April 30, 2003
Kids Page
Follow JewishJournal.com on 
Days of Sorrow and Joy
Every year on the fifth of the Hebrew month Iyar (that day falls this year on May 7), Israel celebrates Israeli Independence Day to commemorate the founding of the State of Israel in 1948. Parties and parades are held all over Israel and the United States. Yom HaAtzmaut comes after the close of Yom HaZikaron, which is a day of remembrance and mourning for those who died fighting for the Israel. These days, we also remember those who have died in terrorist attacks. After the serious and sad activities of Yom HaZikaron, the mood changes from sorrow to celebration with the onset of Yom HaAtzmaut.
Having a Party
In addition to partying at the Israel Independance Day Festival from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. in Woodley Park in Encino on May 11, here are some other ways you can celebrate:
Buy white carnations. Leave half in plain water, and place the other half in water into which you have placed a few drops of blue food coloring. As the flowers absorb the blue water, their petals will turn the same color.
Decorate a cake with white frosting, then spell out "Happy Birthday Israel" in blue jellybeans or M and M's on top.
Serve milk with blue food coloring, or add food coloring to pasta as it is cooking.
