The Bluebird Patch

Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) is a holiday celebrated throughout Mexico & Central America and acknowledged around the world in other cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died, and help support their spiritual journey. Conceptually, it is a hybrid, owing its origins to both prehispanic Aztec philosophy & religion and medieval European ritual practice. Scholars trace its origins to indigenous observances dating back hundreds of years and to an Aztec festival dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl. In ancient Aztec ceremonies, both children and dead ancestors were remembered and celebrated. The Aztecs would bring offerings of food to altars in honor of the dead. They would also place small clay images that were supposed to represent the deceased on these same altars.  When the Spaniards arrived in the 16th century, they brought the Christian Holiday of All Soul’s Day with th...

  Fernbank  Museum Hosts Annual Halloween Family Event  Get ready for kooky costumes, not-so-scary stories and treats galore.  Fernbank  BOO-Seum Trick-or-Treat  returns for another frighteningly-fun Halloween celebration on  Saturday, October 24 . From  10 a.m. until 2 p.m. , Museum visitors will enjoy a spook-tacular day of Halloween games, activities, music and treats for kids in costumes. Halloween Treats Look for trick-or-treat stations throughout the Museum. Treats vary from candy to small toys. (May contain small parts.) BOO-Seum Costume Contest Show off crazy costumes and dance to the kid-friendly tunes of Little Beat Music. Register for the BOO-Seum costume contest to win prizes such as a FREE Museum membership and FREE IMAX® tickets. Enter to win for “Best Overall Kid’s Costume” and “Best Family.” Ghoulish Games Try your hand at Halloween games such as  Scary Boo-ling ,  Witch Hat Toss , Spider Web Game  and...

Research indicates that more than 2,000 children may be reported missing in a single day and 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys will be sexually victimized before adulthood. This is why on Halloween night it is critical you don't go out trick-or-treating  without  verifying sex offenders in your neighborhood.  You can check this information online (click here if you live in GA) or if you are visiting  unexpectedly  a different  neighborhood  you may want to download Offender Locator Lite app by ThinAir Wireless . This is a FREE app that lets you u tilize the GPS function on your iPhone to find registered offenders living near your current location. You can view registered offenders who live near your friends by simply selecting a name from your iPhone contact list.  Enter your home address or any address to find registered offenders living in that area. Enter the name of any registered offender in the U.S. and find out i...

There are 52 fun Halloween events happening in  Gwinnett this week! Click on Explore Gwinnett logo for full weekend calendar listing or click here . You may also view our full list of events at: exploregwinnett.org/events

Did you know that one pumpkin full of Halloween candy can have as much as 365 teaspoons of sugar?  That’s equivalent to the amount of sugar in 12 double scoop vanilla ice cream cones or 11,000 calories! Despite all the candy, Halloween can actually be a great opportunity to teach your kids about moderation and balance. But h ow do you do it?  The experts at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Strong4Life believe no food is ever off limits and that everyone can take part in holiday festivities (including Halloween candy). The trick? It's all about the Ps and Cs: It’s the parents' job to  plan ,  prep  and  provide  and it’s the children’s’ job to choose : 1.       Plan Ahead: Before you know it, little ghosts and goblins will be at your door yelling "trick-or-treat!" What will you be handing out? Plan ahead and consider how you can provide healthier options. Think pretzels, stickers, pencils, plastic spider r...

Four out of 100 children have some sort of food allergy. Halloween can be a fun holiday for kids, but when you are a kid dealing with food allergies, things like nut-filled candy can be the bogeyman that can ruin the fun. Th is Halloween, FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) is encouraging communities to start a new tradition that will help make this holiday season less scary for children with food allergies: the  Teal Pumpkin Project .  This campaign encourages people to raise awareness of food allergies by providing non-food treats for trick-or-treaters and painting a pumpkin teal - the color of food allergy awareness - to place in front of their house along with a free printable sign from FARE to indicate they have non-food treats available.  The Teal Pumpkin Project is designed to promote safety, inclusion and respect of individuals managing food allergies – and to keep Halloween a fun, positive experience for all. Ideas for Non-foo...

