Whether educating one child, a small group or a classroom,

early introduction to a diversity of traditions

and holidays around the world

is an ideal way of providing the child

with a rich cultural background,

thus preparing him for the understanding,

appreciation, respect and tolerance of different

customs and cultural events.

Presentation of traditional holidays

for projects in individual curriculum

areas or for general cultural units

should bring about the awareness

of a distinction between a religious,

national or international event.

Ex: Easter, Eid are religious

Holidays, Sakura, St. Patrick’s

Day are national holidays,

May day, Women’s Day are

international holidays.

Any cultural event can be approached

both as an intellectual experience( arts, music, drama,

books, documentaries) and as a participation act

(observance of a religious holiday, attendence/activities

in community festivals, carnivals, national holidays).
A teacher, parent, school should use discretion

in the way a holiday is approached

in the education of young children.

A cultural event can be presented in its

educational aspect only. May Day, for instance,

is a good occasion to introduce the children

to the art of flower arrangement.

Spring arrival and harvest time are cultural events

celebrated in most countries, yet at different dates in spring

and autumn according to tradition and the respective agrarian calendar.

Usually they are related to spring and autumn equinoxes.