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In the first story, "The Keeping Quilt," by Patricia Polacco, the author retells the story of her family's handmade quilt. In the story, a Russian immigrant mother and family arrive in the United States. She plans to make a quilt from a basket of old clothes, telling her daughter, "It will be like having the family in backhome Russia dance around us at night." The quilt is passed along from mother to daughter for four generations. It becomes a Sabbath tablecloth and a wedding canopy. It even becomes a blanket for new generations of children. "The Keeping Quilt" is heart - warming story about one family's tradition.
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In the comment section, please share a tradition your family celebrates. It can be an annual party, a holiday, or any traditional event.
Please include details about: special foods, decorations, songs, and/or activities.
Please include details about: special foods, decorations, songs, and/or activities.
Remember: Be sure to have a parent proofread with you, so your comment will be published.
Dear Class,
ReplyDeleteOne family tradition that I enjoyed when my daughters, Kari and Sarah, were young was our weekly outings to the public library. Every Saturday, we would take turns selecting a place to go out to breakfast. We usually devoured omelets or pancakes with maple syrup! Then it was on to the library. Kari and Sarah would choose the books they wanted to check out. Then they would take turns finding a book for us to read to them. The following Saturday morning, while we waited for our breakfast to arrive at the table, each of the girls would read one of the books out loud to their dad and me. It warms my heart to recall this special tradition now that my daughters are all grown up. I am sure that it is one of the reasons they both love to read so much today.
From,
Mrs. Ranney
Dear Mrs. Ranney's Class,
ReplyDeleteOne family tradition that I thoroughly enjoyed when I was growing up was our annual trip to Pelican Lake, Minnesota. When school got out in June, my mother would pile my two siblings into our 1968 Chevy Bel-air wagon, and we endured the long 1,800 mile journey from California. At Pelican Lake, we fished for rock bass and walleye with my Uncle Paul. At night, we dined on Grandma Smillie’s delicious cooking. One of my favorite dishes was Hungarian goulash. After dinner, we coated ourselves with mosquito repellent and dashed outside to play Kick-the-can with the neighbor kids. This annual vacation was a tradition I looked forward to and I cherish those memories today.
From,
Mrs. Yollis
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteMy family tradition is going to Hawaii every year. In Hawaii we stay at my Papa's condo, I like to go to hotels and look around, and listen to Hawaiian music. I also like to swim at hotels. Now that is my family tradition because we go to Hawaii every year with my family.
Your Student,
Brandon Goldflam
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteI loved what you wrote about your tradition with your family. One of our traditions is family night at our house. My family and I play our favorite games every Friday night. Some of our favorite games are wii, Trouble, Sorry, and Ping Pong.
Your Student,
Marisa Groch
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all my tradition is going to Utah. Every time we go to Deer Valley. I ski there every time. I go to Stein's to eat every year.
Your student,
Jake Bartok
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteOne tradition of my family is New Year's Eve. We set off fireworks. They are so loud you can hear them from upstairs. Also, I get to go to bed at 1:30 A. M. See you tomorrow.
Sincerely your student,
Ethan
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite traditions is celebrating 4th of July. My family has a party. We eat hamburgers and hotdogs. We get glow sticks to wear around our necks and wrists. We put blankets on the grass and watch the fireworks from our backyard. It is very fun!
Your Student,
Cameron
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteI go to San Diego each summer with my family, cousins and great grandmother. We stayed at the Coranodo hotel this time. The hotel room we stayed in was nice. We went in the pool and the jacuzzi. While I was in the pool area my mom got me and my sister a virgin Pina Colada. I met Jason Kidd and got his autograph. We also went to Sea World. Mrs. Ranney, have you ever been to San Diego?
