We tell you how to organize a fun holiday for children on a marine theme - Neptune Day. The ideas we have collected will be useful for counselors in children's summer camps, where this holiday is especially popular.
- How did the holiday “Neptune Day” appear?
- The main traditions of celebrating Neptune Day
- Costumes for Neptune Day
- Hall decorations for Neptune Day
- Treats for Neptune Day
- Competitions and games for Neptune Day
How did the holiday “Neptune Day” appear?
Neptune Day is a fun summer holiday that all children who come to summer camp look forward to. Neptune Day is usually celebrated in mid-summer, on July 16th. But sometimes, in order to please the children from each shift, the holiday is held several times.
There are several versions of where the tradition of celebrating Neptune Day came to us. Once upon a time, the ancient Romans held a neptunalia - a holiday honoring the god Neptune, the ruler of the seas and streams, so that he would prevent drought.
Also, the Neptune holiday is popular among sailors and is celebrated when a ship passes the equator. Once upon a time, superstitious sailors staged a party to win the favor of Neptune, create a fair wind and quickly cross the equator. Later that day, experienced “sea wolves” began to initiate newcomers into maritime affairs. And not a single initiation took place without throwing new ones into the water.
Now even those who are not associated with navigation have begun to celebrate the holiday of Neptune: costume parades, games near bodies of water, quests for children and adults, and swimming in nearby rivers and lakes are organized in cities. Children especially liked the holiday and became popular in summer camps.
Scene Four: The Goldfish Appears
Continuing to write the script for Neptune Day in a camp with competitions, let's say a few words about the Goldfish. They say that if you catch it, then luck will certainly turn to face you. On stage are the same Goldfish.
A fish appears and dances, together with four other fish, a belly dance to the song “Oriental Tales” performed by J. Friske. After the dance, he approaches Neptune: “Did you call me? What do you want?"
Neptune: “I know that you know everything and can do a lot, have the gift of prediction and make wishes come true. Can you find my daughter Ariella?
The fish comes closer: “I can do a lot and I will help with your trouble. But in return I want to receive from you a chest of excellent pearls.”
Neptune: “Just that? For the sake of my beloved daughter, I am ready to sacrifice any treasures. But you will have to wait a little while my subjects collect pearls for you.”
The main traditions of celebrating Neptune Day
There is no single scenario for celebrating Neptune Day, but there are several traditions that all participants in the fun adhere to:
- the main thing at the holiday is Neptune;
- devils and mermaids are Neptune’s constant retinue, which helps to carry out the performance;
- After the performance, the campers are forced to bathe in the nearest body of water or pour water on the counselors and new students.
The holiday itself is accompanied by competitions, songs, dances and quizzes. Sometimes the end of a holiday is not complete without a bonfire on the shore of a pond.
Scene three: the frogs come back
The frogs come up and say in unison: “Kwa. We've been everywhere. They even ran to the shore. But the princess was not found." The merman shrugs absentmindedly. The mermaids come closer in fear. Neptune enters. The frogs move aside and cover their heads with their hands.
Neptune: “What happened? What's wrong? And for what reason has everyone gathered here?
Vodyanoy comes up and timidly says: “Your daughter Ariella has disappeared. We have searched every corner of your kingdom, but we have never found her.”
Neptune angrily: “What? Why didn't anyone report to me? It's a mess." – Swings a trident at his charges.
One of the mermaids intercedes: “We just didn’t want to upset you.”
Neptune puts away the trident: “Well? Since you didn’t succeed, I’ll try to look for my daughter myself. Bring me the goldfish."
Costumes for Neptune Day
For Neptune's Day, as for any other holiday for children, you should prepare in advance. It is better not to burden children who have come to camp to take a break from school assignments with complex roles, but rather to offer them to focus on costumes for the holiday. It is important to remember that costumes for Neptune’s holiday should not be complicated, but can be easily constructed from scrap materials.
