To be called the king of something, you have to be really good at it. You have to spend a lot of time and effort trying to be the best at it. Michael Jackson did exactly that.

He did have a little bit of a head start on other musicians. Before he was the King of Pop, he grew up performing with his talented family. Michael was born in Indiana in 1958 to a large musical family. Altogether, he had eight brothers and sisters! This helped give him a lot of practice learning how to compete for the spotlight. 

Michael was only six years old when he and four of his older brothers started singing in a band. They called themselves the Jackson 5. The Jackson 5 signed with a popular record label in 1968. For almost twenty years, Michael took the stage with his brothers. Even though he was the youngest, he was the lead singer. If you’ve never heard the Jackson 5 before, check out two of their most famous songs:  ‘I Want You Back’ and ‘ABC.’ 

A B C, It’s easy as

1 2 3, as simple as

Do re mi, A B C, 1 2 3

Ok, you don’t want to hear me sing, but maybe it will ring a bell now!

While all of the brothers in the Jackson 5 were talented and successful, it was their young lead singer who quickly stole the spotlight. His future as the King of Pop was just beginning. 

Michael was still young when the Jackson 5 was topping the charts and releasing hit albums. His parents had to pull him out of school because he would get mobbed by fans during classes. Can you imagine having to sneak into math class to avoid giving autographs? With this type of fame, it was only a matter of time before young Michael was ready to break out and become a star on his own. 

In 1971, Michael was finally ready to step into his own spotlight. He released his first-ever solo album called Got to Be There. He was only 13 years old! Like many teenagers, he wasn’t entirely sure what he wanted to be when he grew up. For the next few years, he tried a little bit of everything in the entertainment industry. He still sang with his brothers in the Jackson 5. He released five of his own albums. He even did some acting in movies! Michael was good, maybe even great at some of these things. But he still had a long way to go before anybody honored him enough to call him king. 

Working with different people in music and movies helped Michael make connections in the industry. Eventually, he found the type of performer he wanted to be. In the 1980s, he went on his last tour with his brothers. Quitting the band would let him focus more on his solo career. 

It’s a good thing for us that he did. In 1982, Michael Jackson wrote, recorded, and released the best-selling album of all time. Seriously the best album ever! This album, his sixth, was titled Thriller. Thriller is still in the Guinness Book of World Records, even today! This album topped charts, earned many Grammy awards, and even led to a 13-minute long mini-movie for the music video of the song ‘Thriller.’ And, of course, Michael starred in it. It’s one of our family favorites to watch this every Halloween. 

It’s fair to say that by this point, Michael Jackson was on his way to earning the title of King of Pop Music. His beautiful voice and his upbeat songs were wowing fans. But how was Michael going to reign over all other pop singers? He was not just a singer, he was an entire personality. He had moves, music videos, and outfits that were fun to watch! 

Fans all over the world loved his dance moves and his bold clothing choices. He often showed off both in his popular music videos. Maybe you’ve heard of the moonwalk? If not, you should look it up. It’s this famous move where Michael looks like he’s walking forward while he’s really gliding backwards. Cool, right? He was known for doing the moonwalk onstage, often wearing a single sequined glove and cropped pants to show off his white socks. Michael stood out with his sparkling gloves, bright-colored shirts, and jackets and pants made entirely of leather. 

One of Michael’s most iconic looks was his red leather pants and matching jacket that he wore in the music video for Thriller. Before Thriller, music videos usually featured musicians singing their songs. But Michael wanted to tell a story. He popularized the entertaining, movie-like videos that music artists are still making today.  

With this kind of success though comes pressure. Could the King of Pop make another album just as good and just as flashy as Thriller? Michael Jackson answered that question five years later with the album Bad. This album added another five number-one hits to his growing list of achievements. This time, he made a music video with an award-winning movie director named Martin Scorsese. 

At the time, Michael was considered the biggest musician in the world. He had money and fame that most people could only dream of. He had famous friends and a huge mansion. But this rockstar lifestyle came with challenges. 

People wanted to know everything about Michael’s life. From the way he designed his home to the shape of his nose – every part of Michael Jackson was questioned by the public. That can be a lot of stress for one guy, even for a king.

Michael was in the spotlight for more than 40 years. His fame meant that his name frequently appeared in newspapers, magazines, and television stories. Some of his actions caused the public to question him as a role model. Some people stopped supporting him, but others continued to appreciate and love his music.

Still, Michael continued to make music. While none of his new albums were as big as Thriller, they were still popular. Michael stayed busy making music that people loved and entertaining crowds, and he took the time to help others. He was often considered a philanthropist. A philanthropist is someone who donates a lot of their money to help other people. 

In the 1980s, Michael worked with another musician named Lionel Richie. Together, the two wrote the song ‘We Are the World.’ The song was recorded by many famous musicians like Stevie Wonder and Tina Turner. It raised over $60 million to help fight poverty and hunger in Africa. Michael became well-known for his generosity and gave away lots of the money he earned to different charities. 

He also used his music to discuss things that he thought were important. The lyrics from his 1991 hit ‘Heal the World’ ask listeners to be kind to each other and take care of the planet. In his song ‘Black or White’ from the same year, Michael speaks against the hate that he faced because of his appearance and the color of his skin. These songs promoted racial tolerance and acceptance, something that was personal to him. 

In June 2009, Michael Jackson unexpectedly died in Los Angeles. He was only 50 years old. Much of the world mourned. He left behind a legacy of accomplishments and accolades. But mostly, he left the world his incredible music.

In his lifetime, Michael was nominated for 38 Grammy Awards and ended up winning 13 of them. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice – once with the Jackson 5 and once as a solo artist. He also has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He still holds the title for having the best-selling album of all time with Thriller. 

It’s pretty easy to see why Michael Jackson became the King of Pop. He did so much for the world of music. Like all kings, he wasn’t perfect. He made mistakes. He was criticized. Still, his music is sure to be enjoyed and rediscovered by new fans for years to come. Long live the extraordinary music from the King of Pop.

Sources:

https://www.biography.com/musicians/michael-jackson

https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Michael-Jackson/487595

https://www.ducksters.com/biography/entertainers/michael_jackson.php

https://kids.kiddle.co/Michael_Jackson#1986-1990

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Jackson

https://www.grammy.com/news/michael-jackson-10-achievements-that-made-him-the-king-of-pop

https://www.michaeljacksonslegacy.org/michael/about-michael/

https://www.grammy.com/artists/michael-jackson/13202

https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/michael-jackson-60th-birthday

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

Autumn has arrived in many parts of the world and with it a noticeable shift in the wind.  Days are shorter, nights are longer, and breezes are cooler.  Deep green leaves turn flaming red, orange, and yellow before drifting slowly down to Earth.  Everywhere things are preparing for winter:  animals arrange their hidden burrows, people gather their final harvests, and nature drops its colorful blooms in preparation for a long sleep under a snowy coat.  

And with autumn comes the arrival of the holiday season, and the first holiday celebration of fall is Halloween. First started by the Celts in Ireland as a festival called (Sah-win) Samhain, it was celebrated on November 1^st to welcome the new year, give thanks for the harvest, and honor departed loved ones.  And over the centuries, this annual celebration has spread across the world and evolved into all sorts of wonderful celebrations and festivities.  So, let’s learn about some of these amazing events on or around “All Hallowed Eve” or “Halloween.”  

First, we travel to Austria, where locals don’t celebrate Halloween, but rather “Allerseelen” or “All Souls’ Day,” where they visit graves and light candles to honor departed loved ones.  They may also leave out bread and water at home or keep a light on to assist beloved spirits on their earthly visits home.  

In China, they celebrate (tang-she) Teng Chieh, or the “Hungry Ghost Festival.”  This event is held on the 15^th day of the 7^th lunar month (which rotates every year and lands between mid-August and early September).  At dusk, town folk present offerings of food and water for the spirits, display pictures of departed loved ones, and light fragrant incense.  It is hoped that by doing so, they will make wandering ghosts happy and these ghosts will then bestow blessings instead of punishment on the living.  After making these offerings, families gather for a big feast and leave an empty place at the table for a departed loved one.

