Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in silicon valley, CA

With all the cultures and traditions represented in the San Francisco Bay Area, you won't have to charter a jet to introduce your child to holiday traditions from around the globe.  Chances are there's some international holiday celebration going on right here in Silicon Valley.  Here are a few family-friendly holiday events to get you started:

1) The Young Scandinavians Club rings in the Holiday Season with a traditional St. Lucia celebration, complete with candlelight procession, Glögg, Lussekator and other baked treats, singing, Santa, and goodie bags. Swedish Lucia: Sunday, December 14th, 2008 at 4:30pm.

2) Hanukkah in the Lobby.  Join the Peninsual Jewish Community Center in an early celebration of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights.  Enjoy crafts, games and special Chanukah foods from 1 - 3pm and then join in Shabbat and Hanukkah sing-a-long and storytelling from 3 - 3:30pm  (Dec 19, 1-3PM).

3) Begin the holiday season the Mexican way with Las Posadas, the traditional enactment of Joseph and Mary's search for a place to stay in Bethlehem.  Pack your rebozo (poncho) and flashlight, and join San Jose Library's Biblioteca Latinoamericana's end of the year celebration featuring a community Posada. There will be music, songs, a procession, Mexican folk dance, buñuelos, books and more.  Tuesday, Dec 16, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM.

4) I can't resist a little plug for a great event featuring my own culture:  the 2008 Philippine Parol Lantern Parade in San Francisco.  The Parade starts at Bayanihan Community Center 1010 Mission Street in San Francisco. Participants parade through the streets carrying hundreds of colorful, intricate, one-of-a-kind star-shaped lanterns (said to symbolize the Christmas star).  Your child will be mesmerized as they change color and twinkle and light up the night sky. December 13, 2008 at 5:00 PM.

5)  You'll find yourself in a different world altogether -- The Land of Sweets -- as you walk through the Gingerbread houses display, an annual tradition at San Mateo's Coyote Point Museum.  2008 continues the "green" tradition begun last year with addition of the environmental gingerbread house theme.  Entries will be on display in the Environmental Hall from Saturday, December 13th through Saturday, December 27th.

It is, indeed, a small world after all.