"We're singing in the car, getting lost upstate
Autumn leaves falling down like pieces into place"

All Too Well by Taylor Swift

Hi Reader,

Happy fall! Autumn is a time of year loved around the world. Here, stateside we usually hear about Halloween and Thanksgiving, but there are so many unique festivals celebrated this time of year. If you're already tired of hearing about "spooky scary skeletons" this is for you!

4 Autumn Holidays to Teach your Kids About

🥮 Mid Autumn Festival: I used to live in Vietnam, so I have a very special place in my heart for this one. Many Asian countries celebrate this children's festival marking the harvest moon. There are dancing dragons and lions, lanterns, parades, and if you've ever wanted to try a mooncake, this is the time of year you can get them at the local Asian market (they are more savory than sweet). I'll put some photos below from Hanoi. This festival was September 17.

🏮 Diwali: Diwali is a festival of lights and the biggest holiday celebrated in India. Discover gorgeous traditions like Rangoli sand art (a satisfying part of YouTube my former students were obsessed with), fireworks, and lanterns. Many festivals in the US are happening early this year because it falls on Oct 31

🇲🇽 Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead): This Mexican holiday has become more popular in the United States with movies like Coco featuring it. This family oriented holiday is a time to celebrate and remember the dead. Families gather together and share a meal at the gravesite of passed relatives. One of the main themes of Día de los Muertos is that death is a part of life. If your family has been grieving a loss, this is a great opportunity to reframe your child's mindset. Nov 1-2

🛶 Bon Om Touk (Cambodian Water Festival): This is a great festival to discuss seasons and weather around the world. Bon Om Touk celebrates the end of monsoon season in Cambodia. This tropical festival is giving 4th of July more than trip to the pumpkin patch. People celebrate with boat races, concerts, and fireworks. Nov 14-16

What's New?

💕 Eras: Last Sunday I very unexpectedly got to go to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour with my good friend Emily. It was an incredible night. If you want to hear the magical story of how this happened its on my threads account. You can also find a few concert vids up on my channel. Have you been to the tour? Let me know!

🖍️ One step at a time: Some of you may know I took on an extra job this summer at Skillpop while the owner and her main team member went on maternity leave. That project is over (I am staying on super part time yay!) so now I can regroup with Primary Focus. I'd love to hear if there are topics you'd like to see more videos about.

Have a great week!