We Celebrate

Bobbie Kalman

The Holidays & Festivals Series

Karen Harrison

Crabtree Publishing Companywww.crabtreebooks.com www.crabtreebooks.com

The Holidays and Festivals SeriesCreated by Bobbie Kalman

Writing team:Bobbie KalmanSusan Hughes

Illustrations:Karen HarrisonPages 7, 14, 18-19 by Marilyn Mets© Crabtree Publishing Company

Editor-in-chief:Bobbie Kalman

Editors:Susan HughesLise GunbyGrace DeLottinvilleDan Liebman

Cover design:Peter Maher, Newton Frank Arthur Inc.Karen Harrison

Art direction and design:Jane HamiltonHugh MichaelsonRuth CherniaCatherine Johnston

Mechanicals:Nancy Cook

For Berit

350 Fifth Avenue 102 Torbrick Avenue

Suite 3308 Toronto, Ontario

New York, N.Y. 10118 Canada M4J 4Z5

Cataloguing in Publication Data

Kalman, Bobbie, 1947-

We Celebrate Spring

(The Holidays and Festivals Series)

Includes index.

ISBN 0-86505-043-0

I. Spring. I. Title. II. Series.

GT3933.K35 1985 398’.33

Contents

2 3

5 When will spring be here?

6 How can you tell it’s spring?

8 Chasing away winter

10 A guide to spring behavior

12 Spring is here!

14 The best of all places

16 Spring babies

18 Crickets, bunnies, chicks, and unicorns

20 Come fly with me

22 Spring words

25 The Cherry Blossom Festival

26 Pink perfumePicnic preparations

27 Buds and blossoms

29 Dance around the Maypole

30 Old reasons for seasons

32 Tree festivals

34 Tree activities

36 Easter

37 Busy bustling Easter Bunnies

39 Festival of fire

40 “What a mess!”

42 We’re having a rummage sale

44 St. Patrick’s Day

44 A leprechaun party

49 Flying colors

50 Throwing good wishes

52 April Fools’ Day

55 A topsy-turvy spring

56 Index

Copyright © 1985, Crabtree Publishing Company. All

rights reserved. No part of this publication may be

reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or be transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,

photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior

written permission of Crabtree Publishing Company.

4 5

When will spring be here?Some whiskers poke out of the hole in the ground. Then a twitching nose appears.Out pops a whole head. The mouth opens in a long, wide yawn. Mr. Ground Hog,sometimes known as Mr. Woodchuck, crawls slowly out of his hole. He stretchessleepily. He is grumpy because he has just woken from a long winter nap.

Why doesn’t the tired Mr. Ground Hog go back to sleep? Today is the second day of February. He has a job to do. He must let everyone know when spring is coming.

Will sleepy Mr. Ground Hog see his shadow? If he does, he will jump right back into his hole. Have you ever heard the expression “scared of his own shadow?”That’s our friend. Mr. Ground Hog is not a very brave fellow.

If he sees no shadow, he will not go back into his hole. He knows that spring will soon be here!

The children check the back door of Mr. Ground Hog’s home. Mr. Ground Hog has crawled out the front. Will the children see him? Will they have an early spring this year?

6 7

People all over the world wait eagerly for spring to arrive. The ground hog tells people in North America that spring iscoming. In other countries, people wait for badgers or bearsto show them that spring is on its way. These animals comeout of hibernation. Hibernation is a long winter sleep.

Longer days, shorter nightsFinally, spring arrives. In the northern half of the world, the first day of spring is March 21. March 21 is called thespring equinox. Do you know what an equinox is? During the equinox, day and night have the same number of hours.They are equal. After the spring equinox, the days becomelonger than the nights. There is more sunlight every day. The sun sets later each evening.

While the sun shines for more hours on the northern half of the world, it shines for fewer hours on the southern half of the world. This means that when it is spring in the northernhalf, it is autumn in the southern half. But when autumn comesto the north, the spring celebrations begin in the south! In thesouthern countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, the spring equinox is September 21.

Some countries are near the equator. The equator is halfwaybetween the North and South Poles. Near the equator,temperatures do not change very much during the year. There are wet seasons and dry seasons. But people still celebrate spring when the equinox arrives!

Feeling springHow do you feel when spring comes? Every day there issomething new to see, hear, touch, smell, and taste. Can yousee the cool blue of the sky and the bright green of the grass?Can you hear the birds singing because winter is gone at last?

How can you tell it’s spring?

Does it feel good to throw off your winter jacket and let the sunshine warm your skin? Does it feel good to run without your boots? Are your friends playingoutside? Can you hear the skipping ropes slapping the pavement? Can you hear the excited shouts of your friends as they play touch tag and kickball?

Do the lilac trees smell sweet? Does the smoke of the first backyard barbecuemake your mouth water? Can you taste that delicious hamburger? Spring feels,smells, looks, tastes, and sounds GREAT!

Spring into celebrationDoes spring make you feel like celebrating? Take a trip around the world with us at springtime. Invite your friends to a leprechaun party. Dance aroundthe Maypole. Decorate an Easter egg. Hunt a unicorn! Spring is here. Help us celebrate this warm, happy season.

8 9

Winter seems to last forever. Sometimes people wonder if it will ever end! In many parts of the world, people have special celebrations to help get rid of the gray, cold feeling of winter and to allow the sunny, bright spirit of spring to take its place.

In the mountains between France and Spain, people think of winter as a gruff,shaggy bear. The winter bear must be chased away before spring can arrive. A man wearing a furry coat and mask pretends to be the winter bear. Thevillagers chase him with sticks. The bear lies down. He plays dead. Everyonedances around him. They shout, “Winter is dead. Spring is coming!”

Green GeorgeIn Croatia, Yugoslavia, villagers celebrate the coming of Green George in April. Young people go singing from door to door. One of them dresses as Green George. He wears green leaves and branches. The singers announcethe coming of Green George and spring. They ask for presents and wish everyhousehold a good year. In return for presents and money, each home is given some of George’s branches.

