This February we have some fantastic projects for your kids. In years past, the February packages have been very focused on Valentines Day. This year, we decided to spread out and add some new holidays. This year, your child will also be getting crafts for Groundhog Day, Mardi Gras, and Chinese New Year. We hope they enjoy them all!
Project #1 -- Acetate Heart
This project will look great hung in a window where the winter sun can shine through the tissue paper.
Project #2 -- Tissue Paper Bear
I love these tissue paper projects, and this little bear is no exception. Just peel away the paper backing to reveal the adhesive, and the bear is ready to be decorated with tissue paper.
Project #3 -- Groundhog Day Bookmark
Will the groundhog see his shadow? Here in Colorado, where we've had snow on the ground for 6 weeks straight now, we sure hope he has good news for us!
Punxsutawney Phil has his own website, with some great activities for your child
Project #4 -- Mardi Gras Bracelet
A fun, simple beading project your child is sure to enjoy.
Here's some fun info about Mardi Gras that we found on dltk-kids.com
What is Mardi Gras?
Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday". The name comes from the ancient custom of parading a fat ox through Paris on this day. The ox was to remind the people that they were not allowed to eat meat during Lent. Lent runs from Ash Wednesday thru
Easter Sunday.
Mardi Gras moves. It can be anywhere between February 3rd and March 9th. The date depends on when Easter falls.
French people who came to the United States brought the custom of Mardi Gras with them. The most famous festival in the US (and perhaps the world) is at New Orleans in Louisiana *wistful sigh*-- I've always wanted to go, not necessarily for Mardi Gras, but just to see it.
But Mardi Gras parades happen throughout the world. Biloxi in Mississipi, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Nice in France, Binche in Belgiun and Viareggio in Italy are just a few examples.
The Tuesday that Mardi Gras falls on is also known as Shrove Tuesday. The name comes from the custom of confessing on the day before lent. Shrove means "to be forgiven one's sins."
Mardi Gras Customs:
In Southern Italy, people dress up in costumes and put on an ancient play during Mardi Gras
In Rio de Jeneiro, people dance in the streets.
In Nice, France people wear giant masks in the Mardi Gras parade (it looks like a bunch of walking heads with tiny bodies).
In Binche, Belgium people dress in colorful clown costumes (the clowns are called gilles)The clowns wear bunches of ostrich feathers on their heads and dance in the streets. They carry baskets of oranges which they throw to the watching crowds.
For most of you, Mardi Gras customs are likely of the New Orleans variety. During the parade, everyone dresses up in costumes. Trinkets, especially beads and doubloons, are tossed to the crowds from the parade floats. The Mardi Gras colors are purple, green and gold.
Project #5 -- Chinese New Year Lanterns
These fun festive lanterns are easy to assemble, and we loved the bright colors.
Here's a link to a bunch of GREAT resources about Chinese New Year
