An Enchanted Holiday

Shoebox Update

2011-01-29T06:37:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update on the 6 shoeboxes An Enchanted Letter TM sent out this past Christmas.

They arrived in Burkina Faso (in Africa) and Georgia for Christmas! How cool is that?

Thanks to everyone who supports An Enchanted Letter TM, and kudos to Operation Christmas Child for all the hard they do. And a belated Happy New Year! (I've been digging out from under mounds of snow all month, can you believe it? And there's more coming.)

Thank goodness spring will be coming up soon. Can't wait to see what the groundhog says February 2nd!

Happy 4th of July!

2010-07-02T12:17:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July! Time certainly does fly. I don't know where the first half of the year went.

This weekend you will be watching fireworks and eating hotdogs and toasted marshmallows, but when did Independence Day become the 4th of July celebration it is today?

It all started when Britain taxed the colonies without giving them any say how those taxes were spent. Britain levied a tax on items such as tea, glass, paper, and molasses. Also, the colonists were not allowed to compete with British manufacturers. In 1765, Britain passed the Stamp Act--a tax on all documents, newspapers, and pamphlets--that infuriated the colonists. Even though the tax was repealed, bad feelings remained, especially when the Americans learned they had representation in the British Parliament. Hence, the term "No taxation without representation."

In 1771, a fresh tax on tea triggered the Boston Tea Party, wherein colonists dumped the sea into Boston Harbor. Britain then closed Boston Harbor and removed the city's charter. The Americans issued a Declaration of Rights, which banned the import of goods from Britain until Boston's rights were restored. In 1774 the 13 colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia to the First Continental Congress, but they weren't ready to declare war on Britain yet.

But in 1775, when the British government tried to arrest two American leaders at Lexington, things turned sour. The Americans tried to resolve their anger with the British, but with no luck. On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia called for the Continental Congress to declare the colonies free from British rule. During the Second Continental Congress, Thomas Jefferson drafted what would become--after revision from the committee consisting of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and William Livingston--the Declaration, which was finished on July 4th, 1776.

One year later, Philadelphia celebrated bonfires, bells and fireworks.The custom spread over the years, and became even more common after the War of 1812--and less political and more popular. In 1941, Congress declared the 4th of July a Federal holiday.

Have a wonderful 4th of July!

Links:

Library of Congress--links to historical documents about the 4th of July

History Channel--history of Independence Day

History of 4th of July

More history of 4th of July and the events leading up to it

Independence Day Crafts

Clipart for Independence Day

Patriotic Wallpapers

4th of July coloring pages and word searches

4th of July crafts

More 4th of July crafts for kids

4th of July activities and printables for kids

Countdown to Easter Contest!

2010-02-21T12:17:00.000-08:00

It feels kinda weird writing about Easter when there's still snow on the ground. I don't know about you, but I could use a little spring right about now. So here it is. The Countdown to Easter Contest, sponsored by An Enchanted Letter (TM).

The prize is a gorgeous oversized--12" by 11"--hardcover edition of Peter Rabbit's Giant Storybook, plus a paperback edition of It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown.

The contest, open to US and Canadian residents, 18+, ends March 18, 2010. Enter daily at An Enchanted Letter.

Good Luck!

And Think Spring!

Here's the pic:

Valentine's Day is for KIDS! PLUS 2 contests

2010-02-14T08:28:00.001-08:00

Ah. Love!

Who says Valentine's Day is just for adults? I remember when I was a kid and my mom would buy those heart-shaped boxes with all the lace and ruffles, in pink. And there was always at least one bag of the candy hearts with the messages of love on them. She would stick the Valentine's Day cutouts on all the windows, and we'd happily chomp chocolate all day long.

My Mom was a hopeless "romantic" when it came to us kids. And that's what I remember the most about Valentine's Day. No, not the chocolate! My mom standing in the kitchen, doling out those candy hearts. That was her way of saying "I love you." Picking out the right messages and handing them out to us, because she wasn't raised to say the words aloud.

That's what I think is so special about Valentine's Day. Not the fancy chocolates or the roses or the jewelry--the message. "I love you." What a simple thing, but the most important thing a child can hear.

Yes, I think Valentine's Day is for kids. So tell a kid today how much you love them. Even if you have to use a bag of candy. They'll remember. I swear.

Better yet, write them a letter. A love letter for children. Or a silly poem in a handmade card. These are the true treasures of childhood.

Trust me, it's the thought, not the quality of the writing.

Need ideas? Check out Write Your Own Personalized Holiday Letters.

Want a project you can work on together? Enter the POM Heart Art Contest!

Grand Prize: A POM Gift Basket including a Flip Video, a $100.00 American Express gift card, a $250.00 donation to The American Heart Association in your name and more.

Community Prize: A Wonderful POM Pack of POM Products including 100% POM Juice, POMx Coffee, POMx Bars and a POM Backpack.

Hurry--the deadline is February 28, 2010!

And of course, since it's Valentine's Day, you also wish your child love. Enter the Earth's Best Wishes Contest for a chance at a $25,000 savings bond! (Open to relatives of a 5-year-old or younger child). Just make a wish for your child to enter, and you can print it (for free) and give that this Valentine's Day. Makes a beautiful keepsake. (Deadline is March 31, 2010)

Have a deliriously Happy Valentine's Day!

Links:

Free printable Valentine's Day cards from Fisher-Price

Silly Valentine Poems for Kids

Valentine Crafts for kids

Valentine's Day cards and coloring pages

Valentine Clipart (I just uploaded it onto An Enchanted Letter's clipart page)

Happy Groundhog Day!

2010-02-02T05:17:00.001-08:00

Happy Groundhog Day! Will Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow? Or will there be an early spring?

Groundhog Day originates from the European Candlemas.

Candlemas came at the mid-point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. On Candlemas Day, it was the custom for clergy to bless candles and distribute them to the people in the dark of Winter. A lighted candle was placed in each window of the home. The superstition held that a sunny Candlemas Day, February 2nd, foretold that the second half of winter would be stormy and cold. In other words, six more weeks of winter.

But where does Groundhog Day--and Punxsutawney Phil--fit in?

The European Germans believed an animal, initially a hedgehog, frightened by his shadow on Candlemas foretold that winter would last another six weeks. So when the the German settlers came to America in the 18th century, they adopted the groundhog as their weather predictor.

Combined with this, the Delaware Indians settled Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania in 1723. According to the Delaware Indians' creation myth, their ancestors began life as animals in "Mother Earth," and emerged centuries later as men. Groundhogs were considered their ancestral "grandfather."

And so the tradition of Groundhog Day came to be!

February 2nd, 1886, Clymer H. Freas, editor of The Punxsutawney Spirit, the local newspaper, proclaimed Punxsutawney Phil "Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Extraordinary," thereby creating the "official" Groundhog Day, as we celebrate it today.

And so it is every February 2, people gather at Gobbler's Knob, a wooded knoll just outside of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

According to the old English saying:

If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Winter has another flight.
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Winter will not come again.

From Scotland:

If Candlemas Day is bright and clear,
There'll be two winters in the year.

From Germany:

For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day,
So far will the snow swirl until May.
For as the snow blows on Candlemas Day,
So far will the sun shine before May.

And from America:

If the sun shines on Groundhog Day;
Half the fuel and half the hay.

THIS JUST IN!

Phil has apparently seen his shadow, and that means six more weeks of winter.

Oh, well, spring is just around the corner!

Links:

Groundhog Day History

Origins of Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day Coloring Pages

Groundhog Day Activities and Crafts

Groundhog Day Greeting Cards

Groundhog Day Crafts and printables

Groundhog Coloring Pages

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas! Plus shoebox update!

2009-12-24T11:45:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

Santa makes his way around the world tonight, but the shoeboxes An Enchanted Letter (TM) sent to Samaritan's Purse's "Operation Christmas Child" campaign have landed--in Lebanon and Botswana! How cool is that? I just found out from Samaritan's Purse, and wanted to post an update--and a great big THANK YOU to everyone who has ordered from An Enchanted Letter (TM) this year. A portion of profits go to Christmas presents and for gift-filled shoeboxes for needy kids around the world, and I am so grateful for your support.

The holidays are always tough for me, since losing my dad quite a few years ago, so playing "Santa's elf" I think is what gets me through. I get so much joy from shopping for these kids, all year-long. I love to shop! (The only thing I enjoy more than shopping is finding a bargain! Can you say "Sale?") And I love to write, so writing the letters is truly a labor of love. I can't think of a better way to "get through" the holidays.

And what better way to spend Christmas Eve than tracking Santa's journey? Check out the Official Norad Santa Tracker at www.noradsanta.org. Follow Santa around the world as he travels on his magic sleigh delivering goodies!

Have a very Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year!

Christmas History and Traditions

2009-12-24T11:17:00.000-08:00

When we think of Christmas today we think of Santa and Christmas trees hung with tinsel and ornaments and fruitcakes, but "Christmas" and many of its traditions were celebrated around the world, long before the birth of Christ.

Christmas as we know it grew out of both winter solstice and New Year celebrations.

For example, the Mesopotamians believed in many gods, their chief god being Marduk, whom they believed, as winter arrived each year, would do battle with the monsters of chaos. To assist him, they held a New Year's festival called Zagmuk, which lasted for 12 days. The Persians and the Babylonians celebrated a similar festival called the Sacaea.

The early Europeans, who believed in ghosts and evil spirits, feared as the winter solstice approached--bringing long dark nights and short days--that the sun would not return. So, they devised special rituals and celebrations to welcome back the sun. This was also a good time of the year for a feast because around this time they had a fresh supply of meat, and the wine and beer made throughout the year had fermented and was ready to drink.

