Free Christmas Around the World Unit & Lapbook

Note: This unit has a lot of information, don’t feel pressured to do all of it or read all of it.

One way to go about this unit is to choose one country per day and read about it. You might want to try a recipe or make the associated craft or ornament and add it to your tree at home. Another option is to pick a few countries to learn about during your study.

This is a list of books that contain information on Christmas celebrations in several countries.
The country research files have book lists for the specific countries.

The Real Mother Goose Book Of Christmas Carols by Scholastic (gives a brief history of the Christmas Carol and then has the music for the carol)

Hark! A Christmas Sampler by Jane Yolen and Tomie dePaola (songs, folk legends, stories of Christmas from many cultures)

Geography:

Argentina is located on the southern tip of South America and shares borders with the Atlantic Ocean, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil. Its largest city and capital is Buenos Aires (pronounced “Bway-nos I-rays”-the “o” and “i” are long vowels). Some of the important cities of Argentina besides the capital are Córdoba, Mendoza, Mar Del Plata, and Bariloche. Argentina has the pampas (Read about these grasslands HERE) in the eastern part of the country. The western border has the Andes Mountains. The northern border has tropical jungles and beautiful waterfalls (Iguazú). The tip of Argentina has a climate similar to Anchorage, Alaska.

The flag has three stripes. The top and bottom are light blue. The middle one is white. The sun is yellow, but it is not always put on the flag. The sun is sometimes only used for special occasions.

It is summertime and hot in Argentina during the Christmas season. However, Argentines still celebrate the season by decorating a tree. Since many of the Christmas customs in Argentina are adopted from the US and Europe, they will sometimes use cotton balls on their trees to represent snow. Many times a Nativity scene is also set up. Children will write to Santa (which isn’t the norm in most Hispanic countries except Argentina).

On Christmas Eve, December 24^th, families gather together to celebrate. There is a big meal with turkey, ham, or lamb. Champagne and cider are the typical drinks. To end the meal there are almonds, turrón (nougat confection), and pan dulce (sweet bread). Niños envueltos (meaning “wrapped up kids”) is another favorite dish. It is made of steak cut into square pieces. The pieces are stuffed with minced meat, onion, spices and hard-boiled eggs. The meat is then rolled up and cooked. “Papa Noel” (Santa Claus) normally arrives on the 24^th to hand out gifts. In many families, a family member plays Papa Noel and hands out the gifts.

On Christmas Day, December 25^thsome Argentines will attend church. The holiday has become more secular than religious for many Argentines though. They will also get together with family again and will eat potluck style-with every family member bringing something to eat.

January 6^th is the Day of the Three Kings (Día de los Reyes). This celebrates the coming of the Wisemen to see baby Jesus. Many children will leave their shoes out by their bed or under the tree the night before and in the morning they will have gifts in their shoes. A traditional food on this day is Rosca de Reyes, crown-shaped sweet bread decorated with candied fruits to resemble jewels. Before baking, one or more tiny figures of babies, to symbolize the Baby Jesus, are hidden in the dough.

Navidad, Navidad, hoy es Navidad.
Con campanas este día hay que festejar
Navidad, Navidad, porque ya nació
ayer noche, Nochebuena, el niñito Dios.

Christmas, Christmas, today is Christmas
With bells this day we must celebrate
Christmas, Christmas, because He was born
Last night, Christmas Eve, the baby Jesus (Child God).

Campana sobre campana
y sobre campana una
asómate a la ventana
verás a un niño en la cuna.

Recogido tu rebaño
a donde vas pastorcillo?
Voy a llevar la portal
requesón, manteca y vino

Campana sobre campana
y sobre campana dos
asómate a la ventana
porque esta naciendo Dios

Caminando a media noche
¿donde caminas pastor?
le llevo al niño que nace
como a Dios mi corazón

Campana sobre campana
y sobre campana tres
en una cruz a esta hora
del niño va a padecer

Website with Argentine carols: This site is completely in Spanish but you can click on a song and it will then go to the lyrics. Near the lyrics there will be a MIDI file so that you can listen to the tune of the song.