In Hong Kong, another part of China, they have embraced America’s love of Halloween and turned it into a huge party.  Places like Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park Hong Kong hold songfests performed by Disney villains, Halloween-themed street performances, costume parades, haunted houses, and more.   

But in France, they hardly celebrate Halloween at all.  In fact, they barely tolerate it.  They consider it a purely American event.  Instead, they honor All Saints Day on November 1^st.  As you may have learned in one of our previous episodes, Pope Benedict IV created All Saints Day to honor Catholic saints instead of Celtic – and pagan – ghosts, witches, and fairies.  To this day, French citizens honor the religious aspect of Halloween by attending church services and visiting cemeteries to place flowers on loved ones’ graves.  

Germany doesn’t go overboard for Halloween but instead, they celebrate St. Martin’s Day on November 11^th in honor of the Catholic Saint Martin who was a Roman soldier and later became a monk. On this day, thousands of people parade through town following a Roman soldier on a white horse.  At dusk, children fill the streets carrying lanterns and singing songs for candy, money, or treats.  Once at home, the children devour sweet rolls shaped like gingerbread men.  These treats are called “The Weckmann” and sport raisin eyes and white pipes dangling from their mouths.  November 11^th is also the start of their festival season, which starts on the 11^th minute past the 11^th hour on the 11^th day of the 11^th month and runs through the following February!

In Haiti, they celebrate Fet Gede, the “Festival of the Dead” or the “Festival of the Ancestors” which is derived from African traditions honoring the spirits of fertility and death.  On November 1^st and 2^nd, celebrations are held that are quite “spirited” and include lots of dancing and drumming in the streets, as well as singing and laughter.  People parade to graveyards where they joyously offer food, beeswax candles, flowers, and bottles of rum stuffed with chilis to please departed souls and bring good luck in the year ahead.  It is similar to a blending of Mardi Gras, Halloween, and Dia de Los Muertos and is a lively and colorful tradition on the island. 

Ireland is the original home of Halloween.  The Celts used to hold a celebration called “Samhain” on November 1^st to welcome the new year and the start of winter.  At this time, they also celebrated the year’s harvest and honored departed loved ones.  Bonfires were lit at sundown, masks were worn, and feasts were enjoyed.  

Today, revelers in Derry light fireworks instead of bonfires and hold a huge carnival.  In Dublin, they enjoy a Halloween parade and ghost tours at Malahide Castle, the oldest inhabited castle in Ireland that is said to be haunted by five ghosts! One of their favorite Halloween treats is a dense cake called Barmbrack filled with raisins, currants, and other candied fruits. Inside these cakes, bakers hide a rag, ring, and coin.  It is believed that whoever gets the rag will join the church or have a rocky financial future, whoever gets the ring will find happiness or marry, and whoever finds the coin will enjoy a new year filled with prosperity. Of course, trick-or-treating is also a favorite pastime, too.

Just like in France, Italians celebrate “All Saints’ Day” or “La Festa di Ognissanti” on November 1^st.  They spend the holiday enjoying time with family and exchanging presents.  On November 2^nd, the citizens celebrate “All Souls’ Day” in honor of departed loved ones. They attend mass, leave chrysanthemums on graves, and hold a big feast.  They believe they are not only eating with their living family members on this day but also with departed loved ones. Special cookies called “Fave dei Morti” or “beans of the dead” are baked. And why the reference to beans, you may ask?  Well, in ancient Rome, beans were used during funeral services because it was believed they housed the spirits of the departed. 

In Japan, Halloween has only been celebrated since the year 2000 and was started at Tokyo Disneyland.  The Japanese don’t follow customs such as pumpkin carving or trick-or-treating, but rather hold huge parades and participate in cosplay, flash mobs, zombie runs, and street parties – or even big bashes on commuter trains!  

Throughout Latin America and Spain, locals hold celebrations for three days from October 31^st through November 2^nd and these may contain Aztec, Mayan, Incan, and Catholic traditions. Many believe the dead return home on Halloween night, so they erect colorful alters and decorate graves with candies, flowers, plants, food, and drink. 

On November 1^st, they celebrate “All Saints’ Day.”  Covered “sitting rooms” are attached to family graves, where they honor their loved ones by bringing their favorite foods and music.  They may decorate alters, graves, or costumes with the orange-colored “Mexican Marigolds,” a pre-Columbus tradition performed by ancient tribes.  In some regions, they fly huge kites with attached messages as a way of communicating with the spirits or guiding them back to their earthly homes.  

November 2^nd is known as “Dia de Los Muertos,” “Day of the Dead,” or “All Souls’ Day,” and lively events are held in a colorful celebration of life.  Parades and painted skeleton faces – called “Catrinas” or “Sugar Skulls” – are common, as are treats called “Tanta Wawas de Pan,” or “Bread Babies.”  These are sweet rolls baked in the form of infants, horses, stars, suns, and moons to signify life, death, and Mother Earth.  Candles are lit and incense are burned, all to welcome spirits back home.  

Halloween is not a huge event in The Netherlands besides trick-or-treating, but on November 11th, the Dutch celebrate the festival of “Sint-Maarten” in honor of the Catholic saint of the same name.  In the past, this day used to be considered a “beggar’s holiday” because St. Martin was known for his generosity towards the poor. These days, masses are attended and Dutch children carry lanterns through the streets, knocking on doors, and singing songs for candy.  Though less popular today, some revelers might light bonfires like the original Celts or conduct processions through town in honor of the saint. 

In the Philippines, citizens hold a three-day event called Pangangaluluwa, which starts on October 31^st with a marathon of movies and TV shows.  On November 1^st and 2^nd, like in other countries, they visit graves with family members to honor departed loved ones.  The children also go door-to-door dressed up in costumes, but instead of asking for treats, they sing songs and ask for prayers for wandering souls.    

“The Day of the Witches” or “Dia das Bruxas” is celebrated in Portugal at Halloween time.  Families visit graves and leave flowers and candles for their ancestors, while children celebrate by trick-or-treating for bread, nuts, and fruits instead of candy. 

“The Night of the Pumpkins” or “Noite dos Calacús” is celebrated in Galicia, Spain.  On this night, people dress up in costumes, light bonfires, and tell ghost stories.  They also follow an old Celtic tradition of brewing an alcoholic drink of distilled wine, herbs, coffee and coffee beans, sugar, lemon peel, and cinnamon in a hollowed-out pumpkin.  While they are making the drink, they recite an incantation – possibly to bestow special powers on the drink and drinkers – or to ward off evil spirits. The liquid is then set alight and burns a bright blue color like a steaming cauldron. 

Finally, in Transylvania, Romania, a huge party is held at Bran Castle, possibly the inspiration for the home of the fictional character Count Dracula, and festivities include costumed revelers, howling wolf sounds, and red-colored drinks. 

Aren’t all these traditions amazing?  They honor everything from the new year, the arrival of winter, and the fall harvest to saints, souls, and spirits.  The overriding theme in many countries is remembering our ancestors and those who have passed.  These festivities are rarely somber affairs, but rather loving tributes and celebrations of life.  Whether we honor the harvest by bobbing for apples and begging for treats, scare away spirits with bonfires and fireworks, or remember loved ones with food and drink, we are more similar across the world than we are different at this time of year.

However you celebrate, we wish you a happy holiday season ahead.  If you would like to share your favorite Halloween events, foods, or memories, click the link in the show notes and send me your comments; I’d love to hear from you.

The post Halloween Traditions Around the World appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

With each stride, the ground beneath your feet feels soft and supportive. Your body tingles with energy. The game begins, and you gracefully move with purpose and skill. 

Your feet dance across the field. A black and white ball joins you as you pass and manipulate it with precision. A symphony of understanding passes between you and your teammates. No words are needed, for your actions speak louder than any words. You share a connection knowing where to be and when.

Onlookers watch in awe, their eyes wide with admiration. And then, in a thrilling moment, it happens. The ball comes to you, and you see an opportunity. You run forward, your heart pounding. With all your strength, you kick the ball toward the goal.

