With the holidays upon us, there seems to be an ever-increasing list of things to do and little time to accomplish it all; there are decorations to put up, presents to buy, and items to bake, not to mention getting those presents wrapped and still finding a moment to enjoy a holiday movie with the kids. Wouldn’t it be ideal to be able to cut back on the time spent in the kitchen and replace it with an evening spent with friends instead? You can do just that by hosting a cookie exchange! … [Read more...]
Hanukkah, ה or חנוכה, Ḥănukkāh celebrated December 8 – 16, 2012
December 5, 2012 by
Alternative spellings: Spelling variations due to transliteration of Hebrew Chet Nun Vav Kaf Hey In Hebrew, the word Hanukkah is written חֲנֻכָּה or חנוכה (Ḥănukkāh). It is most commonly transliterated to English as Chanukah or Hanukkah, the former because the sound represented by "CH" ([χ], similar to the Scottish pronunciation of "loch") does not exist in the English language. Furthermore, the letter "chet" (ח), which is the first letter in the Hebrew spelling, is pronounced … [Read more...]
Lorre White celebrates Cyber Monday – how did it go?
December 4, 2012 by
BRITISH-BASED online retailers are expected to see their busiest day in history today, as US shopping event Cyber Monday takes place in the UK. The annual discount day - which in America traditionally falls on the Monday after Thanksgiving - was launched to encourage shoppers to buy online in the run-up to Christmas. Internet sales are expected to surpass all expectations with Visa Europe predicting that £320 million will be spent via its cards alone, reports The Evening Standard. The number … [Read more...]
Christmas Gifts, 10 stellar hiding places
November 30, 2012 by
When the kids are little it usually isn’t all that difficult to keep their gifts a secret, but as they begin to get older and understand that Christmas entails receiving gifts, they tend to get a little more inquisitive and may start poking around trying to find out where you’re hiding the presents. Kids, and even some adults, are never more curious than they are during the holiday season. Many kids will search the house far and wide in an effort to learn what presents await them come the … [Read more...]
St. Andrew’s Day(Scotland) – Celebrated November 30th around the World!
November 30, 2012 by
St. Andrew's Day November 30 St. Andrew's Day is the feast day of Saint Andrew. It is celebrated on 30 November. Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, and St. Andrew's Day (Scottish Gaelic: Latha Naomh Anndra) is Scotland's official national day. In 2006, the Scottish Parliament designated St. Andrew's Day as an official bank holiday. Although most commonly associated with Scotland, Saint Andrew is also the patron saint of … [Read more...]
Christmas Carols, Top 10 kids should learn, LYRICS
November 29, 2012 by
Christmas carols are a cornerstone of the holiday season, and hearing your favorite jingle can instantly fill you with holiday cheer. Everyone has their own personal favorite, and your kids will likely find themselves smitten with their own favorite songs. Whether you’re just starting to teach your kids different carols or trying to put together a medley so that you can go caroling around the neighborhood this year, there is no shortage of songs to choose from. Here is a list of the top 10 … [Read more...]
ADVENT begins December 2, 2012
November 26, 2012 by
Advent, anglicized from the Latin word adventus meaning "coming", is a season observed in many Western Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday, called Levavi. The Eastern churches' equivalent of Advent is called the Nativity Fast, but it differs both in length and observances and does not begin the church year, which starts instead … [Read more...]
Black Friday, name ‘originated in Philadelphia’
November 23, 2012 by
Black Friday is one of the busiest shopping days in the USA. There are two popular theories as to why the day after Thanksgiving Day is called Black Friday. One theory is that the wheels of vehicles in heavy traffic on the day after Thanksgiving Day left many black markings on the road surface, leading to the term Black Friday. The other theory is that the term Black Friday comes from an old way of recording business accounts. Losses were recorded in red ink and profits in black ink. Many … [Read more...]
Bahai: The Day of the Covenant – Celebrate November 26
November 21, 2012 by
The Day of the Covenant Celebrating November 26 'Abdu'l-Bahá was born on May 23, 1844, the very day that the Báb declared His mission to Mullá Husayn. Although a number of Bahá'ís wished to celebrate the Master's birthday, He wouldn't permit it. That day, He insisted, belonged to the Báb, not to Him. In the face of repeated requests, however, He established the Day of the Covenant as a day Bahá'ís could celebrate in His honor if they wished. Yet it was not for Himself … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving, 5 ways to use Cranberries in Centerpiece
November 19, 2012 by
When cranberries start making an appearance in the grocery store it can only mean one thing: the holidays are upon us! These bright red berries have become a staple of the traditional Thanksgiving meal, but they can do far more than just serve as a delicious side dish. Try utilizing the berries vibrant color to your decorating advantage this Thanksgiving by making one of these five different centerpiece ideas. Tall Vase with Cranberries – Start with a relatively large, clear vase – any … [Read more...]
5 Festive Halloween Treats to Give Classmates
October 18, 2012 by
Tired of sending the same old cupcakes or cookies to school for the class Halloween party? This year try something different. No trick, these Halloween treats are simple enough to make that the kids can help put them together. You Rule! - Purchase a ruler for each student. On your computer type the message “You Rule! Bats Drool!” and then copy and paste it so it will appear 5 times on a page when printed. The finished strips should be about 2 inches wide and 8 ½ inches long so keep … [Read more...]
World Food Day – October 16, 2012
October 11, 2012 by
Nearly one is six people around the world do not get enough food to be healthy and lead an active life – most of them living in developing countries. It is World Food Day on 16 October as well as harvest festival assembly time, so the Guardian Teacher Network has a bounty of resources to share that introduce and delve deeper into the challenges and injustices that people face over food. Music can be used as a tool to explore global issues with these resources developed by Oxfam … [Read more...]
