Festivals ZoneLaunches 15 August at 12noon |
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There are huge number of festivals across the globe and the team have had a tough job narrowing it down to just a handful of activities, but they took on the challenge and won! Below are 6 festivals and we hope you will enjoy one of the activities for this zone. Of course, as always, you can have a go at more than one if you want to. More activities = more fun!
Australia Day, Australia
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The official national day for Australia is on 26th January, when people celebrate being Australian and reflect on the history of the country.
Make your own Boomerang
Can you make and decorate your own boomerang?
This Kids Activities web page has more information about aboriginal art and boomerangs as well as a nifty downloadable template. Or why not have a go at the origami boomerang?
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Groundhog Day, USA
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Groundhog Day takes place on 2nd February. According to tradition, the groundhog emerges from its hole where it has been hibernating.
If it is a sunny day and casts a shadow, it will return underground for 6 weeks and more wintry weather is expected. No shadow means a cloudy day and an early spring. One of the most popular Groundhog Day celebrations occurs in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, when the media gather at sunrise to see whether the local groundhog (named Phil) casts a shadow. Shadows
What can you make with shadows?
Some suggestions: Shadow Puppets
Use your body and other items to create a shadow pictures
Play shadow tag with your family – step on someone else’s shadow to ‘tag’ them
For lots more ideas about Groundhog day activities and ideas to do at home, have a look here:
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Children's Day, Japan
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Children’s day is a national Japanese holiday which takes place on 5th May. It celebrates children’s personalities and happiness.
Make Koinobori
Koinobori (cloth carp streamers) are hung on poles outside buildings to bring good luck and fortune to the children inside. Koi fish are believed to be strong and spirited fish as they have to fight to swim upstream.
Have a go at making your own mini Koinobori out of a toilet roll. If you don’t have any tissue paper, decorate any coloured piece of paper and then glue this around your toilet roll instead |
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Calabar Carnival, Nigeria
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One of Africa’s biggest carnivals takes place in Calabar, in Nigeria, and lasts for the whole of December! It is a month long celebration filled with street parties, concerts, art shows, sporting events and the highlight is the street parade. It is often described as ‘Africa’s biggest street party’.
Each year, the parade has a different theme and features 50,000 people in costumes, with lots of music, dances, floats and displays. There is a battle of the bands as carnival groups compete against each other to be crowned the best band. As music is such an important part of a carnival, have a go at making your musical instruments at home: Make an African Drum
A Djembe or Jembe is a rope-tuned, skin-covered goblet drum played with bare hands and it comes from Africa.
Lots more ways to make musical instruments at home:
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Mardi Gras, USA & Italy
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Mardi Gras takes place on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is French for ‘fat Tuesday’ and reflects the tradition of eating lots of rich, fatty foods before the fasting season of Lent begins.
Carnivals and festivals are held all over the world and two of the biggest and most famous of these are held in New Orleans, America and Venice, Italy. Elaborate costumes and masks are worn for these parades and carnivals. Design a mask
There are lots of different types of masks you could create at home – have a look at some pictures from previous carnivals and see which ones you think you would like to wear.
Design a mask at home. There are lots of versions you could make, here are some examples you could use: Carnival outfit
You could also try and create your own carnival outfit from recycling and other materials you might have at home.
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Dia de Muertos, Mexico
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This festival is celebrated in Mexico on 1st and 2nd November. Family and friends gather to remember people and it is viewed as a day of celebration because their loved ones awaken and celebrate with them. The focus of the festival is on celebrating life, with bright colourful decorations, flowers, food and drink and family reunions
Papel Picados
A popular way to decorate places for any Mexican celebration is a traditional Mexican folk craft called Papel Picado. This is where elaborate designs are cut into tissue paper and then hung as banners. Often multiple sheets are cut at the same time and the designs are very intricate and often tell a story.
Have a go at creating your own simple designs to decorate your home |
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