Chasing away winter Crazy ThursdayIn a West German town called Mittenwald, people chase away winter on CrazyThursday. Crazy Thursday is usually in February.

Everyone looks forward to this day. People plan their costumes for weeks.They make “ugly masks.” They dress up as witches and scary creatures.They run in the streets. They shout, growl, prance, and dance. They run with brooms and ‘‘sweep’’ out the winter spirits.

Later in the day, groups of men wearing “handsome masks” dance through the town. Each man wears four heavy bells around his waist. These bells are worn to ring in the spring and good weather.

Rid yourself of winterHow do you get rid of winter? Do you pack away your winter clothes? Do you take out your bicycle? Do you jump into puddles and run in the breeze? Perhaps you and some of your friends can think of new ways to celebrate spring. Why not organize a spring festival in your school or on your block? Use some of the ideas in this book or come up with your own. Welcome spring in your own special way this year.

10 11

How to take off your winter clothes. First, fling off your soggy woolen mittens. Next, undo your boot buckles. Kick your boots into the sky as high as you can! Unwind your long scarf. Throw off your hat. Unzip your heavy winter jacket. Rip off your wet snowpants. Ah! Now you are ready for the spring sunshine!

How to welcome spring. When you get outside, turn around three times. Run to a tree and swing from a branch. Take six steps backwards and two sideways. Do a somersault, then a cartwheel. Put your head between your legs and shout three times, “GNIRPS EMOCLEW.” Then shout the words one more time, this time backwards.

How to jump into rain puddles. Pick the largest, deepest, dirtiest puddle around. Stand a good distance away from the puddle. Take a deep breath. Now, run as quickly as you can toward the puddle, take a huge leap, and —SPLASH — you’ve done it. I hope you are wearing your rubber boots!

How to find your spring toys. Do you remember where you put away your spring toys for the winter? Climb up to your attic, check your closets, or creep into your basement. Open that box covered with dust and spider webs. Reach in and pull out skipping ropes, rubber balls, marbles, jacks, and yo-yos. Gather them up and race to the nearest park or playground.

How to go to bed when the days are getting longer. One solution is to turn out your light, close your curtains, put a blindfold over your eyes, and put your covers over your head. Then, count to one hundred backwards and slowly. Asleep yet? If this does not work, perhaps you could ask your mother or father to sing a lullabye.

How to smell flowers. First, find a flower to smell. Look for a large flowerbecause the larger it is, the easier it is to sniff. Now, slowly move your nosetoward the flower. At the first sign of a bad smell, pull back quickly. Otherwise,continue ahead until your nose is almost in the flower. Make sure you check for bees. Do not sneeze! Now, quickly press your nose into the flower and sniff deeply. Mmmm, the smells of spring!

A guide to spring behavior

12 13

Spring is here!

15

Do you know this skipping rhyme?On the mountain stands a lady, All she wants is gold and silver,Who she is I do not know. All she wants is ice-cream cones.

So jump in, my darling.So jump out, my baby.

Have a ballHave a ball with a ball! Balls were once made of bamboo or leather. Dodgeball was played with a shell. Today, people use a soft ball to play dodgeball. They stand in a circle and throw the ball at one or two people in the center of the circle. The people in the center try not to be hit. If they are hit, they are out.

Play Monkey in the Middle. In France, this game is called Frog in the Middle. Two people toss a ball to each other. Another person stands between the tossers and tries to catch the ball. This person is the Monkey or Frog.

That’s the way the ball bouncesBounce a ball against a wall. Try different tricks. Clap your hands or spin aroundwhile the ball bounces. Sing a song at the same time:

One, two, three, O’Leary,My first name is Mary.If you think it’s necessary,Look it up in the dictionary.

Clap handsFind a partner and play a hand-clapping game. Here is a hand-clapping rhyme:

See, see, my playmate. Shout down my rain barrelCome out and play with me, Slide down my cellar door,And bring your dollies three. And we’ll be jolly friendsClimb up my apple tree. For evermore, more, more!

In the old days, children used to shout into the barrels that were put outside to collect rainwater. What a noise their voices made! Cellar doors were built on a slant outside homes and made terrific slides.

The best of all placesChildren on skateboards, children on swings, Riding on bicycles, dangling from rings,Leapfrogging, kiteflying, sliding down poles, Hanging from trees, and doing back rolls.Soak up some sunshine and make funny faces. The playground in spring is the best of all places.

Tag along with usMany of the outdoor games you play are also played in other countries. Tag isplayed everywhere. In Saudi Arabia, the person who is “it” is an airplane! Theairplane can only tag people who have both feet on the ground. If you are on aswing, a rock, a teeter-totter, or a tree branch, you are safe from the airplane.

There are many fun ways to play tag. Be a ground hog. Play shadow tag and catch someone’s shadow. Freeze all your friends in a game of freeze tag.Perhaps on a very hot day, a game of water tag with squirt bottles might be a good way to help you cool off.

Old games make new funAs soon as spring arrives, out come the jumpers. Skipping and jumping games have always been popular in the springtime. Many years ago, people jumped over bonfires when spring came. They believed that the higher they jumped, the taller their new crops would grow. In later times, they jumped over grapevines. Today, we use jump ropes for some of our spring games.

14

16 17

Spring babiesBabies are born in the spring. Tiny robins are learning to sing.

Tadpoles and polliwogs wriggle. Spotted hyena pups giggle.

Tiger cubs show off their stripes. Puppies try out their first “yipes.”

The lambs and the foals test their legs. Yellow chicks peck out of their eggs.

Kittens meow for warm milk.The calves’ baby hair feels like silk.

The young hippopotamus yawns.The does lick their newborn fawns.

The ducklings are learning to quack,And little snake eggs start to crack.

