Dear You Art Project

Mail Art + Pen Friends = Dear You Art Project

Holidays

Having fun on Kadripäev and Mardipäeav!

2016, 2nd Grade, 8 years olds, Dear You Art Workshops, Estonia, Austria, HolidaysArlene TuckerComment

The January Project was fun. In Estonia we have the days "Kadripäev" and "Mardipäeav" where we make masks. The children wanted to immediately start to draw. They were looking for patterns on their skin and clothes. Fortunately, the children were wearing very colorful
clothing and the masks are completed soon. It was a great idea.

Aili Vassil


The 8 year old artists from Mooste Põhikool in Mooste, Estonia are making and exchanging art with the 8 years from Evangelischen Volksschule am Karlsplatz in Vienna, Austria.

December Peacefulness in Prague

2014, 4th Grade, Czech Republic, Dear You Art Workshops, Finland, HolidaysArlene TuckerComment

Dear You,

Last workshop of this year was also my last contribution to this project. As you could sense all around the Panda Learning Center, Christmas are everywhere and I wanted to set up the workshop in this mood. I wanted to create a calm and peaceful atmosphere and to have time to chat with the students. This time we used just markers, scissors and blank white A4 paper. During the workshop we talked about Christmas time and what we would like to give to the students from Finland, which was really fun and I hope that you are going to see it soon. The biggest  source for us was  the licorice world, which we all remember from one of the the previous workshop in which we received pictures of licorice candies from Finland.

In the end, I especially wanted to thank my students for their intense attitude and high quality outcomes, also thanks to stuff of Panda Learning Center for providing me warm words and lunch, students from Finland for their funny letters and last but not least to Arlene Tucker coordinator of this project for patience and trust to give me space and time within Dear You project.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Prague
Veselé Vánoce a šťastný nový rok z Prahy

- Rudolf Samohejl

The Danes give thanks with Efterårsferie!

Denmark, Holidays, CultureArlene TuckerComment

The Danes celebrate Thanksgiving in October with their holiday Efterårsferie!  This year's Autumn holiday will take place from Saturday, October 11 to Sunday, October 19, 2014.  It usually happens on the 42nd week of the year.  Another fun fact is that Efterårsferie used to be called Potato Holiday!  Can you think of why that is?

Thank you, Tatjana Knudsen from Randlevskolen, for sharing with us!  We will celebrate Efterårsferie with you in our own home.

Denmark is such a beautiful country.  Below are some pictures from my trip to Copenhagen and Århus from a few years ago.  If you haven't been already, you gotta go!

I wonder what our friends in Denmark will do.  In any case, have a beautiful time!

With love,
Arlene

ps. As far as I can see, the original purpose for Efterårsferie was so that the children could help the families with the potato harvest.  Wow times have changed, but it's nice to see that the tradition is still alive and well!

Happy Double Ten Day!

Holidays, Taiwan, CultureArlene TuckerComment

Taiwan's National Day is also referred to as Double Ten Day.  It celebrates the start of the Wuchang Uprising of October 10, 1911, which led to the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in China and establishment of the Republic of China on January 1, 1912. 

If you will be in Taiwan, expect loads of fireworks, food, parades and singing!  Double Ten is also a lively celebration in Chinatowns across the globe.

Wishing everybody at U.S. Kids in Taipei, Taiwan a wonderful ++ holiday!  If you know of anything special happening, please let us know.

XOXO,
Arlene



Have a great Dasara Fair in Mysore!

India, Holidays, CultureArlene TuckerComment

Wishing our Dear You friends in Mysore, India a Happy Dussehra on October 3rd!

"In the months of Ashwin and Kartik, Hindus observe a 10 day ceremony of fast, rituals and celebrations to honor the triumph of Lord Rama over Demon Ravana. Dussehra also symbolizes the triumph of warrior Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon, Mahishasura. Thus, it is a celebration of victory of good over evil." 

- Read more about the celebration here.

To learn more about how the Dasara Fair in Mysore is celebrated, please click here.

I hope to experience this colorful festivity in India one day!