In Germany, the god Oden, according to superstition, made nocturnal flights through the sky to observe the people, to decide who would prosper and who wouldn't.

The Scandinavians held a festival called Yuletide, with a special feast served around a fire burning with the Yule log. This feast lasted until the log burned out, often as long as 12 days. They also lit bonfires to celebrate the return of the sun. In some areas people would tie apples to branches of trees to remind themselves that spring and summer would return.

The ancient Greeks held a festival similar to that of the Zagmuk/Sacaea festivals to assist their god Kronos who would battle the god Zeus and his Titans.

The Romans celebrated their god Saturn with a festival called Saturnalia. Saturnalia lasted from the middle of December to January 1st, and included masquerades in the streets, feasting, visiting friends, and the exchange of good-luck gifts called Strenae (lucky fruits). They decked their halls with garlands of laurel and green trees lit with candles.

The Romans also celebrated Juvenalia in December, a feast honoring the children of Rome. They also celebrated the birthday of Mithra, the god of the unconquerable sun, on December 25. It was believed that Mithra, an infant god, was born of a rock. For some Romans, Mithra's birthday was the most sacred day of the year.

At first, the birth of Christ was not celebrated, perhaps because the day of the Christ child's birth has never been pinpointed. It has even been suggested Christ may have been born in the spring.

Traditions say that it has been celebrated since the year 98 AD. In 137 AD the Bishop of Rome ordered the birthday of the Christ Child celebrated as a solemn feast. In 350 AD another Bishop of Rome, Julius I, choose December 25th as the observance of Christmas, in an attempt to fold in the popular pagan traditions with the Christian. First called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century. By the end of the eighth century, the celebration of Christmas had spread all the way to Scandinavia.

By the Middle Ages, Christianity had, for the most part, replaced pagan religion. After church, the poor would go to the houses of the rich and demand their best food and drink, a tradition that arose out of the ancient custom of slaves and masters changing places for the December holidays. Christmas became the time of year when the upper classes could repay their real or imagined "debt" to society by entertaining the less fortunate.

Today, in the Greek and Russian orthodox churches, Christmas is celebrated 13 days after the 25th, which is also referred to as the Epiphany or Three Kings Day. This is the day it is believed that the three wise men finally found Jesus in the manger.

And so it is today we go caroling and light the yule logs in the fireplace--or watch the yule log on TV :) We decorate the Christmas tree with lights and ornaments, give presents, eat, and look forward to what the new year will bring.

So you see, there's no need to cram everything into a single day. Sit back, relax, and enjoy all the holiday season has to offer. Spread the joy and fun over a week or two. Personally, I think Christmas should last all year-long. Or at least till Epiphany. Okay, maybe till Easter :)

Happy Holidays!

Links:

The History of Christmas

Christmas History from the History Channel

Christmas crafts for kids

More Christmas crafts for kids

Last-minute homemade gifts

Christmas recipes, coloring pages, more

Last-minute kid-friendly recipes for the holidays

Happy Hanukkah!

2009-12-13T08:11:00.000-08:00

Happy Hanukkah!

This year Hanukkah runs from December 11th-December 19th.

More than 2000 years ago, Israel was annexed by Antiochus, the king of Syria, to the Syrian-Greek empire. At first, life wasn't so bad under Antiochus, but things got worse when his son Seleucus IV took over.

Compounding the problem was the growing rift within the Jewish population: the influence of the Hellenists (people who accepted idol-worship and the Syrian way of life) was increasing, leading to two factions.

When Seleucus was killed, his brother Antiochus IV--a tyrant--assumed the throne. In an attempt to unify his kingdom through a common religion and culture, Antiochus suppressed the Jewish Laws. He removed the righteous High Priest, Yochanan, from the Temple in Jerusalem, and replaced him with Yochanan’s brother Joshua, who called himself by the Greek name of Jason. Joshua/Jason, a member of the Hellenist party, used his high office to spread more and more of the Greek customs among the priesthood. He was replaced by Menelaus.

Antiochus was away at war in Egypt when a rumor spread he was dead, prompting a rebellion against Menelaus, who fled. Upon his return, Antiochus set his army on the Jewish people, and enacted a series of harsh decrees against the Jews. Jewish worship was forbidden; the scrolls of the Law were confiscated and burned.

A group of rebels--called the Maccabees--grew. They set out to destroy the pagan temples and eventually defeated the Syrians. Antiochus realized he must send a powerful army to defeat Judah and his brave fighting men. But still, the Maccabees were victorious.

After they won the war, the Maccabees returned to Jerusalem to liberate it. They entered the Temple and cleared it of the idols placed there by the Syrians. Judah and his followers built a new altar. Since the golden Menorah had been stolen by the Syrians, the Maccabees now made one of cheaper metal. They found only enough oil to light it for one day. But by a miracle of G-d, it continued to burn for eight days, until new oil was made available. That miracle proved that G-d had again taken His people under His protection.

In honor of this miracle Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days.

Every night the menorah is lit: a single flame on the first night, two on the second evening, and so on till the eighth night of Hanukkah, when all eight lights are kindled.

Happy Hanukkah!

Links:

Hanukkah/Chanukah

Hanukkah in a Nutshell

The Story of Chanukah

Hanukkah for Kids--Traditions, Crafts, more

Hanukkah for Kids Links--list of kid-friendly sites

Billy Bear's Hanukkah for Kids -- activities and crafts

All About Hanukkah from Kaboose

Hanukkah clipart at An Enchanted Letter

Happy (?) Thanksgiving

2009-11-23T16:09:00.000-08:00

The "First" Thanksgiving was hardly the first Thanksgiving, at least as far as we know it today. In fact, the subject remains controversial.

Who were the Pilgrims?

The Pilgrims were originally members of the English Separatist Church (a Puritan sect). Their ship, the Mayflower, landed at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620. What followed was a devastating winter, where almost half of the settlers died from exposure to the cold and starvation. The wheat the puritans brought with them wouldn't thrive in the rocky New England soil. But seeing the condition of the Pilgrims, the Wampanoag (Native Americans) took pity on them and taught them how to survive.

But by the fall of 1621, things were looking up, and the Pilgrims decided to celebrate with a three-day feast, which was more of a traditional English harvest festival than a true "Thanksgiving" celebration.

The Pilgrims invited the Native Americans, who most likely provided most of the food, and for three days two different cultures joined together in peace. Unfortunately, this peace did not last. As more settlers arrived, they did not need the help of the Native Americans, and forgot the help the Indians had provided. Things deteriorated, and eventually led to King Phillip's War, decimating the native people through war and disease.

The next "Thanksgiving Day" did not come until June 29, 1676, but that, unfortunately, represented a "celebration" of the colonists' "victory" over the natives.

A one-time "Thanksgiving"a hundred years later in October 1777 celebrated the colonists' victory, this time over the British at Saratoga.

George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789, but it took the efforts of Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor, to make Thanksgiving, as we know it, a national holiday. Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving. In 1863, President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.

In 1941, Congress finally declared Thanksgiving Day a legal holiday.

Thanksgiving represents enjoying--and being thankful for--the fruits of a bountiful harvest and hard work throughout the year. However, for many (especially the Native Americans), it is a day of great sorrow.

Today, Thanksgiving is a day of eating :) and so hearkens back, in essence, to the numerous harvest festivals celebrated by virtually every culture in every age, which proves just how similar all the cultures of the world really are.

Of course, it is also the "official" start of the holiday shopping season. :) But I think it is notable that the main symbol of Thanksgiving--the cornucopia, or horn of plenty--which symbolizes abundance, originated in ancient Greece. It was a curved goat's horn filled to overflowing with fruit and grain. It symbolizes the horn possessed by Zeus's nurse, the Greek nymph Amalthaea, which could be filled with whatever the owner wished.

What do you want to fill your horn with this holiday season?

Links:

"The First Thanksgiving"--a balanced account of what really happened (from the Native American point of view)

History of Thanksgiving

KidsDomain Thanksgiving History sites

Scholastic Thanksgiving Student Activities

Thanksgiving Crafts for kids

More Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids

Thanksgiving Coloring Pages

Thanksgiving Puzzles, Wordfinds, Coloring Pages

Print and Color Thanksgiving Cards from Fisher-Price

Thanksgiving Word Search from Kidprintables

Thanksgiving Maze from Kidprintables

On Santa, Believing, and The Christmas Countdown has begun!

2009-11-19T07:10:00.000-08:00

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus . . .

It seems the holiday season starts earlier and earlier every year, but in some ways, that’s not such a bad thing.

I’m the type who likes to think every day should be Christmas, and we can all play “Santa.” Okay, not as well as The Jolly One himself, but we can at least try.

And with An Enchanted Letter TM, I’m kind of in Christmas mode all year long. And I shop--always on sale!--all year long for the holidays. (You should see the closet in the “junk” room. Although it pretty well clears out by this time every year.)

Lots of other organizations are playing “Santa” too, and Macy’s is one of them. Bring your stamped letter to Santa to any Macy’s, addressed to Santa at the North Pole (where else would Santa be?), and drop your letter into their special Santa letterbox. For every letter, Macy’s will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation up to 1 million. Then they’ll deliver them to the Post Office for mailing to Santa. At the North Pole.

And in the spirit of giving, An Enchanted Letter TM just delivered to a local drop-off 5 shoeboxes, filled with shoes, tees, socks, toys, and toiletries, for Operation Christmas Child, which in turn delivers them to needy kids all over the world. (Thanks to all the volunteers at the church--and all the churches across the country!)