1819

Crickets, bunnies, chicks, and unicornsWhich animals do you think of when the spring comes? In Italy, spring makes people think of crickets. Have you heard the crickets trilling? They are rubbing their wings together. Spring in Italy sure is a trilling time!

In Florence, Italy, people celebrate a spring cricket festival. It is called Festa delGallo. People buy tiny, painted cages. Inside the cages are crickets! People take thecrickets to the park. They listen to the crickets sing. The children play spring games. If the crickets sing all day long, it is believed that the children will have good luck.

The Easter BunnyWhen spring is near, people in many countries think of the Easter Bunny. Easter is a spring holiday. The Easter Bunny helps to celebrate Easter. He carries his basket all over the world. He brings children Easter eggs. The eggs are decorated with beautiful spring colors.

Why does the Easter Bunny bring eggs? The Easter holiday celebrates new life. TheEaster Bunny brings eggs because eggs remind people of new life. Chicks, ducklings,and baby birds of all kinds hatch from eggs.

Tap, tap, tapHave you ever seen a chick being born or hatching? First there is a tiny crack in the egg. Then the crack gets bigger. Listen. The chick is tapping its way out of the egg and into the world. Suddenly you can see the tiny beak. Then, a headand two little eyes appear. Hello, little yellow chick. “Hello, spring!“ the chick peeps.

Have you seen a unicorn?In Vietnam, the unicorn is a spring animal. Do you believe in unicorns? Have youever seen one? A unicorn is a very shy, magical creature. It looks like a white horsewith a horn on its forehead.

The people of Vietnam celebrate a spring holiday called Tet Nhat. During Tet Nhat, a person dressed as a unicorn dances down the street. Drums boom and cymbalsclash to welcome spring. Fireworks burst in the air. People say hello to the unicorn.They hang money and vegetables from balconies. The unicorn climbs poles to reachthese gifts. It visits the new crops and the animals. The unicorn brings good luck to all living things.

20 21

Pretend you are attached to a giant pair of wings. Do you feel light? Do you feel free? Fly through the spring showers. Watch the rain wash away the last of the winter snow. Splish, splash! Look down and see the children stomping through the mud puddles.

The rain disappears. The sky is filled with the colors of the rainbow. Far, faraway where the end of the rainbow meets the earth, there lies a glittering pot of gold. Swoop down to find your treasure at the bottom.

If only I could be…If I were a birdI’d flit, I’d float, I’d glide.I’d never be too tiredTo give my friends a ride.

If I were a butterflyMy pretty wings I’d spread.I’d visit every flowerAnd never go to bed.

Come fly with me

Easter egg

branch

kite

pussy willow

unicorn

maypole

balls

maple syrup

roller skates

cricket

puddle

raincoat

umbrella

rainbow

cherry blossoms

rain hat

rubberboots

robin

broom

rabbit

chicks

shamrock

bicycletulips

hopscotch

jump

daffodil

skipping rope

Spring wordsTry to use all these words in your own spring story.

25

To celebrate spring in Japan, people have picnics under the blossoming cherry trees. Children fly colorful kites.

The Cherry Blossom Festival

Buds and blossomsIn your library, find a book about flowers. Then head for the woods or flowergardens. Spring is the time for flowers to poke their heads out of their cosy buds.Suddenly, the world is bright with color. How many different kinds of flowers can you identify? Which flower has the most beautiful fragrance?

Make a crown of flowers. Tie a chain of dandelions to make dandelion beads. Nod hello to the daffodils. They are as bright as the sunshine:Daffy-down-dilly has come to townIn a yellow petticoat and a green gown.

Why don’t you jump?Get out your skipping rope. Jump for joy. Say this rhyme as you skip:

Rose are red, I love pecans.Violets are blue. Nuts to you!

Butter upRepeat this tongue twister ten times, as fast as you can:

Ruth raises roses. Ruth’s roses rise.

Put a yellow buttercup under your friend’s chin. Does your friend’s chin lookyellow? Your friend must like butter!

Pluck a petal“She (he) loves me, she loves me not…“Pluck the petals of a daisy. If the lastpetal is “she loves me,” pick anotherflower and start plucking again. I Say: “This year, next year,sometime, never!” If you don’t like the answer, start again with a different flower!

Pink perfumeThe cherry blossoms fill the skies with pink and white petals. Theyhave a beautiful fragrance. Everyone goes to the parks to admire the blossoms as soon as they appear because they only bloom for one week. People sing this song during the festival. Learn it in Japanese and English.

Sakura The cherry blossom songSakura, sakura, Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,Yayoi no sora wa So bright in the April sky.Miwatasu kagiri Cherry blossoms are everywhere.Kasumi kaku moka Like a mist or floating clouds,Nioi zo izuru. They fill the air with fragrance.I za ya, i za ya, Come with me, come with me,Mi ni yuka un. The lovely cherry blossoms to see.

Picnic preparationsHave a spring picnic under the trees. Make napkins and placemats from paper or cardboard. Cut them out in the shape of kites or butterflies. Decorate them with spring symbols. Try a laughing sun, a flower, or a sleepy ground hog.

Pack sandwiches, cookies, and fruit. Have you ever tried peanut butter and strawberry jam on raisin bread? Mix peanut butter with chopped pickles or mashed bananas. Make sandwiches with cheese and tomato, or egg andlettuce. Try sliced banana and honey sandwiches, or cheese and grated carrotsandwiches. Put cottage cheese between sliced cucumber. Invent your own picnicsandwiches. Serve cherries, apples, oranges, and other fruit. Make cookies cut in the shapes of spring for dessert.

Refreshing drinksMake Cherry Blossom Lemonade by mixing lemon juice, a little sugar, and water. Add a drop of red food coloring, if you wish. Stir, and add ice. If you prefer a bubbly spring drink, add ginger ale to orange juice or grape juice.

2726

28 29

Dance around the MaypoleIn and out, in and out, Weave the ribbons tight; ‘Round the Maypole we will dance To the left and to the right.

