SOME young members of the city's expatriate communities are celebrating their first Children's Day, while others who have grown up with Children's Day in their home countries will be checking out the local differences.

Eight-year-old Megan Taylor from England has to attend QSI today since Shenzhen's international schools don't celebrate Children's Day, but her 4-year-old brother has the day off from his Chinese kindergarten. He may invite some of his friends home to play.

In an early celebration, Megan and more than 30 other children from seven countries took part in a painting event yesterday afternoon in the Jingshan Villas club in Shekou, together with 24 senior citizens from Sihai seniors' university. The senior citizens created traditional Chinese paintings and calligraphy. The children learned from them and showed their own talents at painting.

All the painters were requested to write "Happy Children's Day" in their native language.

Indian brothers Param and Tejas Chhura are old hands at celebrating Children's Day. They have the same festival back in India, but on a different date. Their Children's Day is celebrated on Nov. 14, the birthday of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India's former prime minister. Schools in India usually organize a cultural program in the morning, then give the children the rest of the day off. Parents prepare gifts for their children.

Young Mexicans Angeline Janice and Ralph Sheppard are accustomed to celebrating the occasion in their home country on April 30. There they receive gifts, go to parties, and buy presents for other children. While Children's Day is mainly celebrated at school with teachers, some Mexican communities have parades.

Editor: Wing