Your student,
Eli
Dear Mrs. Ranney's class,
ReplyDeleteMy two daughters are very close with their two cousins, Elizabeth and Andrew. They were all born within 4 years of each other. Every year, on each of their birthdays we choose to go to Grandma's house for dinner. Whoever is celebrating their birthday gets to choose the menu and Grandma prepares whatever they want and whatever they want for dessert. The nicest part of the evening is after dinner, we all gather around and share either a piece of advice for the upcoming year, or a favorite memory of the person celebrating the birthday. Now that all of the kids are teenagers (14-18) they love this part more than ever. There is always something said that is funny, something silly and something that makes all of us cry and realize how much we love one another and how lucky we are to be a family.
I bet when my children are grandmothers they will carry on this tradition with their own grandchildren. That is the best part of a tradition, it lives on through the generations.
From,
Mrs. Harding
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteChaharshanbe Suri is an ancient tradition of Iran. Chaharshanbe means Wednesday in Farsi. We usually light candles and jump over the candles several times. We also sing a special song while jumping over the fire. We do this on the last Wednesday of the year. In Iran people actually light bonfires, and jump over them.
Sincerely,
Nikki Aflatooni
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteMy tradition is I go to San Diego every summer to see my cousins and sometimes I even get to go to Sea World. Every time I go to Sea World I visit the penguins and I feed the dolphins. One time when I was at Sea World, I said hello to the penguins and all of them woke up. It's really fun at San Diego.
Sincerely,
Leanne
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteFor my family tradition we decorate the tree at Christmas time. We hang very unique ornaments. Each ornament reminds us of a special time, trip, or event that we did that year. I also wanted to say that I love reading “The Keeping Quilt.”
Your student,
Natalie del Carmen
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteMy family tradition is going to my grandma's house for Hanukkah. I eat latkes, beef, and star cookies. I like to play with my cousins, and we play dreidel games. I really like Hanukkah, and that is my family tradition.
Your Student,
Brandon Goldflam
Dear Eli,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post about your family trips to San Diego. The answer to your question is, yes, I've been to San Diego! In fact, it is a place I visit often. When my daughters were young, we visited Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, and the Reuben H. Fleet museum in Balboa Park. I enjoy going there now with my husband. We especially enjoy strolling in Balboa Park where we have visited the Aerospace Museum and the Natural History Museum. In addition to Balboa Park, I have especially loved climbing aboard the Star of India ship at the Maritime Museum and touring the Midway, which is an aircraft carrier docked in San Diego Harbor. Two activities we love to do while there are biking and riding waverunners on Mission Bay! I'm so glad you asked about San Diego. I've enjoyed reminiscing about my adventures there!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Ranney
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteMy family tradition is Persian New Year. Every year I wear my traditional Persian costume to celebrate at the City Hall with the mayor. We always have a big party at my house with all my friends and family.
From,
Roxana
Dear Mrs.Ranney,
ReplyDeleteOur family celebrates the tradition of candle lighting every Friday before sundown. It marks the beginning of Shabbat. This is the day of rest, time with the family and a break from the routine. It is the most important day in the Jewish tradition.
From,
Mrs. Dina Tarrab
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteMy favorite family tradition is Hanukkah. Every year we eat chocolate coins, potato pancakes, and light candles. My Grandpa Jerry likes to bring over the chocolate coins, and sometimes we play dreidel with it. I like the potato pancakes with apple sauce. My mother and Nona make them for us to eat. As part of the tradition, we light the Hanukkah candles every night, for eight nights. The chocolate and the pancakes make it so much fun!
From,
Garrett
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteMy family tradition is going to USC football games in the Fall. My very first game was when USC played Notre Dame. I was six years old. It was really crowded; there were about 90,000 people in the Los Angeles Coliseum. At the end of every 3rd quarter, the Olympic "torch"is lit. The "torch" was put there when the Olympics were in Los Angeles in 1984. When we go to the games, we get there in time for me to give high-fives to the players and the head Coach. I also get to throw footballs in a throwing contest outside the Coliseum. My favorite part about going to the USC football games is the opening kick-off. Have you ever been to an SC game?
