Multicultural Holidays in May

In this month of May there are many fun cultural holidays from around the world that you and your family can get involved in! America is a melting pot of cultures from around the world, so why not get involved in some of the fun festivities that these other cultures have to offer.

Some of the holidays this month are already past, but you can still do something with your child to celebrate these holidays. Not only are they fun, but they also help build knowledge and appreciation for the diverse population of cultures that make up the people of the United States of America.

We kicked off this month with May Day. This is originally a German holiday that welcomed spring and was also a time to chase away evil spirits. The evening of April 30th to the morning of May 1^st , people would  light bonfires and spend the night outside. Maypoles (a decorated tree or tree trunk) would be prepared and erected in the morning; celebration and dancing would follow. Decorating a stick with pretty ribbons and sticking it in the ground to dance around can be a fun event for everyone in the family.

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This past weekend, all Americans (whether or not they are Mexican descent) celebrated Cinco de Mayo (which is to commemorate the cause of freedom and democracy; and is now a day of Mexican heritage and pride). Some popular ways to celebrate this holiday would be to make cultural food (or go to an authentic restaurant), make a piñata and maracas, learn a dance, and sing (or listen to) patriotic songs. Learning a little dance and wearing a sombrero can be great fun for kids, and also improves their gross motor skills as well as rhythm. 

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Children’s Day is also celebrated on May 5^th. This holiday is celebrated in China, Japan, and Korea.

This is a holiday set aside to celebrate children, their personalities, and their happiness in life. It is also a holiday to express gratitude toward children’s mothers! For this holiday, carp kites are made and flown outside. Kids love to make and fly kites, and this would be a fun activity to do with your child sometime this month; especially since the weather is perfect for flying kites at a park.

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Discovering and celebrating traditions as families and communities strengthens these fundamental units of society! So get out and discover what traditions another culture has to offer!