It had been a year since Tenzin had joined the monastery, he thought back about his life before climbing up the mountain and starting his new life as a Buddhist monk.

Tenzin had been born to humble parents in the village of Gyalpo. His family had been devoted practitioners of Buddhism for generations. Tenzin’s earliest memories were of prayer and the comforting presence of the nearby monastery. His parents, recognizing the spiritual interests of their son, encouraged him to explore the teachings of Buddhism from a young age.

As a child, Tenzin was drawn to the temple. His curiosity came out in the form of many questions posed to the village monks and visiting pilgrims. The elder monks, seeing his earnest desire for knowledge, began to guide him in the basic teachings of mindfulness and compassion.

One day, as Tenzin explored the village outskirts, he encountered a wandering monk named Kelsang. The old monk, with a flowing white beard and eyes that sparkled with ancient wisdom, recognized something special in Tenzin. Kelsang saw in the young boy a kindred spirit yearning for a deeper understanding of life.

Over a simple meal of tsampa and butter tea, Kelsang shared his own journey to enlightenment. He spoke of the challenges he faced, the lessons he learned, and the joy that accompanied a life devoted to mindfulness and compassion. Tenzin hung on to every word.

In that moment, Tenzin decided to become a monk like Kelsang. Kelsang offered to guide him to the monastery high in the mountains. Tenzin’s parents knew they would miss their son, and Tenzin knew he’d miss them, but they recognized the calling within Tenzin and gave him their permission to start the journey.

Under the guidance of Kelsang, Tenzin made the difficult hike to the monastery, where he was welcomed with open arm. 

Tenzin focused back on the present moment, waking in the monastery. He stretched, yawned, and noticed that his friend, Lhakpa, hadn’t awoken yet.

“Hey, it’s time to get up!” Tenzin said, shaking Lhakpa’s shoulder. 

“Ok, ok,” Lhakpa said groggily. His head was shaved just like Tenzin’s and the other boys.  

“I’m getting up.” Their other friend, Sonam, was already up, getting dressed and preparing for the day. 

Together, they walked across the hard wood floor to the dining room where other boys sat around a low table on the floor. They enjoyed a simple breakfast of tsampa, a traditional Tibetan staple made from roasted barley flour. As Tenzin ate, he listened to the rhythmic chants of the monks from the nearby monastery, a sound that echoed through the valley like a soothing melody. After his meal, Tenzin and his friends headed to the temple where he would spend the day learning the way of mindfulness and meditation.

The temple, perched on the mountainside, overlooked the village below. Its weathered stones and ancient prayer wheels told stories of generations seeking wisdom and enlightenment. The temple’s exterior was adorned with intricate carvings depicting scenes from Buddhist scriptures. Tibetan prayer flags, vibrant and fluttering, adorned the eaves, imbuing the air with a sense of sacredness. A pair of heavy wooden doors, marked the entrance. Above them, a gilded canopy sheltered a trio of prayer wheels, waiting to be set in motion by the touch of a devoted pilgrim. 

Together, the boys entered the temple with a sense of reverence and anticipation. Inside, the air was thick with the earthy scent of incense. The flickering butter lamps cast dancing shadows on the walls, creating a setting of peace and tranquility. Their teacher, Lama Dorje awaited them. He was a wise and gentle monk with a flowing red robe. His head was shaved like the boys, his eyes were dark and piercing, and he always had a smile of his face. Lama Dorje lived the teachings of compassion and patience. His goal was to guide the minds of the young boys toward the path of enlightenment.

The morning rituals began with prostrations, a humble gesture expressing devotion and humility. Tenzin, Lhakpa, and Sonam bowed to the images of Buddha, their bodies moving in a fluid rhythm. The repetitive motions served as a physical expression of their dedication to the spiritual journey ahead.

Following the prostrations, the boys engaged in mindful breathing exercises. Lama Dorje instructed them to focus on each in breath and out breath, grounding their minds in the present moment. Tenzin closed his eyes, feeling the cool mountain air fill his lungs. And as he exhaled, he released the any stress from within.

After the morning session, the boys gathered for a simple lunch of lentil soup and steamed vegetables. The act of eating itself became a practice in mindfulness, with every bite savored and appreciated. The boys shared stories and laughter, fostering a sense of friendship that would support them on their spiritual journey.

In the afternoon, the boys explored the temple’s garden. Colorful flowers decorated the landscape, and the smell of blooming jasmine filled the air. They stood still and listened to the gentle rustling of leaves and distant chants from the temple. As they strolled along the winding paths, Tenzin embraced the beauty of the moment around them, practicing what he learned every day about fully living in the moment and appreciating what was happening in the now.

The boys walked a little further to the center of the garden to a Bodhi tree. This was the same type of tree Buddha was said to have received enlightnment. Under the shade of the Bodhi tree, Lama Dorje guided the boys in walking meditation. With each step, they connected with the earth beneath them, giving them a deep sense of gratitude for the interconnectedness of all life.

As the sun dipped below the towering mountains of Tibet, the boys returned to the temple for the evening session. Lama Dorje led them in a chanting ritual, the vibrations of the bell and their voices resonating through the ancient walls. The words carried prayers for the well-being of all living beings, the core Buddhist belief in compassion.

The day ended with a meditation session overlooking the majestic mountains. The boys sat in silent contemplation, their minds settling like a calm mountain lake. The fading sunlight painted the landscape in shades of lavender and indigo.

As they opened their eyes, Lama Dorje shared a simple yet profound teaching: “In the stillness of the mind, one finds the path to enlightenment. Embrace each moment with gratitude, for it is a step closer to understanding the nature of existence.”

Tenzin and his friends left the temple that evening with hearts full of inspiration. The teachings of mindfulness and compassion had taken root in their young minds, shaping the foundation for a life dedicated to the pursuit of inner peace and enlightenment.

In the quiet of the night, Tenzin stood on the temple balcony, gazing at the starlit sky above the mountains of Tibet. The vastness of the universe matched the depth of his new understanding. The journey was long, but with each step, Tenzin walked a path illuminated by the wisdom of the ancient teachings, a path that led to the serenity of the mind and the boundless compassion within the heart.

The post Finding Peace: A Buddhist Monk’s Journey appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

At the heart of the story of Jesus of Nazareth is a man whose life has left an enduring impact on the world. According to the accounts found in the Gospels, Jesus is said to have led a remarkable life. His life and teachings are always described in letters written by Paul, and he is also mentioned by the Jewish historian Josephus.

The Gospels, attributed to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, serve as primary sources, each presenting a unique perspective on Jesus’ life. These accounts are akin to friends sharing their recollections of a significant event, creating a picture of the man and his teachings.

Paul, a prominent figure in the early Christian movement, wrote letters to various communities, discussing Jesus’ life and teachings. His letters provide additional insights into the beliefs and practices of the early followers of Jesus.

The historian Josephus, who lived during the same period, contributed to our understanding of the historical context in which Jesus lived. His writings touch upon various aspects of Jewish history, including references to Jesus.

The story begins with the miraculous birth of Jesus. According to the accounts, Mary, his mother, received a visit from an angel who foretold the birth of a special child. Mary, and the man she was to marry, Joseph, traveled from their home in Nazareth to Bethlehem where they were to be taxed by the Roman Empire. In Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable for animals because there was no room for them in the inns – or hotels – in the town. Shepherds were believed to have seen an angel and followed a star to the stable where they celebrated the birth of the child they believed would become their king. Later, Wise Men from the Orient visited the child Jesus and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and murr. To this day, Jesus’s birth is celebrated on Christmas and is reenacted in plays and reimagined in different ornaments and artwork to remember the birth of the child. 

As Jesus grew, he gained a reputation for performing miracles. These included healing the sick, turning water into wine, and, in one instance, even bringing a man back to life. These accounts portray Jesus as someone with extraordinary abilities, fostering a belief among many that he possessed unique powers.

Jesus’ teachings form an important part of his legacy. He emphasized principles such as kindness, compassion, and love. One of his well-known teachings is the Golden Rule: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” This simple yet profound principle advocates treating others with the same kindness and respect one desires for oneself.

His teachings extended to helping those in need, urging his followers to help the hungry, the poor, and the less fortunate. The idea was to cultivate a sense of responsibility and create a world where everyone looks out for one another.

However, according to the accounts of his followers, not everyone embraced Jesus’ message. Powerful figures felt threatened by his teachings, leading to his arrest and subsequent death. Despite the tragic end, his followers believed that Jesus came back to life and his “resurrection” as it was called means that like Jesus others can have life after death.

Following the death of Jesus, his followers (also called disciples), who had been witnesses to Jesus’ teachings and believed in his resurrection, continued to spread his message. They traveled to different regions, carrying the message of love, redemption, and the promise of eternal life. This missionary activity led to the formation of communities of believers who followed the teachings of Jesus and saw him as the promised Messiah. These groups became known as Christians because they believed Jesus was a Savior or Christ who would save them.