Keep Calm Halloween is Coming There are less than 3 weeks until Halloween so it's time to start thinking about what you want your little ones to be. I personally love DIY costumes because they are fun, personal and unique. Homemade costumes when they are well made and thought out can make you feel like a rockstar. All eyes are on you because you are the only one with a clever costume that's unique and different from the norm. If you need some inspiration to help you get in a spooktacular mood, head to our Halloween Pinterest board for costumes ideas, crafts, printables and halloween decor.   http://www.pinterest.com/bluebirdpatch/halloween

CA LLING ALL TRICK-OR-TREATERS! IT’S SCARY HOW MUCH GOOD YOU CAN DO! Actress, platinum recording artist and author Zendaya, this year’s Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF spokesperson, is asking kids in the U.S. to make a difference in the lives of other kids by raising funds for UNICEF’s lifesaving programs. Zendaya will be appearing as a “Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF superhero” in print, online, and broadcast public service announcements to encourage participation in the 64-year-old American tradition. Donations collected through Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF provide medicine, nutrition, clean water, emergency relief and education to children around the world.  “ I loved Trick-or-Treating for UNICEF when I was younger because it was such an empowering experience to be able to make a difference. Kids need more than candy; they need basics like medicine, nutrition and clean drinking water, and millions of them wouldn’t have these things without UNICEF,” said Zendaya, 18-...

HALLOWEEN MEMORIES   Colors of orange Colors of black Halloween colors taking me back to childhood adventures on All Hallows Eve Traditions as ancient as Adam and Eve  Black cats arch their backs Owls hoot a tune Witches ride broomsticks across the full moon.   Tiny tots dressed for the gay masquerade with treats to be gathered and tricks to be played   Myst'ries will fade with the bright light of dawn but mem'ries will linger when childhood is gone.      

  Dust off those costumes, practice your monster-mash and prepare your teeth for sugar overload. Fernbank Museum of Natural History will be full of festivities as it hosts the annual family event, Fernbank Boo -seum, on Saturday, October 26, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will include Halloween-themed activities, tricks, and treats for kids in costumes.*                                              Activities include : ** Halloween Treats Beginning at 10 am , while supplies last Look for special treat stations throughout the Museum. Treats vary from candy to small toys. (May contain small parts.) Radio Disney noon – 2 pm , Great Hall Enjoy kid-friendly entertainment for the whole family. Games 10 am – 2 pm , Great Hall Try your hand at...

Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is a powerful way to make a difference in the lives of the world’s children. Today, that mission is as urgent as ever, and the campaign is just as vibrant.  Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF remains an inspiration to the young to further the cause of children everywhere. Taking part in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is easy.  It can be as simple as going door to door on Halloween with your collection boxes, or as creative as holding a pumpkin-carving contest with your class, friends or entire community. The fundraising kit has everything you need!To order boxes or to participate visit  t rickortreatforunicef.org.  Download PDF of Unit & Lesson Plans: PK-2 3-5

Bibbity Bobbity Boo!   October has arrived so you know what that means. Bring on the glue gun, turn on the oven and let's get busy!  Share your old or new Halloween crafts, recipes, projects, home and party decor with us and we'll share them across our different social media channels. I'm dying to see your Boo'tiful creations for Halloween. Let's have a FANGtastic Halloween!! The party will continue everyday this month until October 31st. Grab a button and spread the word!

  Two New Haunts, THE DEAD ONES and BOOGEYMAN | Opens Friday, September 27   Do you believe in the superstitions that revolve around Friday the 13 th ? Well, Netherworld has been bringing those superstitions to life for more than 17 years! With bigger special effects, more terrifying monsters and two new haunts, Netherworld announces 13 reasons their 20 13 season will leave attendees screaming for more:   1.       The path through NETHERWORLD is LONGER than 6 football fields!    2. There are more than 250 special effects and animatronic creatures at NETHERWORLD including a 40 Foot Long Spinning Tunnel, more than a Dozen Giant Monsters, a 20 Foot Rocking Room and in 2013...more than two dozen ghostly projections!       3.       The Museum at NETHERWORLD features a rare collection of skulls and bones from around the globe, Crypto zoological Artifacts, and...