Santa Ushers in the Holiday Season

Kid's in the United States art all set and ready for Thanksgiving tomorrow. Not only will they be giving thanks to God for all He has done for them and feasting on delicious turkey and desserts, they will be enjoying the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Kids and parents from all over the U.S come to New York and brave the cold weather just to get a first hand view of the spectacular floats and Balloons. Their favorite cartoon characters are blown up to larger than life size and float down broadway to the oohs and aahs of the on looking children. At the end of the parade Santa Claus is welcomed as he officially ushers in the start of the holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

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Balloons for Macys Thanksgiving Parade
Jodi Cobb
64 x 48 inches

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(6 other sizes available)
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Santa waves to the crowd at 2006 parade

The Macy's Thanksgiving Parade has been an American Thanksgiving Day tradition for 81 years . It is internationally recognized as the official start of the holiday season and world famous as a uniquely American Entertainment Extravaganza. Each year Macy features a line-up of spectacular floats, giant helium balloons and the best of high school and college marching bands, specialty youth performance groups and top stars from television, music and films.

The debut of shrek in 2007

This year's 11 giant helium balloons include three new ones: William Steig's swamp-loving ogre, "Sesame Street's" fairy-in-training Abby Cadabby and Hello Kitty Supercute, the cape- and tiara-wearing feline superhero. A returning feature is Kermit the frog. Pikachu has been a yearly favorite since 2001.

2007 floats: The Care Bears Winter Fun-Derland, International Cele-Bear-Ation Clock Tower, M&M's Chocolate Candies on Broadway, Music Bigger than Life

This year's Macy's Thanksgiving parade will march down Broadway on Thursday with a grumpy green Shrek — one of three new balloons — and the Virginia Tech marching band playing in tribute to victims of last spring's campus shooting.

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2007:An earth balloon and the Ronald McDonald balloon all set
for the parade tomorrow

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2007: Snowman is all ready to take to the skies. He'll have to
wait till tomorrow.

Everyone can watch it Thursday from 9:00 am - noon ET. on NBC

Thanksgiving in Canada

How Thanksgiving got to Canada

In Canada Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second
Monday in October. Canadians give thanks for a successful harvest.
The harvest season is earlier in Canada than in the United States because
Canada is further north. Thanksgiving in Canada was also celebrated
43 years before it was celebrated in the United States.

Canadian and Quebec Flags at Full Mast, Montreal, Canada

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by Wayne Walton

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Thanksgiving started in Canada with the English explorer, Martin Frobisher,
who was on his way to the Orient. He did not make it to the Far East but
instead established a settlement in Northern America. To give thanks for
surviving the long journey he held a formal ceremony. This took place in 1578 in
NewFoundland.This was Canada's First Thanksgiving. Other settlers arrived
and continued these ceremonies. He was later knighted and had an inlet of
the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him - Frobisher Bay.

French settlers also crossed the ocean at that time and arrived in Canada
with explorer Samuel de Champlain, also held huge feasts of thanks.
They even formed 'The Order of Good Cheer' and gladly shared their food
with their Indian neighbours.

Thanksgiving Greetings, Corn and Pumpkin

Fine Art Print

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During the American Revolution, Americans who remained loyal to
England moved to Canada where they brought the customs and practices
of the American Thanksgiving to Canada. There are many similarities between
the two thanksgivings such as cornucopia and pumpkin pie

On January 31st, 1957, the Canadian Parliament proclaimed...

"A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful
harvest with which Canada has been blessed ... to be observed
on the 2nd Monday in October.

Both Canadians and Americans celebrate Thanksgiving with parades, family gatherings, pumpkin pie and a whole lot of turkey!

Children's Thanksgiving Stories

Easy Thanksgiving Decorations

String of Leaves

Supplies needed:

Construction paper (orange, red, yellow, brown, and other earth tones) Crayons or markers Scissors Glue, tape, or staples A long piece of green or brown yarn or string 1. Draw a leaf on a piece of construction paper. Make sure to draw a thick stem on the top (your leaf will hang from this stem, which will be folded over). 2. Cut out the leaf. Draw the leaf veins if you wish. Fold the leaf's stem in half. 3. Attach the leaf to a long string using tape, glue, or staples. Make more leaves and attach them to the string. Hang your string of leaves across the room for a wonderful Thanksgiving decoration.

Kids Love Thanksgiving: The Jewish Harvest Festival

Sukkot

Jewish children in Israel and all over the world celebrate
Thanksgiving with the Jewish Harvest Festival called Sukkot.
In modern day Israel and around the world, Sukkot is a 7-day holiday,
with the first day celebrated as a full festival with special prayer services
and holiday meals. Sukkot is a Biblical pilgrimage festival that occurs in
autumn on the 15th day of the month of Tishri (late September to late October).
The holiday lasts 7 days. This year it took place from the sunset of October 13
- the sunset of October20/21 depending on your location in the world.

