All aboard the Polar Express

 

Chinese New Year-year of the Ox

Our last stop is to China, where we learned about Chinese New year! 

1. They celebrate the spring festival. This day changes every year because it follows the lunar calendar. 

2. Chinese new year starts a new animal zodiac year. 2021 is the year of the Ox

3. The celebration lasts for 15 days till Lantern festival.

4. Most decorations are in red.

We celebrated by color the picture of the year of the Ox, Happy New Year.

Happy Kwanzaa

We started our last week of traveling by going to Africa. We learned about: 

1. Kwanzaa is a Swahili word which means "first fruits of the harvest".  

2. It is celebrated from December 26th through January 1 each year.  

3. This holiday was started so African American people could learn about their African history, customs and traditions.

4. The colors represent: Red-struggles, Green-for the future and hope, and black-for the people

We remembered our time by making a Kwanzaa bracelet.

Welcome to Russia

 Our last stop this week was to Russia. We learned about:

1. Christmas in Russia is celebrated on January 7th.

2. During Christmas eve feast, they do not eat any fish or meat. They eat beet root soup or vegetable pies.

3. The Russian Cookies are made in the shape of  sheep, goat, or deer.

4. Babushka brings the children gifts.

5. The Nutcracker came from Russia. 

We made a Nutcracker to remember our time in Russia.