Many years ago, May 1 or May Day was a magical time to welcome spring. On the night before May Day, children danced in the moonlit woods. They gathered spring flowers. They made crowns of daisies.

When the sun rose, the May Day fun continued. Villagers met in the woods to choose the tree that would become the Maypole. The chosen tree was the tallest,slimmest tree that could be found in the forest. It was carried into the village. All the villagers paraded along with it.

The villagers chose a May Queen or King. The new Queen or King was crowned with fresh spring flowers. The villagers cheered and flung rose petals into the air. The crowd danced into the village square. The Maypole was painted and decorated with ribbons, flowers, and bright handkerchiefs. The strongest people pushed and pulled until the Maypole stood straight. Now it was time to dance around the Maypole.

Hurray for May Day!Some countries still celebrate May Day. In France, May Day is a flower festival.Delicate white flowers called lilies of the valley are believed to bring good luck. In Denmark, sweethearts give each other bouquets of these tiny blooms. Hollandcelebrates May 1 with a tulip festival. On May 1 in Greece, the schools are closed. The students trek into the woods to gather flowers. In some countries, May Dayis a day of parades.

31

Old reasons for seasonsSpring is a season. Do you know why wehave seasons? The seasons change as theearth circles the sun. Long ago, people did not know this. They told stories to explain the changes in the weather.

The story of Demeter and Persephone is a Greek myth. It tried to explain why there are seasons. Do you think this myth is true?

Demeter and Persephone: A Greek mythOnce upon a time thousands of years ago, a goddessnamed Demeter ruled nature. All the people on earthloved Demeter because she gave them green grass, tall trees, and colorful flowers. She made crops and gardens grow.

Demeter was very happy. She had a daughter who was prettier than the prettiest of flowers. Her daughter’sname was Persephone. Persephone was so lovely that she enchanted the earth with every step she took. Flowers blossomed at her feet.

Pluto, the god of darkness, watched sweet Persephone. He lived under the ground. He wanted a queen to help him care for his underworld kingdom. He decided that he must have Persephone as his queen.

One day, Persephone was dancing among the flowers. She stooped to pluck some of the beautiful blooms. Suddenly, the earth began to shake.Persephone looked down in terror. The ground was opening up beside her. Pluto appeared from the darkness. He captured Persephone and pulled herdown into the darkness below. Pluto made Persephone his queen. She becamethe unhappiest queen in the world. She did not want to spend her life in thedarkness. She wanted to be in the sunshine where she could enjoy nature.

When Demeter heard that her daughter had beenkidnapped, she was very sad. She would not make thecrops grow. Leaves died and fell to the ground. Flowersshriveled in the sudden cold. The earth looked like thedark world of Pluto. Nothing would grow untilPersephone was returned to her mother.

Zeus, the king of the gods, looked down from hismountain. He could not let the earth die. Zeus orderedPluto to give Persephone back to her mother, but Pluto would not let Persephone return forever. However, Plutoagreed to return Persephone to her mother for one halfof each year. Then, Persephone had to return to Plutofor the rest of the year.

When Persephone came up from the darkness, Demeter was overjoyed. The cold wind turned to a warm breeze. The buds on the trees burst open. The cold, hard ground softened, and grass and flowers sprouted.

Six months later, the time came again for Persephone to rule as queen of the underworld. When Pluto took her back to his horrible place of darkness, Demeter grieved. Again, the world of nature died.

But the people on earth were not afraid. They knew that the sun would shine brightly in another six months.When Persephone returned to her mother’s side, the world would feel the joy of spring again.

32 33

Tree festivalsTrees get new energy from the spring sunshine. They wake up from their long,winter nap. They drink the fresh spring rainwater. When we see the buds on the trees, we know that spring is here.

Arbor daysPeople celebrate spring with tree festivals. In many countries, there is an ArborDay in the spring. “Arbor” is an old word that means “orchard.” An orchard isa group of trees. On Arbor Day, people plant new trees. They also plant treeswhere other trees have been cut down for wood. They plant trees in towns andcities. Trees make our streets and homes look beautiful.

Ch’ing MingCh’ing Ming welcomes the spring in China. It is a celebration of trees. For three days before the festival, people eat only cold food so that they do nothave to burn any wood. Families have quiet picnics on the grass. When the day of the festival arrives, people cook delicious feasts. They plant new trees.

The Wishing TreeIn India, trees are planted during a spring festival called Kalpa Vruksha. A special young tree which is just beginning to grow leaves is chosen on this day. It is decorated with fruits and flowers. It is the magical Wishing Tree.

All the children gather under the tree. They have made wishes during the long, winter months. On Kalpa Vruksha, the wishes come true. Thechildren are given presents of candy, new books, toys, and fresh fruit.Spring is a time for winter wishes to come true!

Straight and tall as a treeIt was once a Jewish family tradition to plant a tree when a child was born. The tree and the child grew strong and tall together. Today, there is a tree-planting festival in Israel. It is called Hamishah Osar Bish’vat. Children planttrees on this day. People donate money to pay for the new trees. Jewish childrenwho do not live in Israel also celebrate this festival. They sing songs to the newtrees. They eat the fruits that are grown in Israel. Have you tasted figs, almonds,dates, or carob? Carob is used to make treats which taste like chocolate.

Maple syrup timeIn the eastern part of the United States and Canada, maple trees welcomespring. When the spring sun shines, the sap inside the maple tree begins to flow. The sap is the tree’s food. It helps the tree to grow leaves. People collect the sap because it contains a lot of sugar. They boil it until it turns into sticky, sweet maple syrup. The syrup can also be made into maple sugar. In North America, people go to the “sugar bush” to celebrate spring.They have “sugaring-off” parties. What a sweet way to celebrate spring!

