YOU'RE INVITED!

Hurry and grab your imaginary bags because we're going to China to wrap up the Lunar New Year to watch Mr Justin perform the lion dance!!!

Join us, Kristen and Asher, as we embark on a vibrant journey to China, exploring the exhilarating tradition of the Lion Dance—a cornerstone of Lunar New Year celebrations. We're joined by special guest Mr. Justin from the San Gabriel Valley Chinese Cultural Association (SGVCCA), who shares his expertise and personal experiences, bringing this dynamic art form to life.

Episode Highlights:

• 🐉 Lion vs. Dragon Dance: Mr. Justin clarifies the distinctions between these two captivating performances, highlighting differences in the number of performers, structural designs, and cultural symbolism.

• 🎶 Anatomy of a Performance: Gain insight into the physical demands and coordination required in lion dancing, especially during pole-jumping sequences. Learn about the integral role of live music—drums, cymbals, and gongs—in synchronizing movements and enhancing the performance's energy.

• 🍊🥬 Symbolism in Props: Explore the meanings behind the use of props like oranges and lettuce in performances, believed to bestow luck and wealth upon the audience.

• 🌏 Global Variations: Our discussion extends to how lion dance traditions have been adapted in various cultures, including Vietnam and Korea, each infusing their unique styles and interpretations.

Fun Activity:

🎨🧵 We encourage listeners to engage in a creative project by crafting their own lion dance masks or costumes using materials readily available at home. This hands-on activity fosters a deeper appreciation for the art form and its cultural significance.

San Gabriel Valley Chinese Cultural Association: To learn more about their events and programs, visit their official website or follow them on Instagram @sgvcca.

Love Our Work? Please support our nonprofit organization:

HTTP://culturekidsproductions.org

Follow us on IG for fun BTS:

@culturekidsproductions

For birthday shoutouts, comments and requests:

[email protected]

Please leave us a 5 star rating on Apple or Spotify to be featured on the show!!

Join us as we embark on a flavorful journey into the heart of African American culinary traditions with our guest Mr. Adrian Miller, known as the Soul Food Scholar. Mr. Adrian, an award-winning author and culinary historian, shares his knowledge on the origins, significance, and cultural impact of soul food in America.

🥘 Episode Highlights: 🍴

• Introduction to Soul Food: Mr. Adrian defines soul food as a rich blend of culinary practices from West Africa, Western Europe, and the Americas, converging in the Southern United States. He describes a typical soul food meal featuring dishes like fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, black-eyed peas, cornbread, and desserts such as sweet potato pie and peach cobbler.

• Historical Context: We learn about the origins of soul food, tracing back to the resourcefulness and creativity of enslaved Africans who, despite oppressive conditions, crafted flavorful and nourishing meals from limited ingredients.

• Fried Chicken's Evolution: Mr. Adrian explores the history of fried chicken, highlighting its journey from early recipes in Europe and China to its deep-rooted significance in African American culture. He also touches upon the global influence of fried chicken, including its adaptation into Korean cuisine with unique flavors and accompaniments!

• Cultural Significance: The conversation emphasizes how soul food embodies love, community, and resilience within African American communities. Sharing meals becomes a conduit for connection, tradition, and cultural expression.

📚 Additional Resources:

• Mr. Adrian's Work: To dig deeper into the history and cultural significance of soul food, explore Mr. Adrian's award-winning book, Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time.

• https://adrianemiller.com/

🙏 Support the Show:

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support helps us reach more families and share diverse cultural stories.

🔔 Stay Connected:

For updates on upcoming episodes and more cultural explorations, subscribe to the Culture Kids Podcast newsletter and follow us on social media!

Join us next time as we continue to journey around the world, one story at a time.

🌏 Hello, Culture Kids!

Grab your imaginary passports because today, we’re hopping on the Culture Train to China! 🚂🇨🇳 We’re learning all about the origins of Lion Dance and why it’s such a special part of Lunar New Year celebrations. 🎆🐲

🎙️ Special Guest: Mr. Justin from the San Gabriel Valley Chinese Cultural Association joins us to share the history, traditions, and meanings behind Lion Dance! 🦁🥁

🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ How Lunar New Year started over 3,000 years ago! ⏳🏮

✅ Why people wear red and make loud noises to chase away bad luck! 🔴🥁

✅ The legend behind the Lion Dance & its connection to the Nian Monster! 👹💨

✅ What the colors, mirrors, and beards on a lion mean! 🦁✨

✅ Why Lion Dance isn’t just for Lunar New Year—it brings good luck to all kinds of celebrations! 🎊🎂🎉

👀 Fun Activity! Want to make your own lion at home? We’ve added a special DIY craft link in our show notes so you can design your own lion with colors that have meaning to YOU! 🎨✂️

🎂 Happy Birthday, Trisha & Colette! 🎈🎉 Wishing you lots of joy and good luck for the year ahead! 🍰✨

San Gabriel Valley Chinese Cultural Association

https://www.sgvcca.com/

Instagram: @sgvcca

💌 Leave us a review & share your favorite Lunar New Year tradition with us! 🎊👇

🔗 LINKS:

Cardboard Box Lion Head: Create a wearable lion head using a small cardboard box, colored paper, and other craft materials. This project encourages creativity and imaginative play.

