Free printable Mardi Gras masks, homemade mask crafts for parties

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday or Carnivale, is a Catholic Christian celebration. Fat Tuesday is only one day, before Ash Wednesday, In New Orleans it one long party starting in January after Epiphany. There are costumes, parades and feasting before the Lenten fast. Mardi Gras parade troupes, called krewes, spend months making masks and costumes. Looking to dress up for Mardi Gras? Here are free printable Mardi Gras masks, great for kids.Free printable Mardi Gras masks, homemade mask crafts for kids parties

 

Free printable Epiphany Magi, Three Kings Day, La Befana coloring pages - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com

Jan. 7 is the Orthodox Christian Christmas. It's Dec. 25 on the Julian calendar used by eastern Orthodox. Jan. 6 celebrates Epiphany (called Twelfth Night or Three Kings Day), another Catholic and Orthodox Christian feast. Epiphany, in Christmastide, marks the visit of the Magi to Baby Jesus in Bethlehem, explains L'Osservatore Romano. These holidays are celebrated differently around the world. In some countries, Epiphany is the major gift-giving holiday over Christmas. Gift-bringer traditions vary, too. Here are free printable Epiphany coloring pages for children. Links are included for printouts to color of La Befana (also called Babouska) a popular gift-bearer figure who's believed to come at Epiphany. Free printable Epiphany Magi, Three Kings Day, La Befana coloring pages

Free printable gingerbread house patterns and Christmas craft stencils

Dec. 12 is National Gingerbread House Day. Making holiday gingerbread houses is a favorite family traditions. Not being very artistic, I'd cheat and get the gingerbread house kit. But I've found a better way: free printable gingerbread house patterns, recipes and templates. People approach gingerbread house making in two ways. The first is to painstakingly design a work of art--not to be eaten, let alone touched. Then there's our youngest son's method: slap together a ramshackle gingerbread shed, lather in two inches of frosting, cover every inch in candy and devour immediately. Whichever school you subscribe to, you'll want these free printable gingerbread recipes, templates and patterns. Free printable gingerbread house patterns, Christmas craft stencils

Free printable Catholic Advent calendars for a Christian Bible Christmas

The Catholic Christian season of Advent began November 30, 2014 and goes for four weeks till Christmas. Many families follow Advent calendars. Some contain candy or prizes to countdown to Christmas. The Daily Mail, on November 24, listed even more lavish commercial Advent calendars prizes: nail polish, gifts, toys, jewelry, cosmetics, even beer!



While there's nothing wrong with a little treat, materialism defeats the Advent purpose: to focus on God. Constantly receiving teaches children (and adults) to be even more aquisitory than they already are at Christmas. If they're getting all season long, where's the magic of Christmas morning? Advent is about preparing for the coming of Christ with acts of charity.  Free printable Catholic Advent calendars for a Christian Bible Christmas

Free printable Day of the Dead skeleton crafts

 Dia de los Muertos is the Spanish name for the holiday Day of the Dead. Observed on November 1 and 2, it the Latino version of Catholic All Saints Day and All Souls Day. On Dia de los Muertos, people dress in skull masks and skeleton costumes with colorful flower garlands. Here are free printable Day of the Dead crafts for children and adults. Use these for classroom and homeschool lesson plans.Free printable Day of the Dead skeleton crafts

Free Printable Monster Trucks, Cars, Trains, Boats, Motorcycles, Construction and Emergency Vehicle Coloring Pages - Bubblews

Do your kids love monster trucks? How about NASCAR, race cars, or vehicles? Here are free printable coloring pages of cars, trucks, airplanes, boats, ships, lunar vehicles, motorcycles, emergency and construction vehicles and (my favorite) trains! Free Printable Monster Trucks, Cars, Trains, Boats, Motorcycles, Construction and Emergency Vehicle Coloring Pages

Day of the Dead Lesson Plans and Printable Activities to Celebrate Dia de los Muertos - Bubblews

Halloween, or All Hallow's Eve, originated as a pagan celebration preceding the Catholic church's observance of All Saints Day (a holy day honoring canonized saints) on November 1. It is followed by All Souls Day on November 2 which remembers the beloved dead. In Latino cultures, this celebration is called Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Here are Day of the Dead Lesson Plans and Printable Activities to Celebrate Dia de los Muertos