wednesday, december 8, 2010 The VancouVer courier EW25

Kidz beatKidz beatspecial advertising feature

more peace, more joy Creating new family Christmas traditions based on practices from around the world

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by Emma Lee

Christmas is around the corner, and for most families in Canada, it’s a holiday that is filled with traditions including

gift-giving, Santa Claus, eating roast turkey and all the trimmings, and decorating the tree. But have you ever thought of incor-porating something new in your holiday celebrations? Why not take a page out of another country’s book and introduce a new family tradition this winter? Here are some ideas on how to take traditions from around the world and making them your own.

GermanyTradition: In Germany, children set out a shoe or boot outside of their home’s door on St. Nicholas Eve (December 5) in hopes that they’ve been good enough that St. Nicholas will fill it with goodies (typically food) instead of twigs for naughty children. This tradition is practiced in other countries around the world with slight variations, and it’s similar to what we do in North America when we set out stockings.

New twist: This year, set out a shoe or a boot, instead of stockings, to be filled by Santa Claus.

ScotlandTradition: The Scottish forget the past and look forward as part of their Christmas tra-ditions. They burn the branches of a rowan tree, which symbolizes the banishing of any ill will between friends or family.

New twist: It might be hard to find a rowan tree branch to burn, but you can take the

sentiment of the Scottish tradition (forgetting the past and looking forward) and make your own tradition with candles. For example, each family member can light a candle to symbolize the discard-ing of old habits and to signify the fuelling of new hopes and dreams. It’s like making a Christmas wish.

RomaniaTradition: In Romania (and other countries), it is tradition to open gifts on Christmas Eve.

New twist: If opening all the gifts on Christ-mas Eve is too much of a shock to your family tradition of gift-opening on Christ-mas morning, why not let everyone open one gift on Christmas Eve for a change?

ArgentinaTradition: In Argentina, colourful paper balloons, called “globos” are traditional. They’re lit on the inside and then sent float-ing into the sky.

New twist: The cold and wet weather of the Christmas holidays aren’t usually conducive to floating large paper balloons outside, but why not make smaller colourful paper balloons as decorations inside the home? You can hang them on the tree, inside your windows...wherever you would like. We found easy step-by-step instructions for building an origami balloon online:http://www.wikihow.com/Make-an-Origami-Balloon. Choose different colours of paper for variety.

check out the next issue of kidzbeat:

healthy activities for kids to start the year

off right!

next publishes

friday, January 7, 2011

Kidz beatKidz beat

EW26 The VancouVer courier wednesday, december 8, 2010

P R E S E N T I N G S P O N S O R M E D I A S P O N S O R S V E N U E S P O N S O R S

Festival of Trees 2010Join us now until January 5, 2011.

Visit the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver and Pacific Centre to celebrate the season

of giving at Festival of Trees.

Also visit www.bcchf.ca/festivaloftrees for information about Port Alberni

and Victoria Festival of Trees events.

by Emma Lee

When Greg Ould asked a man lying by the side of a building on a cold October night if there

was anything he could do to help him out, he received an answer that would change his life forever.

“I could use a blanket...to survive the night,” the man replied.

Ould recounts, “When he told me he need-ed a blanket, something inside me sparked. I came back with a blanket. It was just something I had to do as a human being. I was blown away that something so basic could mean the difference between life or death for him.”

That was five years ago, and since then, Ould, who works as an attendant on the Canada Line, has collected a whopping 35,000 blankets for those in need through the Blanket BC Society, a Mission-based organization that he founded with his son Ben, then just one-and-a-half years old.

Ould says his son Ben, now 7, along with his sister Emma, 3, are a big part of the reason he started Blanket BC. He explains that he wanted to show them they can do some-thing good by helping others. But clearly, the Ould kids don’t need any push to spread the word about the need. Both Ben and his sister actively let friends know about the need for blankets. “Ben just goes out there and and

tells kids at school or at the playground that we need blankets,” Ould says. “This world would be a hell of a lot better place if we just listened to our children.”

Most of the blankets are donated during Blanket BC’s “Drive on the Line” campaign. The event occurs once a year on Novem-ber 26 – officially “Blanket BC Day” as it was proclaimed by the City of Vancouver. It’s a day-long blanket drive along the Sky-train’s Expo, Millennium and Canada Line stations. On this day, everyone was invited to bring a blanket with them on their way to school or to work. But people can still continue to donate after that day. In the weeks following the blanket drive, until the end of February 2011, Ould hopes to gath-er a total of 35,000 blankets, equivalent to the total number his organization has col-lected in the last five years.

The collected blankets -- which in many cases are being saved from being dumped in landfills -- get a new life, and are divided

and distributed to shelters, churches and other organizations that need them. It’s a lot of work for anyone, and Ould empha-sizes that his wife Jennifer and children are what keep him going.

Ould also adds that he couldn’t do what he does without the generous and passion-ate support of Blanket BC’s sponsors: Piv-otal Concepts, Great Little Box Company, Canada Line, The Media Merchants, Wil-liams Moving & Storage, Protrans BC, Ron Perron Photography & Design, and Maple Leaf Storage.

“We just want people to do -- to go out there and do something good. It’s easy. That’s the message we want people to hear,” Ould adds.

spotlight on Blanket Bc One family gives warmth from the heart

If you have time, collect blankets from your friends or family with your children. It’s a great opportunity for you and your kids to experience the joy of helping and giving this holiday season.

