Category: Curiosity

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World Religion Day

Munchachos Snacks Children: World Religion Day Coexist

What is World Religion Day?

We celebrate World Religion Day on the 20th January. The international day was established by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States in 1950.

The key focus of the day is to encourage people with different religious beliefs to come together. The aim is to also emphasise the common objectives that are at the core of every religion.

What is the Baha’i Faith?

The Baha’i Faith is a religion that focuses on the basic value of all religions. The Faith’s concentrates on all people living together peacefully. It suggests that even though the way people worship and what they worship may differ, the spiritual building blocks of all world religions are similar.

The Baha’is also believe that women and men of all races are equal; that education is important; and that slavery should be forbidden.

Munchachos Snacks Children: World Religion Day Baha'i
The Lotus Temple in Delhi, India is a Baha’i House of Worship

So what is the purpose of World Religion Day?

World Religion Day seeks to inspire the Baha’i’s key objective, which is to promote world peace. Above all, World Religion Day is meant to encourage people from different religions and cultures to speak and exchange ideas.

How will you celebrate diversity in your community?

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Epiphany

Munchachos Snacks Children: Epiphany Three Kings

What is Epiphany?

The 6th January is Epiphany and marks the twelfth day since Christmas. It is the official end to the festive season for many Christians around the world.  

The Twelfth Night is significant as a celebration of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptism. It also marks a visit to the baby Jesus by three Kings, or Wise Men. That is why Epiphany is also known as Little Christmas or Three Kings’ Day.

Where does the word Epiphany come from?

The word ‘Epiphany’ has Greek roots and means ‘to show’. This refers to Jesus being revealed to the world.  It is also why when you have an ‘epiphany moment’ it means that something is revealed to you.  

How do people celebrate Epiphany?

Here are some interesting facts about the Feast of Epiphany from around the world: 

In some European countries, children leave their shoes out the night before to be filled with gifts. Others leave straw for the three Kings’ horses.

Shoes filled with gifts… and perhaps some scrumptious munchables?

According to Greek Orthodox Church’s traditions, a priest will bless the waters by throwing a cross into it. Worshippers dive in to try to retrieve it.

  • In goes the cross!

In Venice a traditional regatta, that started as a joke in the late 70s, forms part of the celebrations of Epiphany Day.

According to some, misfortune apparently befalls anyone who keeps Christmas decorations up a minute after Twelfth Night.  Have you taken your decorations down?

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New Year

Munchachos Snacks Children: New Years Eve

It’s New Year’s Eve! A time for celebrations! But how will the members of our Munchachos Family be ringing in 2019?

France

In France, New Year’s Eve is called La Sant-Sylvestre. One French tradition is to kiss under the mistletoe at the stroke of midnight in order to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits for the year ahead.  

Spain 

Spaniards eat 12 grapes one by one, in time with the striking of the clock at midnight on the 31st. If you eat them all in time, you will have a lucky and prosperous year ahead.

Germany 

In Germany, one tradition is to melt little bits of lead over a small flame and then drop it quickly into cold water. The strange shape it then takes on are supposed to reveal what the year ahead will bring. 

Jamaica 

In Jamaica, it is unheard of to have piles of dirty laundry waiting to welcome the New Year. 

China 

1st January is not as significant in China as in other parts of the world as they have their own new year in late January-early February which they celebrate with millions of Chinese lanterns, dragon displays and fireworks (we’ll blog about this at a later date!) 

Mexico 

At midnight on New Year’s Eve, many Mexicans open the door and symbolically sweep out ‘the old’. At midnight, they toss 12 cents (coins) on the ground and sweep them into the house for prosperity.

Italy 

Many Italians wear red underwear to bring luck in the coming year!

America 

One of the best-known New Year’s Eve traditions in the USA is watching the colourful crystal ball drop in Times Square. As many as a million people attend a party in the square and enjoy musical performances and fireworks..

Canada 

In Canada there is a tradition of clapping and roaring at the time of midnights to push away all the past evils and negative energies.