The Apostle Paul, in particular, played an important role in the early growth of Christianity. Paul traveled throughout the Mediterranean region teaching about Jesus and bringing new people to the faith, including Greeks and people of all backgrounds and ethnicities.

Paul’s letters, which are now included in the New Testament, taught about Jesus and his missionary journeys. They form the early theology of the belief in Jesus as the Christ.

As the Christian communities grew, they faced both acceptance and opposition. The teachings of Jesus, emphasizing love, compassion, and equality, resonated with many, but they also challenged existing social norms and religious practices. Christians were sometimes persecuted for their beliefs, but this adversity only fueled their commitment to the message of Jesus.

Over the centuries, Christianity continued to evolve, adopting various cultural practices and incorporating diverse ideas. Eventually, it became the new religion of the Roman Empire, which led to its spread across the Empire, Europe, and beyond. Later, Christmas became a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus. Many of the symbols of Christmas today come from the stories of his birth: bright stars and gifts for example.

Today, it is estimated there are over 2 billion Christians worldwide, which are made up of many different types of believers, churches, and denominations – but most are united in the belief in Jesus as a divine being and teacher. But even for those who aren’t believers in Jesus’s divinity, many today accept Jesus as a gifted numbered among Buddha, Confucius, and Gandhi, who have led by their example of how to treat others with kindness and compassion. 

The teachings of Jesus continue to resonate today. You may wonder how what Jesus said and did can apply to your own life. Jesus taught, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” It’s easy to become focused on ourselves, but there’s so much going on outside of us and others want to be treated with the same respect we expect.

We all goof up sometimes, right? Jesus was big on forgiving others (and yourself!). So, if someone messes up, or you make a mistake, don’t be too hard on yourself or others. Learn from it, forgive, and move on. 

Jesus taught about compassion. He said we should “love our neighbor” meaning those around us. He taught that he might even mean someone we don’t necessarily like, and even taught his followers to love their enemies. Little acts of kindness, helping out a friend, or volunteering in your community — that’s like living out Jesus’ message of helping those around you.

It’s cool to be awesome at stuff, but remember, nobody’s perfect. Jesus talked about being humble, which means being real about your strengths and weaknesses. It’s all about learning, growing, and staying down-to-earth. He also taught us not to judge others and to try and see our faults and how we can improve before we try and make judgments of others.

Everyone’s got their own story, right? Jesus was big on respecting everyone, no matter where they come from or who they are. He treated people who were normally shunned like the sick or those who made poor decisions the same as everyone else. He often criticized the leaders who were judgemental and didn’t treat others with kindness. Like Jesus, treating others with respect, no matter the differences is like spreading good vibes everywhere you go.

Life can get pretty hectic, huh? Jesus knew the importance of taking a breather. Often, he took the time to get away from the crowds, pray meditate and clear his head. He often did this in the mountains or quiet places or while he walked from town to town. So, set some boundaries for yourself. Take a break, reflect, and take care of your mental and emotional well-being.

In summary, the story of Jesus of Nazareth transcends religious boundaries, offering valuable lessons that can inspire people from all walks of life to strive for a world characterized by empathy, understanding, and goodwill.

We hope you enjoyed learning about the origins of the Christmas holiday and the story of Jesus of Nazareth and his teachings; however you celebrate the winter holiday whether it be Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Chinese New Year, or one of the other many holidays across the wide world, we wish you a happy holiday and New Year!

The post History of Jesus of Nazareth for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

The next day dawns bright and cold and the sea has calmed.  It is November 1^st, the first day of the new year and the official start of the winter season. The father rises and grabs a slice of bread with bacon and cold goat’s milk before heading outside and up the grassy hill to the pasture.  He meets his neighbor at the pasture and they start counting and corralling the sheep that have been grazing on the land all summer. The men whistle and yell, driving the plump beasts down the hill towards the warm and waiting stables. By midday, all the sheep are settled in their wooden stalls with bales of hay for feasting.  The men grab bowls of porridge at the house before walking down the dusty road into town to their landlord’s office.  They need to pay the lease on their lands for another year of farming and sheep grazing.  Next, they stop at a nearby pub for hot ale before heading home to their families.

Inside the homes, women and children talk excitedly.  All day they have been preparing hot soups and meats, fruits and vegetables, for the night’s celebration.  It is the festival of Samhain and the town has been buzzing in anticipation. Evening slowly descends and town folk gather for hearty dinners spread on low tables.  An array of roasted meats, vegetables, potatoes, and soups send wafts of tantalizing aromas into the air.  Everyone gathers around the table, sitting on thick bundles of straw.  They dive excitedly into the feast, laughing and telling tales, both old and new.  Some even break into tender songs of legend and lore – tales of loved ones lost in the mists of time and lovely maidens of the sea.  

Soon, the men gather once more in town, then climb the nearby hillside to light bright yellow bonfires.  The flames dance and swirl on the frosty air, sparking and jumping higher as more logs are added to the fire.  Women and children don thick sweaters and colorful masks made of clay, cloth, leaves, and twine.  They join the men on the hill, laughing and dancing and howling into the wind.  They recite fables and sing songs, making as much noise as possible to scare away evil spirits.  Tonight, all sorts of strange things roam the night: fairies and goblins, witches and demons.  It is also the night that the ghosts of those who have passed come back to visit or those who have died during the year travel to the great beyond.  Masks are worn to ward off any unwelcome apparitions.  No one wants to be recognized by a witch or a hobgoblin – or followed home!  People grab heavy wooden sticks and poke them into the bonfire, walking home with blazing torches to light their hearths for the long winter ahead.

Shortly thereafter, the local soothsayer – or fortune teller – comes to the family’s house for some hot drinks and food. Wrapped in a frayed shawl, the old woman settles her weary bones into a wooden seat next to the fire.  Her wrinkled skin and white hair glow in the firelight. She closes her eyes and calls to the spirits.  Sometimes she simply looks at some crushed tea leaves in the bottom of a cup.  She is said to have the gift of divination – the ability to tell the future – who will marry, who will be healthy or ill, and who will depart in the months ahead.  This year, the news is good.  All in the home will enjoy good health and a bountiful harvest next fall.  The old woman smiles and slowly shuffles out the door to visit the next home on this dark and chilly night.  Samhain has been a special day full of family, food, and festivities.

A year or so later, the Romans invade this lovely Celt island and bring their own customs and traditions with them, such as the festival of Feralia. They hold celebrations to honor Pomona, the goddess of the harvest, as well as their departed loved ones.  They make offerings at family graves in the form of wreaths, grain, salt, bread soaked in wine, and violets.  

And so it goes. The years tick by and the customs continue. The dead are honored and feasts are held every November 1^st.  Then, in 7 AD, Pope Boniface IV decides it is time to throw away the old pagan traditions of roaming spirits and scary hobgoblins.  He proclaims a new holiday, All Saints’ Day, to be held on May 13th to honor Catholic saints in heaven instead of magical fairies and devilish demons. But traditions and customs change slowly; they don’t happen overnight just because a ruler – or a pope – declares it so.  Eventually, by the following century, the celebration of All Saint’s Day is moved to November 1^st to try to merge it with the Celts’ holiday and hopefully take it over completely. It is then declared that the evening before this new All Saints’ Day, or October 31^st, is a holy night to be known as “All Hallows Eve” or “Hallowed Eve” – which later becomes “Halloween.”  

More years pass and by the Middle Ages the pagan – or non-religious – rituals and the saintly celebrations have merged. On “Hallowed Eve,” some people, such as those in Britain or of the Protestant faith, celebrate the harvest but do not acknowledge the saints. The Catholics honor the saints but deny the pagan beliefs in witches, ghosts, and goblins.

Thus, when the first pilgrims from England sailed to America in the 1600s and later the Irish in the 1800s, they brought their customs and beliefs with them, including Halloween.  These early settlers didn’t celebrate the religious aspects of “Hallowed Eve,” such as honoring the saints, but rather celebrated the harvest and held feasts. Over the years, these Halloween traditions grew and evolved in America.

Today, many people still gather at this time of year every fall, but instead of lighting bonfires or enjoying big meals on the night of November 1st, they have incorporated new twists on old customs.  In the United States and other places around the world, children still wear masks at night but they do it on October 31^st, “Halloween,” instead of the Celts’ new year of November 1^st.  They carve pumpkins (instead of turnips like their ancestors) and bob for apples – maybe as a nod to the goddess Pomona and a bountiful fall harvest.  They walk the streets and beg for candy, similar to their ancestors who allowed the poor to beg for food called “soul cakes.” Children now wear elaborate costumes instead of just masks and dress as things their ancestors tried to scare away – witches and goblins, ghosts and fairies. Some dress as skeletons, not realizing that this harkens back to the Celts centuries ago who would gather around blazing bonfires to send dearly departed loved ones on their way or welcome older ancestors home.  Feasting today is mainly for children in the form of mounds of candy instead of fruits and vegetables.  Some may play tricks on neighbors, acting as little “devils” or “demons” roaming the night just as their ancestors feared many centuries ago across the wild and raging sea.