And special thanks to all of my customers, because a portion of profits from the personalized letters I sell all year long goes to fund the shoeboxes and toys for local charities at Christmas.

Which makes us all “Santa’s Elves.” :)

For more info on Macy’s letter drive, go to macys.com/believe

Oh, and while you're there, enter their contest to win a trip to the 2010 (next year!) Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Wanna see pics of the shoeboxes?

I have a blast putting the shoeboxes together, wrapping them in Christmas paper. Playing Santa. (Warm fuzzies.) And new this year, Operation Christmas Child has a tracking system that will (hopefully) let me know which countries the shoeboxes go to. (How cool is that?) Of course, when I find out, I'll share. :)

And in the meantime, I'm sharing my annual Countdown to Christmas Contest with you! Okay, so it's not as grand as the Macy's prize ;) but I love playing "Santa." So here's "Elf Donna's" turn.

The Countdown to Christmas Contest has begun!
An Enchanted Letter TM is giving away a prize pack of children’s holiday books-- including a beautiful hardcover edition of the children’s classic The Velveteen Rabbit--holiday pencils and stickers, and a cute “Santa on his sleigh“ Christmas stocking.

All you have to do to enter is send an email to gtbaskets (at) yahoo.com with “Christmas Countdown” in the subject line. Only winner will be contacted by email for mailing address. (All other emails will be discarded after contest.)

Contest ends December 10th.

(Sorry, can only ship within US.)

Here are the book titles:

The Velveteen Rabbit
The Nutcracker (hardcover Golden Books edition)
Teddy’s Christmas Cut-out (activity book)
Story of the Christmas Rose
The Tiny Christmas Elf
Sesame Street coloring/activity book
Travels with Santa sticker book
3 holiday pencils
4 holiday sticker sheets
“Santa on his sleigh” stocking

Here’s the photo:

Good Luck, and Happy Holidays!

Now back to your regular programming. Pass the pumpkin pie!

Electronic Greeting Card Day

2009-11-15T13:11:00.000-08:00

Do you recycle?

November 15th is America Recycles Day.

Yes, there really is a "holiday" dedicated to recycling.

America Recycles Day (ARD) is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle and to buy recycled products. Millions of Americans have pledged to increase their recycling and to buy products made with recycled materials. Through America Recycles Day, Keep America Beautiful, Inc. (KAB) and the National Recycling Coalition (NRC) support local communities and raise awareness by educating people about the benefits of recycling.

November 17th is Electronic Greeting Card Day, which sorta ties into America recycles day. E-cards are great because there is no paper to recycle, and that means they're good for the environment.

Below are links to a few FREE e-card sites. I thought this would be fun, especially with all the holidays coming. But who doesn't love to send and receive e-cards? Especially the animated ones. :)

Links:

America Recycles Day

America Recycles Day --"official" website

Planet Pals --lots of fun printables and activities for kids for Amwerica Recycles Day, even free recycling clipart!

RecycleSpot --how to get involved, events

RecycleSpot Kids' Activity "Kit" --free downloadable, printable PDF activity "kit" with acticities for all grades, plus a crossword puzzle

Electronic Greeting Card Day

Free E-cards Sites

Dover Publications FREE e-cards

E-greetings

123 Greetings

Free E-cards Online

Greetings Island

Regards.com

E-cards

Funny-Ecards

Ecardfunny.com

Christian ecards

National Young Readers Day

2009-11-14T08:23:00.000-08:00

National Young Readers Week runs from November 9-13. Co-founded in 1989 by Pizza Hut and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, it is a day to recognize the joys and benefits of reading.

Young Readers Day is November 14th.

And in honor of books--because An Enchanted Letter TM is dedicated to getting kids to read (I'm an English Lit M.A. and writer), below are several resources (other than your local library) for free children's books.

Plus, in honor of young readers everywhere, I will be running a giveaway here and on my website of a prize pack of children's books. So stay tuned! (I'll be getting the details up in the next few days.)

Links:

National Reading Incentive Program -- ideas and free printables

Certificate for participation during National Young Readers Week

Recipes and suggested books

Children's Books Online: The Rosetta Project --Free online children's books

Children's Books Online-- Here's the link to their online library

Project Gutenberg

An Enchanted Letter TM -- FREE downloadable ebook I compiled of classic children's stories

World Kindness Day

2009-11-13T07:03:00.000-08:00

November 13th is World Kindness Day. Pretty cool, huh?

In 1996, the Small Kindness Movement in Japan organized a conference in Tokyo. They invited like-minded individuals from around the world who had started kindness movements in their own countries. A second conference in 1997 led to the formation of the World Kindness Movement, and a "Declaration of Kindness," signed by seven countries, on November 13th, which became World Kindness Day.

The mission of the World Kindness Movement is, simply, to inspire kindness both between individuals and between nations, to create a kinder world.

The purpose is to look beyond ourselves, our countries, culture, and religion and realize we are citizens of the world--and look for those qualities that make us similar, rather than different. If we focus on what we have in common, then we can make progress toward a true and lasting peace. The day celebrates coming together and working together.

And it all starts with us, with small acts of kindness.

So, start small. Enough small kindnesses add up to a really big kindness. And in that vein, An Enchanted Letter TM has been preparing care packages for children in need for an organization called "Samaritan's Purse." This organization runs "Operation Christmas Child" which collects shoeboxes filled with personal hygiene items, small toys, school supplies, and sweets, and sends them to children in need all over the world.

Last year, I read an article in their newsletter about a little boy who was so grateful to receive a pair of shoes through Operation Christmas Child. The story touched me to the core. Most of us take shoes completely for granted, but I've been reading how many children can't go to school without shoes. Can you imagine? And children who walk around barefoot risking infection from dirty syringes and who knows what else. That something so basic, so simple, can make such a difference.

This year, An Enchanted Letter TM, in addition to donating toys to local drives, is sending 5 shoeboxes to Operation Christmas Child, each with a pair of shoes. It isn't much, but the power of combined donations-- Well, little kindnesses really do add up.

Times are tough, life is stressful. With the holidays approaching, what can you do to make someone's life a little easier? To make the world a little better? A little kinder?

Links:

World Kindness Movement

KindActs.net

Australian Kindness Movement

ActsofKindness.org

Acts of Kindness --send ecards, free printables

Kids For Peace

The Great Kindness Challenge

Some ideas to get you started

Samaritan's Purse

Operation Christmas Child

Happy Veterans' Day!

2009-11-03T05:03:00.000-08:00

What is Veterans' Day, really?

It is the day we honor veterans of all wars, but it began at the end of World War I.

World War I officially ended on June 28, 1919, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, but the actual fighting between the Allies and Germany had already ended seven months earlier with the armistice--which went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918.

November 11.

President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11, 1919 "Armistice Day" to honor the sacrifices the men and women made during the war. Because World War I, at the time, had been known as the "war to end all wars." Other countries today still recognize November 11th as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in honor of the Armistice treaty which ended WWI.

Armistice Day officially became a holiday in the United States in 1926, and in 1938, Congress voted it a federal holiday.

Then World War II happened.

Armistice Day came to symbolize the sacrifices made by veterans of all wars. In 1953 the residents of Emporia, Kansas called the holiday Veterans' Day in gratitude to all the veterans in their town. On June 1, 1954, Congress passed a bill introduced by a Kansas congressman that officially changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans' Day.

For several years in the 1970s, Veterans Day was observed in October by many states but in 1978 it was returned to November 11th.

On Veterans' Day and Memorial Day, veterans' groups raise funds for their charitable activities by selling paper poppies made by disabled veterans. This bright red wildflower became a symbol of World War I after a bloody battle in a field of poppies called Flanders Field in Belgium.

Thank you to all the veterans--and those serving now--for keeping America free.

And here are three interesting sites I found (thanks to "I Heart Daily's newsletter--check out iheartdaily.com) about recycling that leftover Halloween candy by sending it to our troops. (I also just saw a piece in my local newspaper about a dentist collecting leftover Halloween candy for just this purpose.)

Soldiers often request candy and sweets in their care packages. But no chocolate, since it melts :) This is a perfect Veterans' Day activity, coming so close on the heels of Halloween--and Christmas isn't all that far behind.

Support Our Troops

Operation Shoebox Supporting Our Troops

Operation Gratitude

Operation Gratitude's Halloween Candy Buyback Program

Links:

History

Celebrate Veterans' Day -- history and origin of the holiday

Veterans' Day --history and meaning

History.com

Infoplease--lots of links

History of Veteran's Day (more kid-friendly)

US Dept of Veterans' Affairs -- history, teacher's guides

Celebrating America's Freedoms --lots of links to history, famous US documents on the subject of freedom from the Dept of Veterans' Affairs

Crafts, activities

US Department of Veterans Affairs Kids' Site

Veteran's History Project

Veterans Day Crafts, Projects, Worksheets, Books, and Printouts

Surfing the Net with Kids --Veteran's Day

Veterans' Day Printables

Veterans' Day Wordsearch

BOO! Happy Halloween! And a CONTEST!

2009-10-21T06:42:00.000-07:00

Halloween is coming! Can you just feel it in the air? All the ghosts and goblins getting restless?

Of course October 31st is Halloween, but it is also the day other "holidays" are celebrated, like National Caramel Apple Day, Carve A Pumpkin Day, Reformation Day, and Samhain Day. And October 30th is National Candy Corn Day. (I don't know about you, but I LOVE candy corn!) And October is also Cookie Month, Apple Month, and Caramel Month. (Love those too!) Okay, I admit it. I have a terrible sweet tooth. That makes October a pretty sweet month, eh?