Book List:

Ernie Dances to the Didgeridoo: for the Children of Gunbalanya by Alison Lester

Australia is like no other country in the world. It is the only country that is also a continent. It is completely surrounded by water like an island, but because of its size it is classified as a continent. It is the world’s sixth largest country and the smallest continent in area. Australia is known as the “land down under”, because it is the only inhabited continent that is below the equator, and lies completely in the southern Hemisphere. It is located in the South Pacific and Indian Oceans. The huge interior of Australia is mostly desert or dry grassland. It is famous for it’s vast open spaces, bright sunshine, enormous numbers of sheep and cattle, and unusual wildlife.

Most Australians trim a tree at Christmas, whether real or artificial, early in December. And many decorate their homes with wattle flowers, bottlebrush and cuttings from Australia’s own Christmas bush. Outdoor lights and decorations have become more popular with nativity scenes and Santa and his team appearing on lawns everywhere.

The first thing about Christmas in Australia is that it is celebrated in the country’s summertime, when temperatures can range from 80-100 degrees F. No snow and log fires for them, though their Christmas Cards and traditions usually depict those of colder climates. Australia is a multicultural country and with this, the traditions are often mingled and derived from a mixture of other countries.

They have Christmas Trees, Father Christmas, Christmas Carols and gifts, which are a familiar Christmas scenario. Christmas Dinner may be a barbeque in the backyard or a picnic on a beach though.

A traditional meal includes a turkey dinner, with ham, and pork. A flaming Christmas plum pudding is added for dessert. In the Australian gold rushes, Christmas puddings often contained a gold nugget. Today a small favor is baked inside. Whoever finds this knows s/he will enjoy good luck. Another treat is Mince Pies.

Some Australians and particularly tourists often have their Christmas dinner at midday on a local beach. Bondi Beach in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs attracts thousands of people on Christmas Day. Other families enjoy their day by having a picnic. If they are at home, the day is punctuated by swimming in a pool, playing Cricket out in the backyard, and other outdoor activities.

The warm weather allows Australians to enjoy a tradition that commenced in 1937. Carols by Candlelight is held every year on Christmas Eve, where tens of thousands of people gather in the city of Melbourne to sing their favorite Christmas songs. The evening is lit by as many candles singing under a clean cut night sky. The sky with its Southern Cross stars is like a mirror. Sydney and the other capital cities also enjoy Carols in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Boxing Day is another Holiday that is celebrated in Australia. It is celebrated the day after Christmas on December 26th, as part of the Christmas Spirit- (giving).

While the exact origins of the holiday are obscure, it is likely that Boxing Day began in England during the Middle Ages. Some historians say the holiday developed because servants were required to work on Christmas Day, but took the following day off. As servants prepared to leave to visit their families, their employers would present them with gift boxes.

Another theory is that the boxes placed in churches where parishioners deposited coins for the poor were opened and the contents distributed on December 26, which is also the Feast of St. Stephen. As time went by, Boxing Day gift giving expanded to include those who had rendered a service during the previous year. This tradition survives today as people give presents to tradesmen, mail carriers, doormen, porters, and others who have helped them.

Boxing day is celebrated in Great Britain and in most areas settled by the English (the U.S. is the major exception), including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Boxing Day is just one of the British bank holidays recognized since 1871 that are observed by banks, government offices, and the post office. The others include Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, Whitmonday (the day after Pentecost), and the banking holiday on the last Monday in August.

On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
A kookaburra in a gum tree

On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Two snakes on skis, and a kookaburra in a gum tree

Three wet galahs …
Four lyrebirds …
Five kangaroos …
Six sharks a - surfing …
Seven emus laying …
Eight dingos dancing …
Nine crocs a - snoozing …
Ten wombats washing …
Eleven lizards leaping …
Twelve possums playing …

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Twelve possums playing, Eleven lizards leaping,
Ten wombats washing, Nine crocs a - snoozing,
Eight dingos dancing, Seven emus laying,
Six sharks a - surfing, Five kangaroos,
Four lyrebirds, Three wet galahs,
Two snakes on skia, And a kookaburra in a gum tree.

Lamingtons are often left for Santa as a treat. They are cake squares smothered in coconut.