34 35

Tree activitiesSpring is a great time to get to know trees! Walk around a park or yourneighborhood. Count the trees and try to learn their names. Pick one special tree to study. Does the tree have animal or bird homes in it? Does it have fruit, leaves, or seeds? Become an expert on your tree. Draw a picture of it. Visit and draw the tree in every season: spring, summer, autumn, winter. Does the tree change as the weather changes? Collect some leaves from your tree at different times of the year. How do the leaves change with the seasons?

Watch a tree grow this spring. Cut a small branch from a big tree. You could try an apple, a maple, or a willow branch. Put it in a glass or jar of water. Give it fresh water every day. Watch it grow!

Your own spring treeFind a dead tree branch with many twigs on it. Stand the branch in a flower pot or bucket. Add earth or stones to make the branch stand up straight. Draw picturesof things that mean spring to you. Think of things such as Easter eggs, the sun, and leprechauns. Tie your pictures to the branch, using pieces of colorful wool or ribbon. Invite your friends to add their favorite spring symbols.

Wind Up the Apple TreePlay Wind Up the Apple Tree. This game needs at least ten players. Stand in a longline and join hands. The player at one end of the line is called the Tree. The Treedoes not move. The player at the other end of the line is the Winder. The Winderbegins to walk in circles tightly around the Tree. The whole line of players isgradually wrapped around the Tree. As the players wind, they sing:

Wind up the apple tree! Hold on tight!Wind it all day and wind it all night!

When the Tree is wound up, the players jump up and down, singing:

Stir up the dumplings, the pot boils over!

Then, the Winder begins to unwind the Tree. The Winder runs in a straight line,pulling the other players who spin and turn and laugh.

Tree TagPlay Tree Tag. One player is “it.” This player must try to tag one of the otherplayers. The players must stay away from the person who is “it.” To stay inthe game, they must also touch four trees which have all been declared safe.When the players are touching the trees, they are safe. But as they run fromone tree to the other, they can be tagged. A tagged player becomes “it.”

Are you stumped?Say this tongue twister ten times, as fast as you can:

A skunk sat on a stump. The stump thought the skunk stunk, And the skunk thought the stump stunk.

See if you can unwind this riddle:

In spring, I beginTo dress with a grin.In summer, more clothing I wear.When colder it grows,I throw off my clothes,And in winter quite naked appear.Who am I?

Answer: tree

36 37

EasterEaster is a springtime celebration. For Christians, it is the most important religious holiday of the year. It is a time for prayer and a time to celebrate new life. Some people gather together and sing as the sun climbs to begin a new day. Do you get up to watch the sunrise on Easter morning? While you are watching the sunrise, your garden or room is being mysteriously visited. When you return, you may find chocolates, candy, and colored eggs hidden in the strangest places!

Who brings the Easter eggs?Does the Easter Bunny bring your eggs on Easter

morning? In Belgium, children believe that an old man flies with the birds to Rome, Italy, to collect

eggs from the Pope. The children leave their doors and windows open so that the

eggs can be delivered. In parts ofFrance, children believe that

ringing bells jingle to Rometo get the Easter eggs. Some

French children wait fortheir eggs to arrive on a

chariot pulled by fourwhite horses.

The meadow is aflutter.Easter is near.The eggs are not ready.Oh dear! Oh dear!

The bunnies are hurrying.They scurry and run.They paint and they pack,But the job’s still not done!

The little chicks help, And the chipmunks, too. They are counting the

jellybeans —There’s so much to do!

The bunnies are working;Just a few more to go!Into the basketAnd tie up the bow.

That’s it. They are done.The bunnies all cheer.Easter will be “hoppy”Once again this year!

Busy bustling Easter bunnies

38 39

Festivals of fireThe night before May Day is called Walpurgis Night in Sweden and Germany. It is a night of bonfires. In the old days, people welcomed the sun with bonfires, because the sun looks like a fire glowing in the sky.

There was another reason for making bonfires. People believed that the Walpurgis bonfires and plenty of noise would frighten away witches and bad spirits. People also believed that fires cleaned the earth and prepared it for spring planting. Everyone finishes spring cleaning before Walpurgis Night.All the old junk from the year before is thrown onto the bonfires. People welcome the sunshine into their sparkling clean houses.

Leaping for luckA long time ago in Scotland, people celebrated a festival called Beltane. Beltane was much like Walpurgis. On the night of Beltane, people ran throughthe fields, carrying torches. They rolled wheels of blazing straw down hills. Thecountryside was polka-dotted with orange flames. People danced around thefires. They drove the cattle through the flames. They believed that the fire wouldkeep the cattle healthy. Then, people leaped over the flames for good luck.

Happy New Year!In Iran, the first day of spring is also the first day of the new year. On the lastWednesday of the old year, each family lights a bonfire. Everyone jumps overthe fire. People are glad that the new year and spring are finally here.

Fire looks like the sun warming the earth as it turns. But please don’t play with fire, because fire can also cause burns.

40 41

“What a mess!”Elisabeth had just opened the front door. She felt the spring air on her face. She could see her friends playing in the sunny park across the street. Just asElisabeth was about to run and join them, she heard her mother call. Elisabethsighed, gave one longing glance toward the park, and closed the door.

“Elisabeth! What has been going on in here over the winter? Your room is so full of clothes and toys and books and . . . junk, that there is hardly room for me to squeeze in here! What a mess.”

Elisabeth pretended to look around the room. She was really trying to glance out the window. She wanted to see the park. She wanted to see Sally climbing the big oak tree and Charlie doing somersaults and Jenny…

“Elisabeth!” said her mother. “Springtime is cleaning time. I am sure that most of these things are old and can be thrown out or given away to youngerchildren. I want you to clean this cluttered room!” Elisabeth’s mother climbedover the mess and went out the door.

Elisabeth sighed. Today was not a day for cleaning. It was a day for being in the park. She tried to flop into her chair and grumble, but she could not. The chair was covered in old clothes and papers.She tried to go to the window and pout, but she could not get there.There were too many old boxes and dusty books in the way. She triedto curl up on her bed and mope, but she could not do that either. The bed was covered in broken toys and holey socks.

