Celebrations Continue in Many Countries!

 Events
Dec 262025
 

Junkanoo is celebrated in the Bahamas. People in colorful costumes parade through towns to the sounds of homemade instruments.

Boxing Day is celebrated in Great Britain and Canada. Christmas boxes are given to people such as newspaper deliverers and postal workers. Idea: Wrap something small in a box. Children must list the attributes of the box contents without opening it. They can use all their senses. They can deduce size, weight, shape, smell, and textures. Then share what is in the box.

Saint Stephen’s Day is celebrated in many countries. Saint Stephen was the first Christian martyr, stoned to death around AD 34. Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, and Switzerland honor Saint Stephen.

National Candy Cane Day

 Events
Dec 262025
 

National Candy Cane Day is today! According to legend, in 1670 a choirmaster for the Cologne Cathedral in Germany asked a local candy maker to make sugar sticks with a bent end (to resemble shepherds’ crooks). He gave the candy to the choirboys to keep them from fidgeting during the long living nativity ceremony. Candy canes were originally flavored with peppermint, but now many flavors and colors are produced. Today about 1.76 billion candy canes are manufactured each year.

Shenandoah National Park Was Created in 1926

 Events
Dec 262025
 

ShenandoahShenandoah National Park was created in 1926. The park, around 200,000 acres in area, encompasses parts of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. Shenandoah National Park has over 500 miles of trails, and 101 of those miles are part of the Appalachian Trail. Children could visit the national park website, watch the videos, and particularly check out the WebRanger portion, at: http://www.nps.gov/shen.

Birthdays

 Events
Dec 262025
 

Charles Babbage (born London, England, 1791; died London, England, October 18, 1871) was a mathematician. He tried to develop two machines, the difference engine and the analytical engine. However, the time’s technology would not permit either machine to be built. Both these machines were precursors to early computers. Idea: Children could take apart an old calculator to see how small the parts are today. They could compare the parts to an illustration of Babbage’s work.

Cece Bell (born Richmond, Virginia, 1970) is an author and illustrator. Her books include El Deafo, which received a 2015 Newbery Honor Award. Other books include the Inspector Flytrap series and Crankee Doodle. Children can visit her website at: Cece Bell.

Thomas Nelson, Jr. (born Yorktown, Virginia, 1738; died Hanover County, Virginia, January 4, 1789) signed the Declaration of Independence. He represented Virginia. A wealthy plantation owner, Nelson organized his own tea party when he dumped two chests of tea into the York River. During the American Revolution, Nelson acted as both Governor of Virginia and a leader in the militia. Legend has it that when he found out the British were using his home as headquarters, he demanded the American troops fire on his home. Children can learn more at: Thomas Nelson, Jr..

Jean van Leeuwen (born Rutherford, New Jersey, 1937) has written over 40 books for children. Her characters include Oliver Pig and Amanda Pig. Children can read more at her website: Jean van Leeuwen.

World Bank and the International Monetary Fund Were Organized in 1945

 Events
Dec 272025
 

World Bank and the International Monetary Fund were organized in 1945. The groups include 188 nations, and the goals are to reduce poverty by providing money to groups. These groups will then create jobs and facilitate trade, improving the overall economy. Older children can learn more at: http://www.worldbank.org/.

Howdy Doody Appeared on Television for the First Time in 1947

 Events
Dec 272025
 
Howdy Doody Photograph by Volcan Yuksel

Howdy Doody
Photograph by Volcan Yuksel

Howdy Doody appeared on television for the first time in 1947. The extremely popular children’s show featured a combination of people and puppets. Cartoons were also shown. It last aired September 24, 1960. Idea: Children could create a puppet show relating to the upcoming New Year’s Eve.

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Dec 272025
 

Ingri Parin d’Aulaire (born Kongsberg, Norway, 1904; died Wilton, Connecticut, October 24, 1980) wrote and illustrated about 27 books with her husband Edgar. They received the 1940 Caldecott Medal for Abraham Lincoln. They are most famous for their book d’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths. Children could learn more at: Ingri Parin d’Aulaire.

Johannes Kepler (born Wurttemburg, Germany, 1571; died Regensburg, Germany, November 15, 1630) was the “father of modern astronomy.” He developed three laws that explain the motion of planets around the sun. Isaac Newton based his theories regarding motion and gravity on Kepler’s work. Idea: Students could create models of Kepler’s three laws of planetary motion. They could learn more at: Johannes Kepler.

Louis Pasteur (born Dole, Jura, France, 1822; died Villeneuve l’Etang, France, September 28, 1895) was a bacteriologist. He discovered a cure for rabies. The pasteurization process was named in honor of him. Idea: Children could discover how and why milk is pasteurized. Then they could make chocolate milk. Older children could learn more at: Louis Pasteur.

Ted Rand (born Mercer Island, Washington, 1915; died Mercer island, Washington, March 17, 2005) illustrated approximately 78 books for children. He illustrated Knots on a Counting Rope (written by Bill Martin, Jr.), Salty Dog (written by his wife Gloria), and If Not for a Cat (written by Jack Prelutsky). Children can learn more at: Ted Rand.

Diane Stanley (born Abilene, Texas, 1943) writes and illustrates children’s books. A very versatile person, she writes novels, biographies, and picture books. She also wrote the Time Traveling Twin Series. I find her biographies, especially Cleopatra and Leonardo da Vinci, to be perfect for children. Children can learn more about her and examine her staggering list of awards at: Diane Stanley.

Erin E. Stead (Farmington Hills, Michigan, 1982) illustrates books for children. She received the 2011 Caldecott Medal and a 2011 Charlotte Zolotow Award/Honor Book for A Sick Day for Amos McGee, written by her husband Philip C. Stead. Children can visit her website at: Erin E. Stead.

Happy Birthday, Iowa!

 Events
Dec 282025
 

Iowa State Flag

Iowa became the twenty-ninth state of the United States in 1846. It was named after the Iowa Indian tribe. The area was originally part of the Louisiana Purchase. In 1838 it, along with parts of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, was part of the Iowa Territory. Des Moines is the state capital, and its nickname is the Hawkeye State. Iowa ranks 26th in area and 31st in population. It is still a leading producer of corn, cattle, and hogs. Children can visit an Internet site at: Iowa. Idea: Iowa has only four letters in its name. It and two other states have the shortest names. Children could arrange the states’ names according to how many letters are in each name. Which state has the longest name?

Benjamin Franklin Published Poor Richard’s Almanack for the First Time in 1732

 Events
Dec 282025
 
Ben Franklin

Ben Franklin

Benjamin Franklin published Poor Richard’s Almanack for the first time in 1732. He wrote under the pseudonym Richard Saunders and published the almanac yearly through 1758. Here he penned some of his most famous lines, including, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” Children could read, write, and illustrate some of his sayings after they have visited: http://www.poorrichards.net/.

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