Time seems to slow down as you watch the ball soar through the air. The crowd holds its breath, their eyes locked on the spinning sphere. And then, with a thud, the ball finds the back of the net.

Cheers explode around you as your teammates rush to celebrate. You’re surrounded by hugs, high-fives, and smiles. You’ve scored a goal, a moment of triumph that fills your heart with joy.

This is soccer, also known as football in most countries outside of the United States. It’s easily the most popular sport in the world. It passes through borders and connects cultures. It is a sport that unites teammates and brings joy to millions of hearts around the globe. It’s a game that captures the essence of teamwork, perseverance, and the spirit of competition. 

Join us as we learn about the history of soccer…

A long time ago in the 12 century a simpler version of soccer called ‘Folk ball’ was played in English meadows. It was quite different from the soccer we know today. People used their fists to punch the ball and tackle each other. They played pretty rough and it was known to be a very violent game. It wasn’t until later that the British government made soccer a much safer sport by changing the rules. 

The game was played between English public schools, but each school had its own rules, some allowed you to carry the ball,  while others didn’t allow players to pick it up at all.

The different rules made it hard for schools to play each other. That is until 1848 when the Cambridge Rules were adopted. That’s when soccer and rugby became two separate sports and touching the ball with your hands became illegal. 

Have you ever heard of rugby? Unlike soccer, players in rugby can use their hands to pass the ball backward or kick it forward. The game is known to be pretty physical because players can tackle the other team to stop them from scoring.

For many years soccer was mostly played between local schools, but that was soon to change by the Industrial Revolution. 

The Industrial Revolution was a time in history when big changes happened in how things were made. Before, most things were made by hand, but during the Industrial Revolution, machines were invented to do the work faster and more efficiently.

These machines were powered by steam engines and later by electricity. Factories were built where these machines were used to make all sorts of things like clothes, tools, and even food. This meant that more things could be made in less time, and it changed the way people lived and worked.

When factories started popping up, their workers began playing soccer.  They formed teams based on their jobs and played the game after work as a social activity. Then something really important happened: railroads were introduced, which meant that teams could travel to other places and play against different teams. 

This is how the first soccer leagues were created. During this time, teams started paying the best players to join them and people started buying tickets to watch the star players in action. This changed soccer from just a fun game to a professional sport.

At the same time in England, the first amateur soccer club was born. 

The members of the cricket team wanted to stay active during the winter months, so they started playing friendly soccer matches during this time. Eventually, they formed an official soccer team called Sheffield FC, which was established in 1857. 

They made their own rules for the game, but after some time, they decided to follow the rules set by the Football Association (FA).

Soccer was becoming very popular all over England, and the leading clubs started playing against each other. In 1888, the English Football League was created, which made the game even more organized. Around the same time, soccer started gaining popularity in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. By 1890, all four countries in the United Kingdom had their own leagues and competed against each other.

After soccer became popular in England, it quickly spread to other countries around the world. In the late 19th century, only a few national football teams existed. England and Scotland played their first match against each other in the 1870s.

In 1903, a French journalist named Robert Guérin wanted to create an organization that would oversee international soccer. He gathered representatives from seven nations together in Paris. Their goal was to unite national soccer associations worldwide. 

These seven countries including Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, are now recognized as the founding members of the Federation Internationale de Football Association also known as FIFA.

Since it began in Paris, FIFA has grown into the world’s most popular sports organization. Every four years, FIFA hosts an incredible event called the World Cup, which brings together teams from all around the world, both men and women to prove who is the best soccer team in the world. The World Cup is incredibly popular and attracts millions of fans. It is the second most-watched international sporting event, right after the Olympic Games. 

When it comes to wins at the World Cup, one country stands out. This is the country of Brazil in South America. Brazil has an impressive record, having won the tournament FIVE times. Not only that, but Brazil has also participated in every single World Cup, showing their consistency and talent on the field.

As the years go by, the popularity of the World Cup continues to soar. In 2018, when the tournament was hosted by Russia, 3.5 billion people from all corners of the globe watched the matches. This number was even higher than the previous World Cup held in Brazil, showing the growing excitement and love for the game.

Although soccer can be a fun game that we play with our friends, for many people it is much more than just a casual activity. Soccer holds a special place in the hearts of millions around the world. It is a passion, a way of life, and a source of joy and excitement. 

From young children dreaming of becoming professional players to dedicated fans who cheer for their favorite teams, soccer has the power to ignite emotions, create lifelong bonds, and even create super athletes that we watch today. 

Two of the most famous soccer players are Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Lionel Messi, born in Argentina, began his soccer journey at a young age. He joined Barcelona’s youth academy at 13 and quickly rose through the ranks. Messi’s incredible skills and scoring ability helped him win many titles with Barcelona, including La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. 

He left Barcelona in 2021 and joined Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Messi’s humble nature and millions of dollars of donations have also made him an admired figure off the field as well. Cristiano Ronaldo also showed exceptional talent from a young age. His journey started at Sporting CP before moving to Manchester United in 2003. 

Ronaldo’s remarkable skills, speed, and goal-scoring ability led him to great success. Off the field, Ronaldo has been involved in various charities, which means giving of his money, and is known for his dedication to fitness and professionalism. 

Messi and Ronaldo are just two soccer athletes who have influenced the game of soccer in their own unique ways. Their success stories reflect how soccer has the power to change lives. Both Messi and Ronaldo come from humble backgrounds and faced numerous challenges on their paths to stardom. Through hard work, perseverance, and their incredible talents, they have become role models and global icons.

Soccer is a sport that brings communities together, instills values of teamwork and perseverance. Whether played on dusty fields or crowded stadiums, soccer is able to capture the imagination and unite people from different backgrounds in a shared love for the beautiful game.

The post History of Soccer | Football for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

Imagine you’re in a painting studio. You take a deep breath and smell the sweet smell of the oil paints and the crisp air within the painting studio. You look around and see many paintings on the walls, each one telling a different story.

But your attention quickly turns back to the canvas in front of you, which seems to be calling out for your attention. You dip your paintbrush into a palette of different colors and then put it on the canvas. You feel happy and excited when you see the brush moving so easily on the canvas. You create a beautiful picture of a world you want to see, and it makes you feel calm and happy.

You continue to work, feeling the warmth of the paint beneath your brush, and the gentle strokes of color as you add dimension and texture to your creation. As you paint, you feel a sense of peace and contentment that comes from being fully immersed in the creative process.

You continue to work, feeling the warmth of the paint beneath your brush and you see how the colors mix together, creating something new and unique. You love how it feels to make something special with your hands.

When you’re done painting, you step back and admire your work. You feel so proud of what you made and can’t wait to share it with others. You know that it will make people happy and inspire them to look at the world in a different way.

This is what it’s like to be like Bob Ross, a painter who made people happy by showing them how to paint and see the world in a new way.

Bob Ross was born on October 29, 1942, in Daytona Beach, Florida. He grew up in a town called Orlando, where he spent a lot of time exploring the beautiful landscapes around him.

His dad was a carpenter named Jack, and his mom, Ollie, was a waitress. As a child, Bob loved to take care of injured animals which sometimes made his parents unhappy because they never knew what kind of animal they would find in the house! They might see a hurt alligator in their bathtub or an armadillo running around Bob’s room. 

Later, Bob didn’t finish high school. Instead, he left after 9th grade to work as a carpenter with his dad. One day, Bob had a terrible accident that injured his left index finger. He lost the tip of it! Even though he was hurt, Bob didn’t let that stop him. It was an injury he later hid from TV viewers most of the time with his paint palette.

When Bob turned 18, he joined the Air Force which he soon didn’t enjoy. He said that he had to be “mean” sometimes, and that made him unhappy. When he was in the Air Force, he was known for being tough on his fellow airmen, and they even gave him the nickname “Bust ’em up Bobby.”

Although he had a tough exterior, Bob Ross also had a softer side. He discovered his love for painting while attending an art class in Alaska during his time in the Air Force. Many of his painting instructors at the time were more interested in abstract art, but Bob was fascinated by nature and the beauty of the world around him. He found that painting allowed him to capture that beauty and share it with others.

