Happy Diwali! We were so happy that Ms. Toral came and taught us all about Diwali on December 1st. We learned all about the origins of Diwali and enjoyed listening to an Indian folktale. We also learned that Diwali is a festival of lights and that children enjoy lighting candles and watching firecrackers during this celebration. It is a time to enjoy being with family!
Ms. Toral teaches us that Diwali is one of the most important celebrations of the year for people from India.
"Finally the evil 10-headed Ravana was defeated by the good King Rama. People celebrate Diwali to remember this defeat," explains Ms. Toral as she retells the folktale for us.
We got to try a delicious Diwali treat called sakarpara - yummy!
If you would like to make sakarpara at home here is the reciepe.
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk
oil for frying
Dissolve the sugar in the milk and bind the flour with this mixture.
Add more milk if required. The dough should be the consistency of
pastry dough.
Roll out into 6" to 8" rounds, 3mm thick. Cut the rounds into small
diamond shapes. Deep fry in hot oil on a low flame till crisp and
brown. Keep turning the sakarparas while frying so they are an even
brown and crisp.
Enjoy!
Ramadan Kareem! We were so lucky to have Ms. Nita and Ms. Lubna come and visit and talk to us about the meaning of Ramadan and some of the family traditions associated with this important month. They also bought us some delicious Ramadan treats. Thank you for sharing with us!!!
"When we break the fast in the evening it is called Iftar..." explain the moms. "during Ramadan the whole family comes together every night for this important meal."
Dates are typically the first food eaten when the fast is broken.
The fast is also broken with an apricot drink called qamareledin. This drink is a tradition
in most of the Middle Eastern countries. It is delicious!
After an Iftar meal people enjoy qutaif. They are a sweet treat filled with either cheese or walnuts and then smothered with a sugar syrup.
