In North America, it’s Groundhog Day.  While there are celebrity rodents all over the U.S. and Canada, the most famous has got to be Punxsutawney Phil from Pennsylvania.  Here’s a photo montage from Phil’s 2008 prediction of six more weeks of winter. Phil, I’m counting on better news from you for 2009!

This next clip doesn’t really have to do with Groundhog Day per se . . . just groundhogs. You’ll see the cutest marmotte in this French commercial for Milka chocolate:

In France, it’s la Chandeleur, or Crepe Day. You hold a coin in one hand, and flip a crepe in the other. If the crepe lands in the pan, you’ll have a year of happiness. Here is a French crepe recipe. Look delicious?

Finally, el Dia de la Candelaria is a religious and family celebration in Mexico. People have parties and eat tamales. Many families also dress a niño Dios in fine clothes to be presented at church.  Check out these photos from About.com. Now, about those tamales . . .

Have yourself a multicultural midwinter celebration

I have no intention of allowing my students to flip crepes at school.  (I may be a fun teacher, but not that fun!)  We’re simply going to follow the maxim, “Manger des crêpes à la Chandeleur apporte un an de bonheur.” (Eating crepes on la Chandeleur brings a year of happiness.)  While I’m not superstitious, I know I can use all the happiness I can get.  And what better way to start off the week than with a fun surprise?

Learn some French food vocabulary as you prepare some tasty crepes.  Recipes abound online.  Here are your basic ingredients:

farine – flour

oeufs – eggs

lait – milk

eau – water

sel - salt

beurre – butter

Try some of these delicious toppings:

sucre – sugar

citron – lemon

fraises – strawberries

chantilly – whipped cream

chocolat – chocolate

Nutella

Younger kids will enjoy coloring pictures of the crepe-flipping festivities.  Check out these free online Chandeleur coloring pages:

May you catch your crepes and have a year filled with happiness

In my home, our celebration consists of a simple King’s Cake.  But in Latin countries, el Día de los Tres Reyes Magos is a really big deal.  This is the day the Three Wisemen bring presents to leave in children’s shoes.

Want to help your children or students learn more about the language and customs of el Día de los Tres Reyes Magos?  Check out our downloads from Foreign Language House.

Happy King’s Day

Photo Credit: by SteveFE at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/677236

 If you’re ever having trouble exciting your kids about a new language or culture, just sugar them up and you’re good to go!  My seventh grade French teacher just happened to have a culinary arts degree under her belt.  Who knew that signing up for her class for the goodies would lead me down such a francophile path? 

Cooking is a valuable hands-on language learning activity.  I incorporate food and cooking as much as I can get away with as a teacher.  Unfortunately, I’m somewhat lacking in culinary skills.  Kids don’t care, they just want to eat.  And you can rest assured that any recipe you get from me will be easy-breezy!

Make this super simple version of a French chocolate croissant, or pain au chocolat, as an immersion activity with the kids.  Learn French shapes along the way.  (The shapes in red are used in this croissant recipe):

• cercle – circle
• ovale – oval
• carré - square
• rectangle – rectangle
• triangle – triangle
• diamant – diamond
• croissant – crescent

Now that you’ve introduced some great French shapes vocabulary, it’s time to bake.  Here’s what you’ll need:

• Refrigerated crescent roll dough
• Hershey’s chocolate bars divided into rectangles
• Melted butter
• Sugar
• Oven

Use these French directions as you prepare the chocolate croissants:

1. Prenez un triangle de la pâte. - Take a triangle of dough.
2. Mettez un rectangle du chocolat sur le triangle. - Put a rectangle of chocolate on the triangle.
3. Roulez la pâte et faites un croissant. - Roll-up the dough and make a crescent.
4. Tartinez le croissant de beurre. - Spread butter on the crescent.
5. Mettez du sucre sur le croissant. - Put sugar on the cresent.
6. Répétez 1-6 pour chaque croissant. – Repeat 1-6 for each crescent.
7. Mettez-les dans le four. - Put them in the oven.
8. Follow the baking directions on the crescent roll package.

Bon appétit!