After attending many art classes that focused on abstract painting, Ross found his passion for painting returned through a television show he found called The “Magic of Oil Painting”. The show was hosted by artist Bill Alexander Bill introduced Ross to an old painting technique known as “alla prima” which means “first attempt” in Italian. Ross was fascinated by “alla prima” because it allowed Alexander to finish a painting in just 30 minutes. Alla prima is also known as “wet-on-wet” painting, which means that wet layers of paint are added to paper to create an image. Bob loved this new technique and decided to master it himself.

Bob Ross started earning money by painting Alaskan mountainsides on the inside of gold pans, after observing Alexander’s Wet on Wet technique. He soon became well-known among the local Alaskan people for his artistic abilities and often taught children and the elderly how to paint, too. Eventually, Ross began making more money from selling paintings and offering art lessons than from his day job in the military. After serving in the Air Force for twenty years, Ross left the military and said that he would never yell or raise his voice again, he was known from then on to have a very soft and calming presence. 

In the 1980s after leaving the Air Force, Ross had a burning desire to truly master the art of wet-on-wet painting. He found his favorite artist Bill Alexander in Florida. There, Alexander was a part-time art teacher and happily shared all his knowledge with Ross.

Next, Bob Ross got a job as a traveling tutor for the Alexander Magic Art Supplies Company. He had a soothing, gentle voice, and an encouraging teaching style, and said things like “happy accidents” instead of the word “mistakes” to make people feel happier and more positive about painting and being ok with messing up. 

Have you ever made a mistake? Well, in painting it is very easy to make mistakes and Bob was excellent at helping people understand that even when we make mistakes we can turn those mistakes into something good! This idea that he used in his painting lessons caught the attention of a woman named Annette Kowalski. Annette was fascinated by Ross and thought they might find a way to sell the experience of painting with him. She saw potential in Ross’s teaching style and decided to work with him to build a successful business.

After a meeting with Annette Kowalski and her husband, Ross became convinced that he should leave the Alexander Magic Art Supplies Company and start his own teaching business. Kowalski was so confident in their potential for success that she spent all of her life savings on the business. Ross and his wife spent most of their money too! Unfortunately, their high hopes were met with a harsh reality: the business lost $20,000 in its first year open.

Low on money, Bob Ross decided to take a bold step and change his look. Gone were the days of the strict military haircut, and in its place emerged a new and unexpected style: the classic afro that would come to define him. Ross said that he decided to perm his hair and make it curly because then he could save money and he wouldn’t need to pay for haircuts every week. Little did he know that this bold decision to perm his hair would change his appearance forever. Ross’s afro was so different than what his hair used to look like that many of his friends only recognized him by his missing finger that he lost while working as a teenager. 

It is not totally clear how  Bob became a famous painter on TV. There are two stories about how he was able to get onto the PBS channel. One story says that Bob and his former teacher Bill Alexander filmed a commercial for his art classes, which happened to impress someone important. Another version suggests that his partner, Kowalski, took a video of one of Bob Ross’ 30-minute lessons and sent it to the TV station. It is possible that both stories are true. Either way, it is obvious that Bob Ross was so good that he couldn’t be ignored. Before long he was a famous TV star in a new show called “The Joy of Painting”!

While filming “The Joy of Painting,” Bob made it feel like he was talking to his audience one-on-one. Almost like a personal teaching lesson. 

Bob Ross put a lot of thought into every detail of his show. He took great care in selecting his clothes, wearing timeless jeans and casual shirts that wouldn’t look old in the future. He also sanded down his painting palette lightly to keep it from reflecting the studio lights, a trick he figured out over time by switching to a clear painting palette for the first few episodes. 

Bob never received payment for his appearances on the show, nor did he sell any of the paintings he created on air. The show served as a platform to promote his teaching business which grew to include Bob Ross paint brushes, paint, and other supplies, soon making him a millionaire!

Even though being on TV made Bob Ross very successful he remained humble and generous with his artwork. He gave away most of the paintings he created on the show, as well as thousands of others he made throughout his life. Some were donated to charitable causes to be auctioned off, while others were gifted to friends and acquaintances.

Bob Ross taught us that mistakes are not failures, they are just happy accidents. When you make a mistake, don’t give up. Instead, use your creativity and turn it into something beautiful. Just like Bob Ross, you can use your talents to make the world a brighter and more joyful place

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

Imagine a world where interesting creatures that have powers roam free, each with their own unique abilities and personalities that you can catch and keep in a little red and white ball. These creatures are called Pokemon and you keep them in a poke ball. As a young trainer, you set out on an adventure to explore this world and catch as many of these creatures as you can, traveling through different regions, each with its own unique environment and different types of Pokemon.

You’ll journey through lush forests, treacherous mountains, and even mysterious underwater kingdoms, encountering new and exciting Pokemon along the way. With your trusty poke ball, you’ll be able to capture these creatures and add them to your team, training them to be stronger and braver so that they can fight for you.

As you travel, you’ll meet other trainers and their Pokemon, and you’ll have the chance to challenge them to battles. These battles are a test of your skills as a trainer and a showcase of the strength and abilities of your Pokemon. You’ll have to strategize and work with your Pokemon, using their different moves and powers to defeat your opponents.

Along the way, you’ll also have the opportunity to collect valuable items and earn rewards, such as gym badges and special items that will make your journey easier. You’ll meet friendly and helpful characters who will give you tips and advice on how to become a better trainer.

But your ultimate goal is to become the greatest Pokémon trainer of all time. To achieve this, you’ll need to journey to the Pokemon League, where the strongest trainers from each region come together to compete in the ultimate test of their skills. You’ll have to defeat each gym leader, earning their badges along the way, and then face off against the Elite Four and the Pokemon Champion. Only then will you be able to call yourself the greatest Pokémon trainer of all time!

So pack your bags, grab your poke ball, and embark on an adventure through the history of Pokemon with us today!

—————————————

Let’s travel back in time to the early 1980s,  in a place called Setagaya, Tokyo, where there was a boy named Satoshi Tajirwhen. Satoshi loved catching bugs and collecting them as a hobby when he was young. His friends even called him “Dr. Bug”!  As Satoshi grew up in the bustling city of Tokyo, he noticed that the spaces where he used to hunt for bugs were disappearing as more and more land was being covered by streets and buildings. But Satoshi didn’t want to lose the feeling of catching and collecting creatures, and he dreamed of a way to bring that same joy to other kids.

As he got older, Satoshi became fascinated with arcade games and spent many hours playing them. His love for games like Space Invaders and Dig Dug inspired him to create his own video games. Satoshi took apart his video game system to understand how it worked, and even won a video game idea contest when he was 16 years old! 

Satoshi’s love for video games never went away even though his parents thought he was a troublemaker for spending so much time playing them. He even cut classes to play games. Ove time he made up for it by attending make-up classes and eventually earning his high school diploma. 

Instead of going to college, Satoshi attended a two-year technical degree program at the Tokyo National College of Technology, where he studied electronics and computer science. 

When Satoshi became a little older he made a special magazine that he would write by hand and staple together called “Game Freak”. Game Freak was a magazine that had tips and tricks on how to beat games and find hidden secrets in them. A hidden secret in a game is called an “Easter Egg”. The magazine became so popular that one magazine sold over 10,000 copies! Satoshi’s friend Ken Sugimori was the person who drew the pictures in the magazine, this is called an illustrator. As the two of them wrote this magazine they realized that most video games weren’t very good. So, they decided to make their own games instead! Tajiri learned how to make games by studying and practicing a lot. Finally, in 1989, Tajiri and his friend Sugimori started their own video game company called Game Freak. Their very first game, Quinty, was a big hit and they never looked back!

After several years of developing games for different consoles,  Satoshi Tajirwhen and his friend Ken Sugimori,  decided to talk about  their idea to Nintendo for a game about collecting monsters. The idea was a hit, but it wasn’t easy to convince Nintendo to take a chance on something so unique. Thanks to their previous successes, Game Freak was given the “OK” to develop the game under the help and mentorship of Shigeru Miyamoto. Shigeru Miyamoto was the creator of Super Mario, a video game about an Italian plumber who crawls through green pipes and collects gold coins while trying to save the princess Daisy from the evil Bowser!