Reformation Day

What is Reformation Day? It is a religious holiday that commemorates Dr. Martin Luther's posting of his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany on October 31, 1517, a move that triggered the Protestant Reformation and break with certain traditions of the Catholic church. Luther's two main points were that Christians cannot earn God's love or forgiveness; they have only to accept God's love and forgiveness. And that every Christian has his or her own personal relationship with God, reading the Bible, and praying directly to God.

Today, Reformation is celebrated as an alternative to Halloween, which has its origins in the occult or pagan.

Samhain

Which leads us to Samhain Day. Samhain (pronounced "sow-en") means "summer's end," and marks both the end of summer and the harvest. Samhain marked both the change in the weather--from summer to winter--as well as the shift from life to death. The Celts believed that such turning points in their lives signified magical times, and that during this time of change, when people brought the livestock down from the hills and basically "hibernated" inside their houses or close to home, the world of the living was closest to the world of the dead.

The spirits of the dead and those yet to be born walked amongst the living. The dead could return to the places where they had lived and food and entertainment were provided in their honor. One story also suggests that those who had died in the preceding year were on the lookout for a new body to possess for the coming year. Not wanting to be possessed, the living turned out the fires in their hearths to make their homes cold and inhospitable. Then they dressed up in ghoulish costumes and noisily paraded around the neighborhood to frighten away spirits.

Halloween

Which leads to our modern Halloween, or "All Hallows' Eve," which comes from the Catholic holiday "All Hallow's Day" or "Saint's Day" which honors the saints. All Hallow's Eve being the day before, or the evening before, All Hallow's Day. The Catholic Church had a long-standing tradition of incorporating pagan traditions into their own Christian holidays to bring people into Christianity.

The Days of the Dead

All Souls Day is celebrated especially in Mexico, where All Hallow's Eve, All Saints' Day, and All Souls' Day are collectively celebrated as "Los Dias de los Muertos," or "The Days of the Dead." Families fondly remember the deceased, but it is also a time of festivities with parades of skeletons and ghouls.

Trick-or-treating

The custom of Halloween was brought to America in the 1840's by Irish immigrants fleeing the great potato famine. Trick-or-treating is thought to have originated not with the Irish Celts, but with a ninth-century European custom called souling.

On November 2, All Souls Day, early Christians would walk from village to village begging for "soul cakes," made out of square pieces of bread with currants. The more soul cakes the beggars received, the more prayers they promised to say on behalf of the dead relatives of the family that gave them the cakes. At the time, people believed the dead remained in limbo for a time after death, and that prayer, even by strangers, could help the soul make its way to heaven.

Jack-O-Lantern

The Jack-o-lantern custom probably comes from Irish folklore. As the tale is told, a man named Jack tricked Satan into climbing a tree. Jack then carved an image of a cross in the tree's trunk, so the devil could not climb down. Jack made a deal with the devil that, if he would never tempt him again, he would promise to let him down the tree.

According to folktale, after Jack died, he was denied entrance to Heaven because of his evil ways, but he was also denied access to Hell because he had tricked the devil. Instead, the devil gave him a single ember to light his way through the cold darkness. The ember was placed inside a hollowed-out turnip to keep it glowing longer.

The Irish used turnips as their "Jack's lanterns" originally. But when the immigrants came to America, they found that pumpkins were far more plentiful than turnips. So the Jack-O-Lantern in America was a hollowed-out pumpkin, lit with an ember--or a candle--or today, a flashlight.

Alternative to Candy

Trick-or-treating usually means candy, but I found an interesting website, "Books for Treats," I just have to share. As an English major (MA in Eng Lit) and a writer, books are my passion--and so An Enchanted Letter (TM) is dedicated to getting kids to read. Books for Treats is an organization that gives books each year to trick-or-treaters instead of candy, and I thought this was a nifty idea for anyone to do on their own.

Since books are expensive, the organization's idea is to collect gently used books, in good condition, to distribute instead of candy. Not only is it a great way to recycle--not to mention cut down on cavities :)--it's a great way to extend the joy of the holiday. Because as much as I love candy--and I do so LOVE candy--a book lasts a lot longer than a sweet. Candy is gone in a flash, but a book lasts "forever." (i.e., a good story lasts forever.) So check out Books for Treats. (No, I'm not affiliated, but I'm always on the lookout for unusual sites.)

So, Happy Halloween everybody. Have fun, and stay safe trick-or-treating. And check out the links below for Halloween crafts, recipes, and more!

Contest

And don't forget to enter the KidZone Foliage Drawing Contest! Deadline is November 15th, so hurry!

Links:

Overview of Reformation Day

History of Reformation Day

How To Celebrate Reformation Day

Samhain

Fall Craft Ideas

History of Halloween

Halloween History

Fisher-Price Print and Color Cards for Halloween

Kid Printables--Lots Halloween printables (coloring pages, puzzles, crafts)

Family Fun--Halloween crafts, recipes, printables

Makingfriends.com --MORE Halloween kid printables, crafts

Freekidscrafts.com--kids' crafts

Activity Village--Halloween Crafts for kids

Kaboose--Halloween costumes, crafts, recipes, more

Halloween clipart at An Enchanted Letter

Make a Difference Day!

2009-10-21T05:56:00.000-07:00

October 24th is Make A Difference Day!

Created by USA WEEKEND Magazine, Make A Difference Day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October. The next event is Saturday, October 24, 2009.

I thought this was a great idea. We can all make a difference in someone's life any day of the year and reap the reward of knowing we did good. But, if you send in an entry form after October 24th, your volunteer project may win not only accolades but a $10,000 donation from Newman's Own for the charity! How's that for an incentive? There's even an idea generator on the site. Here's the link:

Make A Difference Day

What is An Enchanted Letter (TM) doing? Getting shoeboxes together for my favorite charity "Operation Christian Child" at Samaritan's Purse. They collect shoeboxes filled with small toys, socks, toothpaste, toothbrushes, even shoes to distribute to children worldwide. Check the Samaritan's Purse website for local dropoff locations near you. There's still time to put a shoebox together. National Collection Week is November 16-23.

One person can make a difference, and it doesn't have to be anything big.

Samaritan's Purse

Operation Christmas Child

Freebie Alert!

2009-10-10T06:19:00.000-07:00

Free coupon booklet with $20 of Nestle savings

2009-10-10T05:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Columbus Day!

Columbus Day is the celebration of Christopher Columbus "discovering" America in 1492. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain gave him the money for his expedition when the Italians wouldn't.

But there is controversy over both the holiday and Columbus himself. For it is the Native Americans who "discovered" America long before Columbus--and there is the matter of the mistreatment of the Native Americans after Columbus' landing. He and his crew traveled with three ships: The Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria, but it's unclear whether he even reached the mainland of America. He landed on October 12th on the island of Haiti--and it is for his mistreatment of the native peoples that some people don't believe Columbus should be celebrated. So instead the holiday celebrates his "discovery" for the Europeans who, until then, believed the world was flat and ended somewhere in the Atlantic. Today the holiday also signifies a celebration of Italian heritage.

Links:

For more information on Columbus and Columbus Day:

http://www.patriotism.org/columbus_day/

Holiday Insights

Internet Family Fun

Printables and activities for Columbus Day:

Columbus Day Printables

Coloring Pictures and Reading Activities

Coloring pages, wordfind puzzles, and more

Columbus Day Clipart--great free clipart graphics!

Discovery School--really cute homuorous graphic of Columbus

Clipart Jungle--Columbus Day graphics

Freebie September!

2009-09-18T15:27:00.001-07:00

A couple of quick September freebies, especially for kids, parents, and grandparents.

Back to school means school lunches. Get your free (while supplies last) "Pack a Kraft Smile" Savings Booklet. It contains two twenty dollar rebates and 15 bucks in coupons. If you haven't gotten yours yet, the link's still up.

http://www.nabiscoworld.com/back-to-school/

An Enchanted Letter (TM) is committed to child safety. So is ADT. ADT is offering a free Child Safety Kit:

https://www.adt.com/about_adt/adt_in_our_communities/childsafety

With the holidays coming up quick, here's a great brochure to send for or downloadable pdf from Wisconsin cheese about cooking with kids--includes great kid-friendly recipes, perfect for fall days:

http://www.eatwisconsincheese.com/recipes/kidskitchen.aspx

Happy September!

Happy Rosh Hashanah!

2009-09-18T13:25:00.001-07:00

Wow, time sure did get away from me this summer, but fall days mean back in the saddle. and since today is Rosh Hashanah--the Jewish New Year--this is the perfect time to start over.

Rosh Hashanah literally means “Head of the Year” in Hebrew, and falls in the month of Tishrei, the seventh month on the Jewish calendar, believed to be the month during which God created the world. It is a day of judgment--a time to examine your actions during the past year, and to ask forgiveness for any sins--but it is also a day of remembrance, of the history of the Jewish people. And like our January 1st New Year, it is a holiday filled with hope for the coming year, celebrated with foods sweetened with honey, symbolizing sweetness. Other traditional foods include apples and carrots, for blessings and abundance in the new year.

Yes, fall is the perfect time for fresh starts, with back to school and cool, crisp weather.

Below are some links for more info on Rosh Hashanah. Happy New Year! And may the new year be filled with sweet blessings.

Links:

Intro to Rosh Hashanah from About.com

All about Rosh Hashana from Holidays.net--lots of links

Coloring pages and crafts from Holidays.net

Free ecards for Rosh Hashana from holidays.net

Rosh Hashanah recipes from Recipezaar

Coloring pages, Tishrei calendar, games, and greeting cards from Torah Tots

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Kid Freebies!