Tips:
The American tablespoon is a little smaller than the British tablespoon, so be generous with your Golden Syrup (or Honey) and Water. If you have any thoughts of keeping the biscuits for any length of time I suggest you keep them in a padlocked container!

Crafts:

Christmas Crackers

Cut a paper towel tube to the desired length. Fill with candy. Wrap with wrapping paper allowing paper to hang over ends. Then twist ends and secure with ribbon.

Lapbook Components:
All About
Coloring
Customs

Geography:
The United Kingdom is made up of 4 countries – England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland. It is a member of the European Union. The capital of England is London, the largest UK city. The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh. The capital of Wales is Cardiff. The capital of N. Ireland is Belfast. The UK flag is called the Union Jack. The longest river in the UK is the River Severn at 220 miles (354 km) long. It rises in Powys, Mid-Wales and flows into the Bristol Channel. The largest lake in the UK is Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland it is approximately twenty miles (30 km) long and nine miles (15 km) wide with an area of 151 square miles (392 square kilometres). The highest Mountain in the UK is Ben Nevis in the Grampian Mountains in Scotland. The summit is 4,409 ft (1,344 metres) above sea level.

People will buy or make advent calendars and open one of the 24 windows every day in the countdown to Christmas.

A couple of months before, some people will start making Christmas cakes and Christmas puddings. Christmas cakes are often given as gifts. They are usually given undecorated so they can be eaten either plain with slices of cheese such as a mature cheddar, or they can be covered first with marzipan and then royal icing which sets very hard. Small figurines of Father Christmas, robins and/or holly leaves with berries are put on top.

Cities, towns and villages all have Christmas lights. They are usually switched on in early December by a celebrity (local or otherwise, depending on size of town...)

Some children go to see Father Christmas in his grotto in shops, museums, down mines (National Coalmining Museum) or on steam trains.

People decorate their houses inside and out – this is known as “trimming up”. Many people put trees and lights on the outside of their houses. Inside, it is usual to have a fir tree – real or imitation. It is decorated with baubles, lights, chocolates and tinsel amongst other things.

Tinsel and paper trimmings are put up inside the house along with the display of Christmas cards. Paper chains are easy to make. Some people prefer more natural trimmings like Holly, Ivy, pinecones, and mistletoe. Often people use a combination of man-made and natural materials in their homes. Candles are very popular at this time of year. Holly wreaths are hung on the outside of the front door. There is no special day to 'trim up' some people do it on 1^st December while others do it as late as Christmas Eve itself. However, it is traditional to take all trimmings down by Epiphany (6^th January) otherwise the belief is that the inhabitants of the house will get bad luck.

Traditions:
Many of the traditions practiced today come from Britain's ancient past. Under the Romans, December 17^th - 24^th was a festival called Saturnalia. And the 25^thof December was des natalis invicti solis which means the Feast of the Unconquered Sun – for the Roman god Mithras. It was celebrated by lighting candles, giving presents (mostly dolls) and decorating streets and houses with evergreen. Masters switched places with servants for the day and a “Lord of Misrule” was appointed. There was much feasting, drinking and dancing with masquerades being performed throughout the festivities.

After the Roman period, with the coming of Christianity up until the 14^th century, Yule Festivities began on December 25^th. There were still lots of feasting and drinking with dice games and songs being added. During this period, they also hunted small birds and animals, brought in the Yule Log, Wassailed the local fruit and decorated their homes with evergreens. They also played Blind Man's Buff and Leapfrog, both games being thought to ward off bad luck. During Yuletide, everyone was welcomed in, especially bands of wandering minstrels (musicians).

King Alfred was the first king to enforce the observance of the twelve days of 'Christ's Mass' according to church law. This time of year was known as 'Nativity', 'Mid winter' or Mid-Winter Mass' up until 1043 when the word Christmas was used for the first time in the “Anglo Saxon Chronicle”.

In churches, candles were burnt to represent the light of the world and they were decorated with evergreens to represent eternal life. They used Holly and Rosemary particularly with Mistletoe being banned from all churches except York Minster because of its associations with Paganism.

Nativity plays, now a very fixed feature of Christmas in churches and primary schools throughout the UK, first started in the 12^th century but were acted in Latin all year round!