Satoshi worked long hard hours on his video games and in an interview once he was asked why he looked so tired and he responded by saying, “I sleep 12 hours and then work 24 hours. I’ve worked those strange hours for the past three years. It’s better to stay up day and night to come up with ideas. I usually get inspiration for game designing by working this schedule.”

After 6 years of long hours and a lot of hard work the world was introduced to Pocket Monsters: Red and Green, the very first Pokémon video games. These games allowed players to catch, collect, and trade over 150 different Pokémon characters. It was an instant hit in Japan, and soon the game was spreading to other parts of the world.

So what is Pokemon? In the world of Pokemon, people known as Pokemon trainers catch and train creatures called Pokemon. Pokemon are fictional animals with unique abilities and characteristics. The trainers then battle their Pokemon against other trainers to determine who is the strongest.

The games and cartoon series follow a young trainer named Ash Ketchum and his journey to become a Pokemon Master. In Japan instead of Ash the main character’s name is Satoshi. If you remember, Satoshi is the creator of Pokemon, so Ash was supposed to be Satoshi when he was a little kid. He travels through different regions, catching and training new Pokemon, making friends and rivals along the way, and participating in many competitions and battles.

When the first Pokemon video games were released in Japan they were an instant success. In the games, players take on the role of a Pokemon trainer, starting with one Pokemon and traveling around the game world to catch and train more. There are now over 800 different species of Pokemon, each with their own unique abilities, strengths, and weaknesses, that’s a lot of Pokemon to catch!

The thought of catching and training creatures was completely new, and the game offered a sense of adventure and discovery that was unlike anything players had experienced before. The games quickly gained popularity and as Pokemon grew in popularity, it expanded into TV shows, movies, and card games. Kids everywhere were obsessed with the world of Pokémon, and it wasn’t just a game anymore – it became extremely popular and well-known to the point where almost everyone knows about it and it ended up having a big impact on things like movies, TV shows, toys, and games. 

The TV show followed the adventures of Ash Ketchum, a young trainer from Pallet Town, and his trusty Pikachu as they journeyed through different regions, encountering new Pokemon and battling against other trainers.

The success of the TV show led to a boom in the sale of Pokemon merchandise, such as toys, trading cards, and other products. 

One of the main reasons that Pokemon became successful was because the games were designed to be played with friends, and the trading and battling parts of the games encouraged players to connect and compete with one another. 

Over the years, the Pokemon franchise has continued to evolve and expand and Satoshi and Ken’s vision for Pokémon has inspiring a generation of young people to explore the world around them, make new friends, and be creative. Today, Pokemon continues to evolve and grow, offering new adventures and exciting experiences for fans of all ages. And so, the story of Pokémon continues, with new games, new creatures, and new experiences waiting just around the corner.

Just like in a Pokemon battle, we all have strengths and weaknesses. It’s important to remember that everyone is different, and that’s what makes us special. Just because someone is strong in one area doesn’t mean they’re better than someone else. We should respect and appreciate each other’s differences, and work together to achieve our goals. 

More recently, in 2016, the game Pokemon Go was released. It introduced many new gamers to an augmented reality version of Pokemon in which you can walk around the real world and see and catch Pokemon through your handheld device. Pokemon Go became very popular as well and is still played by many gamers today.

Pokemon Poem by Chat GPT: 

In a world of monsters big and small,

There’s a little creature loved by all.

It’s called a Pokemon, have you heard?

It’s captured hearts all around the world.

There’s Pikachu, with cheeks so bright,

And Charmander, all red and white.

Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and so many more,

Each one unique, you can’t ignore.

With special powers and moves to make,

Pokemon battles are never fake.

You’ve got to train and work real hard,

To become the best, to go far.

But even if you don’t compete,

You can collect and make them neat.

Trading cards and figures too,

Pokemon fun is endless, it’s true.

So join the craze, and catch ’em all,

You’ll have a blast, you’ll have a ball.

Adventure awaits, in the great outside.

With Pokemon there, right by your side,

The post History of Pokemon appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

Imagine you’re starring in a high-stakes action movie. You’re a rugged, charismatic hero who must save the world from a dangerous threat.

As the cameras roll, you leap from a helicopter onto the roof of a skyscraper, gunfire ringing out all around you. You slide down a cable and land gracefully on the ground, knocking out a group of enemies with expert hand-to-hand combat.

As the action intensifies, you find yourself racing through the streets on a high-speed motorcycle, dodging bullets and explosions. You finally make it to the villain’s stronghold and engage in a final, epic battle to save the day.

With the threat eliminated and the world safe once more, you stand victorious as the credits roll. The crowd erupts in applause and you can’t help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. Ye this is just another day in the life of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and you wouldn’t have it any other way.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is a household name, known for his incredible career as a professional wrestler and successful acting career. But before he was known as “The People’s Champion” and one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors, he was simply Dwayne Johnson, a young boy growing up in a humble family.

Dwayne was born in Hayward, California, the son of Ata Johnson and Rocky Johnson. His father was a professional wrestler and his mother was a homemaker. Dwayne’s parents were of Samoan and Black Nova Scotian descent, and his father was one of the first Black wrestlers to break the color barrier in the WWE. The WWE is a big show where strong and very athletic people put on a wrestling-type performance. They dress up in colorful costumes and have cool nicknames like “The Giant” and “The Superstar.” They pretend to fight each other and do cool flips, jumps and lift each other up to show their strength. These wrestlers are not only strong, but they are also great actors, telling stories and playing different characters to entertain the audience. They sometimes play the role of the hero who saves the day or the villain who tries to cause trouble. 

But even before Dwayne Johnson grew to fame in the WWE his parents instilled in him the importance of hard work, perseverance, and dedication, values that would later serve him well in his own career.

As a child, Dwayne was a natural athlete, excelling in football and track. He also loved to read and learn about history. Maybe he would have loved Bedtime History, just like you! Dwayne attended a number of schools, including President William McKinley High School in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Glencliff High School in Nashville, Tennessee.

After high school, Dwayne went to college at the University of Miami on a full football scholarship. This means he agreed to play football for them and they paid for his schooling in exchange. He earned a degree in Criminology and Physiology, and had wanted to become a professional football player. Sadly, while playing football he received many knee and shoulder injuries, but Dwayne refused to give up on his goals. He remembered the lessons his parents taught him about perseverance and determination. They taught him that success comes from hard work, and that the only way to achieve your dreams is to never give up, no matter how difficult the obstacle.

Dwayne put those lessons into practice, refusing to let his injury defeat him. He worked long hours and many days to fix his injury, and eventually, he was able to come back stronger than ever before. But this time he turned to professional wrestling, like his father. His father, Rocky Johnson, was a larger-than-life figure, known for his strength and athleticism in the ring. He was a trailblazer in the world of wrestling, breaking down barriers for black wrestlers and paving the way for future generations. Rocky Johnson not only was a wrestler but also a mentor to Dwayne. He taught him the skills and discipline necessary to succeed in the wrestling ring. He taught him a strong work ethic and a love for entertaining the audience. Dwayne learned from his father the importance of respect, humility and discipline.

Dwayne began his wrestling career in 1996, joining the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and quickly becoming one of the company’s top stars. He was a multiple-time WWF Champion, Intercontinental Champion, and Tag Team Champion, and was known for his iconic catchphrases, such as “If you smell what The Rock is cookin'” and “The People’s Champion.” He also became known for his intense rivalry with fellow wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin.

After leaving the WWF in 2004, Dwayne transitioned into acting, starring in a number of successful films. One of his first big movies was called “The Scorpion King.” In this movie he is a very strong and brave warrior leading an army of scorpions. He is very powerful and can do many amazing things, like jumping high and fight with a sword. In the movie, The Scorpion King goes on a big adventure to save his kingdom and his people from bad guys who want to take over. He has to fight battles and overcome many challenges, but with his strength and bravery, he is able to save his kingdom.

A few years later he was in a movie called Doom about a space marine who fights enemies on a moon near the planet Mars.