Sincerely,
Andrew L.
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteMy family tradition is celebrating the Sri Lankan New Years in April. Every year we go to Woodley park to celebrate. I wear a skirt and jacket, which is sewn by my aunt. We eat milk rice, play games and dance. My dad's band plays every year. We also do a drama for our parents.
Sincerely,
Seruni
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite family traditions is watching a movie every Friday night. It's fun when my dad and I decide to watch a movie that my sister and mom like, so that there aren't any arguments.
The last movie that we watched was "Like Mike." We liked it because it was about basketball and family. After the movie I was so tired, that as soon as I went to bed, I fell asleep!
Sincerely,
Andrew
Dear Mrs.Ranney,
ReplyDeleteOne of my family traditions is having Thanksgiving dinner. Every year my family gets together to celebrate the holiday. We usually either have it at my aunt's house or at my house. Some of the family members that attend include my Uncle Dave, Aunty Kelly,and my cousins Kylie and Ariel. My Grandma "Shiny" Sunshine brings yams with marshmallows! My mom makes the salad, and my Nona brings the turkey. For dessert someone always brings an apple and pumpkin pie.
Sincerely,
Carson
Dear Mrs.Ranney,
ReplyDeleteMy family tradition is celebrating Christmas. We have family Dinner on Christmas Day. We eat ham,salad,green beans,sweet potato pie,turkey,biscuits,coconut cake, and pumpkin pie. My cousins and I play hide and go seek,tag, and ring around the rosey. We decorate the Christmas tree with ornaments,lights,candy canes,and stockings. Afterward we get the whole family and open presents.
Sincerely,
Aalisha
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteOur family tradition is celebrating El Dia de Los Muertos. It means the Day of the Dead. We honor our dead ancestors with flowers and pictures. In the festival there are many cars on display representing the past.
From your student,
Sam
Dear Mrs. Ranney
ReplyDeleteOur family tradition is going to England at Christmas to see my Mom's family. We eat lots of food on Christmas Day and sit at a big table. Afterward we go outside and I throw snowballs with my Uncle and Grandpa. It is so much fun.
Your Student,
Jack
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteOne of my traditions is every Friday. I celebrate Shabbat. Shabbat is the Jewish way of celebrating the Sabbath. Each Friday I eat challah, which is a braided bread, and drink grape juice, as a substitute for wine. Before eating, we say some prayers and light the Shabbat candles.
Sincerely,
Jessica
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteAfter reading all the blogs about traditions, I felt compelled to talk about ours. Every year we celebrate Thankshukah, which is our word for Thanksgiving and Hanukah. We have lots of food from both holidays. I make the turkey and potato pancakes, my daughter makes yummy desserts, my son who is a mashed potato expert makes the mashed potatoes. Baked ham and brisket are also a must. All of the nieces and nephews bring various vegetables, and of course traditional stuffing. There is much to eat. After dinner, the old folks, like my husband and I sit around and talk and take in some football. The 30 somethings make up games just to bug us. We also have some young ones, two of which attend Chaparral. In our house everyone is welcome. No one should be alone on those holidays, so sometimes, the kids bring their friends just because. Our day lasts long into the night and we are full and happy. I hope our children can continue this tradition for along time.
Your rafting buddy,
Mrs. Gurian
Dear Class,
ReplyDeleteOne of my traditions is every year we put up our Christmas Tree, and it is exciting because it lights up so bright.
Sincerely,
Evan
To Mrs. Ranney's Class,
ReplyDeleteMrs. Ranney is my sister. We have a relatively new tradition. One day nearly every week, we take a walk together in the hills near my home. Then, before I talk her ear off, Mrs. Ranney has to leave so she can arrive at school on time! I hope we can continue this tradition for a long time because it is a highlight of my week.
Keep enjoying your traditions! I enjoyed reading about them. All the best!
Janis