New Zealand 

Thanks to their location, New Zealand is one of the first countries to celebrate. the New Year.  Because the country has quite a large number of Scottish immigrants, many of the traditions have Scottish heritage; including wearing kilts on New Year’s Day and ‘first footing’ where the first person to cross a threshold of the house after midnight brings good luck!

Greece

In Greece, the biggest event for a household is the Pothariko, when the first born son of a family must be the first to cross the threshold of the house with their right foot. This will bring luck to the household for the whole year. In some areas of Greece this person holds a pomegranate whose seeds symbolise happiness and good fortune.

UK 

And back at home, there is a belief that the first guest to enter through the front door should be a young, dark-headed male bearing gifts such as bread (to be full), salt (to be wealthy) and coal (to stay warm).

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Kwanzaa

Munchachos Snacks Children: Kwanzaa Full Image

What is Kwanzaa?

For seven days beginning on 26th December and lasting until the 1st January, African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa. This holiday is named for the time of year when African tribes traditionally celebrate the first harvest of their crops.  

In spite of the fact that Kwanzaa is a relatively new holiday, it is celebrated by many. Its rapid adoption by so many is down to the fact that it symbolises what it means to be an African; celebrate specifically family, community and culture.

How do We Celebrate?

Many houses put out candelabra a little like the Advent candle or Chanukah Menorah, called a Kinara.  Its seven candles symbolise the seven nights of the holiday and the seven principles upon which the holiday is based.  These are called the Nguzo Saba and are: unity (umoja), self-determination (kujichagulia), collective work and responsibility (ujima), cooperative economics (ujamaa), purpose (nia), creativity (kuumba) and faith (imani). 

Munchachos Snacks Children: Kwanzaa Principles
7 Kwanzaa Principles

As well as the Kinara, people decorate their houses with straw mats and ears of corn to symbolise the harvest.  Many decorations, crafts and ceramics are hung around the house in the traditional colours are red, green and black, to mirror many of the African countries’ flags.  

Munchachos Snacks Children: Kwanzaa Corn Food
Kwanzaa Decorations

On December 31st, the holiday culminates in a feast called Karamu. This feast is made up of an abundance of traditional food which could include African creole, Cajun catfish, jerk chicken or Groundnut stew (and many scrumptious munchables too?).

We think it all sounds delicious and are very keen to try out some of these flavours. Perhaps they could be incorporated into a new Munchachos snack for 2019! What do you think?

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Time to Make a Christingle!

Munchachos Snacks Children: Tray of Christingles

What is A Christingle?

Christingles are candles set in oranges held by children at Advent services.  Each element has a special meaning significant to the Christian church.  

The tradition was begun in Germany in the 18th century but then  popularised when John Pensom brought it to the UK and held Christingle services to raise money for The Children’s Society.  This year it is the 50th year since the first Christingle service.

Ready to Make your Very own Christingle?

You will need the following: 

  • An orange 
  • A red ribbon 
  • Dried fruits and sweets on skewers or cloves 
  • A lit candle 

The orange represents the world; the red ribbon indicates God’s love wrapped around the world and the blood Christ shed on the cross; the dried fruits are symbols of God’s creations and the lit candle symbolises Jesus.  

Now for the fun part!

  1. Tie a ribbon around the middle of your orange. Make sure its nice and tight!
  2. Cut a small cross in the top of your orange and lay a square of silver foil (1cm square) over the cross. This might be a good time to get an adult to help. 
  3. Place a candle on top and wedge it firmly into the orange.  The foil will help prevent hot wax running onto your hand.
  4. Load four cocktail sticks with raisins, sultanas or soft sweets and insert them into the orange around the base of the candle.  Alternatively insert cloves all over the orange (it smells amazing!) 
Does your Chrstingle look something like this? Congratulations!

Take a photo of your Christingle, send it to us here and tag us on Instagram (@Munchachos). We cannot wait to see your creations!

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