2009-07-02T06:45:00.000-07:00

Found a couple of freebies for kids/parents:

Coupon Booklet from Nabisco--$55 in savings! (2 $20 rebates and $15 in coupons)

Amber Alert GPS™ Free "Parent Survival Kit"

Free Baby Calendar

WIN $5000 for your community! Sponsored by Sherwin-Williams & ivillage--Tell them about a place in your neighborhood (playground, school, recreation center) that needs a fresh coat of paint--ENDS AUGUST 25TH

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-02T06:09:00.000-07:00

The 4th of July--or Independence Day--is the day we celebrate freedom--today mostly in the form of a long holiday weekend :), but originally the holiday represented the colonies' separation--or "independence"--from Great Britain. On July 4th, 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence.

Philadelphians celebrated the first anniversary, but the holiday didn't become popular until after the War of 1812. passed a law making Independence Day a federal holiday on June 28, 1870, making it the most important secular holiday on the calendar.

So declare your independence today! I know lots of families are staying close to home. REI has a downloadable link to a printable journal for kids 5-12 to document their fun outdoor adventures. Mail it in and get a prize! REI Passport to Adventure Program

Have a wonderful healthy, happy, adventurous 4th of July!

LINKS

Library of Congress--History of July 4th
Declaration of Independence (photo--Library of Congress)
Declaration of Independence (text--Library of Congress)
July 4th crafts and recipes (Kaboose)
July 4th history (PBS)
More crafts, printables, recipes (FamilyFun)
More recipes (Food Network)
4th of July clipart
More clipart
4th July ecards
4th July clipart and free coloring book and free storybook at An Enchanted Letter

SALE! In Honor of "Read Me Day" & "World Book & Copyright Day" April 23

2009-04-22T07:08:00.000-07:00

Happy "World Book and Copyright Day" and "Read Me" Day!

UNESCO's General Conference decided to pay a world-wide tribute to books and authors, encouraging everyone--and in particular young people--to discover the pleasure of reading. The idea for "World Book and Copyright Day" originated in Catalonia where on April 23rd, Saint George's Day, a rose is traditionally given as a gift for each book sold.

I couldn't find much on "Read Me" Day, but I think every day should be "Read Me" Day!

Which is why I thought it only fitting to run a SALE on my own books!

Every time I turn around, someone is jacking up their prices, fees, etc. Which means my money out is going up, while my income is spiraling down. With the economy in the turmoil it's in, does it really make sense--business or otherwise--to jack up your rates just because you can?

Times are tough. So here's my stab at a little stimulus package of my own. I've lowered the prices on all my books in my Lulu storefront, for awhile. Don't know for how long, but I felt a sale was in order.

Except, of course, for the anthology I edited of classic children's stories--because that's a FREE download. Because I want kids to READ. As a kid I loved to read. I still do. And I think reading to a child is a priceless gift that stays with them forever. (Look at me, I went on to earn a Master's in English Lit.) So that's why the children's ebook is free. So you have no excuses not to read to a child. It's all classic stuff you already know:

The Fairy's New Year Gift
Beauty and the Beast
The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle
Mrs. Peter Rabbit
The Benevolent Goblin
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
The Spirit of the Corn
The Horn of Plenty
The First Christmas-Tree
The Night Before Christmas
A Kidnapped Santa Claus

Click here to check it out at Lulu.

So hang in there. Things will get better. Remember, some of the best things in life are free. And a lot of the rest, you can do yourself. Like writing a letter. To a child, or a parent.

Everything You Need to Know to Start a Santa Letter Writing Business--Write Santa and Other Holiday Letters Year-round offers not only sample letters from the Tooth Fairy and year-round Santa Letters--for those who need a nudge to stay good till Christmas!--but also other holiday letters, including Mother's Day (coming up quick) and Father's Day (not far behind) and Graduation.

A gift doesn't have to cost a lot. And sometimes the best ones are free.

Make it a good one.

Happy Earth Day!

2009-04-22T06:15:00.000-07:00

To my great surprise, Earth Day began in the 1960's!

I thought the whole environmental movement was a recent thing, in the last few years, but the environment--and what we are doing to it--has been in jeopardy for DECADES, and my question is: Why have we let this go on so long? And when are we finally going to fix it?

Senator Gaylord Nelson founded Earth Day in the '60's. The idea germinated in 1962, with the senator's suggestion that President Kennedy put the environment into the political limelight during his conservation tour.

Unfortunately, the plan didn't work.

But you can't keep a good idea down.

Six years later, inspired by anti-war protests, the idea for a grassroots protest over what we were doing to the environment would eventually become Earth Day, first celebrated April 22, 1970.

The holiday took off.

And it's even more important today.

What are you doing to make a difference?

Make it a good one!

Links:
History of Earth Day--Fascinating!
Earth Day 2009 Online
Earth Day crafts, free printables--For Kids
EPA history of Earth Day
More Earth Day ideas for kids (& teachers)
Earth Day VIDEO CONTEST from Planet Pals for preschool/elementary kids--Ends May 15th
Helpful Hints for Planet Earth
Earth Day Printables, Games, Coloring Pages
EarthDay.gov--For Kids

The Easter Bunny's Favorite Holiday!

2009-04-08T12:19:00.000-07:00

Easter is, naturally, the Easter Bunny's favorite holiday. And what's not to love? Chocolate bunnies, malted milk eggs, marshmallow chicks, and lots and lots of jelly beans!

But Easter is also a celebration of Christ's resurrection, two days after Good Friday. Easter is also linked to the Jewish Passover: The Last Supper is linked to the Passover Seder, and Christ with the Passover lambs. Even the Latin word for Easter, Pascha, derives from the Hebrew Pesach, for Passover.

Both celebrations also symbolize new beginnings, and like many springtime festivals, Easter derives from pagan roots. The ancient Saxons celebrated the return of spring with a festival commemorating their goddess of offspring and of springtime, Eastre, or Ēostre. Christian missionaries took aspects of the pagan traditions--since the holiday coincided with the Christian observance of the Resurrection of Christ--and folded them into Christian observances. The early name, Eastre, eventually became Easter.

But where does the Easter Bunny come in?

The hare was closely linked to the goddess Eastre in pagan times. The hare, similar to a rabbit, is a symbol of fertility--the renewal of life that comes with the warmer weather of spring. Hence, the Easter Bunny. Eggs, too, are a symbol of rebirth.

Many early Christians colored their Easter eggs red to symbolize the resurrection of Christ, or green to symbolize the new foliage after the barren winter. Also, eggs were forbidden during Lent, and therefore abundant for Easter. Parents told their children the magic hare--rabbit--would bring them gifts at the spring festival--often painted eggs

The Easter Bunny first came to be tied to our modern Easter in 16th century Germany, where it was first mentioned in German writings. The first Easter Bunnies, made in Germany during the early 1800s, were made of pastry and sugar. Children made nests of grass in their yards, so the Easter Bunny would fill them with brightly-colored eggs during the night. German settlers to Pennsylvania Dutch country introduced the Easter Bunny to America in the 1700's. The arrival of the "Oschter Haws" was considered "childhood's greatest pleasure" next to a visit from Christ-Kindel on Christmas Eve. The children believed that if they were good the "Oschter Haws" would lay a nest of colored eggs.

Have you been good this year?

Happy Easter!

Easter--religious roots--Wiki
Easter traditions
Easter origins
Easter Bunny--Wiki
Easter Bunny History
Easter Email Cards
Easter Clipart
Easter cards to print
Easter printables for kids
Tips for coloring eggs
Easter coloring pages

Personalized Letters from the Easter Bunny--An Enchanted Letter

Happy Passover!

2009-04-08T11:16:00.000-07:00

What is Passover? And where did the name come from?

Passover--or "Pesach" from the Hebrew-- is an eight-day festival in spring that commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from many decades of slavery in ancient Egypt. Pesach also refers to the sacrificial offering (a lamb) that was made.

G-d sent Moses to Pharaoh with a message to free the Israelites. When Pharaoh refused to listen, ten plagues followed, the last killing all the Egyptians' firstborn. But G-d spared the children of the Israelites, "passing over" their homes. It has been suggested the word also implies G-d hovering over, looking after and guiding the Israelites out of Egypt. Pharaoh freed the slaves. Soon after they left Egypt, Pharaoh tried to force them back. They found themselves trapped between Pharaoh's armies and the Red Sea. The sea parted to allow the Israelites passage, then closed over the pursuing Egyptians.

The first two days and last two days (that celebrate the parting of the Red Sea) are the actual holiday days; the middle four days are called Chol Hamoed. During Passover, matzoh--unleavened bread--is eaten because the Israelites left in such a hurry their bread for the journey didn't have time to rise. It is also a symbolic way of removing one's "puffiness"--arrogance or pride.

The two Seders happen on the first two nights of Passover. The highlight of the Seder ceremony is the Maggid, telling the story of the Exodus from Egypt.

Happy Passover!

Links:

Passover History and Traditions
Wiki
More Info on Passover
Free online Passover cards
TorahTots--games & history for kids
Passover crafts & games for kids
Passover coloring book (free pdf)

Earth Hour

2009-03-27T15:44:00.000-07:00

What is Earth Hour?

Earth Hour is an international event organized by the WWF (World Wildlife Fund), and held on the last Saturday of March each year. Households and businesses are asked to turn off their non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness about the need to take action on climate change.

This year Earth Hour falls on Saturday, March 28th between 8:30 and 9:30 pm, your local time wherever you are. The goal is to reach 1 billion "votes" (by turning off your lights) to let world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009 know that we want change, and for global warming to be addressed.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In March 2008, Earth Hour went global. More than 400 cities, thousands of businesses and over 50 million people around the world turned off their lights for one hour. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

The event is symbolic, the purpose being to demonstrate that by working together, we can make a difference.

