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Children celebrate diverse array of holidays
By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE © St. Petersburg Times, published November 16, 2000 INVERNESS -- Children at ComeUnity Montessori School are encouraged to appreciate the cultural differences in the world while emphasizing the many similarities among people of different countries and religions. One of the ways they do that is with celebrations of a diverse array of holidays. The first one they celebrated this school year was Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year. The children made cards resembling apples for their families. "The concept is sweet things to symbolize a sweet new year," said teacher Jamie Cooper. One child was allowed to blow the shofar, a ram's horn used to call people to worship. They had a lunch of traditional Rosh Hashana foods, including apples and honey. The next holiday was Diwali, the Hindu new year. It is a three-day celebration of light over darkness or goodness over evil. "It was amazing to me the way the children made the connection to their own faiths," Cooper said. The children made belled ankle bracelets and drums and danced to lively Indian music. Radha Bellman organized the feast for Diwali and was assisted by Sebeha Anasari and Gayatri Angirekula, who is a parent of a CMS student. In lieu of Halloween and Thanksgiving, the children celebrated "Orange," Cooper said. It is school policy to downplay the commercial aspects of holidays and focus on the meanings of them. Orange celebrated harvest and fall colors. The children made textured collages and painted with red and yellow, two colors that mix to make orange. They ate orange food, such as carrots, cheddar cheese and pimwheels made with orange bread. Coming up are celebrations for Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas. "We always try to make the holidays, joyous," Cooper said. "We really try to emphasize the meaning of the holiday. To learn more about ComeUnity Montessori School, which serves children in prekindergarten through first grade, visit the school's Web site at www.comeunity-montessori.com.
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