Elisabeth had no place to sit and be upset about having to clean herroom. My room really must be a mess, she thought.

Quickly she leaped into action. She put the toys she did not want into a box. She stacked her books in her bookcase. She found all her overdue library books, sorted them, and put them into another

box. She folded all her old clothes and put them into a third box. She picked up all the garbage,

the paper, and the scattered jigsaw puzzle pieces that lay across her room. She filled another box and another and another.

Finally, Elisabeth stopped cleaning. She looked around her room. It was spotless! The mess was gone.

Elisabeth glanced at her chair, her floor, and her bed. They were completely clean. She could now use them if shewished. But Elisabeth no longer wanted to sit and pout. She did not want to curl up on her bed and grumble ormope at the window while she watched her friends.

She ran downstairs. “I’m finished spring cleaning!” shecalled to her mother. As she dashed outside on her way tothe park, Elisabeth felt pleased. She knew that the next time

her mother asked her to clean, she would have many places to pout, grumble, and mope! Spring cleaning was a good idea after all!

Elisabeth had boxes of unwanted toys, books, and clothes. What could she do with them? By the time she got to the park, she had a secret plan.She told all her friends to go home and spring clean their rooms, too.

Later, the children met Elisabeth back at the park. “What is your plan?”they asked her. Elisabeth whispered to them, “We can have a rummage sale.”Everyone cheered. “What a good idea! Elisabeth always has good ideas!’’

What can you find?You too can have a yard or rummage sale. Ask four or five friends to help you.Rummage through your toy boxes and your closet and see what you can find.You can contribute your unwanted toys. If they are broken, take a few minutes to fix them. Are there any clothes you have outgrown? Perhaps they need to be washed, ironed, and mended. Then they won’t look so old!

Do you and your friends have enough articles for a sale? You can ask yourneighbors for contributions. Unwanted furniture and knickknacks, old magazinesand books, plants and used games are all good for a rummage sale. They donot have to be old. In fact, almost anything at all can be sold.

Where and when?Where will you have your sale? If you have a back yard, use it. If you do nothave a back yard, use a front yard. If you live in an apartment, check first withyour superintendent. You might like to use a garage to be sure that possible rain does not ruin your plans.

When will you have your sale? Saturday or Sunday is best. Most people do not go to school or to work on these days. You want as many people as possible to come to your sale.

The notices go upWrite a notice to tell people when and where the rummage sale will be.You might like to put down a rain date — perhaps the following week.

Remember, spring is a time for sudden showers. People do not like to go to sales when it is raining.

If it rains on the day of your sale, people will wait and come on the rain date. Photocopy your notice and tack the copies to posts in your neighborhood. If you have enough notices, you can put them underpeople’s doors. Make a big cardboard sign. Put it at the end of the street on the day of the sale so that people who drive or walk by will also know about the sale.

Setting upOn the day before the sale, you and your friends will have a lot of work to do. You must put a price on each article that you wish to sell. Keep your prices low to be sure that the sale is a fun event. You can cut out small pieces of paper andwrite prices on them. Pin the paper tags to the clothing, and tape the papers to thesolid articles. Don’t forget to find tables for displaying the articles. To hang clothes,you can use a clothesline or the branches of trees.

Keep your customers happyAs an added attraction, you might like to have a few games for your friends to play. Who can glide a paper plate the farthest? Who can toss the most penniesinto a cup? How far can your friends kick off their untied shoes? How many ringscan your friends throw around a bottle? Who can toss the beanbag into the bucket?

Spending your moneyWhat will you do with the money you earn from the sale? You can spend it on a tripto the amusement park. Perhaps you and your friends can buy a special article foryour school classroom or your neighborhood. Perhaps you might choose to donatethe money to charity.

Trade your toysInstead of a rummage sale, you could arrange a toy and book exchange. People meet on a chosen day. They bring all their unwanted articles and trade them for other articles. What fun! Old becomes new. This must be spring!

43

44 45

St. Patrick’s DayAye, aye. Ye can believe yer eyes. I’mreally here, ye know! Ye have probablyhunted in the wee glade under four-leafclovers and never seen me before. Aye,I’ve sat there smoking my pipe andslapping my knees looking at ye lookingfor me! But, lads and lassies, you neverreally expected to find me, did yedearies? We leprechauns are a secretive breed. Ye may see signs of our pranks, but ye never see us!

March 17 is quite a day for usleprechauns. It is St. Patrick’s Day. And the whole of Ireland and even folks across the ocean celebrate with uson March 17. They all wear green. Ah,green — what a lovely, lovely hue. That it is. Every stitch of clothing I have is green. Well, I want it to match mylovely green eyes, now don’t I? Oh, wehave a wonderful time of it on St. Pat’sDay. Everyone wears a shamrock, theshamrock being the lucky, green St. Pat’s Day plant.

And how did St. Patrick’s Day come to be, you’ll be asking? Well, no one issure where Patrick was born, but when he was a young boy, Pat was captured by pirates. Now, that boy must have hada bit of the leprechaun pluck in him. Patkept his spirits up and was even friendlyto those pirates. Aye, and it paid off. For where did they take him? Ireland!They must have had a soft spot for the lad. Not too much of a soft spot, mind ye. They sold him as a slave.

Well, Pat finally escaped his slavery. He fled to France and became amissionary. Pat spent many years visitingcountries and telling people about God.But he was never completely happy. And who could be happy living awayfrom Ireland? Back he came. Aye, and he performed many miracles inIreland just to show his appreciation for being taken into welcoming arms.

Have ye heard tell of the greatest of St. Patrick’s miracles? St. Patrick hated snakes, so he drove them all out of Ireland. Well, now we leprechaunscould rest easy without worrying our weeheads about ending up as snake snacks.