So, turn off your unnecessary lights--not just during Earth Hour, but every day. If everyone does just a little, it adds up to a lot.

Make it a good one!

Links:
earthhour.org
worldwildlife.org
Wiki

Celebrate Easter Kids Furniture Contest

2009-03-21T07:04:00.000-07:00

I just found out about this great KIDS FURNITURE CONTEST over at Wholesale Furniture Brokers. All the details are on their page, but you have to write a very short bit on which furniture piece you'd like to win for your kids for Easter. (If you win, you can change your mind later.) The prize is a $500 gift certificate to their online store.

Nice Easter present, huh? They also have links to other Easter contests, including a chance to win an Easter basket, personalized Easter placemats, and an Easter contest from Cadbury.

(I'm not involved in these contests, or in picking the winners. Just thought I'd pass the link along.)

Here's the link for the Celebrate Easter With the Wholesale Furniture Brokers Blog Contest

But hurry--the deadline to enter is April 13, 2009.

Good luck!

Going GREEN-- Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2009-03-14T12:14:00.000-07:00

Saint Patrick really did exist. He was born in the latter half of the 4th century, and his given name was probably Maewyn Succat. He is not considered to have been particularly religious, but he was kidnapped into slavery by Irish pirates at age 16, and held prisoner for six years, during which time he turned to God and became a devout Christian. Legend has it that God spoke to him in a vision, telling him it was time to leave Ireland, so he escaped to Britain. He had a dream calling him to return to Ireland to minister to the Christians there and to convert the pagans to Christianity, which he did after 12 or15 years training under St. Germain,bishop of Auxerre.

Now a priest, Patrick was quite successful at converting the pagans, which angered the Celtic Druids. They arrested Patrick several times, but he managed to escape each time. For 20 or 30 years he traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries and setting up schools and churches to aid him in converting Ireland to Christianity.

Patrick wrote of how he was called back to Ireland in The Confessio, his spiritual autobiography. It tells of a dream after his return to Britain, in which one Victoricus delivered him a letter headed "The Voice of the Irish."

St. Patrick has indeed become a voice of the Irish. He died on March 17 in AD 461, and is now celebrated on March 17th, the day named for him. In modern-day Ireland, St. Patrick's Day has traditionally been a religious occasion. But St. Patrick's Day as we know it today is an American holiday. The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place not in Ireland, but in the United States. Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City on March 17, 1762. The celebration helped the soldiers to reconnect with their Irish roots. Today, the day celebrates Irish pride and culture.

But it's also a lot of fun! You don't have to be Irish to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

How did the shamrock come to be associated with St. Patrick? He understood the Irish culture, and used that to convert the pagans. He superimposed a sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross, and thus married Christianity to pagan symbols to more easily teach. In this vein he also used, legend goes, the three-leaf clover, or shamrock--called "seamroy" by the Celts-- to symbolize the Trinity and to explain the concept of the 3-in-1, because the shamrock symbolized--to the Celts--the rebirth of spring. Three was considered a magical number to the Celts. It multiplies to nine, which is sacred to Brigit, who is associated with, among other things, poetry and an eternal flame.

The leprechaun is an Irish fairy--a shoemaker for the other fairies, and a sour little soul at that. He possesses a hidden pot of gold, but he's tricky!

The Blarney Stone is a stone set in the wall of the Blarney Castle tower in the Irish village of Blarney. Kissing the stone is supposed to bring the kisser the gift of persuasive eloquence (blarney).

Happy St. Patrick's Day! May you find your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

Make it a good one!

Links:

StPatty's.com
St Patrick's Day Crafts
Printables
Party Ideas
Recipes
Clipart
Who was St. Patrick?
History, crafts, a little of everything!
Wiki
More St. Patrick's Day Clipart on my site--An Enchanted Letter (click "Freebies, "clipart")

BOO! It's Friday the 13th!

2009-03-12T15:30:00.000-07:00

What makes Friday the 13th so darned unlucky?

The fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskavedekatriaphobia, a word derived from the the Greek Paraskeví, meaning Friday, and dekatreís, meaning thirteen, attached to phobía (fear).

Friday has been considered an unlucky day at least since the 14th century's The Canterbury Tales. It has long been considered bad luck to begin projects or sail or get married on Fridays. Black Friday has been associated with stock market crashes and other disasters since the 1800s.

As for the number 13, primitive man feared anything in the realm of the unknown, and having ten fingers and two feet (apparently they didn't count their toes)--which added up to 12--13 became part of the vast "unknown," and hence something to be feared.

Also, there are 12 months of the year, 12 zodiac signs, 12 hours on the clock, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 Apostles of Jesus, 12 gods of Olympus, etc.--making 12 a complete, perfect number. 13 kind of upset the balance.

The ancient Egyptians saw life as a spiritual quest of 13 stages--12 in this life, with the 13th being the afterlife. Therefore, for them, 13 represented death.

The number 13 also held significance to the Hindus, who believed it unlucky for 13 people to gather in one place — say, at dinner. Ironically, the same superstition has been attributed to the ancient Vikings:

Twelve gods were invited to a banquet at Valhalla. Loki, "the Evil One", and god of deceit and mischief--uninvited--showed up too, making 13. At Loki's prodding, Hod, the blind god of winter, hurled a spear of mistletoe offered by Loki at Balder the Good, a favorite of the gods--and son of Frigg--killing him instantly. Not very good luck, eh?

The word "Friday" derives from the Norse goddess Frigg, who is associated with the 13 moon cycles and, like the moon, believed to have the ability to control the weather. She is also associated with cats, which I imagine is where the fear of black cats crossing your path comes from. She also possessed a knowledge of the future. Like all pagan deities, when Christianity spread, she fell out of grace. Actually, she was labeled a witch, hence Friday, in general, fell out of favor.

All of this, of course, correlates to The Last Supper--13 people at dinner--where Judas betrayed Jesus Christ, prompting the Crucifixion. On Good Friday, no less.

Perhaps this is where the two separate myths of Friday and 13 weave together, although there remains barely a mention of the two together before the 20th century, most notably a book by Thomas W. Lawson in 1907 titled Friday, the Thirteenth. The superstition took hold at that time, and gave us what we call today Friday the 13th--an extremely unlucky day, with the dual forces of Friday and 13th--both considered unlucky--working in tandem. Although there was a reference in an 1869 biography of Gioachino Rossini, suggesting that he, like many Italians, regarded Friday as an unlucky day, and 13 as an unlucky number. It goes on to say that ironically, he died on--what else?--Friday the 13th.

And, interestingly enough, the Knights Templar, whose mission was to protect Christan pilgrims during the Crusades, were arrested on Friday the 13th.

Probably just coincidence, but the superstition took hold. Even today, many hotels and office buildings skip the 13th floor, and many people refuse to number their houses 13.

Am I superstitious? Well, I don't go walking under ladders--any day of the month! That's just commonsense. But just be a little extra careful on Friday the 13th, okay? Just in case.

Make it a good one!

Links:

Wikipedia article on Fruday the 13th
Fiday the 13th Superstition
More on Friday the 13th superstition
History and Folklore
Freaky Friday
Snopes

Win Peter Rabbit's Giant Storybook!

2009-02-25T05:09:00.000-08:00

CONTEST! CONTEST!

Just a quickie to announce the new giveaway at my website, An Enchanted Letter TM:

http://www.enchantedenterprises.com

All the easy, peasy details are there--hint, hint--so hop on over and check out the Peter Rabbit Easter Contest, and enter to win Peter Rabbit's Giant Storybook by Beatrix Potter!

(Book is oversized--12 x12--and beautifully illustrated.)

It's so gorgeous, I want to keep it myself! But the Easter Bunny is all about sharing. :)

Contest ends March 31st. No purchase necessary. Good luck!

Here's a pic of the prize:

Mardi Gras

2009-02-20T17:10:00.000-08:00

What is Mardi Gras?

Like many of our holidays, has both pagan and religious roots, and has been celebrated for thousands of years. Our modern-day Mardi Gras grew out of ancient fertility rituals--like the Roman Lupercalia (a mid-February festival) and the French Fete du Soleil, or Festival of the Sun--which both welcomed Spring, and served as a reward for surviving the harsh winter. In essence, it celebrates the coming warm weather, and expresses a wish for bounty in the coming spring.

The Catholic Church encouraged its evolution to a Christian holiday. It spread from France to all Catholic countries and it flourished during the Middle Ages.

Mardi Gras begins on January 6, on the Twelfth Night feast of the Epiphany, the day the three kings visited Jesus Christ. Mardi Gras, French for Fat Tuesday--the day before Ash Wednesday--is the day-long highlight of the season. It is a brief celebration before the penitential season of Lent.

While Mardi Gras has been celebrated for thousands of years--Ovid makes a reference to it--New Orleans started celebrating Mardi Gras in the 18th century. Mardi Gras was first mentioned in North America in 1699 in the writings of French explorer Pierre le Moyne, Sieur d'Iberville. He was was exploring the Mississippi River, near New Orleans on March 3. With Mardi Gras being celebrated back home in France, he christened the spot Pointe du Mardi Gras.

In 1743, Governor Marquis de Vaudreuil hosted a Carnival ball in New Orleans, similar to the ones in Europe, where people marched and celebrated in the street. The first organized, official parade was in 1837, with marchers in costume. They threw sugar-coated peanuts to the crowd as the French had done. The first float, pulled by mules appeared in 1839. In 1857, a group called the Mystik Krewe of Comus staged the first modern-style, family-friendly Mardi Gras parade, with a torchlit evening procession of floats illustrating themes from classical mythology and literature.

