23 minutes • Color

The celebration of holidays is one of the ways Americans of different ethnic backgrounds express their special heritages. In an elementary school, we watch students celebrate the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a special program. While this January holiday has special meaning for African Americans, it is significant for other Americans as well. In October, when there is a new moon, Hindu American families observe Diwali. Every Hindu household has a temple in the home, and that is where the family gathers to celebrate the triumph of good over evil with the lighting of candles and with songs, prayers, and special foods. In summer, Japanese Americans honor their ancestors in the Buddhist festival Obon. We see a tea ceremony in which every movement has meaning and must be done just right. There are also dancing, taiko rumming, and the launching of origami paper boats. In May, Mexican Americans celebrate Mother’s Day in the traditional Mexican way, which includes gifts of cards and flowers and a family dinner, where Mother and Grandmother are serenaded with a traditional song called Las Mananitas. Produced by Kinocraft for Coronet/MTI in association with MCP.