Around the World: Students Learn About Holidays in Different Cultures

In the United States, there are a variety of holiday traditions from Thanksgiving to Christmas. To learn about traditions in the U.S. and other countries, YouthQuest students will dive into different cultures in November.

“Enrichment is one of the core components of YouthQuest. In November, students are studying holiday traditions around the world,” says Nefertari Jones, program director of YouthQuest. “Students will explore holidays such as Shichi-Go-San, a Japanese holiday, and practice the traditions of the holiday by learning origami.”

Other activities students will participate in this month include:

• Creating drawings to give loved ones during Kwanza, a week-long celebration to honor African heritage in African-American culture
• Making guava jam to honor the traditions of Antiqua and Barbuda’s Independence Day
• Solving a puzzle that represents Bonfire Day, a traditional English holiday

To extend learning at home, parents can:

• Share their family’s cultural traditions with their children. Every family has its special traditions. Explaining the root of those traditions can help students learn about their culture.
• Expose students to other cultures and traditions. Attend community events that celebrate other cultures, such as the Festival of India, which will be held Nov. 23 at the Flint Institute of Music.

YouthQuest is made possible through the generous support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and 21st Century Community Learning Centers.

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