But one old black snake refused to leaveIreland. And who could blame him? Well,Pat made a wee box and asked the snaketo get in. The snake said that the box wastoo small. Patrick said, nay, the box wasbig enough, certainly. That old snakethought he’d show St. Pat. He slitheredinto the box to prove it was too small. But he had been tricked! The box was just right. Patrick closed it up and threw it into the sea. And from that day on, I have not seen one snake in Ireland.

And now I must be gone. I’m off to jointhe St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Anddon’t ye think ye should join me then,after all that I’ve just told ye? Comealong. Let’s dance an Irish jig together!

46 47

A leprechaun partyHave a leprechaun party on St. Patrick’s Day. Cut out shamrocks from greenconstruction paper. Write invitations on the shamrocks. Be sure to ask your guests to wear green!

Decorate the party room with shamrocks and leprechaun cutouts. Serve green food and drinks. Make a green salad with lettuce, cucumber, celery sticks, parsley,and green pepper. Blend a hard-boiled egg with a chopped green onion and makeopen-faced leprechaun sandwiches. Serve green spinach noodles. Have pickleshandy. Add green food coloring to the punch.

Dessert can be green too! Cut up slices of honeydew melon and kiwi fruit. Offer your guests pistachio ice cream topped with the green fruit.

Have a contest to see who’s wearing the best leprechaun costume. Whose costume is the brightest green?

Leprechaun gamesCan you think of some leprechaun games? Leprechauns hide all their treasures. Hide candy and fruit. Hide onions, potatoes, and turnips, too. Then have a search.Can your guests find all the hidden gifts? Perhaps you can provide some leprechaunclues. Leprechauns like to play tricks. Let your clues lead to the vegetables rather than the treats.

Play Leprechaun Musical Chairs. Play this game in groups of five. Put out four chairs, back to back. The five players march around the chairs in a circle, singing:

Five little leprechauns hide behind the door.One ran away and then there were four.

When the word “four” is reached, each leprechaun must try to sit on a chair. One unlucky leprechaun will not get a chair. He or she must drop out of the game.Take away a chair. Keep playing and sing a verse during each round. After each round, remove a chair. Play until only one leprechaun is left.

Four little leprechauns dance under the tree.One ran away and then there were three.

Three little leprechauns making Irish stew.One ran away and then there were two.

Two little leprechauns sleeping in the sun. One ran away and then there was one.

Return the four chairs. Now five new players can play the game. After each grouphas played, the winners play one last game. Add this final verse.

One little leprechaun said, “St. Pat’s Day is done.” He ran away and then there were none!

Naughty knotty!Leprechauns are naughty. Play a knotty game at your leprechaun party. Give eachguest a long piece of string. At the word “Go,” race to see who can be the first to tietwelve knots in the string. Now trade strings. See who can be the first to untie twelveknots! Who is the knottiest leprechaun?

48 49

Flying colorsRed, yellow, green, purple, and blue float through the air during the Holi festival in India. This spring celebration begins with an evening bonfire. People shout, sing,and tell stories. They blow horns and bang drums. In the morning, people of all ages throw colored powders at one another. Color splashes out of pans, pitchers,and pails. Color sprays from water pistols and bamboo blowpipes. Soon, everyone is a walking rainbow!

The return of springThere are many stories to explain why Holi is celebrated. This is a favorite amongchildren:An Indian god called Hanuman was very hungry one day. The sun was the first thinghe saw, so he swallowed it. Suddenly, the world turned dark. People were miserable.They needed the sun. The gods had an idea. They told people how they might cheerup. Everyone began mixing colored powders and water. Then, they threw the colorsat one another. Soon people were laughing. Hanuman saw everyone covered in color. He, too, started to giggle. Soon, he was laughing so hard, he coughed up the sun. The whole world turned bright. Spring was back at last!

Chasing the grays awayThe people of India are full of joy during Holi. Bright colors makepeople feel happy. Have you ever felt sad during winter and not known why? When everything is gray outside, it is sometimes hard to feel happy. As the world bursts into color in the spring, we almost burst with happiness.

50 51

Throwing good wishesOne of the reasons for festivals such as Holi is that people can act as silly as they want to. Spring melts the ice on the ground. Spring festivals “break the ice” between new friends. This means they can get to know each other quickly.

When people run and chase one another,they become friends very quickly. Have you ever had a water fight with your friends? Was it fun? What kinds of games help people get to know one another?

Spraying waterIn Thailand, people “break the ice” by throwing water during Songkran, their spring festival. The water smells good! It has perfume in it. Songkran begins when the new moon appears in the April sky. The festival lasts for three days. There are huge parades. The streets are full of flowers, music, and dancers. The Queen of the Water Festival marches in the parade. The people in the parade spray water on the people who are watching. No one minds. Everyone is already soaking wet.

A perfume bathOn Easter Monday, in Hungary and Czechoslovakia, boys throw perfume and water at girls. The girls invite the boys in for a treat afterwards. On the next day, the girls have a chance to get even. They throw water at the boys. Water is thrown from buckets, bottles, and pans. Good friends are made during these fights. Spring seems to make people like each other!

Beans and blindfoldsAs you can see, people love to throw things when they are happy. In Japan,people do not throw powder or water. They throw beans. The name of this bean-throwing festival is Setsubun. It takes place on February 3, which is the day before spring in Japan.

Why do the Japanese throw beans? People believe that the beans will drive out the bad spirits of winter that keep spring away. The throwers shout, “Out with the demons!” Others shout, “Come in good spirits!”

Children play a game called Oni Gokko. One person dresses as a spirit or oni. The oni tries to catch the other players. Sometimes the oni is blindfoldedand must catch someone by listening to footsteps and reaching out. Does thisremind you of a game you know? What is it called?

5352

April Fools’ DaySpring is a time for playing tricks and clowning around. April Fools’ Daycomes in the spring. It is on April 1. People all over the world play tricks on one another on April Fools’ Day.

