Moms deserve a special day all to themselves. Being a mom myself, I am probably biased, but… I believe that being a mother is the most difficult thing a woman can do & the accomplishment is something to be celebrated!

The origins of Mother’s Day have roots in the 1600s. Mothering Day as it was called in England, became an especially compassionate holiday toward the working class women. On the Sunday of Lent, servants and trade workers were allowed to travel back to their towns of origin to visit their families. Mothering Day also provided a one-day reprieve from the fasting and penance of Lent so that families across England could enjoy a sumptuous family feast—Mother was the guest of honor. Mothers were presented with cakes and flowers, as well as a visit from their beloved and distant children.

The modern day US celebration is very similar to the celebrations of the English so long ago. We shower our Mothers with flowers, greeting cards and gifts to thank them for their devotion and love. However, the Holiday is not specific to the United States and is celebrated all over the world in a number of different ways.

• 1. Argentina: During Día de la madre, young children gather their mothers together and read them poetry.
• 2. Japan: On haha no hi, families prepare traditional dishes that their mothers taught them to cook. The Japanese give their Mothers flowers (especially red carnations), scarves, handkerchiefs and handbags.
• 3. United Kingdom: The Mother’s day traditions include a gift of violet and the customary Simnel Cake, a glazed fruitcake inspired by a folk tale about a married couple, Simon and Nell. So the story goes, this pair could not decide bake or broil a cake. So in the end they did both. Thus Simnel Cake was born.
• 4. Finland: Mother’s Day is called aidipayiva and in the morning the family takes a walk, picks new flowers and makes a bouquet for their mother. A particular flower called the valkovuokko is favored. Mom is then presented with a decorated bouquet, while also being served breakfast in bed.
• 5. Sweden: Mother’s Day takes a charitable course; the Swedish Red Cross sells small plastic flowers leading up to the holiday, and the proceeds raised are given to poor mothers and their children.

This year to celebrate our wonderful Mothers in a new and different way, perhaps we can adopt a few of the unique customs that are celebrated around the world. Read a poem to your mom, bake a cake, serve her breakfast in bed, or make a charitable donation in her name. Take it from someone who knows, she will appreciate the originality and thought that is put into making Mother’s Day such a special and wonderful day of celebration!

Lisa Smith has a BA in Psychology & is the Owner/CEO of Regionz Kidz, a multi-cultural infant & toddler clothing line featuring ethnically diverse characters and designs. She publishes a blog on her website http://www.regionzkidz.com that discusses cultural diversity & children & is a frequent guest blogger on other blogs and websites regarding parenting and children’s issues. She is also a monthly contributor to Educated Mommy Magazine. You can contact Lisa directly at: lisa@regionzkidz.com

 In this new age of social responsibility and environmental concern, parents are looking for easy and fun ways to teach their children about the necessity of giving back to those in need & cleaning up the environment. However, this has also become a time of extravagant birthday party celebrations for young children with inflatable jumping machines, balloon arches, disposable party utensils and lots of unnecessary gifts; none of which seem to teach our children about social issues or the environment. So, what can we as “green” parents do? There are several different ways to incorporate giving back to others and environmentally friendly ideas to create a fun and exciting Birthday celebration.

1. Invitations – Create recycled invitations from scraps of left-over paper, art supplies and items around the house that fit in with the theme of your party. There are recycled paper invitations, “tree-free” paper invitations, as well as seeded invitations, that, when planted, will grow into a flower garden. You can also send electronic invitations which cut down on paper and cost.

2. Location – Let your child choose the location based on their interests. Farms, parks, fire stations, zoos, museums, and animal shelters all make wonderful “natural” backdrops for a party and won’t require much additional decoration. In addition, the children (and adults) can learn about ways to help these local organizations, take care of plants and animals and enjoy nature.

3. Décor – Latex balloons, plastic utensils and paper napkins are a natural parent’s worst nightmare! Opt for some more earth-friendly items such as paper lanterns, non-disposable utensils, cloth napkins and table cloths and flowers or plants as centerpieces.

