Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Advent Activities for Kids

Dec. 8 marks the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in the Catholic liturgical calendar. As Dec. 8 fell on Sunday, the Church changed the holy day to Monday, Dec. 9. It will not be a holy day of obligation. Catholics believe that the Blessed Virgin Mary was preserved from original sin so that she could birth the Messiah, Jesus and honor her on this day. Here are activities for parents and children to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and Advent, a Christmas preparatory season during which the feast falls.  Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Advent Activities for Parents and Children

Kosher Thanksgiving Recipes for Hanukkah Holiday

Hanukkah always begins on 25 Kislev in the Jewish lunisolar calendar. Ergo it's a "movable feast" on the western calendar. This year it starts very early, on Nov. 27, the day prior to Thanksgiving.

Metro Detroit has a large Hebrew population. AP shares ways local Jews are approaching the Thanksgiving-Chanukah overlap. Hillel Day School in Farmington has special activities. Detroit bakeries are making Challurky. Yep, you guessed it: turkey shaped challah. I'm sure my east side Jewish friends will love THAT schmaltz.

We aren't Jewish, but our son is dating an Ashkenazi girl. They're driving over from Detroit for Thanksgiving.
We believe it's part of our Catholic duty to understand and respect all faiths. So we're exploring ways to blend national holidays, Catholic holy days and Jewish traditions. Example: Thanksgiving. I won't make it completely kosher, but here are tweaks.   Kosher Thanksgiving Recipes for Hanukkah Holiday

Fair Trade Christmas Shopping Helps Marginalized, Disaster Victims

We have two god-daughters. Each year, I send birthday and Christmas gifts at the some time to them. One has a December b-day and the other, January. I have the gifts shipped to their homes. I don't like to spend double on shipping and handling (to my house and then theirs). I always shop from the same place, Greater Good Network Fair Trade (from The Hunger Site suite of online donation sites).   Fair Trade Christmas Shopping

Free Printable Catholic Saints Coloring Pages for All Saints Day

November 1 marks the Catholic and Orthodox holy day of All Saints Day, making October 31 All Hallow's Eve (or Halloween). Some protestant Christians celebrate it too. Use these free printable activities to explore Catholic saints, holy days and All Saint's Day and Halloween.  Free Printable Catholic Saints and All Saint's Day Coloring Pages

In Vino Veritas, Wine Chat from a Michigan Girl

I grew up on wine lore from my Grandpa Kinney, that wonderfully mostly Irish guy who drank Cask Cream Sherry daily and Manischewitz on Sabbath. I don't know why. We weren't Jewish.

I started drinking wine in 1982. Riunite D'Oro, raspberry, Liebfraumilch from Drink-All in Muskegon. Tosti Asti Spumante on special occasions.Don't judge. There was no wine culture then.  I've come a long way since then. Wine is the universal language.
Wine Meanderings from a Michigan Girl

When It's Bullying, Racial Profiling and When It's Not

An incident occurred on "National Taco Day" which highlights American cultural ignorance and underscores how profiling can stem from said ignorance. I subscribe to a Latino empowerment group, Presente.org. An update was sent which explains:

"Not all Latinos grow up eating tacos. The idea that we do is just another harmful stereotype of Latino people and cultures. But that stereotype was embraced, validated, and propagated by Fox News Channel host Brian Kilmeade. During a celebration of “National Taco Day” on the October 4 Fox and Friends broadcast, Kilmeade asked meteorologist Maria Molina, "So what are the tips we need to know? You grew up on tacos, correct?" But Molina was born in Nicaragua — tacos aren’t even commonly eaten in her country!"

Presente.org is demanding an apology from Kilmeade to Molina. I signed the petition, but I have some concerns. Americans tend toward both extremes, ethnocentricism and ethnic slurring. There's a lot of talk of "we" and "they" but there's no such thing as a full-blooded American, save the native American Indians. White settlers are just a hodge-podge of people from different countries. We're all immigrants."We" are all also "they." And ethnic profiling and polarization is rampant. But not all stereotypes are negative. When is an ethnic stereotype profiling, discrimination and bullying and when is it not? How should we handle profiling?   National Taco Day Insult Underscores Racial, Ethnic, Religious Profiling Issues - News - Bubblews

Observe Labor Day the Union Way, Globally

Labor Day is more than just a another beer-drinking, flag-waving holiday. A lot of union people worked really hard so we could enjoy workplace rights. The way we celebrate a holiday reflects how we believe. If I focus only on partying I show that's all I care about. This Labor Day, thank a union worker. You enjoy that weekend, 40-hour work week, 8-hour day, thanks to collective bargaining. Kids don't work in sweatshops in the U.S., thanks to unions. Even if you work in a non-union place, you're benefiting from the efforts of organized labor. Here's how we celebrated labor as a family.   How to Observe Labor Day the Union Way 

