Greetings!
The Holiday season is upon us, and many of us feel this is the ‘most wonderful time of the year’ for children and families. This month we are focusing our newsletter on the spirit of the season, sharing ways to spend quality time together building traditions or having fun with friends and family, while also providing ways to foster an appreciation for giving which transcends the season. No matter how old your child is, starting family traditions is important and fun. They bring families together and create memories. Balancing celebrations with thoughtfulness for the wider community is a great way to spend time this season.
It is a busy time of year with many diverse celebrations underway which provides us an opportunity to learn about the traditions of others in our community and the wonderful similarities and differences. What binds us all at this time is a focus on giving and family.
- Christmas - December 25th: a religious and cultural celebration for Christians celebrating the birth of Jesus. Christmas also has a strong secular component as people from all walks of life engage in gift giving and decorating a Christmas tree.
- Chanukah - Dec 12-20th: an eight day Jewish celebration that commemorates the rededication of the second temple in Jerusalem and is also known as the festival of lights. Each night during Chanukah a candle is lit on a Menorah while a blessing is recited.
- Kwanzaa - Dec 26th to January 1: a week long celebration of life, honouring African-American culture culminating in a feast and gift giving. Traditions include the lighting of candles. Each of the 7 days of the festival are dedicated to one of the following principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, faith.
- Pancha Ganapati - Dec 21–25: a five-day festival celebrated by Hindus in honor of Lord Ganesh. Each day has its own significance, the 21st dedicated to love and harmony among family and friends, the 22nd dedicated to neighbors and relatives, 23rd is dedicated to business associates and the public, the 24th to music, art, drama and dance and the 25th dedicated to charity and religiousness. On the 5th day gifts are opened.
- New Years Eve: Dec 31st: an opportunity to gather & celebrate the New Year!
We hope that you have a memorable Holiday season and enjoy these moments as you create lasting memories for your children. We look forward to connecting with you again in 2018.
Sincerely,
Lisa Parise