Have you seen the movie Moana? It’s a story about a courageous young girl who embarks on an adventure to save her island and her people. Along the way, she meets a demigod named Maui who joins her on her journey and he sings a very memorable song when they first meet call “You’re Welcome”. Maui’s voice is actually Dwayne Johnson and he even sang the song “You’re Welcome”! 

He’s also known for starring in movies like The Fast and The Furious, Jumanji: The Next Level, The Jungle Cruise, and recently Black Adam.

One story that is often shared is when he was filming the movie “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” and he had to film a scene where he had to eat a live insect. He ended up eating it and then acted like it was the most delicious thing he had ever tasted, much to the shock and amusement of his co-stars.

Dwayne has become one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood, and has been nominated for several awards for his performances.

Even with all his success, Dwayne has always remained humble. He is a loving husband and father to his wife Lauren and two daughters, Simone and Jasmine. He is also known for his philanthropy and business ventures, and has been a board member of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Have you heard of the “Make a Wish Foundation?” The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a special organization that helps children who are very sick. Sometimes, when a child is very sick, they might have a dream or a wish that they would like to come true. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a group of kind and caring people who work hard to make those wishes come true.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is made up of volunteers and donors who want to help bring joy and happiness to children who are going through a tough time. They work hard to make sure that each child’s wish is special and unique, just like they are.

It is a wonderful organization that brings happiness and hope to children who are facing difficult times. They work to make the child’s dream come true and give them and their families memories that will last a lifetime.

Throughout his career, Dwayne has always taught about hard work and perseverance. He often encourages others to “never give up” and to always strive for their dreams. He has also been known to share a good laugh, with a quick wit and a great sense of humor. 

Like “The Rock”, we can learn that with hard work, perseverance and determination, we can overcome obstacles and reach our goals. He faced many challenges and setbacks in his life, but he never gave up and he kept pushing forward, and that is what led to his success. He also showed that one should never underestimate the power of a positive attitude and the importance of having a good role model and support system in the form of family and friends. He taught that we should never give up on our dreams, no matter how hard the road may be, and that we can achieve great things if we believe in ourselves and never lose sight of our goals.

“The Rock of Hollywood”

A man of muscle, a man of might,

A wrestler turned actor, a true delight.

Dwayne Johnson, known as “The Rock”,

A star in the ring and on the clock.

From football field to wrestling ring,

He’s achieved great success, it’s quite the thing.

Championships won, fans in thrall,

He conquered the WWE, stood tall.

But Hollywood called, and he made the leap,

Starring in films, his talent to keep.

Fast cars and action, a hero to be,

The Rock’s acting career, a thing to see.

He’s not just brawn, but brains as well,

A philanthropist, a man to tell.

Motivating speeches, wisdom to share,

The Rock’s impact, truly rare.

So here’s to Dwayne Johnson, a man of no shame,

A wrestler, actor, and true claim to fame.

The Rock of Hollywood, a shining star,

A legacy built, near and far.

The post Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Story for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

In the United States on March 17th, people wear lots of green, everything from fuzzy sweaters and party hats to shamrock pins and leprechaun ties.  We eat steaming plates of corned beef and cabbage, attend local parades, and pinch people who forget to wear green.  It is a day of revelry and fun – just like the Irish – famous for their funny stories, tall tales, and sparkling wit.  

In a prior episode, we talked about the history of Saint Patrick’s Day.  Today, let’s explore some other fascinating Irish facts.  Can you think of things that are made by the Irish or strange Irish customs?  Well, I’ve found a few and they range from spuds to harps to rocks!  So, let’s get started!

First, there are potatoes.  To me, when I eat a potato, I automatically think of Ireland and one of its most well-known crops.  But did you know that Ireland was not the original home of potatoes?  They were actually brought to Ireland by the British explorer, Sir Walter Raleigh, who planted them on his Irish estate in 1589.  They grew so well in Ireland, much better than other crops like wheat and oats, that soon everyone was planting potatoes.  This went well for hundreds of years, until 1845 when a terrible disease hit Ireland’s potato crop and went on for 7 years.  You might think: well, how can a crop of potatoes be so bad?  Couldn’t they eat something else?  Unfortunately, potatoes were the main source of food for many people – the only food they had, in fact.  Many people were so poor so they could not afford to raise chickens, sheep, pigs, or cows for meat, butter, and milk.  Most worked on land that wasn’t theirs – the land was owned by British aristocrats.  When the famine hit, the Irish could not work the land and had no money or food.  The very poor resorted to living in dirt holes in the ground and eating grass.  This potato famine killed over 1 million people and 1-2 million more fled to the US and Britain. This was a terrible time in Irish history, so today when I see a potato, I am very thankful for its nutrition – and its addition to my plate!

Today, you can see the descendants of those Irish immigrants who fled the potato famine – plus many more – celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day in cities like Boston, New York, Pennsylvania, and more! They hold parades complete with marching bands, leprechaun balloons, shamrock flags, and bagpipers.  They feast on corned beef and cabbage, which includes those wonderful potatoes!  And, as an added bit of history, corned beef and cabbage isn’t truly an Irish dish – the Irish like to use bacon and cabbage.  But those first immigrants couldn’t afford bacon, so they used corned beef instead!

And speaking of celebrations, Irish dancing has become very popular throughout the world in the last several decades.  The upbeat jigs played on Irish fiddles, along with the high kicking, stomping, jumping, and overall festive air have made this a crowd favorite all across the globe.  These dance shows have also given rise to famous groups of Irish singers, including Celtic Women and Celtic Thunder.  Their lilting songs rich with Irish stories and history are truly wonderful to hear!

And when we talk about music, we must mention the Celtic Harp, a triangular-shaped wooden instrument with wire strings that makes an incredibly soothing, rippling sound.  It makes me think of angels playing heavenly music on soft, puffy clouds.  These harps are featured on everything from Irish coins and coats of arms to flags and souvenirs.  You can see these harps in England, too, on the King’s coat of arms, along with unicorns, lions, and ostrich feathers.  This is because Ireland was formerly ruled by Britain. 

And we can’t forget the ancient Celtic myths, such as leprechauns.  In a prior episode, we discussed leprechauns, little imp-like mythical men who are said to be very wily, smart and almost impossible to see or catch.  They are said to be bootmakers for fairies, as well as the guardians of pots of gold at the end of rainbows.  We see these little leprechauns today on everything from cereal boxes to sportswear.  There is a popular cereal in the US called “Lucky Charms” with morsels shaped like shamrocks, rainbows, pots of gold, and unicorns.   The University of Notre Dame calls its sports teams “the Fighting Irish” and its school mascot is a leprechaun.  In Massachusetts, the Boston Celtics feature “Lucky the Leprechaun” on their logo.  He is a little winking man with a bowler hat, bow tie, pipe, and cane, twirling a basketball on one finger!   I guess Lucky has given up boot-making and is now playing basketball!

The Irish people are famous for making things besides music and harps.  They built the Titanic and it was a glorious ship – a wonder of its time.  It featured massive chandeliers, gleaming staircases, stained glass windows, and gorgeous staterooms. Unfortunately, Mother Nature made an even more impressive masterpiece – a gigantic iceberg.  The Titanic was no match for an iceberg, and it sunk in the chilly Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912, on its very first voyage.  Many lives were lost on that fateful day.  Today, there are beautiful statues in Belfast and Addergool, Ireland, honoring the Irish passengers on the Titanic.  The Addergool statue is a stunning piece of metal art.  It shows men in caps and suits, and women in long skirts and bonnets, carrying suitcases toward the prow of a ship, some of them are turning and waving.  Of the 14 Addergool passengers, only 3 survived the sinking of the Titanic.  What a beautiful memorial this is in honor of those brave, hopeful travelers.

And if building, dancing, and singing weren’t enough for the Irish, they also like to kiss-and not just people, but stones!  And they do it upside down!  Do you believe that?  Yes, it’s true.  It is actually called “Kissing the Blarney Stone!”  So, what does “blarney” mean and why is a stone involved?  Well, “blarney” means to speak flattery or nonsense – basically being very charming but not really meaning it.  Have you ever heard someone say, “You’re full of blarney!”?  They’re saying, “You’re full of nonsense!”   