Xavier Rudd Plays Australian Aboriginal Didgeridoo Outback Music

My kids and I consider ourselves musical leftists: radical and revolutionary (husband too, if he'll admit it). We are always on the lookout for way-out of the (squeeze) box sounds. Australian Xavier Rudd and his didgeridoo (also spelled didjeridu) satisfy our collective soul. Never heard of a didgeridoo? Don't feel inadequate. Neither did I until I heard Xavier Rudd play it. Even then my tongue rumbled the pronunciation. My son said, "Mom, watch my mouth and repeat after me 'did-jer-ee-doo'" It's really fun to say, as are many Australian words which involve a great deal of onomatopoeia. Read on Australian Xavier Rudd and Izintaba Plays Aboriginal Didgeridoo Outback Music

Forget Your Stuff, Cmon Get Happy! Less is More

This picture shows my recent kitchen remodel. We are unabashedly frugal and make no apology for living simply. This project cost us $990. I wrote an article about it. homes.yahoo.com/news/floor-ceiling-diy-kitchen-makeover-990-190800346.html.

Some commenters said they hoped this was the before pic. Some suggested it looked cheesy, was still cramped, yada yada. Like I didn't know, living here 13 years, it was little.

Yes, well I happen to like that little kitchen. Some very special men fixed it up for me. No, it's not sour grapes. We could blow our money on something bigger or better. Somehow, it would feel like losing my soul to gain the world. And certainly, my little kitchen is bigger than most homes in developing  or third world nations. So read on to Forget Your Stuff, Cmon Get Happy! Less is More

50 Foods from Around the World, Globe-Trotting Recipes

Are you planning an 'Around the World' theme for your school, church, VBS, scout troop, camp, library, 4H or community group? Need some quick, easy inexpensive food ideas that you can easily make or better yet, pull off the shelf of your local grocery store? Most all of these foods are available where you would normally shop. You will not need to make a special trip to an ethnic deli. These foods are 'local'; they grow or are made with products from the region. Most have long historical connections You'll find ideas for over fifty different countries and six continents. Team this with my article on literature around the world and you've got a great lesson plan! 50 Foods from Around the World

Teaching Hands-On Recycling, Earth-Friendly Habits in Classroom

Ecology and sustainable green living are two important habits schools should teach. Unfortunately, science classes often focus on boring, paper-and-pencil lessons (anything but eco-friendly!) Classroom recycling accomplishes several objectives. It's practical. Kids see immediate benefits. It makes schoolwork meaningful. It reinvigorates same-old curriculum. It gives hands-on experience in real-life activities. It builds healthy habits that carryover into life outside school. And it feels good to care for the earth. Here are ways to weave recycling into classroom lessons.Teaching Hands-On Recycling, Earth-Friendly Habits in Classroom
 

Jewish Shavuot Resources for Parents, Home-Schoolers, Educators

The Jewish festival of Shavuot honors giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai. It's celebrated in Sivan on the Hebrew calendar. It's a 3-day observance that falls in May or June on the Western calendar. Shavuot is Sivan 5-7 and May 14-16 in 2013. G-d gave the Torah (including the 10 commandments) to the nation of Israel, via Moses.  Shavuot or Matan Torah, is one of the Shalosh Regalim, the three Biblical pilgrimage festivals. It concludes the Counting of the Omer.The date of Shavuot is set by Passover (Pesach). The Torah mandates a seven-week Counting of the Omer, beginning the second day of Passover.  The counting of days and weeks imitates the anticipatory countdown to the Giving of the Torah. The people of Israel were freed from slavery on Pesach and on Shavuot they received the Torah and became a nation. This article was written about Sukkot, but all the links provided have lesson plans for shavuot, too. Jewish Sukkot Resources for Parents, Home-Schoolers, Educators

Earth Day Art. Awareness, Activism, Lesson Plans

Earth Day, celebrated on April 22, is the new name for the former holiday called Arbor Day. Arbor is the French word for tree. Earth Day is a global celebration that focuses our minds on caring for our earth. Ironically, some Earth Day activities are not really green. Printable for Earth Day, such as coloring pages and worksheets generate more paper waste. I include myself in this indictment because I've written articles for free printables for Earth Day. Here is a truly green lesson plan which is safe for our earth, educational and enjoyable for students of all ages. It's got the triples A's of Earth Day: art, activism, awareness.Free Earth Day Lesson Plan