Have you tried any of these tricks?Spiders 1. Put a fake hairy spider in your toy box. Then ask your brotheror sister to get you something from the box.

Spiders 2. Dangle a fake spider from the top of the bunk bed when yourbrother or sister is lying on the bottom bunk.

Looking up. Looking up is a good trick, especially when there is nothing to see. Stand in the park and gaze into the sky. You’ll be amazed at howmany people join you.

Telephone a friend. Ask your friend if he or she took a bus yesterday. Ask the friend to bring it back!

Crumple up newspapers. Fill your brother’s or sister’s closet or toy box with crumpled-up newspapers. Be prepared to help clean up!

Don’t be a fool!The only rule about April Fools’ Day is that all joking must end by noon. If you play a joke after noon, you may hear:

April Fools’ is pastAnd you’re the biggest fool at last!

The Wise Men of GothamHere is an old English April Fools’ Day story:King John was marching with his men near the village of Gotham. The villagers had heard that the land over which the king traveled would become a public road.The King was going to pass over their meadow! The people of Gotham did not want their meadow to be turned into a road. They came up with an idea. WhenKing John arrived, he saw all the villagers doing some very foolish things.

“This is a village of fools,” King John said. The King and his men turned around and decided to take another route. The village was saved by the wise villagers who pretended to be foolish!

Poisson d’AvrilIn France, people who are fooled on April Fools’ Day are called April fish or Poisson d’Avril. Why are people called April fish? Perhaps because the young fish born in the spring are easily hooked or fooled.

French children try to pin paper fish on one another without getting caught. On April Fools’ Day, children are given presents of chocolate fish. They tell jokes about fish. Do you know any fish jokes?

How did it all begin?No one knows when April Fools’ Day was first celebrated. It probably began in France. Long ago, New Year’s Day was March 25. New Year’s week was the week before April 1. This week was filled with festivities. Then, the calendar was changed. New Year’s Day became January 1. Some people forgot that the dates were changed. They still celebrated New Year’s week in March. These people were the first April fools!

A topsy-turvy springIt was a warm and breezy day,When the April Fool met the Queen of May.They planned a zany kind of jokeTo play on us poor human folk.

The Fool laughed and made his cap bells ring At the thought of a topsy-turvy spring. “It’s a good prank,” he said with a wink. “Yes!” said the Queen. “What will they think?”

The month of April was full of flowers, But the month of May was drenched with showers!

More good weather is on its waySpring weather is full of tricks. You can never tell if the day will be sunny or rainy. It will probably be both! We love springtime anyway. We know it is the beginning of the good summer weather. It is the beginning of nature’s green life. It is time to try new things. Spring into action this spring!

North America, 6, 33(see also Canada, United States)parades, 29, 51parties, 7, 46-47; sugaring-off, 33picnics, 26playgrounds, 12-14Queen of May/May Queen, 29, 55rabbit, 22 (see also bunnies)rainbows, 20, 23, 49recipes, 26, 46rummage sales, 42-43Saint Patrick’s Day, 44-47Sakura, 26Saudi Arabia, 14Scotland, 39Setsubun, 51shamrock, 22, 44, 46skipping/skipping rope, 7, 10, 14. 22,27Songkran, 51Spain, 8

Spring babies, 16-17spring cleaning, 39-42Sweden, 39tag, 14, 35Tet Nhat, 19Thailand, 51tongue twisters, 27, 35topsy-turvy spring, A, 55trees, 7, 10, 14, 29, 32-35, 40Tree Tag, 35unicorn, 7, 19, 23United States, 33 (see also NorthAmerica)Vietnam, 19Walpurgis, 38-39What a mess!, 40-41Wind Up the Apple Tree, 34Wise Men of Gotham, The, 53woodchuck, (see ground hog)Yugoslavia, 8

Indexanimals, 16-19, 34April Fool, 52-55Arbor Day, 32Australia, 6ball games, 15bears, 6, 8Belgium, 36bells, 9, 20, 36 , 55Beltane, 39best of all places, The, 14birds, 6, 16- 20, 34bonfires, 14, 39, 49buds, 27, 31-32bunnies, 18, 36-37 (see also rabbit)Busy bustling Easter bunnies, 37Canada, 33 (see also North America)Cherry Blossom Festival, 24-26Cherry Blossom Lemonade, 26cherry blossom song, The, 26chicks, 17-19, 22, 37China, 32Ch’ing Ming, 32cleaning, spring, 39-42Crazy Thursday, 9Czechoslovakia, 51dance/dancing, 7- 9, 19, 29, 30, 45Demeter and Persephone. A Greek myth,30-31Denmark, 29ducks/ducklings, 17-18Easter, 7, 18 34 36-37, 51; Bunny, 18eggs, 7,17-19, 22, 26, 34, 36-37England/English, 53equinox, 6

Festa del Gallo, 18fireworks, 19flowers, 11, 26-27, 29-33France 8,15, 29, 36, 45, 53Frog in the Middle, 15games, 14-15, 34-35, 43, 51Germany, West, 9, 39Greece, 29Green George, 8ground hog, Ground Hog (Mr.), 4-6, 14,26Hamishah Osar Bish’vat, 33hand-clapping games, 15hibernation, 6Holi, 48-50Holland, 29Hungary, 51If only I could be . . , 20India, 32, 49Iran, 39Ireland, 44-45Israel, 33Italy, 18, 36Japan, 24-26, 51Kalpa Vruksha, 3kites/kiteflying, 14, 23, 25-26leprechauns, 7, 34, 44-47Leprechaun Musical Chairs, 46-47maple sugar/maple syrup, 23, 33May Day, 28-29Maypole, 7, 23, 28-29Monkey in the Middle, 15Naughty knotty, 47new year/New Year, 39, 53New Zealand, 6

56 57

Tell us what you think of this e-book. Click on the girl to go to our website and fill out a short survey.