Dr. Seuss Day
Dr. Seuss Day
A Part of American History
Held annually on March 2nd, Dr. Seuss Day is a holiday that celebrates the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel – otherwise known by the pen name by which he authored children’s books: Dr. Seuss. During the 1990s, the National Education Association advocated for a day to celebrate reading all over the United States. In 1998, it started Read Across America and decided to hold it on the same day as Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
On Dr. Seuss Day, it is customary to read a favorite book with your child. It could be one of Dr. Seuss’s books or it could be another children’s book author. The whole point of the day is to engage children in reading and to get them to read on a regular basis.
Things you can do in March for Read Across America Day!
- Read a Dr. Seuss book as a family!
- Visit your local library & check out a book by an American author – Many libraries have family friendly events too!
Cultural Activities This Season!
Share your holiday traditions and customs with a student from a different country. This is a great way to expand your knowledge and understanding of how other countries celebrate.
On December 25th, over 2 billion people (over a third of the world’s population) will celebrate Christmas Day! People celebrate Christmas Day in many ways. It is often combined with customs from pre-Christian winter celebrations. Many people decorate their homes, visit family or friends and exchange gifts. In the days or even weeks before Christmas Day, many people decorate their homes and gardens with lights, Christmas trees and much more.
It is common to organize a special meal, often consisting of turkey and a lot of other festive foods, for family or friends and exchange gifts with them. Children, in particular, often receive a lot of gifts from their parents and other relatives and the mythical figure Santa Claus. This has led to Christmas Day becoming an increasingly commercialized holiday, with a lot of families spending a large part of their income on gifts and food.
Many Sunday schools, churches and communities organize special events. These can include decorating the neighborhood or a shopping mall, putting up a Christmas tree and planning a Nativity display, concert or performance. A lot of plays and songs have an aspect of Christmas as a theme. Some groups arrange meals, shelter or charitable projects for people without a home or with very little money.
Things you can do to celebrate the holidays in America and share with an exchange visitor!
- Make a holiday decoration: paper snowflakes, green & red paper chain, or garland out of popcorn!
- Watch a holiday classic like Elf or How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- Send holiday cards to nursing homes or troops overseas to let them know they’re remembered at Christmas
- Visit outdoor displays of Christmas lights and decorations with a cup a hot chocolate and marshmallows
Learn more about cultural exchange and the benefits at http://saeglobal.org/
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