This is also the period that saw the emergence of Carols, which developed from French dances. (The English royal family at this time was descended from William the Conqueror since 1066). Most early carols have been lost or changed beyond recognition as they were passed down orally. Two of the oldest surviving are The Holly and the Ivy and I Saw Three Ships.

From the 14^th Century until Victorian times, Mummers performed plays and dances. Mummers are still seen today around Easter or, more commonly, on St George's Day re-enacting the story of George and the dragon.

In the 15^th century, professional “waits” were employed in big houses to entertain family and friends with games, dancing, music and singing. The poor and needy were invited in to join in the celebrations. This was so important that both Elizabeth I and James I insisted that land-owners went back to their estates at Christmas particularly to ensure that the poor got cared for.

After the discovery of America and the expansion of overseas trade, Christmas food began to change. It had always involved lots of meat, nuts, and Frumenty – a type of porridge with dried fruit but now the meat had changed. Turkeys became part of the meal in great houses along with swan and crane by 1541.

Christmas carried on much like it always had done with plays and singing and dancing etc right up until 1647 when it was banned all over England by the Puritans. It had first been banned in Scotland in 1583, and then in certain parts of England during the Civil War in 1644. Shops were told to open and churches to close. The general ban caused riots and arrests. In the North of England, however, some people still carried on celebrating albeit in secret; if people openly went to church to celebrate they ran the risk of arrest! After the reformation, people hardly celebrated Christmas at all except in Yorkshire (yippee!) where people still feasted, sang and danced.

It was during the 17^th and 18^th centuries that 'Old Father Christmas' became the personification of the Christmas spirit. He was usually dressed in green (NOT red) and was associated with St. Nicholas as the giver of presents.

Pantomimes, now a stalwart of the Christmas period, were first introduced in 1717 and were known as 'Harlequinades'. Modern pantomimes are based on popular fairy tales such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin etc. There is always a principal boy which is a young woman dressed as a man (Prince Charming), a Dame which is a middle-aged man dressed as a woman who is usually related or somehow the guardian of the female lead I.e. Cinderella. There's lots of jokes, dancing, singing and general tomfoolery between the actors and the audience. Children love them because they might get picked to go on stage, or they might be able to catch the sweets thrown out to the audience. There's always a sing-a-long and a grand finale. Audiences are encouraged to actively participate by cheering the 'goodies' and booing the 'baddies'.

After the Reformation, presents were once more exchanged and Yule Log traditions revived. The whole family would go looking for a Yule Log that was taken home, placed in the hearth, lit from last years fire (or else it would bring bad luck) and was then kept in for the full 12 days of Christmas, again, risking bad luck if it went out.

Houses were decorated openly with evergreens such as bay, laurel, ivy, box, yew, mistletoe, rosemary and holly. A “Kissing Bough” was hung from the ceiling, this was a wagon wheel adorned with candles and covered with holly with apples and other fruit hanging from it.

Evergreens were not hung until Christmas Eve and were taken down on 12^th night.

Christmas Eve was also the day that “wassailers” went caroling around houses. They were given mince pies, cake, cheese and drinks of ale or mulled wine. (It is to be remembered that for many centuries everyone, including children, drank ale as the water was so very polluted and therefore unsafe to drink.)

Another tradition is Boxing Day on December 26^th. This is a bank holiday in the UK nowadays. It originates from the tradition of churches breaking open their alms boxes to distribute to the poor of the Parish.

New traditions developed in the 19^th century, for instance, the custom of sending Christmas cards, which started in 1840 with the arrival of the 'Penny Post', the first UK public postal service. Originally, Christmas cards showed religious pictures of the nativity story.

The Christmas tree was brought to England by Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert from his native Germany where they had been a traditional part of Christmas since 16^th century. There was an etching featuring the Royal Family gathered around a Christmas tree in Windsor Castle in the Illustrated London News in 1848. This rapidly increased the popularity of the Christmas tree throughout Victorian England.

