On Saturday, December 5, join us online to celebrate Holiday Traditions from Around the World. Since the Gold Rush, immigrants came to the county from countries around the world. When they came, they brought with them customs from their homelands. The day’s craft activities explore some of the holiday traditions that people brought with them to the Peninsula.
Hands-On Activities
Enjoy recreating these holiday traditions and crafts from around the world!
Bird Rattle
Rattles are popular in Mexico during New Year’s Celebrations
Supplies:
- template, parts one and two (you will only need two of these circles)
- tape (masking tape works best, but any tape will do)
- craft stick (or pencil, small branch, dowel–anything of similar size/shape)
- dried beans (or rice, pony beads—anything of similar size/weight)
- crayons, markers or color pencils
- glue stick
Click here for instructions.
Kinara
A Kinara is a candle holder used during Kwanzaa–a holiday celebrating African American culture
Supplies:
- paper plate
- craft sticks
- yellow tissue paper (if you don’t have tissue paper, you can use any kind of yellow paper, or use white paper and a yellow crayon/marker/highlighter)
- tape
- markers/crayons/color pencils
- glue stick
Click here for instructions.
If you don’t have craft sticks, you can cut out similar candle shapes from thin cardboard or construction paper. Or, you can click here for a printable version. Courtesy DLTK’s Crafts for Kids.
Hagiota Paddle
A Hagoita paddle is a piece from a traditional Japanese New Year’s game called hanetsuki.
Supplies:
- paddle template (printing on cardstock works best, if you don’t have cardstock, print and cut out the template, then trace it onto a piece of thin cardboard (like the back of a cereal box)
- geisha template (regular paper is fine)
- craft stick (or pencil, small branch, dowel–anything of similar size/shape)
- tape (masking tape works best, but any tape will work)
- glue stick
- crayons/markers/color pencils
Optional: a cotton ball and a small square of tissue paper (or a tissue/sheet of paper towel/napkin).
Click here for instructions.
Handbell Performance
Ring in the holidays with a prerecorded performance by the San Francisco State University Handbell Choir. Click here for a printable program.
For more information on the group, visit our Courthouse Docket page. The Courthouse Docket series is sponsored by Cypress Lawn Heritage Foundation.
A Perfect Adventure for the Whole Family