So, what do you think of the Halloween holiday? Did you know about the old Celt traditions that started it all?  What do you like to do on Halloween and what are your favorite costumes?  Do you display witches, skeletons, and ghosts in your home or do you honor another tradition of your faith?  If you enjoy feasting instead of scary celebrations, what is your favorite food to eat during Halloween?

I think it is amazing how customs follow us down through the centuries and change over the years as people travel to new places or grow in their beliefs. 

The post Story of Halloween for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

As you step closer, you see that the water is shimmering with a golden glow, and you feel a strange energy running through your body. You dip your hand into the water and take a sip. You feel a wave of youthfulness and health wash over you. Your skin feels tighter, your joints less painful, and your mind clearer than it has been in years. Yes, you’ve found it! The one and only, fountain of youth!

The story of the Fountain of Youth has been told for many years in cultures around the world. The legend suggests that there is a magical fountain that has the power to restore youth and health to those who drink from it.

The story of the Fountain of Youth has captured the imagination of people around the world, and many have tried to find it, but no one has ever been able to locate the spring or even prove that it’s real.

So where did this story come from, and why did people believe in it? Let’s explore these stories and find out!

The story of the Fountain of Youth can be traced back to ancient times. The Greeks believed in a mythical spring, which was said to be located at the end of the world when it was believed the world was flat. The Greek god of the sun, Helios, had a son named Phaethon, who once drove his father’s chariot too close to the Earth and set it on fire. As punishment, Phaethon fell into a river, where he was transformed into a swan. The river became known as the River of Forgetfulness. It was believed that if you drank from the river, you would forget all your troubles – and also become young again.

The Greek Historian Herodotus in the 5th century BC was the first to write about the legendary Fountain of Youth. In his writings, he mentioned the Macrobians, a people who were known for their long lives. Some were even rumored to have lived for more than 120 years, which was quite unusual for that time. Herodotus thought that the Macrobians’ long lives were due to their diet, which was mostly made up of boiled meat and milk. When explorers asked how they lived to be 120 years old, they told an incredible story about a magical fountain.

They said that this fountain had special water that made their skin shiny and smooth like oil, and it smelled just like a beautiful violet flower. The water was so special that nothing could float in it, not even a feather or a leaf – everything sank right to the bottom! They believed that it was the special properties of the water from this fountain that made them live for so long.

In the Middle Ages, the Fountain of Youth was also related to the philosopher’s stone. The philosopher’s stone was a mythical rock that was also said to be able to make older people young again, live forever, and even turn metal into gold! For a long time, people thought that the philosopher’s stone was real. Later, it was used in other stories such as the first Harry Potte book, The Philosopher’s Stone, and the anime, Full Metal Alchemist.

It wasn’t until much later than the Greeks that the story of the Fountain of Youth became very popular. This was the time of the great Age of Exploration and Discovery when European explorers were sailing around the world in search of new lands and treasures. Many of these explorers believed in the legend of the Fountain of Youth and hoped to find it on their voyages.

One of the most famous accounts of the fountain of youth comes from a tale of Alexander the Great. In this story, Alexander and his army are traveling through a hot and dry land when they came across a land full of beautiful flowers and green meadows. There, they find the mythical fountain of youth, which was said to heal anyone who bathed in its waters four times a day. Alexander and his men met some old warriors who had bathed in the fountain and came out looking like they were much younger! The warriors explained to Alexander that they had lived for more than a hundred years and were now completely young and healthy. Alexander then decides to try the fountain for himself and was amazed at the results. When he returned to his men, he could hardly recognize the old warriors because they looked so young and strong.

The story of Alexander and the Fountain of Youth spread throughout Europe and became popular during the Renaissance, which was a time when people were fascinated by ancient myths and legends. Many explorers and adventurers, including the famous Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León, searched for the hidden Fountain of Youth. These explorers hoped to find a way to make their own lives longer and stay young forever. 

Juan Ponce de Leon was a Spanish conquistador who was said to have accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the New World. He was born in Santervás de Campos, Valladolid, Spain, in 1474. He was appointed as the first Governor of Puerto Rico in 1509 by the Spanish Crown, and it was during his time as Governor that he became interested in finding the Fountain of Youth. Legend had it that when Ponce de León arrived in Florida, he met some Timucua Native Americans who told him about a spring that was located in a mythical land called Bimini. The legend said that the water from this spring had the power to restore youth and cure sickness when swallowed or bathed in. Ponce de León and his men searched for the spring but were never able to find it. He made many more travels to areas around Florida in search of the fountain but his search was unsuccessful. 

Because of Ponce de Leon’s travels, there’s a park in Florida where you can learn more about the history of the fountain! It’s called the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park and it’s in the city of St. Augustine, Florida.

The story behind the park is pretty fascinating. In 1904, a woman named Luella Day McConnell bought a piece of land in St. Augustine that she believed was the site of Ponce de León’s mysterious Fountain of Youth. She believed he’d actually found it! She began to create a park there, adding attractions such as a Spanish watchtower, an Indian village, and an actual spring that she said was the Fountain of Youth.

Luella also dug a well on the property. A well is a hole that is dug so deep that it reaches water far below the ground. She dug this deep hole and began selling water from it, saying that it had the power to heal and was the same water that Ponce de León had used when he was looking for the fountain of youth. She also said that she discovered a large cross on the property that had been put there by Ponce de León himself. People began to pay to come to see all of the amazing things that Luella had at her park and to learn more about the mythological Fountain of Youth. 

After Luella passed away, a man named Walter Fraser took over the park and made it even more popular. In 1934, archaeologists dug in the park and found something amazing: a religious Native American burial site, the Timucuan village of Seloy. The Timucua people lived in Northeast and North Central Florida and southeast Georgia from as early as 1100 CE. They were the largest indigenous group in that area and consisted of about 35 chiefdoms, many leading thousands of people. ​​ The dig site also pointed to the park being the location of the first Christian mission in the United States. This mission was started by Franciscan friars in 1587. Over the years, more and more items were found that proved the park was home to the Timucua people and the location of the first European settlement in North America. Today, the park has lots of interesting artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of the Fountain of Youth and the people who searched for it. So if you’re ever in Florida and want to learn more about the Fountain of Youth, be sure to check out the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park!

As we’ve learned, many people have searched for the fountain throughout history, hoping to find its magical waters that could grant them eternal youth and life. But perhaps the real fountain of youth is not a physical place or object, but something that comes from within us. Maybe the key to staying young at heart is to embrace our sense of wonder, keep learning, and never stop exploring the world around us. So, let’s remember to stay curious, stay adventurous, and always keep searching for your own inner, fountain of youth. 

The post The Fountain of Youth for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

Did you know there is one more amazing celebration around this time of year?  It’s called the Chinese New Year – or in other countries the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year.  The celebration is based on the rotation of the sun and moon, and begins on the first new moon that appears between January 21 and February 20, so that means the date changes every year.  In 2023, this festival will be celebrated on January 22.

This festival is truly amazing, with lots of history and symbolism.  There are moonlight monsters, delicious dumplings, and shiny paper pouches filled with money.  So come along with me as we learn more about the Chinese New Year in 2023, the year of the rabbit.  

First, you may be wondering: what is the year of the rabbit?  Well, the Chinese use 12 different animals to mark different years.  It’s called the Chinese Zodiac and their zodiac animals are: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.  In 2023, it is the year of the rabbit.  A rabbit is very fertile, so it has lots of family members and loves to cuddle with its rabbit family.  Therefore, this year will be a year of homecoming, of reconnecting with family and friends, as well as for fresh starts and new beginnings.  That sounds good to me!

The Chinese New Year is celebrated in many places around the world, not only China.  It is also celebrated in Tibet, Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and other places.  And as people move around the world, they take their customs with them.  Now Asian populations in the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, Peru, New Zealand, and South Africa enjoy this amazing festival.  Just as Santa Claus was brought to the US by folks in Europe, Chinese customs have traveled the world with people from Asia!  So, let’s learn more!

The Chinese New Year is held to celebrate the coming of Spring, when the sun starts its new cycle and the days become longer.  People get ready for this festival by cleaning and sweeping their homes – which symbolizes getting rid of old evils and welcoming new luck.  They need to make sure to put away their brooms and dustpans before New Year’s Day, though, or it is believed they will sweep away their newly-arrived good luck!  Next, they hang red paper pictures and poems on their windows and doors with themes like wealth, happiness, and good luck.  They may hand out coins on red strings or in red envelopes.  They may even put a fresh coat of red paint on their windows and doors.  But why red?  