4. Cake or Dessert – Make your own vegan or organic cake or cupcakes. This provides you with an opportunity to teach your child about the importance of healthy & organic products, as well as allowing them to participate in the creation of a dessert that will be enjoyed by all of their guests.

5. Party Favors – The typical plastic goody bags filled with candy and useless toys can easily be replaced by earth-friendly items such as unique rocks, flower or vegetable seeds and planting materials. Home-made baked goods or art projects are always a thoughtful parting gift as well.

6. Gifts – This is where things can get a bit tricky – most children enjoy and look forward to receiving gifts during their Birthday celebration . Before you begin planning the party, you should re-evaluate what a birthday party means for you and your child. If a discussion occurs early in the process and clarifies the expectations for the party and the gifts, children will be excited about the good things that will be created from their very special party. The key is to combine your social and environmental values with a theme that your child will embrace and enjoy. Along with the theme, choose a charity or organization that will benefit from monetary or product donations. Take a tour of the shelter, charity or organization that your child has chosen or, if the charity is not local, view their website to help your child form an emotional connection with that particular group.

If this type of involved planning really isn’t your thing, there are companies out there that will do it all for you. One such company is Inspired Birthdays. They offer 5 different themed parties focusing on anything from wild animals, to healthy living, to volunteering & they have several different planning packages depending on how much help you need. Each them is partnered with a charity and parents can choose from different donation options for their guests. They can bring everything you need or just the entertainment – you decide!

These party planning options are easy, fun and can be enjoyed fully by the guests, the birthday child and parents alike. They keys to raising socially and environmentally responsible children are to educate them on about giving back and showing them how much fun it can be. A Birthday party is an experience that children look forward to and remember. Why not tie in some simple but meaningful themes and ideas that will change your children and their outlook on the world for the better?

On April 1st, how many of us have listened to stories, read an article in the paper or received an email from friends, family or co-workers that was immediately followed by the loud yell of “April Fools!”? April 1st is the US National holiday for tricks, pranks and other practical jokes. The commonly accepted origin of April Fool’s Day or All Fool’s Day, involves changes in the calendar. At one time, the New Year celebration began on March 25 and ended on April 1. However, in 1582, King Charles IX accepted the beginning of the New Year as January 1. Those who refused to acknowledge the new date or simply forgot, received foolish gifts and invitations to nonexistent parties. It has evolved into a day of light-hearted trickery and has produced some elaborate and well-known hoaxes.

The United State is not the only country to participate in a national prank day. Several others around the world also play host to a day similar to ours.
• In Iran, people play jokes on each other on April 3, the 13th day of the Persian calendar. It is believed that people should go out on this date in order to escape the bad luck of number 13.
• On April 1st, the French play a game called “April’s Fish” and attempt to attach a paper fish to the victims’ back’s without being noticed. This is also widespread in other nations, such as Italy where “April’s Fish” is also used to refer to any other jokes done during the day
• In Belgium, the tradition is for children to lock their parents or teachers out of the house or school, only letting them in if they promise to bring treats the same evening or the next day.
• In some countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, on April 1st, if somebody pulls an April Fools’ Trick after midday, then the person pulling the trick is actually considered the fool.

So, this year, if you can’t quite create a believable hoax, prank or joke yourself, you can try taking an idea from some of the countries above. You’ll not only getting the benefit of yelling “April Fool’s!” to your unsuspecting victim, but you’ll also be teaching a little about some different customs as well; and that’s no joke!

In many communities across America the complaint is the same; “I want to help my children learn about other races, religions and cultures, but my community isn’t very integrated & my circle of friends is not diverse, what do I do?” It’s true that although we are a country of diverse backgrounds, most people tend to seek out groups of friends of the same race, religion and/or ethnicity. It is easier to find common ground and the language barrier is not present when spending time with others who share in our culture. However, parents would like their children to be accepting and tolerant of other cultures even though they may not be exposed to them on a regular basis, what’s a parent to do?

