Elmo’s Farmhouse Holiday

Alan Muraoka (0:00)

Hi, it's me, Nina, from Sesame Street, and you're listening to Goodnight, World! A sleep cast where your friends at Sesame Street and Headspace Studios help you get ready for bed.

SPEAKER_2 (0:13)

Goodnight, World!

SPEAKER_3 (0:14)

Goodnight, World!

Alan Muraoka (0:17)

Goodnight, World!

SPEAKER_3 (0:19)

Goodnight, World! Goodnight, World! Goodnight, World!

Alan Muraoka (0:25)

Tonight's episode is Elmo's Farmhouse Holiday.

Hi, Nina here. It's the night before Christmas Eve, and I'm with Elmo at his apartment on Sesame Street. We're so glad you could join us. Elmo's family is getting ready to spend Christmas at his grandma and grandpa's farm.

SPEAKER_3 (0:50)

Elmo loves Christmas on grandma and grandpa's farm.

Alan Muraoka (0:54)

You're going to have such a fun holiday vacation.

Elmo's mommy and daddy are doing some last-minute shopping before they leave to go to your grandma and grandpa's in the morning. Right, Elmo?

SPEAKER_3 (1:04)

Right. Nina is babysitting Elmo.

Alan Muraoka (1:09)

It's so cozy here in your home. I love all your decorations, like the Christmas tree in the corner.

You know, Christmas is just one holiday some people celebrate.

SPEAKER_3 (1:22)

What are some other holidays, Nina?

Alan Muraoka (1:25)

Well, my brother Dave, his husband Frank, and my niece Mia invited me over to celebrate Hanukkah. Hanukkah is a festival of lights that they celebrate for eight days. They light candles each night on a special candle holder called a menorah. Later in the season, they celebrate another holiday called Three Kings Day. On Three Kings Day, they make lots of food, like Three Kings Bread.

Yeah, and Gabrielle and Tamir's grandma Nell taught me about another important holiday called Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration of their African-American culture and history.

Each night, they light a candle on a special candle holder called a kenara. They decorate their house with art, colorful cloth, and fresh fruit.

SPEAKER_3 (2:16)

Wow, that sounds fun.

Alan Muraoka (2:19)

See, it is. All winter holidays are beautiful and special in their own way.

SPEAKER_3 (2:25)

Elmo thinks so too.

Alan Muraoka (2:27)

Hey, Elmo, look out the window. Do you see the snow falling outside on Sesame Street?

SPEAKER_3 (2:34)

Wow, it's sparkly.

Alan Muraoka (2:38)

Look how gently the snow is falling under the street lamps.

SPEAKER_3 (2:42)

Elmo likes watching the snow fall.

Alan Muraoka (2:46)

It's such a peaceful thing to do, Elmo.

Look, everyone on Sesame Street is heading home for a good night's sleep. Even Hooper's store is locked up for the night, and Big Bird is tucked warmly in his nest.

SPEAKER_3 (3:00)

And Elmo's in his favorite blue pajamas with white polka dots.

Alan Muraoka (3:06)

Claro, that's right.

So, what do you say, Elmo? Should we pick a storybook to read before bed?

SPEAKER_3 (3:14)

Okay, but Elmo was too excited to read.

Alan Muraoka (3:18)

I can understand why, but you need to sleep, so that you'll have energy to spend a fun-filled time with your family on Christmas Eve.

I know something that'll help you relax. How about, instead of reading a bedtime story, we imagine what it'll be like on Grandma and Grandpa's farm tomorrow?

SPEAKER_3 (3:38)

Ooh, Elmo would like that.

Elmo wonders if it's snowing on Grandma and Grandpa's farm right now, too. Elmo would love to build a snow monster.

Alan Muraoka (3:53)

You can imagine building a snow monster and can imagine all the fun things you'll do at Grandma and Grandpa's farm on Christmas Eve.

SPEAKER_3 (4:01)

That's great.

Alan Muraoka (4:03)

Let's wrap you in this warm blanket.

De nada. Now that you're warm and cozy, should we slow down and do a few belly breaths together to relax from the busy day?

SPEAKER_3 (4:18)

Okay, Nina.

Alan Muraoka (4:27)

Let's place our hands on our bellies, so we can feel them move as we breathe. Now, let's breathe slowly in through our noses, then breathe slowly out through our mouths.

SPEAKER_3 (4:48)

Nice.

Alan Muraoka (4:50)

This time, after you breathe out, let's count backwards from three.

SPEAKER_3 (4:56)

Elmo can do that.

Alan Muraoka (4:58)

Good. Now, slowly breathe in through our noses, and slowly breathe out through our mouths. Three, two, one. One more time. Slowly breathe in through our noses, and out through our mouths.

How do you feel now, Elmo?

SPEAKER_3 (5:42)

Elmo feels relaxed.

Alan Muraoka (5:45)

Good. I think we're ready to imagine Christmas on Grandma and Grandpa's Farm.

SPEAKER_2 (6:13)

Let's imagine we're with Elmo in grandma and grandpa's farmhouse. Elmo's parents, Louis and May, are here too. It's cold and snowing outside, but it's warm and cozy inside. The living room is sparkly with silver decorations, a fire crackles in the fireplace.

Louis sits at the piano playing Christmas songs. The Christmas tree glitters with twinkly lights.