Well, red is believed to be the color of joy – a lot like our Valentine’s Day showing red roses, red hearts on cards, and blushing red cheeks on little cupids.  It is also said to symbolizes truth, virtue, and sincerity. In Chinese opera, if a character has a painted red face, it generally means the person is holy, loyal, or a great emperor. Also in China, the sound of the word “red” is similar to the word “prosperous.”  So, red is a very special color in Asian cultures.

Plus, there are some neat legends regarding the color red and a monster named Sui – or Nian. One legend states that once there was an elderly couple who had a sweet son.  They were scared that the monster Sui would come to their house on New Year’s Eve to scare their child, so they tried to keep the boy awake by rattling copper coins.  The boy soon tired and fell asleep.  To protect their son from Sui while he slept, the parents put the copper coins in a red envelope under his pillow.  Suddenly, the doors and windows blew open and Sui appeared.  Sui reached out to touch the boy’s head, but the bright coins inside the envelope lit up and scared Sui away.  

Another legend states that the monster Sui used to roam a village in China thousands of years ago and scare all the people.  Many brave warriors tried to kill Sui but could not.  Finally, a young orphan boy with a golden sword stepped forward and said he would battle Sui.  He fought bravely and killed the monster.  The villagers were so happy that they gave him coins in red bags. 

A third legend states that there once was a mythical beast called Nian who lived under the mountains or the seas and would roam around villages in the middle of the night.^[21] One night, all the villagers decided to leave their homes and hide from the beast – all except for one man.  That night, the man set up red paper lanterns around the village and lit firecrackers.  When the villagers returned the next day, their village had not been destroyed by Nian, so they thought that Nian must be afraid of loud noises and the color red.  Every year thereafter, people wore red clothes during the Chinese New Year, lit fireworks, banged drums, hung red lanterns, and put red on their windows and doors – and Nian never returned.  And maybe this is why we see colorful dragons in Chinese parades – maybe it is the mythical creature Sui or Nian and all the loud music is played to scare him away!  I think those are some pretty neat traditions and legends!

Besides cleaning house, lighting fireworks, and putting coins in red envelopes, folks also like to make delicious dumplings.  And why dumplings?  Well, they look like round coins, which signify wealth and prosperity – plus they are delicious!  Just like in other countries on New Year’s eve where people eat round fruit, symbolizing coins and wealth, Asian families eat round dumplings!  Plus, in the olden days, they sometimes put a coin inside a dumpling and whoever found it was said to have good luck in the new year.  Today, they like to put other things in their dumplings, such as candy for sweet days, dates for a flourishing year, or a piece of nian gao, a rice cake, for a rich life.  

And you may also see pretty red pictures or symbols, called Fu characters, in a diamond shape hung upside down on the outside of stores and homes.  We now know the reason for the color red, but why hang them upside down?  Well, the word for “upside down” in Chinese sounds very similar to the word for “arrive” – so they believe these upside pictures will bring good luck, wealth, and happiness to their door.  But for Cantonese people, the word upside down sounds similar to “pour away.”  They think that if you hang something upside down, you will pour away your good luck – so they hang things right side up!  Gosh, I wouldn’t know HOW to hang my pictures on Chinese New Year – would you?

There are even more customs, like when to get your hair cut on Chinese New Year.  If they want to have a haircut for the holiday, they need to do it before New Year’s Day or it is considered bad luck.  Why?  Well, in China, the word for “hair” sounds like the word “prosperity”, so they certainly don’t want to cut off any hair – or wealth – on New Year’s Day!  

In homes that follow Buddhism or Taoism, they clean their alters and statues, then burn the year’s paper decorations a week before New Year’s.  Why?  This is thought to send the year’s good luck up to heaven.  They then put up new decorations.  They may also burn a picture of Zao Jun, the Kitchen God, who is said to record all the family’s deeds during the year.  It is hoped that by burning his picture, he will take a record of the family’s deeds to the god known as the Jade Emperor.  They may even put out sweets and candies as a little bribe to the Kitchen God so he will only report the good things to the Jade Emperor.  This is like American homes where children put out cookies and milk in hopes that Santa will be happy and leave presents!  We do this because we know he has a naughty and nice list!  

And before the big feast on New Year’s Eve, a prayer of thanksgiving is said for the past year, as well as prayers sent up for ancestors.  This is very similar to Thanksgiving in America.  A big meal is eaten, then niangao, or New Year’s Cake, is served and pieces of it are also sent to friends and family.  Delicious dumplings are eaten at midnight to bring wealth and good luck in the new year.

This all sounds amazing!  But there’s more!  New Year’s celebrations don’t just last for 1 day – they may go on for 15 days with different events on different days, like eating special foods, lighting fireworks, giving gifts, or making offerings to the gods.  On the 15^th day in China and Malaysia, it is a day for single ladies to write their name and number on mandarin oranges and throw them into a lake or river.  Men will pick these fruits out of the water and eat them. The taste of the orange will indicate whether a possible love connection will be sweet or sour.  

So, what do you think of all these amazing legends, foods, and customs?  Is there one you would like to try, like handing out coins in red envelopes, eating dumplings, or throwing oranges in a river?  Maybe you would like to research the animals in the Chinese Zodiac to find your Chinese animal based on your date of birth.  What does that animal say about your future?  Does it differ from your astrological sign?  Maybe your parents can help you with this research – it would be a fun family project to learn everyone’s Zodiac sign!

I’d like to hear about your Zodiac sign and what you think it might mean about you. Or if you celebrate Chinese New Year, use the form link in the notes to tell me your favorite tradition.

Whatever your Zodiac animal, feast, or decorations this Chinese New Year, from my house to yours, I wish you a year ahead filled with health, happiness, and prosperity!

The post Chinese New Year for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

Every year in winter, many families around the world decorate their homes for the holidays.  Red, white, green and many other coloured lights start to appear on the fronts of houses and in yards.  They twinkle and add a feeling of joy and light to a season that can be very dark in many parts of the world, including much of North America.  

As days get shorter and nights are longer, Christmas lights provide a beacon of happiness to people who enjoy them.  And many homes have the soft glow of lights on Christmas trees as a reminder of the meaning of the season, peace and love.

So the other day I was thinking, Christmas Trees are fun and everything, but where do they come from? Have you ever wondered where the tradition of Christmas trees comes from?

Well, long ago, the tradition began with the hanging of green tree boughs and branches over doors and windows.  Trees that remain green throughout winter had a special meaning for people who lived in cold, dark places.  Because these trees were able to stay alive despite the cold and dark, ancient people believed that they had special power to keep away illness and evil spirits. 

In the Northern hemisphere, or northern half of the world, the shortest day of the year is on December 21 or 22 each year.  This is called the winter solstice.  This became a time of year that people especially wanted to hang evergreen boughs in their homes, to help them get through the cold dark time and remind them that spring would come again soon and things would eventually turn green again.

In early Roman times, Roman people had a festival on the night of the winter solstice called Saturnalia.  They decorated their homes and temples with evergreen branches.  Later, when Roman people moved to Northern Europe, they brought this tradition with them.  While Romans would use different types of branches when they lived in Rome, once they had moved north, they used trees from those areas.  Some of the types of trees that keep their green branches throughout winter in cold places include pine, spruce and fir trees. 

The first people who brought an entire tree into their home as part of the tradition are thought to be the German people. By the 16th century, Christianity had spread throughout much of Europe. Christianity is the belief in Jesus Christ, that he was God’s son. Christians. There is a story about a Christian teacher named Martin Luther that when he was walking home, he saw many beautiful stars twinkling in the sky.  He wanted to recreate the beauty of the night sky in his home and did so by bringing in a tree and wiring lighted candles to its branches.

Another theory for how the first Christmas tree came to be set up inside a home is from a combination of two customs that had existed in Germany prior to the 16th century.  Before this time, some people set up a “paradise tree” in their homes, which were fir trees decorated with apples.  The paradise tree was mean to represent the tree of knowledge from the Garden of Eden, in the Bible story. Some people think that eventually the apples were replaced by candles to represent Jesus as the Light of the World.

Regardless of the exact origin, the practice of putting a tree in one’s home during the winter and decorating it spread throughout Germany.  When German people moved to America, they brought this tradition with them.  Americans from other countries thought the tradition was strange and some did not believe that it was a good thing to do.  Some thought that Christmas trees were pagan symbols.  Paganism is a word that describes old celtic beliefs that existed in Europe before Christianity was widespread there. Some even tried to stop others from being allowed to put Christmas trees up anymore.