Enter the wonderful world of children’s television programming. With the choices our children now have, you can expose your children to multiple cultures, languages and traditions all in the same afternoon. A new study released recently from the American Academy of Pediatrics reveals that high-quality educational programming can have a positive effect on young children. These programs assist in the acquisition of general knowledge and improve cognitive learning among children ages six and younger. The report also states that educational programming which emphasizes cultural and racial diversity can improve children’s attitudes to those subjects.

So, the television now becomes the ultimate cultural teacher & not the “boob tube” that parents once thought it to be. The one possible drawback to this seemingly perfect answer? There must be culturally diverse and age-appropriate shows for children to view & learn from.

Luckily for us parents searching, children’s programmers have responded. There are any number of shows on television today featuring characters of different races, with disabilities and even those that speak different languages. Three child-oriented stations are leading the pack with their high-quality, diverse and educational television programs.

PBS, the trailblazer in this category features Sesame Street, which has taught generations of children around the world their ABCs and how to count. Much more than that, since the inception of the show 35 year ago, there have been racially diverse characters & characters with disabilities & they all work together to promote the overall the message of acceptance and togetherness. Even today, there are strong female characters, multi-lingual characters that teach “words of the day,” & they have featured adopted families, non-traditional families & characters in wheelchairs all enjoying their time on 123 Sesame Street.

Nickelodeon has been the big winner in viewer share and profit with their introduction of Dora the Explorer and it’s spin off, Go Diego Go. These educational cartoons feature multi-lingual, Hispanic characters that teach about animals, letters, numbers, counting and Hispanic traditions. The real innovation with these programs is that they also focus on teaching Spanish to non-native speakers. The repetition and interactive nature of the 30 minute shows make learning fun and also get children up off of the couch to participate in the actions that Dora, Diego and their friends instruct.

Nick is also launching a series in February with an Asian-American leading lady. The show, “Ni Hao, Kai Lan,” was created by a first generation Chinese American. It targets 2- to 5-year-olds and follows bilingual five-year-old Kai-Lan as she learns about her inter-generational Chinese-American family. The curriculum focuses on social and emotional lessons, multicultural values, cause-and-effect thinking, and basic Mandarin Chinese language skills.

Finally, we have NOGGIN TV and the show, Little Bill, the everyday adventures of an African-American boy. The show is based on Bill Cosby’s popular book series and is developed through research and in consultation with educational experts. The show is designed to help kids celebrate their everyday experiences and the people who share them. Little Bill shows kids that what they do makes a difference in the world. By dealing with conflicts encountered in everyday life, the program encourages children to value the love of their family, to increase self-esteem, and to develop social skills.

These programs are just the first in a long line of diverse and unique shows that will help our children to see that different is just different and we are no better or worse for not looking, speaking or dressing like “everyone else.” Congratulations to PBS, Nickelodeon and Noggin TV for being innovators and addressing the need that we as parents have for teaching from the comfort of our own homes. Nothing replaces the human interaction and relationships that are important to helping children understand cultural differences; it is still important to try to get involved and meet other families that are different from us. In some circumstances however, that proves extremely difficult and given the choice between not exposing them to these differences at all, or spending an hour watching any of the children’s programs that were created to teach and enrich their experiences, I’m picking up the remote control.

This year, March is the month for Easter! Religiously it is celebrated as the resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion, and secularly, it is celebrated with colored eggs, chocolate candies and stuffed bunnies. Easter is called a “moveable” Holiday because it is unfixed in relation to the civil calendar and follows the cycle of the moon. In the West, Easter always falls on a Sunday anytime from March 22nd – April 25,th and the rule since the Middle Ages has been that Easter is observed on the Sunday after the first full moon. Whether celebrating in the religious manner with the traditions of the church, or by decorating eggs and hiding them throughout the house, most families in the United States, as well as other countries around the world celebrate the Easter Holiday in some way or another.

• In Canada, eggs and other treats are distributed by the Easter Bunny. The modern belief that eggs are delivered by a rabbit known as the Easter Bunny comes from the legend of the Goddess Eostre. So much did a lowly rabbit want to please the Goddess that he laid the sacred eggs in her honor, gaily decorated them, and humbly presented them to her. She was so pleased at the gift that she wished all humankind to share in her joy. In honor of her wishes, the rabbit went through the entire world and distributed these little decorated gifts of life.