And then there is the history of the Blarney Stone.  In Ireland, there is a castle called Blarney Castle.  Many centuries ago, Queen Elizabeth 1, who was the ruler of England and Ireland at the time, sent one of her earls to take Blarney Castle away from its owner, the King of Munster.  Queen Elizabeth needed castles and land to give to her British people as payment for fighting the Irish.  But this king was a smooth talker and charmed the earl.  When the Queen heard that the earl had not yet captured the castle, she was furious, stating that the earl’s reports were full of “blarney.”  

A legend then grew that if you kiss a certain stone on Blarney Castle, you will receive the gift of gab and persuasiveness just like its former owner, the King of Munster.  The thing is, you have to lie on your back, hold on to hand railings while leaning backward, and kiss the stone upside down!  Picture yourself laying on your bed and trying to kiss your bedside table or bureau upside down while leaning off the edge of the bed.  I don’t know who is filled with more blarney – the folks who do this or the Irish who convince them to do it!  But Winston Churchill is said to have kissed the stone in 1912 and went on to become one of the most famous British Prime Ministers, giving amazing speeches and helping his nation win WWII.  So, is it really a bunch of “blarney?”

And after kissing the Blarney Stone, many folks like to relax and sip some Irish beer.  The Irish make some of the finest beer in the world with names like “Happy Days” and “Harp.”  I guess I can understand these names after listening to these stories of stone kissing, harp music, and smooth-talking Irishmen.  

Finally, there are the Irish proverbs like:  “If you’re lucky enough to be Irish, you’re lucky enough” and “A best friend is like a four-leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have.”  Or my favorite: “Always remember to forget the friends that proved untrue. But never forget to remember those that have stuck by you!”

I have loved learning all these little Irish facts!  What about you?   Have you ever heard about leprechauns and their pots of gold at the end of rainbows?  What do you think of kissing a cold stone on a crusty castle?  

I think Ireland is full of fascinating history and folklore and would love to learn more.  What about you?  Why don’t you ask your parents to take you to a library this Saint Patrick’s Day to find children’s books about Ireland and its folklore?  How about “Spuds and the Spider” about a friendship between a spider and a leprechaun, or the book titled, “Irish Fairy Tales and Legends.”  For older kids, there are stories about the Irish Pirate Queen Grace O’Malley or the voyage of the Titanic.  These all sound like great reads under the covers.

I’d love to hear from you and learn what Irish books you’ve read or Irish traditions you celebrate on Saint Patrick’s Day.  Feel free to click the link in the show notes below and complete the form.  You might just be mentioned in a future episode!

So, from me to you this Saint Patty’s Day, I wish you the luck of the Irish and “Erin Go Bragh!” (“Ireland Forever.”)

The post Irish History, Traditions, and Folklore for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

Tell us about your favorite holiday traditions!

Every December, people all over the world gather to celebrate the holiday season with family and friends.  In the United States, in the days leading up to Christmas we decorate Christmas trees, string lights on our houses, bake gingerbread cookies, attend church, or go caroling through the streets. One of our favorite traditions is to drive around and look at all of the Christmas lights. Inflatable decorations of Santa Clause, the Grinch, or other beloved holiday characters can also be found on people’s lawns. 

On Christmas Eve, children hang stockings close to the Christmas tree before going to bed.  They leave out milk and cookies and even sometimes carrots in anticipation of a visit from Santa Clause. This is the bearded, cheery Old Saint Nick of the Western tradition, who flies through the sky in a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer. He stops at every house to put candy and toys in each stocking.

On Christmas day there are presents and music and Christmas delicacies.  We nibble on candy canes, fruit cakes, puddings, or Three Kings Cake.  For dinner, we feast on turkey, beef, ham, or seafood with all the delicious desserts – pies, cakes, and cookies of every description!

Now let’s talk about other countries because there are lots of fun and unique festivities happening all over the globe, too!

Around the world during Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, people gather with family and friends, giving gifts for not just one night – but eight!  They light candles on Menorahs, attend religious services, sing songs, and make wonderful dishes like matzah ball soup and fried potato pancakes.  So delicious!

In Africa, as well as the US and other parts of the world, Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26 through January 1^st.  Kwanzaa highlights African-American culture and history.  Seven candles are lit on a Kinara to honor their seven principles of African Heritage, including unity, purpose, creativity, and faith.  Feasts are held with a bounty of fruits, nuts, and vegetables.  And there are performances, too – drumming, dancing, singing, and poetry.  This wonderful tradition fairly recently, in 1966.

In England, they celebrate Christmas similar to the United States and many people like to put a “Christmas Cracker” by their plates at dinner time.  What is a Christmas Cracker?  It’s a cardboard tube filled with little candies and prizes.  It is wrapped in paper and ribbons and when you pull the ribbons, it cracks open like a pinata, with all the goodies spilling out.  To me, it sounds like a fun way to start a Christmas meal – like blowing whistles at a birthday party.  The United Kingdom also celebrates “Boxing Day” on December 26, when gifts are given to tradespeople, helpers, and the less fortunate.

In Germany, they celebrate St. Nicholas Day, who is the patron saint of children.  Every year, on the night of December 6^th, children place their shoes outside their house – or by a door or fireplace – and wake to find them filled with candies and toys left by Jolly Old Saint Nicholas.  Perhaps the United States took this German tradition and changed it a bit, hanging stockings for Santa instead of leaving shoes for Saint Nicholas!  Either way, it’s a fun tradition!

But of all of these, Iceland is the winner, for nightly visits by Christmas characters!  Icelandic children put their shoes by their window for 13 nights leading up to Christmas.  They are then visited each night by one of “13 Yule Lads” –  who look more like trolls or elves – with crazy names like Doorway-Sniffer,Spoon-Licker,Sausage-Swiper,Candle-Stealer, Curd-Gobbler, and Window-Peeper!  These little men put candy in the shoes of good children or rotten potatoes in the shoes of naughty ones.   I sure wouldn’t want rotten potatoes in MY shoes – would you? 

In the Philippines, they hold a giant lantern festival called “Ligligan Parul” every December in San Fernando, the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines.”  These lanterns – which are said to symbolize Jesus’s Star of Bethlehem – are not little lanterns that sit on a table.  They are HUGE and round – almost as big as Ferris wheels – with hundreds of colorful, blinking lights.  These lanterns are displayed in various cities throughout December and thousands of people gather to see them every year.  If you love going to fairs to see the Ferris Wheel and all the lights, this lantern festival must be AMAZING!

And what about Christmas in Australia and New Zealand?  In December, they also have stockings, presents, and Christmas trees, but since it’s so warm there in their part of the world, they hold barbecues and go swimming instead of skiing or building snowmen!

On the other side of the globe, Mexico has a festival called “Las Posadas,” meaning “the inns.”  It honors Mary and Joseph’s search for an inn before the birth of Jesus.  This festival involves a parade through the streets led by “Mary and Joseph,” and ends with a feast at a new house every night for nine nights.  They also celebrate Las Posadas with music, prayer, pinatas, and fireworks – kind of like an American Christmas and Fourth of July rolled into one!

In Sweden, they build an immense straw goat and place it in the middle of town in honor of the Swedish Yule Goat.  This straw goat can be taller than a house, with big horns and bright red ribbons wrapped around its legs, nose, stomach, and horns.  At first glance, it reminds me of a huge Christmas reindeer with a beard!  But why do they celebrate a goat?  Well, some say it comes from an old pagan religion honoring Saturn, the god of good harvests.  Back then, the people would sacrifice young goats to Saturn as part of their winter celebration.  Others say the goat honors the Norse god Thor, who rides through the sky in a sleigh pulled by two goats.  This is very similar to the tradition of Santa Claus and his reindeer – and that’s why you will see goat decorations hanging on Christmas trees in Sweden.

But be careful in Austria!  I hear they have a spooky creature called a “Krampus.”  This beast looks like a wooly yak – or bull – with large horns and a red face, that parades through town on the night of December 5^th, called “Krampusnacht.”  He waves a wooden stick and carries a basket, asking children if they’ve been good or bad.  If they have been good, they get a treat like nuts, fruit, or apples, but if they have been naughty…well, let’s just hope we never find out!