In 1846 however, that started to change.  The queen of England at the time was Queen Victoria and she was married to a German prince named Prince Albert.  Because her husband was German, Queen Victoria and her family put up a Christmas tree in their home in the winter.  When other people saw a sketch of the royal family standing next to a Christmas tree, the idea of Christmas trees became immediately popular with the people of England.  Queen Victoria was a very well-liked queen and people wanted to imitate her. Imitate means to follow someone’s trend or copy their idea. 

The popularity of Queen Victoria was also present in America and when Americans saw this sketch in the newspapers, they also started wanting to have Christmas trees in their homes.  They thought it was a fashionable idea.  Fashionable means that people generally believed it was a cool idea and started to do the same.  The Christmas trees in European homes were small, about the height of a child.  However in America, it started to become common for people to want to have very large Christmas trees that reached all the way to the ceiling.

By the late 1900s, Christmas trees were growing in popularity throughout America.  People in America and Europe decorated their trees mainly with fruit and nuts and homemade ornaments. Some added cookies or strings of popcorn, berries and nuts.  Trees were all covered in candles that were wired to their branches and would be lit up at night.  It was very dangerous to have so many small open fires inside of houses and many houses had fire accidents as a result.  

When electricity in homes became common, people started to decorate their trees with Christmas lights instead of candles.  This made it so that trees could stay glowing for much longer and could have lights of many different colours on their branches.  Electric lights also made it so that trees in other places, outside of homes, could be lit up throughout the season.  Businesses and towns started decorating trees throughout cities and businesses throughout the Christmas season.

Throughout the world, people now decorate trees at Christmas.  While the practice is wide-spread, the way that people decorate their trees varies in different countries.  In Canada and the United States, people copy many of the trends that started to become popular after Queen Victoria had her family Christmas tree at Windsor Castle.  People decorate trees with lights and ornaments and hang garlands, red white and green decorations and ginger bread in their homes. 

In Mexico, most homes set up a Nativity scene at Christmas.  This is a set of ornaments that represent the Holy Family on the night that baby Jesus was born in a manger. Mexican families cannot all afford pine trees, as they do not grown in Mexico. So wealthy families often buy imported ones from the United States and other families often set up small artificial, or fake Christmas trees or small shrubs that are native to the country.

In Brazil, families decorate their Christmas trees with small pieces of cotton to look like falling snow. In Norway, people usually go into the woods to find their Christmas tree and cut it down themselves.  Norwegian parents decorate their tree on Christmas eve while kids wait in the other room.  When the tree is ready the come out and celebrate by singing carols as a family.  In South Africa and other hot countries in the southern hemisphere, Christmas is a summer holiday.  Some places do not set up Christmas trees, but instead, people decorate their windows with cotton and tinsel to look like snow and ice. 

Does your family set up a tree at Christmas and decorate it with lights and ornaments? Or is there another holiday that your family celebrates in winter or another way that your family celebrates Christmas?  Every family has their own traditions and it is interesting to think about the history of where your family’s traditions come from. 

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Happy fall everyone!  You might have noticed a sudden, slight chill in the air at night or the changing of the leaves on the trees.  Maybe where you live, the leaves are changing from bright green to blazing red, orange, and yellow.  In America, the stores around your town may be stocking up on spooky Halloween costumes, smiling pumpkins, and plump turkeys.  Fall is in the air and people are getting excited to celebrate holidays with family and friends.

Preparations

But do you know what else happened during this Fall season many years ago?  The sailing of the Mayflower – the historic ship that brought the pilgrims from England to America!  The year was 1620 and some people in Europe were finding it difficult to celebrate the religion of their choice.  A group of religious people, called pilgrims, decided they wanted to sail to a new land to have the freedom to practice their own religion.  So, they hired two ships, the Mayflower and the Speedwell, to sail them from Southampton, England, to the new land of America.  They hoped to land in Virginia where a small settlement – or town – was being built.  

To get there, they would need ships, supplies, and a crew of sailors.  The pilgrims spent months making arrangements: they bought farm animals, food, seeds, tools, weapons, and drinks to take with them across the sea.  They hired a captain and a crew of almost 30 men – sailors and cooks, plus a surgeon, carpenter, gunner, barrel maker, and men to handle the cargo and repair the ship.  102 pilgrims, including 18 women – 3 of whom were pregnant – and 11 girls, agreed to sail with the men.  Excitement was high.  Everyone was anxious to set sail but sad to say goodbye to loved ones who would be staying behind. 

The Mayflower and Speedwell Disembark

Finally, the big day arrived.  On August 5, 1620, the Mayflower and the Speedwell left Southampton, England, sailing out of the harbor towards the open sea.  The ships were packed to bursting with hardly an inch of space between all the passengers, crew, animals, and supplies.  In various places on the ship, people couldn’t stand upright due to the low ceilings.  People had to sleep in shifts; there was not enough room for everyone to sleep at once.  But still, spirits were high and excitement filled the air.  

The days slipped by as everyone settled into routines aboard the ship:  eating, sleeping, playing cards, chatting, and tending to children.  Suddenly, 7 days into the voyage, the Speedwell started to leak.  There was no way they could sail across the ocean with this leak- they would surely sink.  There was no choice – they had to sail back towards land and make repairs.  The Speedwell and the Mayflower docked in Dartmouth, England, and repairs were made for two weeks.  Finally, on August 21, 1620, the two ships set sail again.  By this time, everyone was truly anxious to sail.  Once more they sailed out of the harbor for the open sea.  They were 300 miles out to sea when the Speedwell once again started to leak.  Spirits were crushed.  They had wasted so much time and effort trying to make this voyage.  They turned back to land yet again, docking in Plymouth, England. A decision was made to leave the Speedwell behind.  Supplies were transferred from the Speedwell to the Mayflower, and some passengers decided to leave the ships, disheartened by the delays and bad luck.

The Mayflower Disembarks Again

Finally, on September 6, 1620, the Mayflower set sail for the third and final time.  The ship was even more packed now, carrying additional supplies and the remaining Speedwell passengers. 102 people were crowded into a space the size of 58’ x 24’.  If you want to know how big – or small – this is, ask your parents to show you with a tape measure or march it out while counting.  It is incredibly small-maybe even smaller than your living room!  All the pilgrims were now tired and anxious.  They had been living on board for a month and a half in very tight quarters and had yet to cross the ocean.

The Mayflower sailed out into the September seas and, at first, the voyage was smooth and uneventful.  Some people enjoyed sailing – the rock of the ship, the creak of the wooden beams, and the jangle of the metal rigging.  Others, however, became seasick from the constant rolling.  They felt truly miserable and couldn’t wait for the journey to be over!  Can you imagine being seasick, plus smelling the odor of penned animals, fish, and unwashed clothes for days on end?  Not very pleasant!

Trouble on the High Seas

About halfway through the trip, the weather worsened and huge storms raged across the ocean, turning the once-calm sea into a swirling, crashing mass of waves and spray.  Animals squawked and people moaned.  The ship rolled from side to side.  Suddenly, they heard a crack and the main beam started to break in the howling wind.  They needed to repair the beam in order to sail, otherwise, they would be like a toy boat in the water, bobbing along with no way to steer toward Virginia.  By sheer luck, one of the passengers had a large metal jackscrew, which the carpenter used to repair the beam.  During these storms one woman even gave birth!

Land Ho!

By now, everyone just wanted the trip to be over – the seasickness, rough seas, and cramped conditions were becoming unbearable.  Finally, on November 9, after 66 days of sailing, they sighted land.  They had reached Cape Cod, Massachusetts, north of Virginia.  How happy they were, yelling and pointing and hugging each other.  They decided to sail further south to Virginia.  Suddenly, the weather worsened and they nearly shipwrecked in the rough seas, so they turned back to Cape Cod, landing in Provincetown Harbor, Massachusetts.

The mood was joyous, yet a little anxious.  What would they find on land?  Would they find food?  Or warring tribes?  Or dangerous animals?  A group of men went ashore in small boats, scouting the area for the best spot to build a settlement.  The weather was getting colder each day.  The leaves were off the trees and crunched underfoot as the men tromped through the forests.  They could see their breaths in the cool morning air.  Soon the snow would come.  The woman and children stayed on board the Mayflower making meals, washing clothes, and tending to the animals.  The men decided that the best place to live would be farther north along the coast, to a place now called Plymouth, Massachusetts.  They sailed the Mayflower to the new shoreline and started building small wooden homes on December 25 – Christmas Day!

The First Settlement

For the next four months, the men worked tirelessly to build homes and storage sheds. Temperatures were freezing and snow covered the land.  Their supplies were running low, there were no berries or plants to harvest, and finding animals to hunt was unpredictable.  The weather was much colder than they were used to in England.  People started to get sick.  The cramped, dirty conditions on the ship were not healthy.  While the men were able to get outside in the fresh air doing construction, hunting, and sipping fresh water, the woman and children were inside the crowded ship tending to the sick, thus catching sickness themselves, including scurvy, pneumonia, and tuberculosis. In total, half of the Mayflower passengers did not survive their first winter in America.  Only 5 women remained of the original 18.  They tended to the remaining 50 men and children.