• In the UK, families exchange chocolate eggs on Easter Sunday. They also enjoy a traditional Sunday Roast Dinner and eat foods like Simnel cake, a fruit cake with eleven marzipan balls representing the eleven faithful apostles. Hot cross buns are also eaten through Holy Week and the Easter period. In Northern England and Ireland, families gather together and roll decorated eggs down steep hills.

• Norway has a more contemporary Easter tradition that involves the solving of murder mysteries that are broadcast on television and printed in the local newspapers and magazines.

• In Finland, Sweden and Denmark, small children dressed up as witches and collect candy and treats door-to-door, in exchange for decorated pussy willows. This mixture comes from the old Orthodox tradition in which houses are blessed with willow branches, and the Scandinavian Easter witch tradition.

• People in Germany and the Netherlands light Easter fires on Easter Sunday at sunset.

• In Hungary, perfume or perfumed water is sprinkled in exchange for an Easter egg.

No matter our religious denomination, ethnicity or culture, we can broaden our horizons and add some new experiences to our own family traditions. Whether we try some new foods for Easter dinner, roll our eggs down the steepest hill in our neighborhood, or read a mystery story aloud as a family, experiencing different and unique things together can lead to some treasured family memories.

For some great Easter cookie greeting ideas with flair, visit: http://www.greetingcookie.com

So, I am an avid Harry Potter Fan and had a long drive to make this weekend - the perfect solution - take my books on CD to listen to!

As I paid close attention to the words, I realized what an important lesson the books teach us about diversity and learning to live together and stand up for one another regardless of our background or how we look.  JK Rowling introduces us to flawed characters that are all different; muggles (non-magical), half-bloods (mixed ancestry), giants, werewolves and so many others.  She shows their weaknesses, but also their strengths and what makes them just like everyone else - their humanity.  In the end, they all end up banding together to fight the evil that threatens to destroy them.

What a wonderful theme that the books teach our children and how wonderful that an author who is bigger than life, took time to carefully set out to teach important lessons and help our children learn lessons of life on a fun and imaginative journey.  These stories are very much more than media hype - they have brought families together to read again, they have re-introduced adults to the fun of reading for pleasure and they do teach much deeper lessons about life.

Good vs. Evil, acceptance, tolerance and perserverance are all themes that are interwoven into all of the stories and are magnified in the character of Harry.  We can all find a part of ourselves in him I believe.

If you have not read these books or better yet, read them with your children, I encourage you to do so - - much more than taking you to a vivid imaginative world (and they will do that!) they can also help to remind us that although we are all different, no one is perfect and we are all working toward the same goals.

Chinese New Year or Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year, is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th; this day is called the Lantern festival.

According to legend, in ancient China, the Nián was a man-eating beast from the mountains (in other versions from under the sea), which came out every 12 months somewhere close to winter to prey on humans. The people later believed that the Nian was sensitive to loud noises and the color red, so they scared it away with explosions, fireworks and the liberal use of the color red. These customs led to the first New Year celebrations. Guò nián, which means to celebrate the new year, literally means the passover of the Nian.

A reunion dinner is held on New Year’s Eve where members of the family, near and far, get together for the celebration. The venue will usually be in or near the home of the most senior member of the family. The New Year’s Eve dinner is very sumptuous and traditionally includes chicken and fish. Red packets for the immediate family are sometimes distributed during the reunion dinner. These packets often contain money in certain numbers that reflect good luck and honorability. Several foods are consumed to usher in wealth, happiness, and good fortune.

During these 15 days of the Chinese New Year one will see superstitious or traditional cultural beliefs with meanings which can be puzzling in the eyes of those who do not celebrate this occasion. There is a customary reason that explains why everything, not just limited to decorations, is centered on the color red. At times, gold is the accompanying color for reasons that are already obvious. One best and common example is the red diamond-shaped posters with the character 福 (pinyin: fú), or “auspiciousness” which are displayed around the house and on doors. This sign is usually seen hanging upside down, since the Chinese word (pinyin: dǎo), or “upside down”, sounds similar as (pinyin: dào), or “arrive”. Therefore, it symbolizes the arrival of luck, happiness, and prosperity.

