The B-List February Holidays

It’s about to get the best kind of crazy at mamaguru’s house.

Do you realize that one week in February has 5 holidays back-to-back?

St. Valentine’s Day (14), President’s Day (16), Mardi Gras (17), Ash Wednesday (18), Chinese New Year (19)

We celebrate them all, and I hope you might join us this year. Because they are set by the Roman, lunar and liturgical calendars, these holidays aren’t always lumped so closely together. It just depends on the year. Last year, for instance, these holidays stretched out over three months. But honestly, the whiplash aspect makes it super fun, especially for kids.

These off-beat holidays are always more lighthearted and less work than the marathon of Thanksgivingchristmasnewyeareve we just endured. Free from expectations, they are just a chance to teach children about different cultures and a bit of history.

The key is to keep it simple. We celebrate through primarily through food and music, with simple crafts and stories from the library rounding out our experience. I decorate only the dining room and the decorations are usually very simple and homemade, but the kids go berserk when they see a transformation night after night.

B-List Holiday Game Plan

St. Valentine’s Day

Decor: Think red when decorating because you can use it for President’s Day and Chinese New Year. Obviously hearts galore.

Music: love songs

Food: Well, isn’t this the fun part? Cut everything in hearts. I Love You Waffles, Sweetheart Salad, heart sandwiches, heart-shaped pasta, cookies, homemade chocolates and marzipan roses

Craft and Play: One of the best parts of St. Valentine’s Day with kids is having them make their own construction paper valentines. Here is a fun matching game if you have a toddler. Because St. Valentine’s Day is on a Saturday this year, we get to spend the entire day together as a family. We’re going strawberry picking and later will make heart-shaped strawberry shortcakes with out harvest.

President’s Day

Decor: red, white and blue, American flags, maps of our country, money featuring different presidents

Music: patriotic tunes like The Star Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful, Fifty Nifty

Food: You could go crazy and look up authentic recipes that presidents enjoyed, but American classics work too: cornbread, mac and cheese (for Yankee Doodle), apple pie, cherry pie, chocolate chip cookie (yes, that’s ours!). I will make sugar cookie cut-outs with a USA tin cutter.

Craft and Play: Make flag crafts or paper top hats for Abe Lincoln, or color some presidential coloring sheets.

Mardi Gras

Catchphrase: Laissez les bon temps rouler! (French: Let the good times roll!)

Decor: green, purple, and gold, comedy and tragedy masks, Mardi Gras beads

Music: zydeco, Jazz

Food: It has to be gumbo! I make a crab and okra gumbo that sets my heart on fire. The gumbopages.com has so many great recipes. I also make Bananas Foster Bread Pudding for dessert, a twist on the famed New Orleans classic dessert. You could have a traditional king cake too.

Craft and Play: Use glitter to decorate comedy and tragedy masks. The best part of Mardi Gras is dancing! Crank up the music and go wild. Throw Mardi Gras beads on each other, watch videos of Mardi Gras and Carnival.

Ash Wednesday

Decor: nothing, the bare walls speak volumes

Music: Gregorian chants

Food: It’s a fast day for Catholic adults, so keep meals simple and vegetarian. Soup is ideal.

Craft and Play: Go to mass and receive the ashes on your forehead. Use charcoal or black chalk to draw crosses at home. Talk about the contrast from Mardi Gras and introduce the concept of Lent and Easter.

Chinese New Year

Catchphrase: Gong hay fat chow! (Chinese for Happy New Year!)