In the spring and summer of 1621, the pilgrims worked non-stop building shelters, hunting, and foraging for food.  They planted crops, raised animals, and repaired tools.  Also, during this time, they were greeted by Chief Massasoit and his Wampanoag warriors.  The pilgrims talked with the tribe and everyone exchanged gifts of clothing, food, and weapons in acts of friendship.  The Indians agreed they would not attack the pilgrims and would protect them against other warring tribes.  The pilgrims agreed they would do the same.  The Wampanoag also told the pilgrims how to plant, hunt, and survive in this new land.

The First Thanksgiving

Sometime in the Fall of 1621, maybe early October, the pilgrims held a celebration of thanks.  They relaxed by hunting, eating, and celebrating.  Chief Massasoit and 90 of his Wampanoag warriors joined the pilgrims, bringing 5 deer to the celebration.  For three days, the pilgrims and Native Americans feasted on wild turkey, deer, and fish, as well as other seafood, berries, and nuts. 

This was a wonderful feast; however, the pilgrims did not celebrate like this every year.  They were too busy growing crops, building homes, and raising families during those rough early years in a wild new land.  The holiday of Thanksgiving was actually started by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 to honor the pilgrims and their historic voyages.

Before the pilgrims left the Mayflower on March 31, 1621, they drafted and signed a document called The Mayflower Compact.  It was a set of rules and principles to govern the pilgrims in this new, wild land and to set responsibilities for each person.  The Mayflower Compact and its principles later helped shape the United States Declaration of Independence.

Conclusion

What do you think of the Mayflower voyage and its brave pilgrims?  Would you sail on a small, crowded boat across the sea, leaving behind family and friends?  If you could sail anywhere in the world, where would you go? Do you think you could survive in the wilderness of new land in the middle of winter?  What would you do to survive?

I think this history shows us that the pilgrims were incredibly brave people who made a difficult decision to sail into the unknown, suffering much hardship along the way.  But they had faith, helped one another, and worked tirelessly to build a new community. Today, Plymouth, Massachusetts, where the pilgrims settled, is one of the prettiest coastlines in America and is steeped in Wampanoag and pilgrim history. The pilgrim’s voyage has never been forgotten. But we must also remember to honor Chief Massasoit and his Wampanoag tribe for helping the pilgrims, who likely would not have survived that first winter without their assistance.  We owe them an incredible debt of gratitude.  

Be sure to also check out our episode about the First Thanksgiving!

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Indus River Valley

First, we’re going to journey back 4000 years, to an area that is now partly in India and partly in Pakistan, called the Indus River Valley. In this ancient time, two large rivers flowed through this valley: the Indus, which gives the valley the name we use now, and the Saraswati, which has long since dried up. Here in this hot, dry region, the rivers provided food, water, and transportation for a sophisticated civilization we now call the Indus Valley Civilization, or the Harappan Culture. Monsoons brought torrential rains to the area each year, as they do now, flooding the rivers and making the soil around them rich and perfect for growing crops. The people of the Indus Valley culture build grand, carefully planned and constructed cities, as well as hundreds of other smaller settlements. They prospered for thousands of years, and then, they vanished. What happened? How did these people live? And how did we rediscover them?

Discovering the Indus Valley Civilization

Archeologists began to rediscover the cities of the Indus Valley Civilization in the 19th century. The first person to note that there might be ancient sites in the area was Charles Masson, an Englishman who had abandoned his job with the East India Company in the 1820s, and went exploring in northwest India. During much of the period of this rediscovery, the British Empire controlled what is now India and Pakistan. Masson thought the remains of the city he found, which is now called Harappa, were somehow related to Alexander the Great and his conquering army. He was wrong. Later, a British archeologist named Alexander Cunningham thought it was a Buddhist site. He was wrong too. Neither man guessed that the city was much, much older. 

By the time Cunningham began excavating Harappa in the 1870s, many of the structures had been taken apart. Workers had taken them to use on a railroad that was being built between the cities of Lahore and Karachi. Still, he did find some interesting items, especially a mysterious seal with a bull and some symbols along the top. The seal may have been used to stamp property or as a person’s signature. The symbols at the top are especially remarkable: they look a lot like writing! But, no one has been able to decipher what they mean. We don’t even know what language they’re from, though it’s probably similar to others spoken in India today. 

John Marshall’s Excavations

In the early 20th century, another archeologist named John Marshall planned and started major excavations of both Harappa and another city called Mohenjo-Daro. An archeologist on the project, named Rakhal Das Banerji found seals at Mohenjo-Daro that were very similar to the ones at Harappa, 400 miles away. These seals also had the mysterious writing, and similar images of people, animals and even unicorns! He thought that the two cities must be part of the same culture. Marshall’s team eventually discovered that the Indus Valley culture was much older than any other known civilization in India! In fact, it was one of the oldest civilizations in the world – along with the ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians.

The cities are in ruins now, but we can see their layouts and basic features, and archeologists have unearthed many artifacts, or objects, from everyday life. Together, these things give us an idea of how the Indus Valley people lived, but also leave some tantalizing mysteries.

A lot of careful planning went into building Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, and other, smaller settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization. The cities were built on gigantic, raised brick platforms, to protect them from flooding. Most had a large citadel in the middle for protection. Homes, markets and workshops spread out under the citadel. All the streets were straight and ran in either and East-West or North-South direction. This would certainly make it easy to find your way around! Different trades, such as metal working or pottery, were practiced in different parts of the city. In Mohenjo -Daro, there is even an area that seems to be a public bath or pool! 

Modern Convenience?

Indus Valley Civilization cities were also the first in the world to have sewer systems, and pipes that carried waste from homes. Even small homes had a room with a toilet and washing area, like a modern bathroom. Keeping clean and healthy must have been important to these people!

With such well-organized cities, someone must have been making laws and ensuring that planners and builders followed the rules. But we don’t know who that was. Except for one small statue, we haven’t found many pieces of art that seem to pay tribute to a king or leader. Archeologists also haven’t found any opulent palaces where you’d expect a royal family to live. They may have had something like a city council, a group of people who made the laws. Priests may have been involved in ruling. But someone was running things, and running them well. Very few weapons have been found, suggesting the Indus Valley Civilization was peaceful and stable. And whoever made the rules made sure there were standard ways of weighing and measuring things. Even the bricks in the different cities were the same size!

It’s pretty unusual to find a civilization that appears to be so stable and peaceful, but there’s another thing that makes the Indus Valley Civilization unique: Toys! Archeologists have found thousands of objects that look like they were used as toys or entertainment for children. Small clay figurines of animals, people, and carts were probably the action figures and dolls of their day. They’ve found rattles, spinning tops, marbles and dice; game boards with tiny, ivory pieces; and clay mazes that you navigate with a marble. There’s also evidence of how people entertained each other: small figurines of girls in different dance poses. We also know they kept dogs, cats, and birds as pets. Archeologists have found clay figurines of dogs with collars, and birdcages. 

Trading in the Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus Valley Civilization wasn’t isolated either. They were trading with other cultures across Asia. Jewelry and beads were made using metal and gemstones not found in the local area: Jade from central Asia, amethyst from further southeast in India, lapis lazuli and gold from northern Afghanistan. No one has found coins or anything like money in the Indus Valley cities, so they probably bartered, or traded, for these goods. Still, like everything about the Indus Valley Civilization, it wasn’t a haphazard, disorganized system: the weights and measures we talked about earlier were used to make sure exchanges were fair, and the seals were used to show who owned things and where they’d been in their trading journey. 

We don’t know much about what the Indus Valley people believed. We have to guess based on artwork and other objects they left behind. Some of the seals and figurines seem to show gods or goddesses. They show people with unusual features, like horns, or surrounded by wild animals. We can also learn about religious beliefs by looking at how people took care of the dead. The Indus Valley people buried their dead with containers of food and drinks and jewelry. This might mean that they believed their loved ones would need these things in the afterlife.

Leaving the Indus Valley

Many people have tried to figure out what happened to the Indus Valley Civilization in the end. Sometime between 1900 and 1700 BCE, something was happening that caused people to start to leave the grand cities and settlements. The Saraswati may have started to dry up, while the Indus began to have more and worse floods. The longer floods may have left more salt in the soil, which made the land worse for farming. Other settlers may have started moving into the area, pushing the old residents out. 

It was probably a combination of different things.We know the change happened slowly over time, not all at once. The great cities and carefully constructed buildings began to crumble. The sewer systems decayed, or were even blocked up. The items people put in graves were lower quality and less valuable. By 1700 BCE, most of the Indus Valley cities were empty. 