Some of the “good luck” superstitions are as follows:

•Opening windows and/or doors is considered to bring in the good luck of the new year.

•Switching on the lights for the night is considered good luck to ’scare away’ ghosts and spirits of misfortune that may compromise the luck and fortune of the new year.

•Sweets are eaten to ensure the consumer a “sweet” year.

•It is important to have the house completely clean from top to bottom before New Year’s Day for good luck in the coming year. (however, as explained below, cleaning the house after New Year’s Day is frowned upon)

•Some believe that what happens on the first day of the new year reflects the rest of the year to come. Asians will often gamble at the beginning of the year, hoping to get luck and prosperity.

•Wearing a new pair of slippers that is bought before the new year, because it means to step on the people who gossip about you.

•The night before the new year, bathe yourself in pomelo leaves and some say that you will be healthy for the rest of the new year

In 2008 the date of Chinese New Year is February 7th and it will be celebrated in communities with a large Chinese population. Those of us that don’t regularly celebrate Chinese New Year can still enjoy the Holiday be reading the story of Nian, eating a meal with our family, lighting a latern and wearing red and gold. Enjoy the day & celebrate something new with your family!

February 14th has come to mean red and pink hearts, flowers, chocolates and Hallmark cards here in the US. But, how did Valentine’s Day become a day that we celebrate with our loved ones? Valentine’s Day began as a saint’s day commemorating Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr. The day became associated with romantic love in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

The day is most closely associated with the exchange of love notes in the form of “valentines.” Modern Valentine symbols include the winged Cupid and the heart. Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards. The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas.

We are all familiar with the US version of the Valentine’s Celebration – but how do other cultures celebrate the Holiday?

• In the UK a character called ‘Jack’ Valentine knocks on the rear door of houses leaving sweets and presents for children.
• In Wales many people celebrate St Dwynwen’s Day on 25 January instead of, or as well as, St Valentine’s Day. The day commemorates St Dwynwen, the patron saint of Welsh lovers.
• In Finland, Valentine’s Day is called Ystävänpäivä which translates into “Friend’s day”. As the name says, this day is more about remembering your friends than your loved ones.
• In Slovenia, a proverb says that “St Valentine brings the keys of roots,” so on February 14, plants and flowers start to grow. Another proverb says “Valentin - prvi spomladin” (”Valentine — first saint of spring”), as in some places, Saint Valentine marks the beginning of spring.
• In Chinese culture, there is a counterpart to Valentine’s Day, called “The Night of Sevens”; according to legend the Cowherd and the Weaver Maid meet in Heaven on the 7th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar.

To put a unique spin on Valentine’s Day try incorporating some of the other special traditions practiced by cultures around the world.

1. Leave a present for your child on the doorstep from Jack Valentine
2. Spend time with your friends and encourage your children to do the same. Focus on fellowship more than the feelings of love.
3. Plant flowers, trees or bushes in celebration of the coming of Spring
4. Read the story of the Night of Sevens and discuss it with your children.

Please take a minute and consider that Valentine’s can be a fun and memorable day for children, families, parents and singles alike if we look at the Holiday through a different pair of eyes.

Having just returned recently from the Happiest Place on Earth & having had a WONDERFUL experience taking our 2 year old daughter for the first time, I thought this was a great slideshow the shows the cultural sensitivity of the Disney Company & the class with which they handle themselves in all aspects of their business.

Click here to view the slideshow 

Please enjoy the slideshow & visit Disneyland when you get the opportunity - you really will feel warm and fuzzy all over when you leave Lisa

My partner Michelle at www.MagicalMeltingpot.com has many delicious multi-cultural recipes especially perfect for this time of year.  Take a look at these yummy cookies from all different parts of the world & try making some of them with your family this Holiday season!

 http://food.yahoo.com/blog/themagicalmeltingpot/1850/holiday-cookies-from-around-the-world