Parents' Guide to Waffles + Mochi's Holiday Feast

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Common Sense Media Review

Ashley Moulton By Ashley Moulton , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 5+

Foodie puppets learn about global holiday traditions.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 5+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 7+

Based on 1 parent review

What's the Story?

In Waffles + Mochi's Holiday Feast, Waffles and Mochi have returned home to The Land of Frozen Foods since the grocery store where they work is closed for winter break. Steve the Mop calls and talks about making his famous Hanukkah latkes, and asks Waffles if they celebrate any winter holidays. Waffles panics and makes up a holiday on the spot -- Freezie Day. Before they know it, Steve has arrived to Waffles and Mochi's house with his family, and soon other friends from the grocery store come over for a Freezie Day celebration. Since there's no actual holiday, Waffles and Mochi haven't prepared food for their guests. Waffles stays home to stall while Mochi goes off adventuring with Magicart to gather food for their party. Mochi first visits Hawaii, where Hawaiian chef Kimi Werner shows Mochi how she celebrates Makahiki, the indigenous Hawaiian New Year festival. Next Mochi heads to Norway to visit a reindeer herder and learn about the Juovllat holiday celebrated by Norway's Sami people. Mochi and Magicart are heading back to The Land of Frozen Foods with poi from Hawaii and cloudberry jam from Norway when they realize they're flying right next to Santa. Waffles finally confesses to the party guests that there is no food for the Freezie Day feast. The guests, which now include celebrity chef Samin Nosrat (Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat) and actor Tracee Ellis Ross, remind Waffles that the most important thing about holidays is being together with family and friends. They sing a song, prepare a feast together, and enjoy the first ever Freezie Day celebration.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 1 ):
Kids say : Not yet rated

Waffles + Mochi's Holiday Feast is a delightfully different spin on a Christmas special for kids. Christmas and Hanukkah are barely mentioned, and instead the show highlights the fact that lots of cultures around the world have holiday traditions associated with the winter solstice. Kids will enjoy seeing Mochi travel to Hawaii's oceans and Norway's reindeer herds and learning about holidays that are most likely new-to-them. They may feel a little squeamish about seeing people cook and eat whole fish in Hawaii, or pancakes made with reindeer blood in Norway, but that's exactly the point the show is making. People all over the world celebrate in different ways, but the common denominator is sharing traditions with family and friends. Waffles, Mochi, and the rest of the gang from the supermarket are hilarious as always and undertake some real laugh out loud shenanigans. The episode ends on a poignant and happy note about the joy of spending the holidays with loved ones, and this feel-good special is perfect for families looking to expand their winter holiday viewing repetoire.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the lesson Waffles learns in the episode. What do you think holidays are all about? Why are they important?

  • Mochi is curious to learn about two winter solstice holidays, one in Hawaii and one in Norway. Does our family celebrate any holidays around the winter solstice? What are some of the traditions that help us celebrate?

TV Details

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