Following the American Civil War (1861 - 1865), many new krewes, or clubs, began offering additional parades and balls. The Krewe of Rex, organized in 1872, established the tradition of crowning a King of Carnival, selected the carnival colors (purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power), and adopted the song "If Ever I Cease to Love" as a Mardi Gras anthem.

These colors were incorporated into the King Cake, which symbolizes the unity of faiths.

A newer tradition of Mardi Gras is the Phunny Phorty Phellows (PPP), a group of about 50 costumed men and women who trumpet the official opening of the carnival season on January 6 by riding a decorated streetcar and tossing favors to onlookers.

A small baby, symbolizing the baby Jesus, is baked into each cake. Finding the baby in your slice of cake means good luck.

So here's wishing you good luck!

Make it a good one!

Links:

Mardi Gras Masks
Kids' Activities
History of the King Cake
How Stuff Works--History of Mardi Gras--and Family fun in New Orleans
Mardi Gras History

Children's Dental Health Month--Or The Tooth Fairy Knocks Twice

2009-02-20T16:16:00.000-08:00

In 1941, the week of February 3-7 was designated Children's Dental Health Week. Ironically, February is also known as "Candy month." (Think Valentine's Day.)

Then again, I guess that only makes sense. After all that candy . . .

The American Dental Association held the first national observance of Children's Dental Health Day on February 8, 1949. This single day observance grew to a week-long event in 1955. In 1981, the program was extended to a month-long celebration known today as National Children's Dental Health Month (NCDHM).

Of course, as adults, taking care of our teeth is important, but let's face it--when you're a kid, the only true dental observance is when the Tooth Fairy visits.

But did you know the Tooth Fairy started off as a mouse? Huh?

There is a theory that the Tooth Fairy evolved from a tooth mouse depicted in an 18th century French fairy tale, "La Bonne Petite Souris. " A mouse changes into a fairy to help a good queen defeat an evil king by hiding under his pillow to knock out all his teeth.

Ouch.

In Spanish-speaking countries, you have Ratoncito Pérez, a little mouse with a common surname, or just "ratón de los dientes" (Tooth Mouse). The "Ratoncito Pérez" character was created around 1894 by the priest Luis Coloma (1851–1915), a member of the Real Academia Española since 1908, when the Crown asked Coloma to write a tale for the eight-year old Alfonso XIII, as one of his teeth had fallen out. A Ratón Pérez appeared in the tale of the Vain Little Mouse. The Ratoncito Pérez was used by Colgate marketing in Venezuela and Spain.

In Italy, it's a small mouse (topino). In France, La Petite Souris ("The Little Mouse"). From parts of Lowland Scotland, comes a tradition similar to the fairy mouse: a white fairy rat which purchases the teeth with coins.

In some Asian countries, the tradition was to throw upper lost teeth down and lower lost teeth up--because that's the direction they grow, and the wish is for them to grow in straight. This tradition of the mouse is based on the fact the teeth of mice go on growing for their whole life, a characteristic of all rodents.

In parts of India, children offer their discarded baby tooth to the sun, sometimes wrapped in a tiny rag of cotton.

Okay, that's not the sweet image we have of her today. The idea of an actual fairy originated in the US around 1900. The Tooth Fairy, a three-act playlet for children by Esther Watkins Arnold, was published in 1927. On May 28, 1938, released The Little Rascals short entitled, The Awful Tooth, in which the gang agreed to pull their teeth out to make money from the tooth fairy. And in 1949, the book, "The Tooth Fairy" by Lee Rothgow came out.

In 1993, Dr. Rosemary Wells opened a Tooth Fairy Museum in her Deerfield, Illinois museum, which she operated until her death.

But going back even further, centuries ago in Europe the tradition was to bury children's lost teeth in the ground--probably in the garden or fields surrounding the home--so a new permanent tooth would replace it, and also because if a witch found the tooth, she would place a curse on the child. When people moved to towns and cities, they buried the teeth in flower pots or planter boxes, then eventually under the child's pillow.

And during the night, the Tooth Fairy tiptoes in and leaves a treat or a coin.

Or, if you're lucky, a dollar bill.

Wouldn't you rather have a fairy than a mouse?

But of course everyone--especially kids--know that there was never any question about the Tooth Fairy being a sweet little fairy.

And since the Tooth Fairy is being so sweet, here's a little reminder that the third week of February is Friendship week and Random Acts of Kindness week.

But you don't need to limit your kindness to one week out of the year. The Tooth Fairy certainly doesn't!

Make it a good one!

Links:

National Children's Dental Health Month--American Dental Association --lots of kid printables
American Dental Association Homepage
More kid crafts and activities
Activities and games for kids--great for teachers too!
Even more games and activities-- Colgate website
History of the holiday and more links
Kid's dental facts--toothfairy.org
Wiki history of the Tooth Fairy
Tooth Fairy History
"The Straight Dope" History of the Tooth Fairy
Acts of Kindness site
Personalized Letters from the Tooth Fairy (Disclaimer--This is my website!)

Be a Valentine

2009-02-12T15:30:00.000-08:00

Ah, love.

According to the Greeting Card Association, almost one billion Valentine's cards are sent every year, making it the second biggest holiday behind Christmas. But how did Valentine's Day get so big?

Valentine greetings date back to the Middle Ages, but really took off in America in the 1840's when Esther A. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, started selling her elaborate creations, made with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures, commercially, thus beginning the tradition of our mass-produced cards as we know them today.

But where did the idea start? Charles, Duke of Orleans wrote the oldest-known Valentine to his wife while imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt, 1415. Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired John Lydgate to write a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.

But why Valentine's Day, and why February 14th?

Valentine the man--and namesake of the holiday--remains a mystery, and is perhaps an amalgam of the three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred, that the Catholic Church recognizes.

One theory is that Valentine's Day is named for Valentine, a priest living in Rome during the third century.

Emperor Claudius II--also called Claudius the Cruel--needed men to serve in his army. But the men refused to leave their wives and families for long stretches, so Claudius banned engagements and marriages.

This did not go over well, and the men continued to marry their loves--only in secret.

Valentine was one of a few priests who would marry these couples in secret, probably by candelight for fear of being found out.

But Valentine was found out and sentenced to death. His supporters came to the jail with flowers and encouraging notes. This group included the daughter of his jailor. On the day he was to die, February 14th, 269, he wrote her a letter thanking her for her kindness and signed it, "From your Valentine."

February 14th/15th is also connected to the pagan holiday Lupercalia, a festival celebrating purification and fertility.

One tradition has it that boys and girls were separated in ancient Rome, but on this day each boy drew a name of a girl from a big urn. These couples became paired for the year, and many married.

Valentine's Day gained in popularity during the Middle Ages, in part because February 14th marks the beginning of birds' mating season. Popular poetry reinforced the connection between the day and love and romance.

In the 1600's, a language of flowers developed, eventually growing into a handbook of 800 floral messages known as the Book Le Langage des Fleurs.

It's interesting how, like most holidays, Valentine's Day evolved from both pagan and Christian forces, from religion and from the seasons/nature.

February 14th is also National Heart to Heart Day and Ferris Wheel Day!

Sometimes love feels like a ferris wheel, doesn't it? Sometimes you're up and sometimes you're done. But where would we be without love? It's also the week of The National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans.

So be a "Valentine" and send a Valentine to a vet!

Valentines for Vets

Have a very Happy Valentine's Day!

Make it a great one!

Valentine Links:

History of Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day Around The World
Craft Ideas
Wikipedia--Valentine's Day
How to make a pop-up Valentine's Day Card
The Language of Flowers
Valentine's Day in the Middle Ages

What's your history?

2009-02-06T12:28:00.000-08:00

February is both African-American History Month and American History Month, which got me thinking about our own personal histories.

As a writer, I mine my own individual history for ideas; I also mine our collective history. History--all the events that shape our experiences--can at once define us, and propel us forward toward something different. We can break with history, which is perhaps the most courageous thing a person can do.

Most notably, February is African-American History Month. Americans have celebrated African-American history annually since 1926. Of course African-American history reaches further back than that, but it took one man, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard Ph.D., to do something about the lack of African-American history in the history books. He founded what is now called the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History in 1915. He chose the second week of February because it marks the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

Of course there are countless other pioneers we celebrate during African-American History Month, for their accomplishments.

For more information:

The History of Black History Month

101 Facts About African American History

Black History Month

I also learned that March is Women's History Month; May is both Jewish-American Heritage Month and Asian Pacific American Heritage month; September 15th to October 15th is Hispanic Heritage Month; and November is American Indian Heritage Month. All these histories make up "American" history. But really, isn't every month a month of history, of all kinds? Every day people are doing great and amazing things and shaping the course of this country. Everyone possesses the ability to create history. That is powerful. Wouldn't you like to be remembered for making the world a better, kinder, cleaner place?

But history isn't just about facts or world leaders. History is personal. History is the foundation from which we grow and evolve; that's why we study it.

Which leads to this cool history writing contest for young people 8-18, from the Legacy Project. (And yes, they are totally legitimate. I was a runner-up winner in one of their contests years ago.)

To enter, a young person interviews an older person (grandparent, older friend, mentor, nursing home resident, neighbor, etc.) about their lives, their personal histories. The Listen To A Life Contest runs till March 30, 2009. The prizes are fantastic, the award certificates stunning--I cannot recommend this free contest enough. (There is no fee to enter.) The Legacy Project is all about bridging the generations. How cool is that? Individuals can do great things, but working together, we can do amazing things.