Neptune's costume should be the most elegant with the obligatory attributes: a crown, a trident and a beard.
For the god of the seas, it is easy to make a crown out of cardboard, like the trident itself, by covering them with foil. The beard can be made from cotton wool, and the outfit can be made from sheets and colored fabrics.
Making a mermaid costume with your own hands is also not difficult. The main thing is to pay attention to the tail, which can be made from blue fabric.
If you don’t have fabric of the right color on hand for a mermaid costume, the tail can be replaced with a skirt made from scraps of polyethylene, tulle or corrugated paper.
Pirates can also take part in the performances. Read how to make a pirate costume with your own hands in our master class.
The faces and bodies of other participants may be painted with soot, chalk, or colored face paints. And everyday clothes are simply decorated with something nautical themed.
Hall decorations for Neptune Day
If the festive performance on Neptune's Day before going to the pond takes place in the hall, you should also take care of its decoration. Children will take great pleasure in creating decorations if you instruct them to make simple crafts on a marine theme.
Jellyfish and fish hanging on threads or fishing lines from the ceiling, algae along the walls, anchors and sea waves - all this festive decor can easily be made from cardboard or whatman paper, but it will perfectly help create a sea mood.
Treats for Neptune Day
The food and its presentation at a children's summer camp depends entirely on the team of cooks. But if you want to completely immerse your children in the holiday atmosphere, you can get a little creative for Neptune Day and serve familiar dishes in a festive setting. Moreover, it will not take much time and will not require much effort.
Read how to make a dolphin from a banana in our dessert decorating master class.
These ideas for decorating treats are perfect for a children's party in a nautical theme.
Competitions and games for Neptune Day
Whatever your scenario for celebrating Neptune Day at a summer camp, you can’t do without children’s games outside. Of course, the holiday itself implies that children's games with water will prevail. We offer you several competitions and relay races for the Neptune holiday that will help make this day even more fun.
- Diving. Children are divided into teams. Each team is given a pair of fins and a glass of water. The first participant stands on the starting line, puts fins on his feet, picks up a glass of water and lifts it above his head, finding himself “underwater.” At the signal, the movement begins. Having completed the required path, the first “submariner” passes the fins and glass to the next one. If water spills from the glass as you move, you need to add it. The winner is the team that swims “underwater” the fastest and splashes the least amount of water.
- Vodokhleb. 1 person is selected from each squad or team. His task: drink water from different positions in 1 minute. If a participant spills water from a glass or cannot drink any more, they are eliminated. Regulations for the “Water Bread” competition: - drink water, holding the glass between the backs of your hands; - drink water holding the glass on the crook of your elbow; - drink water, placing the glass on your open palm; - drink water, holding the glass between your teeth and without using your hands; - Drink water through a straw.
- Rescuers. Each team must have the same number of participants. To play you will need an inflatable or real lifebuoy. Players put the circle on themselves over their heads, put their hands through it and take them off through their legs. Then they step over the circle, leaving it for the next player. Whose rescue team completes the task faster will be the winner.
- Water bombs. The balloons are filled with water and tied tightly. The "bombs" are ready. With such projectiles, players can compete in turns or in teams: Throwing water “bombs” for accuracy and range. Knocking down targets. In teams, passing a water “bomb” over their heads at speed. The team whose balloon bursts loses.
Now you have many interesting ideas on how you can spend Neptune Day in a fun and interesting way. Unforgettable summer experiences for you and your children!
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Competitions for children: “Jumping like frogs”
The presenter comes out: “Our frogs jumped. It's time for us to stretch our legs. Let's have a jumping competition. To do this, break into pairs, stand with your back to each other, hook your elbows to your neighbor’s elbows and squat to the music. The couple who loses is the one whose movements are asynchronous and their hands unclench. And, accordingly, the one who lasts the longest wins.” A fast melody begins to play (any music with a perky tempo will do). At the end of the competition, one of the most persistent couples is selected and awarded.