Free Printable Endangered Species of the World Coloring Pages

Earth Day, which replaces the original holiday Arbor Day is celebrated in the United States on April 22. Here's a free printable booklet, Save our Species, with information, activities and coloring pages exploring endangered species in the US and world. The purpose of Earth Day is to celebrate our earth, educate people and explore ways to protect our natural resources. Protecting our earth include supporting our animals, plants and habitats. Earth Day reminds us that we rely on the earth for sustenance and the earth relies on us for care and safety. Exploring and understanding endangered and threatened species helps us to learn better ways to care for our environment as a whole.  Free Printable Earth Day Endangered Species Coloring Activity Booklet 

Free Printable Holi Festival of Colors Crafts, Worksheets

 Holi is the Indian Festival of Colors. It's celebrated on the full moon, called Phalgun Purnima or Pooranmash. It comes in the Hindu calendar month of Phalgun. Holi falls in late March to early April in the western calendar. Indians celebrate by tossing colored powder or spraying each other with colored liquid. Here are free printable Holi crafts, greeting cards and worksheets to help kids understand Holi. Teachers, use these for social studies. Homeschool parents, why not explore Holi with kids? Free Printable Holi Festival of Colors Crafts, Worksheets 

Free Catholic Easter Worksheets, Printables, Activities

The Easter Triduum -- Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil -- makes up the three most sacred days of the Catholic liturgical calendar. As a homeschool family, we spent Holy Week, from Palm Sunday to Easter, doing Lent activities. Here are free printable Catholic worksheets andFree Catholic Easter Resources and Activities
resources. Pope John Paul II spoke of the family as the primary educators of children. He encouraged families to set up altars in their home. Whether you homeschool your children or not, parents have a special vocation to teach the faith. These lessons, devotions and crafts help children and families explore that faith more deeply.

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day, Irish history

St. Patrick's Day is a feast day, celebrated on March 17, in the Catholic liturgical calendar. Like Valentine's Day, it has also become a major U.S. holiday. Patricus, a Roman Briton was taken from his home as a slave, but returned as a bishop to bring Christianity to Ireland. Speaking as a descendant of Irish immigrants, I'd like to see the day celebrated with fewer green shamrocks and more focus on the religious and cultural significance of the holiday. Here are ways to celebrate the man we call St. Patrick and explore Irish traditions with kids. Celebrating St. Patrick's Day, Irish history with children

Mazel Tov! Activities to Celebrate Purim

Mazel Tov! February 24-25, 2013 celebrates Jewish Purim. That's 14 Adar in the Hebrew calendar. Hebrews celebrate Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai for defending their people from decimation in Persia. The story is read in the Torah Megillah (the book of Esther in the Bible). It tells about King Ahasuerus and his wicked advisor Haman and how faith triumphed. Here are resources for Jews and gentiles to explore Purim and embrace the holiday more deeply. Kids will love making paper graggers. Mazel Tov! Activities to Celebrate Queen Esther and Purim

New Orleans Super Bowl 2013 Recipes Cajun Courtbouillon, Gumbo, Jambalaya, Etouffee

Our daughter moved to Lafayette, Louisiana from Michigan. Prior to that, we'd never traveled in the southern U.S. It was a treat to visit and sample local Cajun and New Orleans creole dishes. Many became family favorites. I recreated our Louisiana experience for my husband's birthday. Here's a northerner's version of catfish courtbouillon, jambalaya, gumbo and crawfish etouffee.  Louisiana Cajun Menu--Courtbouillon, Gumbo, Jambalaya, Etouffee 

Costumes, Not Booze Are the Best Part of Mardi Gras

 What's the best part about Mardi Gras in New Orleans? According to the Huffington Post, most people prefer the booze cruises. I disagree. For me, Mardi Gras is all about the parades, music and best of all the wonderful costumes. Would Mardi Gras be as fun without the alcohol? Absolutely; teetotalers get to enjoy all the color and flavor without the hangover or the unpleasant after-taste. I actually have more fun because I didn't miss everything in a drunken fugue. Costumes, Not Booze or Food, Are the Best Part of Mardi Gras

Free Printable Lent Activities for Catholics, Protestant Christians, Orthodox, Copts

The Catholic observances of lent begins each year with the Imposition of the Ashes on Ash Wednesday, which in the western calendar for 2013 will begin on February 13. Other Christians observe Lent including Orthodox, Copts and some protestants. Lent begins a 40 day journey of fasting, acts of mercy and spiritual pilgrimage. We try to live, in our poor humble human way, in solidarity with Our Lord as he fasted in the desert for 40 days and made his final pilgrimage to Jerusalem. A Roman cross, torture and crucifixion awaited Him. But so did the glory of Easter, the Resurrection. Lent is a season for intense and deep personal and spiritual reflection. Looking for free printable activities to teach kids about lent and Christian Easter? Read more Lent Printables and Catholic Activities