Here's the link with all the info:

The Legacy Project Home Page

The Legacy Project Contest Page

Go! Enter! Make history!

Make it a good one!

Groundhog Day! Can Spring be far away?

2009-01-29T07:24:00.000-08:00

February 2nd heralds the return of Groundhog Day, and predictions by furry creatures whether we'll have six more weeks of winter or an early spring.

Well, I don't know about you, but after all the snow I could do with a bit of spring.

I can never remember whether if he sees his shadow it's winter or spring, so I did a little digging, and the answer astounded me: If he sees his shadow--meaning the day is sunny--that signifies 6 more weeks of bad weather, and he scrambles back into his hole for an extended nap. If the sky is cloudy--no shadow--he figures spring is near and stays above ground.

Huh? I thought spring meant sunshine and painted Easter eggs; cloudy, grey skies, winter. But I'm no scientist. On cloudy grey days I just want to curl up under the covers.

Oh, well.

So how did Groundhog Day come about? And no, it didn't start with Punxsutawney Phil. :) Groundhog Day is based on Candlemas. Candlemas was an ancient festival that marked the midpoint of winter, halfway between the winter solstice (shortest day) and the spring equinox.It's one of the four cross-quarter days. In the US these days mark the middle of a season (but in some cultures they marked the beginning of a season).

February 2nd, one of the four principal festivals of the pagan calendar is also called Imbolc, and was originally dedicated to the goddess/saint Brigid (St. Brigid's Day). The tradition of the day was to watch and see if the serpents or badgers came out of their winter dens. Fire and purification are important aspects of the festival; it's tied to warmth and the increasing power of the sun. (Think spring!) For Christians, it represented the light of God. All the candles to be used for the coming year were brought to church and a blessing was said over them. Some believed candles offered protection against plague, illness, and famine, stemming from the ancient Romans, who used candles to scare away evil spirits in winter.

The tradition evolved into Groundhog Day in the US and Canada because Pennsylvania's earliest settlers were German, and groundhogs--similar to the European hedgehog, and, assumedly, the aforementioned badgers--were aplenty in the Pennsylvania woods.

The Punxsutawney Spirit (newspaper) is credited with printing the news of the first Groundhog Day observance in 1886. Every year the town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania celebrates. During the ceremony Phil comes out of his temporary home in rural Gobbler's Knob. But don't worry about Phil--the rest of the year he lives in the town library with his "wife" Phyllis. (Too cute!)

If our old pal Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, that means we're in for 6 more weeks of winter--the "2nd winter", or the second half of winter, a season being 12 weeks/3 months.

While I love the beauty of all the seasons--even winter, crisp white snow blanketing the landscape--I confess, I've got my fingers crossed for a cloudy, wet day Monday, February 2nd, so Phil doesn't see his shadow.

Actually, now I see that weather thing makes sense after all: showers bring all those spring flowers.

Here's wishing you a shower of "flowers," either way. And 6 weeks more winter or not, Spring is just around the corner. No matter how dark things get in your life, spring is just around the corner. I can feel it. Whatever Phil decrees.

Have a great one!

Wanna learn more about Groundhog Day and the traditions behind it, like Candlemas? Here are some cool links:

Groundhog.org -- the official site of Punxsutawney Phil and the Groundhog Club in Pennsylvania

2009 Groundhog Day celebration in Pennsylvania

Groundhog Day

Imbolc -- Wikipedia

February Facts, Customs, and Traditions

Punxsutawney Phil

Chinese New Year

2009-01-22T08:30:00.000-08:00

Well, the inauguration this week has gotten me thinking back on all those New Year's resolutions I made and my hopes for the new year. Change is in the air. So I think it's only fitting to cover the Chinese New Year, which falls this year on January 26th.

Also called Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, the holiday marks the beginning of spring and rebirth of earth. And with all this chilly weather--okay, downright frigid at times--who couldn't use a hint of spring "early?"

Based on the lunar calendar, the holiday falls on a different day every year, somewhere between January 20th and February 19th, and runs in 12-year cycles, based on the animals of the zodiac. This new year rings in the year of the ox.

The Chinese words for New Year equal "spring festival." The holiday stresses the importance of family and honoring ancestors, as well as spring cleaning. New Year's Eve entails cleaning the house from top to bottom, literally sweeping out both the old and the evil.

After the spring sweeping, people bid farewell to the Kitchen God--the god who presides over the home and reports back to heaven on the family's behavior--who then returns on New Year's Day.

Late on New Year's Eve a family dinner is held, followed by fireworks. Gifts are exchanged the next morning between family and friends. The rest of the celebration is spent visiting with friends and wishing them luck in the new year.

The holiday is rife with symbolism. For dinner, seafood is served, all with hints of abundance and good fortune for the new year. Favorite colors are red (happiness) and gold (wealth). And of course there are the parades, with dragon dances. The dragon symbolizes strength, goodness, good luck, and supernatural forces.

Hints of our Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, Easter, and solstice traditions abound, proving that the world really is a small place, and we are all more alike than different.

So, I wish you a very happy Lunar New Year. May the coming year bring you happiness and wealth--in every sense of the word. Because wealth includes much more than money; it includes all the true riches celebrated by the Chinese New Year--health, family, abundance in all aspects of life.

So, out with the old, in with the new. Stay open to abundance and joy.

Want more info on Chinese New Year? Here are some links:

Chinese New Year

Chinatown-Online

About.com

wikipedia.com

On Resolutions and Martin Luther King Day

2009-01-15T07:01:00.000-08:00

January 17th is National Ditch New Year's Resolutions Day.

Now just think what would have happened if Martin Luther King Jr. had ditched his "resolutions?"

Of course January 19th is Martin Luther King Day. And, in light of our new president, particularly meaningful this year. "I have a dream" has become a common catchphrase but the speech in its entirety--an ode to nonviolence--is one of the most beautiful and moving pieces of literature I have ever read. While written in the 1960's it is equally as valid and relevant and powerful today, from the US to the middle east conflict. Read the whole speech at The US Constitution Online.

Far from appealing for violence, Dr. Martin Luther King called for nonviolent means to justice for all, and isn't that what every citizen of the world wants? The only way to achieve that goal is to work together. Here is the last paragraph, but I urge everyone to read the entire speech--with their kids. Because the children of this world are the future. Let's hope they get it right.

"From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, 'Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!'"

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. went on, in 1964, to win the Nobel Peace Prize. How is that for a dream to pursue? (Read his bio at NobelPrize.org.)

My dream for the coming years is peace. What's your dream, or "resolution?" It's not too late to make a dream come true, whether that dream be world peace, peace within your own community, or peace within yourself. I think everyone needs a dream to work toward. To be constantly challenging ourselves to make the world--or at least our own little part of the world--better, to create, to build something to be proud of.

Don't ditch your New Year's "resolutions"--or your dreams. Make this new year the year. The year of change, for the better. The year of "free."

Make it a good one!

January Holidays and Kid Freebies

2009-01-08T12:07:00.000-08:00

Ah, the grey days of January. The holiday fun and chaos is over. Here are a few links for coloring pages and other east activities to do with your little ones.

Kidprintables.com

Free Coloring Pages

200 Free Things for Kids

The Responsibility Project--free pdf guide and dvds with tips for teaching kids responsibility (It seems to be sponsored by Liberty Mutual.)

I also have links on my website at An Enchanted Lett, on the Freebies page. Here's a sampling"

Wuzzles and Puzzles--free printable puzzles and mazes

Seussville--games based on Dr. Seuss

Kaboose--online games, crafts, contests, downloads, more

Dover Publications--free clipart, coloring pages, more

J's Magic--free clipart and backgrounds

Plus I found several interesting sites listing out-of-the-ordinary "holidays" to celebrate almost every day:

Dailyholidays.net
List of January Holidays and Special Days
January Bizarre and Unique Holidays
2009 Holidays and Observances

Did you know January 8th is Bubble Bath Day? It's also National Joy Germ Day--as in spreading the joy! It was founded by Ms. Joan White in 1980 to promote a positive outlook on life, and to encourage everyone to spread joy, something the world sure needs more of right now. Who knew being contagious could be a good thing?

Lastly, the week of January 8-14 is Universal Letter Writing Week. What better way to spread some joy than to write a heartfelt letter to someone you love, admire, or are grateful for?

Have a good one!

2009-01-01T12:36:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

I can't believe the holidays are over already. But one of my New Year's resolutions was to jump into the blogosphere, so here goes.

I'm a freelance writer and owner of An Enchanted Letter TM, through which I offer fully personalized Letters from Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and the Christmas Angel. I've also written the book Everything You Need To Start Your Own Santa Letter Business, as well as Write Your Own Personalized Holiday Letters, available from Lulu Press.

I'm also thrilled to announce my essay "System Recovery" is included in the new Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Resolution, fittingly enough. (It just came out. Hooray!)

I'm the type who hates to see the holidays end. The type who likes to leave the holiday decorations up well into January, and would probably leave the Christmas tree up till July. One of my favorite movies of all time is "Holiday Inn."

So I got to thinking, well, there are other holidays all throughout the year, why limit myself to Easter and Christmas? The party doesn't have to end, right? So, my goal is to post links and ideas for things to do with kids for holidays year-round.

As a writer, I love books, have always loved books, devoured books as a kid. (That's why I include a book with every letter.) So, in the spirit of holidays that never end--why can't it be Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/etc. all year long?--here's the link to a FREE ebook I compiled of classic holiday stories for children. The "pretty" version can be found at lulu.com. You can also find the no-frills pdf version at An Enchanted Letter.

Have a fantastic New Year!