Pepero Day!

November 11, began as a typical morning at school. I arrived at school around 8:15, got some coffee and sat down at my desk to get the day started before class. Around 8:20, one student comes into the teacher's lounge and puts a box of cookie sticks called Pepero's on my desk. I had no idea why but said "Thank you, you are so nice!" and she understood and walked out. Around 8:22, another student came in and did the same thing. For a moment I thought "Wow, they must have really liked yesterday's lesson," HA. Nope, that wasn't it. More and more students kept coming in one by one and giving me boxes of Pepero's. Some had notes that said "Just for You, teacher" and others had a bow and hearts on it. Some of my favorite first grade boy students came in with a big box of Pepero's and turned red in the face. Well it sure got the rest of the teachers laughing and talking and one teacher even said "Sheila, it's like your birthday." I knew my birthday wasn't for about 8 more months, so I finally asked one of the teachers, "What did I do to get all these?" She smiled and laughed a little and said "It's Pepero Day!" She then went on to explain that every year on November 11, since the day is 11/11 it looks like sticks, and the Pepero cookie sticks are a way to celebrate Pepero day. People give them to those they care about. I almost cried! I love my students almost as much as Pepero day! I NEED to bring this "holiday" back to "the states" with me, it's kind of like Valentine's Day, but better.  I can only imagine what next year will be like on Pepero Day when its November 11, 2011. I will post a pic of my big cardboard box of Pepero's. There are still so many boxes of them at my house, if you're lucky maybe you'll get one next year...if they're not extremely stale by then!