Whatever happened, once the Indus Valley Civilization was gone, the world began to forget about this vibrant culture, one of the very first advanced societies in the world.  Over time the cities crumbled, and the earth covered them up. New people moved into the area, created their own great cities, art, and monuments, not knowing that another fascinating culture once existed there. This is why it’s important to be curious and learn as much as you can. What other mysteries do you think we’ll discover about our past? What is buried under your feet right now? How old is it? And what does it mean? Maybe one day, you’ll make an interesting discovery, and then you can try to answer those questions!

Sources

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/indus-valley-civilisation-script-ancient-dravidian-language-link-7461402/

https://www.harappa.com/

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/world-history-beginnings/ancient-india/a/the-indus-river-valley-civilizations

Martin, Claudia. (2017) Explore! The Indus Valley. Wayland, London.

Robinson, Andrew (2015) The Indus. Reaktion Books, London.

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Have you ever made up a magical creature in your daydreams? What would your creature be like? Would it be gentle or fierce? Friendly or unfriendly? Would it have magical powers? Maybe it would have a mix of parts from different animals, like the body of a bull, the head of a lion, and the feet of an octopus. 

Okay, that would be pretty weird! But people all over the world, for all of human history, have imagined strange and magical creatures. And oddly enough, cultures from every part of the world have all come up with legends of fierce, snake-like creatures with magical powers. Some of these creatures are even gods. Many have wings and claws. Some are benevolent and helpful, some are evil and destructive. Some hoard treasure and breath fire. 

Of course, I’m talking about dragons, and other, similar mythical creatures. Dragon-like creatures come up again and again in stories from different parts of the world, from ancient Babylonia, to China and Southeast Asia, to medieval Europe, and from the Americas, both ancient and modern. These different dragons have different features, but all are snake- or lizard-like with parts of other animals squished into one. Some are good, some evil, but all are fierce, strong, and magical.

Dragons in Various Cultures

Folklore in India, Malaysia, Thailand, and other Southeast Asian cultures tells of Nagas – snake-like dragons that usually have no arms or legs, some with many heads.  The Aztec god Quetzalcoatl was a feathered serpent, and looks a lot like a dragon in some artwork. The Ancient Egyptians had many snake-gods, as did other African cultures. And the powerful Hawaiian goddess Kiwahawine is a dragon with reddish hair who sometimes shape-shifts into a human woman. 

Ancient Greece had its share of dragon creatures too. One of the more famous is Ladon, who Hercules fought  in order to steal the golden apples he guarded for the goddess Hera.

Later, in ancient Rome, a naturalist named Pliny the Elder passed on the knowledge that a dragon could strangle an elephant with their tail. No one knows where he heard this, but he may have gotten confused by second-hand stories of pythons, snakes that can squeeze their prey to death. 

Philostratus, a Greek philosopher from the 3rd century CE gave descriptions of several kinds of dragons. Mountain dragons are fast and fierce, he says, with glittery golden scales. He claims they have a longer tail than plains dragons, along with bushy beards. Marsh dragons he describes as sluggish and lazy, with black scales on their backs. He was convinced that India was full of dragons, and that Indians knew how to enchant dragons by weaving magical cloaks and lulling them to sleep. The eyes of a dragon were supposedly made of stone, and rings set with this stone would have magic powers.

But the best-known dragon legends today are probably the ones based on Chinese and medieval European stories. Early natural scientists in both Europe and China wrote about dragons as though real but still magical. Chinese scholars grouped them with other animals that had scales, like snakes and lizards. 

Misunderstandings About Dragons

Like unicorns, dragons were also subject to cases of mistaken identity. In the past, people who unearthed dinosaur bones often thought they were dragon bones. This was before scientists were careful and methodical about reconstructing skeletons and dating them, which made them realize they were real, non magical, but extinct animals. It’s easy to see why people might confuse dinosaur bones for dragon bones though: both have sharp teeth and claws, long tails, and an overall shape similar to a lizard. Still, in ancient Chinese medicine, these “dragon bones” were used to treat madness, kidney problems, and diarrhea, among other ailments

Other animal fossils were also mistaken for dragons. From the middle ages on, the town of Klangenfurt, Austria was home to legends about a “lindwurm” – a dragon–that once lived in surrounding marshes. This dragon roamed the countryside, picking off people and farm animals. The local king ordered his knights to kill the dragon, and after several valiant attempts, they finally did. The skull of the dragon was put on display in the town hall. Centuries later, in the 1500s, a sculptor commemorated the event by creating a statue of the dragon, based on this skull. Only later did people realize that the skull actually came from an extinct ice age creature, the elephant-like Wooly Mammoth!

There are slight differences between dragons in legends from different areas–wyverns have two legs and wings, while knuckers have four legs and lived near water, but European dragons mostly follow the mold of the Klangefurt dragon: menacing and powerful. The early medieval English poem Beowulf kicks off this trend, telling of a dragon who burned down homes with his fiery breath. The “wurm” part of the name “lindwurm” comes from an old English word that meant dragon or snake. Maybe this is why medieval Europeans often associated dragons with snakes and evil. In Christian teachings, the devil appeared to Eve in the Garden of Eden as a snake. 

Tales of knights fighting dragons who have been terrorizing towns and farms, like in Klangefurt, were popular throughout the middle ages in Europe. Another famous story tells of St George, the dragonslayer. In a typical plotline, a dragon was terrorizing a village, breathing fire on people and farm animals. The villagers decided to sacrifice one sheep each day to the dragon, to keep him happy, but eventually, they ran out of sheep. Next, they started choosing a child at random each day to give to the dragon. One day, the king’s daughter was selected to be that child. Lucky for her, St George was passing through town that day, and was horrified to learn what was happening. He offered to slay the dragon so that no more children would need to be sacrificed. As he struggled against the dragon, he noticed a weak spot in its armor. He plunged his sword into this spot, under the dragon’s arm, and killed him, saving the princess. 

This story was probably made up by Christian soldiers called crusaders long after the real St George was dead. It’s very similar to other dragon stories of the middle ages, and dragon tales were very popular at the time. They were on coats of arms for many kingdoms and countries, banners, and coins, as a symbol of strength. And some people believed they were real for a long time: a scientist from the 17th century describes dragons winging throughout Africa, bludgeoning other large animals to death with their tails. My guess is that this guy never actually went to Africa, just like Philostratus probably never traveled to India. 

The dragons of Chinese folklore are a bit different from European dragons. Though they are fierce and magical, Chinese dragons, called “lung”, are benevolent and helpful. These four-legged creatures with scales, horns, claws, and fiery eyes, lived near water, such as streams, rivers, and oceans. In fact, lungs were originally divine beings who controlled water and rainfall. 

Other accounts from Chinese authors talk about four types of dragons. The Celestial Dragon, Tianlung, guards the home of the gods in heaven. You can see Tianlung as a group of stars coiled around the north star at night. In the west, this constellation is known as Draco, which also means dragon. Then there are the Dragons of Hidden Treasure, who guard buried treasures, creating volcanic eruptions when they burst out of their underground lairs. The Earth Dragon controls waterways, while the Spiritual dragon controls rain and winds. The Earth and Spiritual dragons were especially popular. In later folklore they morphed into “Dragon Kings” who lived in the oceans, sending rain, and protecting ships at sea. 

Modern Dragons

In modern times, dragons have remained very popular. You can still see an ancient ritual in many places around the world where people hold Chinese New Year’s parades: the dragon dance. People line up, holding a colorful and elaborate dragon costume above them as they wind and dance their way along the parade route. 

Many books, movies, and comics also feature dragons. Maybe you’ve read The Hobbit, by JRR Tolkien, where Bilbo Baggins helps defeat the dragon Smaug, in a way very similar to St George; or the Chronicles of Narnia, where a character learns an important lesson when he is accidentally transformed into a dragon. More recently, series like Tui Sutherland’s Wings of Fire series and How to Train Your Dragon, by Cressida Cowell, put a more modern spin on traditional dragon lore. The dragons in these series may look like medieval European dragons, but they aren’t all evil. Wings of Fire has dragons from different tribes, each with its own customs and powers, learning to cooperate, overcome their fears, and solve big problems. How to Train your Dragon follows a Viking boy and his dragon as they team up to overcome challenges, with plenty of silliness along the way. 

If you were making up your own version of a dragon, what would it be like? Helpful and benevolent, like the lung from ancient China? A fire-breathing terror who guards a treasure hoard, like the ones from medieval Europe? Or one of the more modern versions? What magical powers does it have? So many people throughout the ages have imagined different versions of these fascinating creatures. As you go to sleep tonight, try to imagine what your dragon-friend would be like!