Chinese Lion Dance Craft: Utilize paper tubes, tissue paper, and printable templates to craft a dancing lion. This activity combines fine motor skills with cultural education.

🚂🌏 Hop aboard the Culture Train—we’re off to Nepal! 🇳🇵✨

In this special episode, we travel to the Eastern Himalayas to meet Ms. Pema from the Red Panda Network, an organization dedicated to protecting red pandas and their forest homes. 🐾🌿

🌟 What You'll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Where Nepal is and what makes it such a unique and diverse country!

✅ How red pandas live in the wild and why they are so different from giant pandas! 🐼

✅ Why red pandas are important to the environment and how they help their forest stay healthy!

✅ What’s threatening red pandas and how conservation efforts like planting trees and protecting habitats are helping! 🌱🌍

✅ How YOU can help save red pandas from anywhere in the world!

✨ Fun Fact: Did you know that red pandas aren't actually related to giant pandas? They have their own animal family and are more like raccoons and weasels!

🎉 Plus, don’t miss Asher’s funny red panda jokes at the end of the episode! 🐾

🎧 Tune in now to discover the magic of Nepal, the adorable red panda, and how people like Ms. Pema are making a difference!

📢 Want to help red pandas? Visit Red Panda Network to learn more, support their conservation efforts, or even join a Red Panda Marathon!

💛 A Special Thanks to Our Listeners:

This episode is dedicated to Vera (4) and Teo (6)—thank you for your awesome episode suggestion! And shoutout to Lydia for your 5-star review! 🌟

🔔 Don't forget to subscribe to Culture Kids Adventures and leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review to help more families around the world explore and embrace different cultures!

See you on the next adventure! 🚂🌍

In this episode of Culture Kids, we hop on the Culture Train to Vietnam to explore the vibrant traditions of Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, with special guest Ms. Sophie, host of the popular YouTube channel Mommy & Me Vietnamese!

(Please note this episode is curated from last year's release on Tet)

🌏 What You’ll Learn:

• Fun facts about Vietnam’s geography, language, and culture.
• How Tet is celebrated, including unique customs like house cleaning before the new year, zodiac signs influencing luck, and the story of the spirit broom.
• The meaning behind red envelopes, lucky money, and the tradition of giving New Year’s greetings.

🍴 Food Spotlight:

Discover the traditional Vietnamese rice cakes, bánh chưng and bánh tét, made from glutinous rice, fatty pork, and banana leaves. Asher gets his first taste—yum!

✨ Question for Culture Kids:

What’s your zodiac sign? Who will be the lucky person to step into your house first this Lunar New Year?

📩 Stay Connected:

Email us at [email protected] or leave a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. We’d love to hear from you!

Mommy and Me Vietnamese:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoHbvkNnMdOHgHmLCvtxKKyTFHIKD5Nyq

Instagram: @mommyandmevietnamese

Join us for a journey filled with cultural stories, tasty traditions, and family fun. 🌸

Hop aboard the Culture Train as we take an exciting trip to South Korea to celebrate Seollal, Korean Lunar New Year!

Get ready to travel back in time to the Three Kingdoms Period, where we uncover the early traditions that shaped this holiday. We'll also explore the fascinating connection between Seollal and Lunar New Year, tracing its origins to China.

Then it’s back to modern-day Seoul, where we visit a ddeokguk restaurant to experience the different ways Seollal is celebrated across South Korea. From sebhae (bowing for blessings) to playing traditional games like yutnori, you’ll discover why this holiday is so special.

Join the adventure!

🌏 Visit us at http://culturekidsproductions.org

📧 Birthday shoutouts or comments Email us at [email protected]

🎉 Follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes fun and more content!

All aboard the Culture Train!

In this episode, join us as we travel to Naples, Italy—the birthplace of pizza! Discover the fascinating history of Neapolitan pizza and learn how it became one of the world’s most beloved foods. Special guest and pizza chef Peter, from The True Neapolitan Pizza Association, takes us inside his kitchen to reveal the secrets behind making authentic Neapolitan pizza, from stretching the dough to baking it in a wood-fired oven.

Along the way, we’ll uncover fun facts about pizza’s journey from Italy to America, explore the traditions passed down through generations, and even learn what makes the ovens in Naples so unique. Grab your imaginary passports and get ready for a delicious adventure filled with history, flavor, and plenty of laughs!

Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana

https://www.pizzanapoletana.org/en/

Culture Kids is a nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping this show free and accessible for all families. If you enjoy our episodes, please consider supporting us by leaving a 5-star review or visiting culturekidsproductions.org.

Birthday shoutouts and more:

[email protected]

Support and grants:

[email protected]

Pack your bags and grab your imaginary passports—it's time to hop aboard the Culture Train! In this episode, we’re back to continue our adventure in Morocco at the Sahara Desert. If you haven’t tuned in to Part One yet, be sure to check it out first!

We’ll meet Mr. Mohammed from Positively Morocco Tours, sip bubbly mint tea by the campfire, and spend the night under a sky full of stars. Along the way, we’ll learn about the Amazigh people, uncover ancient fossils hidden beneath the sand, and discover why the desert was once an ocean! From exploring Morocco’s stunning landscapes to hearing stories about traditional names and desert life, this journey is packed with wonder, history, and fun.

So come along—we can’t wait to share the next part of this magical adventure with you!

Positively Morocco Tours:

https://positivelymoroccotours.com/

Comments, Birthday shoutouts and More:

[email protected]

Grants and support:

[email protected]

http://culturekidsproductions.org/support

Join us on a journey through time as we explore the vibrant story of cuetlaxochitl (poinsettias), the stunning flower that has come to symbolize the holiday season. In this episode, we travel to ancient Mexico to uncover the flower’s origins in the Aztec Empire, where it was treasured for both its beauty and its uses in medicine and dyes. Learn how the Aztecs, with their deep understanding of nature, saw this plant as a symbol of life and renewal.

We also share the heartwarming legend of Pepita, a young girl in a small Mexican village, whose simple yet meaningful gift of cuetlaxochitl transformed into a Christmas miracle, making the flower an enduring symbol of love, faith, and hope.

From its ancient roots to its introduction to America by Joel Poinsett, discover how cuetlaxochitl became a beloved symbol of Christmas around the world, earning its place as a holiday tradition that continues to brighten homes and hearts today. Whether you call it cuetlaxochitl or poinsettias, this episode celebrates the rich cultural history and timeless beauty of this magical flower.

Instagram: @culturekidsproductions

Website: www.culturekidsproductions.org

Comments, birthday shoutouts: [email protected]

Support: [email protected]

Hop aboard the Culture Train as we journey to the breathtaking Sahara Desert in Morocco! We meet Mr. Mohammed, who takes us on an unforgettable adventure across golden sand dunes, meeting camels, sipping mint tea, and learning about the rich culture of Morocco's Amazigh (Berber) people. Discover how camels are perfectly adapted to the desert, hear what it's like to grow up as a nomad, and even find out how to pour tea like a pro. Along the way, Asher tries sand boarding, learns about the importance of bubbles in Moroccan hospitality, and marvels at one of the best sunsets in the world. This magical journey is full of fascinating facts, fun, and unforgettable stories!

Don’t forget your imaginary passports—this is one adventure you won’t want to miss!

This is part 1 of a 2 part episode, so stay tuned!

Instagram: @culturekidsproductions

Website: www.culturekidsproductions.org

Comments, birthday shoutouts: [email protected]

Support: [email protected]

Positively Morocco Tours:

https://positivelymoroccotours.com/

Guest name and info:

Mohammed Aghdaoui

Instagram @mohaaghdaoui

In this festive episode, we explore the magic of winter holidays celebrated by families across the globe. First, we meet Rabbi Selilah, who shares the beautiful traditions of Hanukkah—from lighting the menorah to enjoying delicious jelly-filled sufganiyot. Learn how the story of the Hanukkah oil teaches us that even small acts can make a big difference in the world.

Then, hop aboard our magical Culture Train Time Machine as we travel back in time to uncover the origins of Christmas traditions! Discover how ancient Egyptians celebrated with greenery, how Germany's "paradise trees" became the first Christmas trees, and how these traditions spread worldwide. Plus, find out why stars and angels light up our trees today.

Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, or simply enjoy the winter season, this episode reminds us that this time of year is about warmth, kindness, and the joy of being together. From our Culture Kids family to yours, we wish you a wonderful holiday season.

Highlights:

✨ Hanukkah traditions and the story of the miraculous oil

🎄 The fascinating history of Christmas trees and decorations

🌟 The meaning behind stars and angels atop trees

🎶 Fun songs, delicious treats, and messages of hope

Don’t forget to subscribe, share with friends, and join us for upcoming adventures to Morocco, Italy, and more! Remember, every child is valued, welcomed, and celebrated here at Culture Kids. Happy holidays!

Instagram: @culturekidsproductions

Website: www.culturekidsproductions.org

Comments, birthday shoutouts: [email protected]

Support: [email protected]

Thank you to Shalem Preschool in Manhattan Beach, California for being on our show!

https://www.shalempreschool.org/