The Festival of Sukkot begins on the fifth day after Yom Kippur.
The holiday commemorates the forty-year period during which
the children of Israel were wandering in the desert.
Sukkot is also a harvest festival.

Sukkot traditions and customs have both historical and religious significance. This festival dates back to the period during which Hebrews wandered in the wilderness on route to Canaan (now Israel). During their pilgrimage, they lived in temporary booths. This open living space is called a sukkah. People also gathered in sukkot to worship and share meals. Thus, Sukkot is also called the Feast of Tabernacle. During harvest time, farmers lived in sukkot in open fields because it gave them more time for harvesting. During Succoth, farmers take this time to thank God for the crops. On each of the seven days of Sukkot, the Torah requires the Jew to take Four Species of plants and to grasp and shake them in a specific manner. These species are: the lulav (date palmfrond), hadass (bough of a myrtle tree), aravah (willow branch)— these three are actually and collectively referred to as the lulav—and the etrog (a citron, a lemon-like citrus fruit). The word Sukkot is the plural of the Hebrew word sukkah, meaning booth or hut. During this holiday, Jews are instructed to build a temporary structure in which to eat their meals, entertain guests, relax, and even sleep. The sukkah is reminiscent of the type of huts in which the ancient Israelites dwelt during their 40 years of wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt, and is intended to reflect God's benevolence in providing for all the Jews' needs in the desert. Ancient Sukkah Kids who love camping outdoors, have a lot of fun. The sukkah has at least three sides and a partially open roof covered with greenery such as olive branches. Three sides of the sukkah are covered with blue and gold fabric. Part of the fun of sukkot is decorating the sukkah with fruits, flowers and, in the United States, autumn vegetables like corn and squash. During Sukkot, a special ceremony is held each day to thank God for the harvest. Sukkot (Hebrew: סוכות or סֻכּוֹת, sukkōt ; "booths", also known as Succoth, Sukkos, Feast of Booths or Feast of Tabernacles

Kid's Love Thanksgiving: Chinese Moon Festival

Chinese Mid- Autumn Harvest Festival

The Moon Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most
celebrated Chinese holidays. It is held on the 15th day
of the 8th lunar month. Chinese families enjoy the
full moon which is a symbol of abundance,
harmony and luck. They celebrate the end of
the harvest season with a big feast.


Chinese Children make mooncakes

Unlike the
American Thanksgiving dinner, the Chinese
have mooncakes instead of grandma' apple pie.
Friends and relatives also send mooncakes to
each other as a way of giving thanks. Along with
the delicious mooncakes, the children enjoy lit lanterns,
puppet shows and lantern processions.



Panda celebrates the Moon festival with special mooncake

Moon Festival

Giclee Print

by Yin Chang Zhong item #: 12013472A

24" x 18"

24" x 18"

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The Giclee printing process delivers a fine stream of ink resulting in vivid,
pure color and exceptional detail that is suitable for museum or gallery display.
This art print is produced on a heavy 310 gsm, acid-free and watercolor textured paper.

Chinese legends say that the moon is at its brightest
and roundest on this day. Under this bright autumn moon,
friendships are made and renewed. For many years,
Chinese poets wrote about long lost lovers finding their
way to each other on this special night.
It is said to be the perfect night for a romantic rendezvous.

Moon Lantern at Chinese Lantern Festival (Yuen Sui),
Victoria Park, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Photographic Print - 18" x 24" by Dallas Stribley

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No one can be sure of the origins of the Harvest Moon Festival
also called the Mid-Autumn Festival. The origins were romanticized
by the story of Chang Er, who was believed to have taken a pill
and became a fairy and flew to the moon to escape
from the pursuit of her husband. It was thought that
we could see Chang Er on the moon when it is at its brightest.
The exact date in the Western calendar changes from year
to year but it is approximately in September.

Girls Dressed in Traditional Clothing for Loi Krathong,
a Full Moon Festival, Thailand

Photographic Print - 32" x 24" by Joe Cummings

Our Price: $69.99

The August Moon Festival is often called the Women's Festival.
The moon symbolizes beauty and elegance. While Westerners
worship the sun (yang or male) for its power, people in the Far
East admire the moon. The moon is the 'yin' or
female principle and it is a trusted friend.

Dragon Procession at Harvest Moon Festival in Chinatown, San Francisco, California, USA

Photographic Print 24" x 18" by Roberto Gerometta

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In fact, many ancient August Moon folktales
are about a moon maiden. On the 15th night
of the 8th lunar moon, little children on earth
can see a lady on the moon. On this magical
occasion, children who make wishes to the Lady
on the Moon will find their dreams come true.
The Moon Festival is celebrated all over Asia
like Malaysia, Thailand, Laos etc.

Books on the Moon Festival