Sources

https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/mythic-creatures/dragons/european-dragons

https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/mythic-creatures/dragons/natural-history-of-dragons

https://www.britannica.com/event/Crusades

https://www.britannica.com/topic/long

https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/draco-constellation/

https://www.livius.org/sources/content/philostratus-life-of-apollonius/philostratus-life-of-apollonius-3.6-10/

https://www.stgeorgessociety.org/news/2018/3/30/saint-george-the-man-the-myth-the-legend

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dragons_in_mythology_and_folklore

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quetzalcoatl

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C4%81ga

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Close your eyes and imagine you’re in a beautiful forest. It’s late in the evening, and you’ve decided to take a calming walk through the trees. You see a shape moving through the trees ahead, rustling the leaves as it leans down to drink from a pond. The silvery moonlight bounces off its back, which you see is covered in shiny, white fur. Suddenly, the creature raises its head, and you gasp: there’s a horn right on top of its head, pointing directly up at the moon and glowing in the night. The creature gallops away before you can get any closer. You wander home in a daze, wondering if what you saw was real, or if you just dreamed it. 

Unicorns of the Past

Whether you believe in them or not, or like them or not, our history with unicorns goes back a lot farther than you might imagine. In fact, scientists have found fossils that look something like unicorns. Elasmotherium sibiricum lived in Siberia and Kazakhstan up through the last ice age, and had a giant horn on top of its head. Before you get too excited, I should mention that this animal did not look like a white pony with a slender, twisted horn and rainbow mane (sorry). Instead, it looked more like a giant, furry rhinoceros. It was about the size of an elephant: 4 meters long, nearly 2 meters tall, and weighing in at about  4 tons. Scientists used to think this creature went extinct over 300 thousand years ago, but a recent fossil find was dated to be about 29 thousand years old. There were humans wandering around Earth at this time, so maybe they saw these giant creatures. And just maybe, they began telling each other stories about the magnificent horned beasts. We can’t really be certain, but maybe those stories were passed down, and led to our modern idea of unicorns. 

Ancient Stories

But the unicorn would take on many different forms in stories before it came to look like a majestic white horse with a horn. Some of the very first artwork involving unicorns dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization. The Indus Valley Civilization flourished in what is now northwest India and Pakistan over 4,000 years ago. People in the Indus Valley Civilization made seals to stamp on things that belonged to them. These seals usually showed animals and also had mysterious writing on them. It was a bit like a signature. We still can’t read the writing, but many of the seals showed an animal that looked like an ox or an antelope with a single, curved horn in its head. Archeologists have also found small, clay figurines of these animals, with the horn coming up from between the eyes and curving forward. 

Mysterious Creatures

Some scholars think the unicorn creature is based on a real, two-horned type of cattle called an auroch that lived in the area. Others think it was based on a species of antelope. But maybe it was based on a mysterious creature that these people heard about in stories passed down by their grandparents, from their grandparents, and so on, back from a time that no one remembered anymore.

Legends and Unicorns

Many other ancient peoples had legends about unicorn-type creatures. Long after the Indus Valley Civilization had disappeared and been forgotten, stories from ancient India talked about a unicorn-like creature. Other Hindu stories describe boars and elephants with one horn instead of two. The Bible also mentions unicorns several times, depicting them as very strong and clever, but wild creatures. 

Asian History

In China, ancient stories tell of a creature called the qilin. This animal had a coat of multi-colored scales, like a fish; the body and hooves of a deer; the tail of a lion; and of course, a horn. The horn was usually pronged, instead of a single straight spike, and sometimes the qilin was also shown with two horns. The qilin would appear to people right before a wise man or great ruler showed up, foretelling their arrival. Korean and Japanese folklore includes a similar creature, known as a qirin.

Greek and Ancient Authors on Unicorns

Ancient Greek authors also wrote accounts of unicorn-like animals. They probably got the idea from the ones in Indian stories. One author, Ctesias, heard about such a creature from India while he was living in Persia, which is now Iran. He tried to describe it, but he’d never seen it or even talked to someone who had seen it with their own eyes. It ended up sounding like a donkey mixed with a rhinoceros….which he also hadn’t seen. The creature he described had a white body, dark red head and a horn that was white on the bottom, black in the middle, and bright red at the top. 

Many other ancient authors wrote about unicorns as well. They didn’t agree with each other or with modern notions of what unicorns look like. Most described unicorns as having very sharp horns–some say 4 feet! That’s about as tall as a 7 or 8-year-old child! Different writers described them as mashups of various animals. One said they had the body of a horse, legs of an elephant, tail of a pig, and a head of a deer. And of course, the 4-foot horn.

Can You Eat a Unicorn?

Unicorns were supposed to be very fierce and powerful. One author insisted that they let out “horrid roars.” They were said to be impossible to capture alive. But if you killed one while hunting, they were said to taste awful, so you shouldn’t eat them. (Though I doubt most kids these days would even think about it!) 

Still, ancient authors thought they were worth hunting for another reason. They thought the horn had magical properties that would counteract any poison, and you could even cure diseases by drinking from a unicorn-horn cup.  Some authors, including Julius Caesar, claimed that unicorns lived in the forests of Germany, a land that the Romans thought of as mysterious and dark, though they didn’t understand much about it. 

Unicorns in the Middle Ages

It was during the Middle Ages that unicorns started to look like what we’d call a unicorn today: A horse, or sometimes a goat, usually white and with a long, sharp, twisted horn growing up from its head. One person took issue with the new, pretty-white-horse image of unicorns: the medieval explorer Marco Polo. He visited China and saw something he was sure was a unicorn. He tried to set the record straight when he got back to Europe, telling people that real unicorns were gray and almost the size of elephants, had elephant feet, and enjoyed wallowing in mud. 

Can you guess what he really saw? 

Yes, again, he’s confusing a rhinoceros with a unicorn. In the 1400s, rhinos lived in China, but they’re extinct there now.

Much of what we know about what people believed about unicorns in the middle ages comes from a book called the Physiologus. The Physiologus described many wild and mythical animals, including unicorns. It described how they looked, but also how they behaved, and it gave them moral traits, just like humans.  We don’t know who wrote the Physiologus, but it was very popular for hundreds of years and translated into many different languages.  

Unicorns were still said to be fierce, strong, clever, and wild. One story told of a unicorn chasing a lion. The only way the lion survived was by ducking behind a tree at the last moment, so the charging unicorn’s horn got stuck in the tree trunk. But the Physiologus added that unicorns also symbolized purity and grace, and even represented Jesus Christ. There was a story that when a unicorn drank water from a dirty pool, the water would be cleaned and other animals would be able to drink from it too. Just like in ancient Rome, people still thought that unicorn horns could cure you of sickness and counteract poison. People would sell rhinoceros or narwhal horns as “unicorn” horns to people looking to use it as a remedy. Of course, they didn’t work. 

Medieval Artwork

Unicorns are featured in a lot of medieval artwork. People wove elaborate sets of tapestries that told stories in pictures. A unicorn-themed tapestry might show a group of hunters trying to catch a unicorn on the first panel, which we know by now is not easy! 

But, we learn in another panel, these hunters have a secret weapon: a young woman. In the middle ages, people thought that only a young maiden could tame a unicorn. The tapestry would show the maiden sitting with the calm unicorn, his head resting in her lap. 

In some tapestry stories, the woman might lead the unicorn to the king as a gift. In others, the hunters killed or captured the unicorn, while the woman cried, sorry for the part she had played in tricking the beautiful, clever creature. 

But often, in a final panel, the unicorn would be seen galloping away into the woods, as though it could never really be captured, even by trickery. 

Now it’s not hard at all to capture a unicorn, or at least something unicorn-themed. Unicorns are on everything from bed sheets and stuffed animals, to cupcakes and party supplies. They turn up in books and movies, such as My Little Pony and Harry Potter. And sometimes we even call people “unicorns” when they have some unusual combination of traits that almost seem to give them superpowers. 

What do You Think?

What do you think? Where did the legend of the unicorn come from? Did we pass down stories of a strange, prehistoric creature that, over time, morphed into a graceful horse with a slender horn? Did someone see a rhinoceros from far off, or hear a story about one, and just get confused about what it was? Or do hunters and young maidens in the forest late at night sometimes see the outline of a wild horse against the full moon, with a single horn pointing up to the stars, and sense something magical?

Sources

https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/mythic-creatures/land/unicorns-west-and-east

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/unicorns-are-more-legit-than-you-think?utm_source=DamnInteresting

https://thekingsbible.com/Concordance/unicorn

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qilin

https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1629/the-unicorn-myth/

Parpola, Asko (2011) ‘The Harappan unicorn in Eurasian and South Asian perspectives.’ Linguistics, Archeology, and the Human Past. Eds. Toshiki Osada & Hitoshi Endo. Indus Project, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature. Kyoto, Japan.

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