In South Wales, Christmas is like trick-or-treating in America.  Every December, they put a horse’s skull on a stick and then drape a sheet over it to make it look like a ghostly horse. People then carry this horse figure around town, knocking on doors.  They sing part of a song at a person’s door and the person needs to finish the song, then give them food or drink. Sounds a bit scary but also fun, unless you don’t know the song.  I wonder what happens then?  Is a trick involved? Maybe someone from Wales can tell us!

In Italy, their Christmas celebrations involve a witch!  Twelve days after Christmas, on January 5^th, children leave wine and sausages out for La Belfana, a witch who zooms down chimneys on a broom and leaves treats for all the good children – or coal for the naughty ones.  It is said that La Belfana received an invitation to see the birth of Jesus centuries ago but didn’t attend.  She now feels bad about missing this momentous birthday and roams the Earth every year looking for baby Jesus while leaving gifts for children.

And one other Halloween custom has made it to Christmas – the custom of carving vegetables.  Here in America, we carve pumpkins for Halloween.  In Oaxaca, Mexico, they carve radishes for Christmas!  But not ordinary radishes…no, these are HUGE radishes as big as our pumpkins!  It is quite a contest to see who can carve the most amazing radishes – everything from monsters to Christmas characters.  What a great event in Oaxaca.   

In Ukraine, they put spider decorations – called “pavuchky” – on their trees!  Why?  Well, a legend states that once there was an old widow with small children.  The children grew a Christmas tree from a small pine cone but couldn’t afford any decorations.  That Christmas, they went to sleep, and in the morning found their tree covered in spider webs.  When the sun hit the spider webs, they turned into silver and gold.  Some believe this is how the custom of hanging shiny tinsel on trees became a popular Christmas tradition.  Pretty neat, don’t you think?

What Christmas traditions do you observe with family and friends?  Which tradition is your favorite? Would you like to try some of these other traditions?  If so, which ones?  I think it would be fascinating to travel around the world to see these unique traditions, festivities, and decorations. With the help of your parents, you’ll have to look up pictures and videos on the Internet to learn more about them. I would love to hear from you and learn how you celebrate the season. 

If you want to share, click on the link in the show notes and tell me what you do with your family and friends during the holiday season.  With your parent’s permission, share your tradition, your first name, and your country.  And you just might hear your name and story featured in our next episode!

Until then, from my family to yours, we wish you a happy holiday season this year!

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Have you ever played with Lego?

I grew up playing with Lego and was one of my favorite past times. On Sunday afternoons we often dumped the big box of legos onto a blanket and spent hours using the legos to build all kinds of imaginative things. Lego was amazing because, unlike most toys, those awesome little bricks could become anything as your imagination run wild. Once I had my own kids, they got into Lego as well. My daughters love the Lego Friends sets and my son has many Lego City sets, but Minecraft sets are his recent favorite. We also have a huge tub of Lego I bought from a friend a few years ago and now my kids love to dump it onto a huge blanket and create things for hours on end. With the quarantine in place, we’ve been spending a lot more time with Lego. In fact, right now we have a table out and they build the Lego police station my son has played the police while my daughter plays the robbers and they pretend to be breaking out of the station. 

400 billion

Do you know how many Lego bricks have ever been built? 400 billion! Can you believe that!? Each year there are 20 billion bricks being made. 50 million every day and 36,000 made every minute in the Lego factories.

Think about how many people around the world enjoy Lego. Now imagine a world where there is no Lego. It’s kind of hard to imagine right, because so many people have spent so many hours enjoying Lego. But the reality is that could have happened — if it wasn’t for the birth of a man named Ole Kirk Christiansen.

Ole Kirk Christiansen

Ole was born over 100 years ago in Denmark, in the year 1891. He had a big family, 10 kids, and they were quite poor. When Ole was 14 he became an apprentice to his older brother, Kristian who was a carpenter. A carpenter is someone who builds things with wood. With his brother, Ole learned how to work with wood and make useful things like furniture. In 1911 Ole left his hometown and worked in Germany and then other places in Denmark — and then after 5 years returned and used the money he had saved to buy his own carpentry shop, so he could have his own shop and run his own business. 

Ole’s Family

Around this time Kristian also got married to a woman named Kirstine and had 4 sons: Johannes, Karl, Gottfried, and Gerhardt. Sadly, his wife Kirstine died while having their fourth son, so Ole was left to take care of them himself. And to make matters worse, in 1924 when some of the boys were playing in his carpentry shop, there was an accident, the shop caught fire and burned down. But Ole didn’t give up. He drew up plans and got to work building a new carpentry shop and home for his little family. And he continued working! 

Wooden Toys

Even though Ole was working hard as a carpenter times were tough, but he did find that when he made small objects for others like toy ladders and toy furniture, they were very popular. So he started making more toys. Around this time his son Gottfried joined in and they started designing new toys such as cars, trucks, airplanes, and boats. These toys were made out of the best birchwood and painted and finished to the highest standards. It was important to Ole that his toys were made well and of high quality. They had a big sign in the carpentry shop that read “Only the Best is Good Enough.”

As Ole hired new people to work in his shop and the company grew he decided to give it a name. They finally came up with the Danish phrase “Leg Godt,” which means “play well.” He smooshed the two words together and got “Lego!” 

Plastic Toys

By 1947 plastic was becoming more and more common, so Ole bought an injection-molding machine so they could make plastic toys. It was a very expensive machine, but Ole believed it would be worth it if they wanted to keep making beautiful toys. Soon all of their 200 different toys were made out of plastic. And Lego was a family business. All of his sons helped in the business. Godtfred was the managing director and later President of the company, Karl was the director of plastic production, and Gerhardt was the director of wood products manufacturing.

At this time, a different company was creating plastic bricks that could be stacked on top of each other to build things. Lego started creating a similar toy, but it was until 1954 that Gerhardt, Ole’s son, was talking to someone and came up with the idea for a toy building system — that all of these little pieces could be combined in all kinds of creative ways to create entirely new toys. [demonstrate with actual lego] If you’ve ever fiddled with lego, you sort of start with just a pile of meaningless pieces, but as you tinker and try things they start to turn into something new and wonderful! [fast motion video of kids playing lego with the pile — and showing their own creations]. There are other toys like this — if you’ve ever used Kinects, erector sets, or games like Minecraft, that let you build things. So Gerhardt, in his wonderful mind, started imagining this new building system, but the problem was the bricks didn’t lock together, snap together so nicely and tight like they do today. So for five years, they searched for the right kind of plastic and design that would let them build the perfect, snapping lego. 

Lego Building System

Finally, on January 28, 1958, they patented the Lego building system using ABS polymer as the plastic. And this ended up being the same year that Ole Christiansen passed away and his sons took over the company, with Gerhardt becoming the President or CEO. 

So you’re beginning to see how big things like Lego don’t happen in a day. Someone like Ole or Godfred didn’t just wake up and build the first lego. It started with the carpenter shop, then building toys, then plastic toys, then stacking bricks, which led to the next idea, the bricks, and a more complex building system. Most history is like this, which is what makes it fun for me! To see how things, change and evolve and step by step become what they are today. 

So by this time Lego is selling their bricks and creating new sets for kids all over the world to play with. These ranged from houses to vehicles to spacecraft. 

In 1969 came Duplo, which many of you may have played with. I know we have lots of Duplos that the kids use before they get into lego. 

Lego Facts

In 1978 the first Minifigure was created.

Today Lego is made in factories in Billund, Denmark, and other places in the world using huge injection molding machines. And Lego is now more than just a toy. They have Lego movies now and theme parks, and a few years ago Lego replaced Ferrari as the world’s most powerful brand. 

In 2011 the Space Shuttle Endeavor took 13 lego kits to the International Space Station to see how lego would react in microgravity. I thought that was pretty cool. 

In 2013 the largest lego model was created in New York City. It was a life-size X-Wing with over 5 million pieces. The other world records include a 112-foot tower 2 ½ mile railway.

Watch a live video about Lego with Breck

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