This week we had a lot of holidays to talk about and toys to make. Genevieve has been really enjoyed her new board games - Candyland and Chutes and Ladders. She's also been studying lots of things under her new microscope, like toadstools and butterflies.
She and her father created the robot she got for her birthday. It was a solar robot. We worked really hard to find a robot we could create with her and were very excited to find a solar robot, as she has been very interested in the Mars Rover named Boop on Ready, Jet, Go. We saw it listed as age 3 and up, but note that this is more of a safety note as children under the age of three should not mess with the small parts. It wasn't until after the robot arrived that we realized it is recommended for ages 8+ up, to perform the fine motor skills necessary to create the robot. Her dad made the robot and they enjoyed playing with it outside. It really needs sunlight to move.
We celebrated Halloween, which is celebrated in many different countries on October 31st. Typical celebrations include fireworks, trick-or-treating, ghost tours, bonfires, costume parties, haunted houses, jack-o-lanterns, and scary movies. Halloween originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. This was a celebration at the end of the harvest season. Bonfires would be let for the whole night as protection from the spirits from the Otherworld that could pass into this one on this night. Those evil spirits were thought to be afraid of the light. Jack-o-lanterns originate with the carving of turnip lanterns which were carried for protection. After the migration to the New World, people began to use pumpkins for carving. Trick-or-treating has also long been associated with the holiday, with Victorian children dressing in costumes to "steal" things from neighbors. Neighbors that failed to leave something for the children to steal may have ended up with flour thrown in their face.
The Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico and Guatemala on November 1-2. This holiday is a combination of Catholic and Aztec traditions, focusing on family and remembrance of those they have lost. Traditions include building private alters to honor the deceased, sugar skulls, marigold decorations, and a visit to gravesites. There may be a picnic on the gravesite, and the family may leave some favorite foods or toys for those they have lost. Some people spend the whole night at the grave. The first day is predominantly used to celebrate children and the second day is reserved for adults. Décor also includes flowers, bright colors, and skeletons.
England and parts of the United Kingdom celebrate Guy Fawkes Night, or Bonfire Night, on November 5. This is a remembrance of the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605 when Guy Fawkes and a number of other conspirators attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London, in the hopes that they would be free of the aristocracy of London. Guy Fawkes was placed in charge of the explosives and when he was caught, the plot failed. The night is celebrated with bonfires and fireworks across the country. There is also a poem to remember the holiday: "Remember, remember the Fifth of November, the Gunpowder Treason and Plot. I know of no reason why the Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot."
Divali was celebrated on October 30th this year. It is celebrated in India on the day of 'Amavasyaa, which is the day of the new moon.' It is a festival of lights. Bright colors and lanterns can be found all around. The lights are said to drive away darkness and ignorance and awakens the light within us. Some of the lamps are called diyas. People also decorate their doorsteps with a large rangoli and keep their house clean to welcome Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
Genevieve carved pumpkins with family before, so we decided to paint a few pumpkins. We also painted the dried apple. We colored it to create a face and added hair and a black paper hat to turn it into a witch. We colored a skull for Dia de los Muertos. Using clay, Genevieve created a lantern called a diya. She used her left over clay to create a castle. She created a fireworks picture for Guy Fawkes Day.We've started reading Thanksgiving themed stories. All for Pie, Pie for All is the story of a cat family that makes some pie, and the animals that eat it. 10 Fat Turkeys is a silly counting book, with turkeys performing silly stunts and breaking a fence. Bear Says Thanks is another book in the bear series. Bear is bored and wants to share a feast with his friends, but his cupboards are empty. His friends all bring plenty to share and ask him only to share stories. As she created a robot this week, we read another of her favorites - Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover. It's a early chapter book which recounts the list of activities Rabbit creates for his sleepover with Robot.
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