International Children's Day

I can attest to the fact that holidays and opportunities for celebration were not in short supply when I was growing up. However, there was one day every year that was by far the most exciting and expected holiday by any kid in school. No, I am not referring to my birthday and the opportunity to eat my mother’s homemade cake and other scrumptious desserts:). That day was definitely one of the highlights during the school year, but what I am focusing on in this post is Children’s Day celebrated on June 1^st. 

On that day, school was out and we all got to play our preferred games outside. My favorite event of the day, however, was when teachers would bring out color chalk and let us draw what we wanted to on the street. A whole street would be blocked off so each child could have all the space to create his or her masterpiece. This was no ordinary experience as the opportunity for sidewalk drawings, common today, was not really an option when I was a kid. 

Fun fact: all drivers are supposed to drive with the lights on June 1st to signify extra alertness when it comes to child safety.

No matter how old I become, I will always keep memories of a great childhood with me, June 1^st will forever be Children’s Day and bring out wonderful recollections of summers spent outside running and laughing, playing dodge ball or jumping jacks, chasing each other in wide-open fields, as well as of winters spent sliding down hills on pieces of plastic and getting soaked from the snow melting on our clothes. Good times! I have no idea what children nowadays do to have fun, but from what I hear, it is not even close to what I was fortunate enough to have. 

And here is my absolutely favorite childhood song from the 1981 Bulgarian film Unexpected Vacation. Sorry if you don’t speak Bulgarian:)

Happy Children's Day to all of you still kids at heart!

-          Krasi  

It’s Spring time!

One of the fondest memories I have of my childhood years in a small village in Bulgaria is the annual welcoming of spring on (or around) March 21. I enjoyed the event not only because it could potentially result in a day off from school (if the date happened on a week day), but also because it gave us kids the opportunity to spend time in nature playing games and laughing in the sun. The best aspect of the whole experience was the fact that the entire school, including the teachers, joined in on the celebration. What child would not enjoy such a fantastic opportunity to leave the classroom and spent time with friends playing in the open? It was a true expression of being happy and carefree and this is why I cherish the memory greatly. 

The problem, of course, is that I doubt such celebrations still take place in my native country. Playing out in the sun with nothing but sticks and dirt as resources fostered our creativity and imagination, but it seems to no longer be a valid way of entertainment as far as children are concerned. There are TVs, computer and video games, and a plethora of other activities to keep children inside so why would they want to be outside in the dirt? Further, I seriously suspect that if allowed to be outside in the open with nothing but themselves and their imagination, most modern kids would be completely bored not knowing what they could do to amuse themselves.  

A big target in the world of human rights violations is the abolition of child labour anywhere in the world. The ultimate goal is to let children be children and enjoy their childhood not having to work fourteen, sixteen, or more hours a day. That is a perfectly sound goal, but a definition of enjoying one’s childhood needs to be included. Does this involve having a TV, and a computer, and a myriad of other technological gadgets, the only purpose of which is to focus children’s attention and prevent them from being unruly and destructive?  Not in my opinion. If we want to let children be children, then we should allow them the opportunity to experience the world and not hide them from it inside, behind doors, and in front of some kind of screen. As an adult, I intend to do the same as much as I can!

And since it is officially spring time, what a better picture to acknowledge the event than that of a кокиче, or snowdrop, as I found the name of this flower to be in English? This flower signified the coming of spring when I was growing up and it only seems appropriate to include a picture in this post.

-          Krasi