Diwali- coming up either in Oct or Nov- will let you know once I'll find out. ( Biggest festival of all in India)

4. New years day ofcource

5. Holi- festival of colors- celebrating Spring and harvest

6. Jan 26th- India's republic day ( parade )

7. Mahavir Jayanti- Birth of Lord Mahavir and salvation ( story of giving and salvation) I don't do very many religious ones myself tho. ; )

These are some main holidays-  I will jot down if I've missed any here.. How about you? What holidays do you celebrate? Let's jot down together and mark them to celebrate together?

Cool!  I've always wanted to know more about Diwali and Holi. My ESL classes use to empty during those celebrations as many of my students would go back to India to celebrate them with friends and family.