For more information about Blanket BC and how you and your family can help -- whether it’s through donations or through volunteering

visit www.blanketbc.com.

Kidz beatKidz beat

by Helen Peterson

People of every generation grew up on the whimsical writings and illustrations of Dr. Suess (real

name Theodor Suess Geisel.)

Parents today recall The Cat in the Hat, Horton Hears a Who, Green Eggs and Ham, and the Grinch, of course. Reminiscing is easy – simply go to www.suessville.com, the official “Suess” site by Random House, publishers of the Dr. Suess catalogue of well-loved, timeless books.

Seussville is the place for children of all ages to play and learn with Dr. Seuss’s wonderfully whimsical books and classic characters, which leap to life through interactive games and activities that will enrich each child’s reading experience.

Closer to home, you’ll want to take the kids to Suessical the Musical at the Waterfront Theatre, Granville Island.

Taking the stage currently, until Jan. 1, 2011, this musi-cal revue is geared at ages three and over, and is based on the works of Dr. Seuss, with book by Lynn

Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty.

This hilarious musical, produced and performed by Carousel Theatre for Young People, is sure to make everyone laugh and dance in their seats. Seussical the Musical brings the tales

of Dr. Seuss to life with this toe-tapping story that spans a wide spectrum of musi-cal styles. The much-loved characters of Horton the Elephant and The Cat in the

Hat join other favourites; it’s sure to be the family event of the holiday season.

Director Carole Higgins says: “Our audi-ences have been clamouring for the

return of Seussical, and I am delighted to work with a fine group of actors and musi-

cians to present Seussical – it’s a treat for chil-dren, parents and grandparents alike!”

For tickets, contact Carousel Theatre Box Office at 604-669-3410 or purchase

wednesday, december 8, 2010 The VancouVer courier EW27

Kidz beat

featuring:Fred PennerCharlotte DiamondBobs & LoloNorman Footewith MC Dolly Hopkins

Vancouver International Children’s Festival in associationwith the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company present

A special concert for theVancouver International Children’s Festival

Vancouver Playhouse (Hamilton & Dunsmuir)Call 604.873.3311 or visit www.childrensfestival.ca

.com

Donated Design

1pm&4pm1pm&4pm

featururinininggggg:::::Fred PenneerrrCharlotte Diamond

2nd SHOWADDED!

2nd SHOWADDED!

Mail or drop off your entry to The Vancouver Courier, 1574 West 6th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. V6J 1R2 or email to contest@vancourier.com with “Justin Beiber” in the subject

line. Deadline for entries is Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010 noon. Lucky winner will be contacted by phone. Must be between 12 and 19 years of age.

Name: _____________________________________________

Daytime Phone: _______________________ Age: _________

WIN justin bieber’s new CD “My Worlds Acoustic”Plus a poster & Sticker

Features acoustic versions of Justin’s hits including “Baby,” “One Time” and “U Smile”, plus the new song, “Pray”

www.justinbiebermusic.com

Be nice, not naughty!

a suessical sensation! For the Child in All of Us

youth living on the streetsTo Dec. 17Drop off location: 1574 W. 6th AveThe Vancouver Courier is collecting new items for youth living on the streets. Please help us to spread cheer and good will this holiday season to those who have no home of their own. For more information, please contact June Stafford 604-738-1411.

kids market – granville islandTo Dec. 22www.kidsmarket.caJoin Kids Market and Elizabeth Fry Society along with the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau and give a gift to less fortunate chil-dren. Choose a name from the tree and donate an unwrapped gift at Kids Market before Dec. 22.

EW28 The VancouVer courier wednesday, december 8, 2010

Birthday Club Entry FormName: ______________________________

Phone # _____________________________

Turning _______on: ____________________

Send to: The Birthday Club, 1574 West 6th Ave., Vancouver BC V6J 1R2. Deadline for entries for the upcoming month is Dec. 31st, 2010.

NEXT BIRTHDAY CLUB WILL PUBLISH JANUARY 7TH, 2011Hey Kids... Simply send us your name & birthdate and we will publish it the month of your birthday on our special Birthday Page. You will also be automatically entered to WIN a birthday prize from H.R. MACMILLAN SPACE CENTRE & DAIRY QUEEN. Winners will be contacted by phone in addition to an announcement in the paper.

December 2 Nirvana Bandi ................5December 3 Caleb Tam .....................6Erfan Bandi ..................15 December 5 Sophia Santos ...............7

December 7 Nicholas Carter Haydar .9December 8 Andrew Wong ..............13 Adam Greenall ..............5December 11 Everett Ng ......................7Nicholas Tracy ...............7

December 13 Ericsson Sing ...............13December 16 Matias Cramer ...............5December 17 Brandon Robertson .....12December 19 Sakura Kubota ...............9

December 20 Emilio Cramer ................7December 22 Elena Cardona ...............7 December 23 Georgia Rafighi ..............8Alexis Quon ...................4Ryan Louie .....................5

December 24 Taiki Shickele .................5December 31 Justin Dar ......................9

Alexis Quon turns 4 on

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all these DECEMBER Kids!

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SANTAS

Find all the differences between these 2 Santas and then have fun colouring them in!