Christmas Stockings also began to be hung around this time following the German tradition. They traditionally contain nuts, an orange and a penny – although in modern times, the penny has been replaced by chocolate coins. There are then numerous small stocking fillers in the form of toys, game and often socks. Most children hang their stockings or pillowcases up on Christmas Eve. Notes are left for Father Christmas. It is very important to leave him a mince pie and a glass of sherry and maybe even a carrot for the reindeer.

Presents are opened on Christmas morning. Some children will have their stockings on their beds; others will open them with all their family members. Children generally play with their new toys until dinner is ready. Many families do not attend church. Of those that do, some will go on Christmas morning while the turkey cooks, others, particularly Catholics, will have been to midnight mass on Christmas Eve.

Many people with children will attend the Anglican church's Christingle services earlier on Christmas Eve. Children make/are given a Christingle at these services. These are an orange, with a red ribbon wrapped round it, with 4 cocktail sticks stuck in at the quarters with a sweet on the end of each stick and a candle stuck in the middle of the orange. The orange represents the world; the ribbon represents the blood of Christ; the 4 sticks are the fruit of the world and the 4 seasons; the candle is Jesus, the light of the world. The first Christingle is lit and the flame is passed from one to another until all are lit whilst the church lights are dimmed and carols are sung. Christingle originates from the Moravian church in Germany in 1747 and was made popular in the UK from 1968 as a means of raising money and awareness by the charity The Childrens’ Society.

Christmas dinner is very important. It is usually served at around 1 O’clock in the afternoon but varies from family to family. Some people like to have it over and done with in time for the Queen's speech at 3pm. For dinner, people usually have a bird, turkey is very common these days but some people will have goose. It is served with roast potatoes, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, bread sauce, vegetables – peas, carrots, sprouts (essential), chestnuts, Yorkshire Puddings, gravy.

For dessert, it is traditional to serve Christmas pudding. This is first dowsed in brandy and then set fire to. This is done either at the table or the pudding is brought into the room whilst still burning. This is served with Rum sauce or Brandy Butter.

The setting of the table is usually very important. People bring out napkins and napkin rings, make fancy centerpieces, use name cards (for large gatherings) and everyone has a Christmas cracker next to their place setting. These contain small prizes, a snap (which makes the banging sound when they are pulled), a joke or riddle and a paper hat, which is then worn throughout the meal.

Note: For any recipe containing alcohol, if an alcohol-free version is preferred, substitute the alcohol for the same amount of apple or orange juice.

1. Put all ingredients EXCEPT brand/rum into a heatproof bowl and mix thoroughly.

4. Check by gently shaking bowl from side to side. Any large bits that need more rubbing will come to the surface.

5. Add cold water a tablespoonful at a time. Mixing the pastry with a fork until I becomes like dough.

6. Test consistency by pressing a small amount of mixture in your hands. If it holds together it is ready.

7. Place pastry in a plastic bag and put in fridge for 20 minutes before rolling.

9. Roll pastry on a lightly floured cold surface, preferably marble. Roll with a floured rolling pin from the centre until about 1/4” thick.

16. Serve hot or allow to cool on a wire tray and store in an airtight container.

Note: This will keep for up to 2 months in a cool dark place and should be made a month before use.

8. Cover with greaseproof paper and tie tinfoil over the bowl securely with string.

9. Place in a large pan of water and steam for 8 hours. Do NOT let pan boil dry.

10. When pudding is cold, remove paper and foil, replace it and put pudding to store. Make sure it is tied securely.

11. To cook, put the Christmas pudding in a steamer over a pan of boiling water on simmer, for 2¼ hours. Check the water regularly and top up as necessary.

12. To serve, cover in brandy and set fire to it. Serve with rum sauce or brandy butter.

*At this point, it is traditional for all members of the family to come and give the pudding a stir and make a wish. Another tradition is to add a small coin, which brings good luck to the person who gets it in their dish on Christmas day.

Believed to date back to the 16^th Century. It was traditional for rich members of the community to give treats to carolers, in this case, figgy pudding was a type of Christmas pudding and consisted of figs, butter, sugar, eggs ,milk, rum, apple, lemon and orange peel, nuts, cinnamon, cloves and ginger.

We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer
We won't go until we get some;
We won't go until we get some;
We won't go until we get some, so bring some out here

We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat,
Please put a penny in the old man's hat. If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do,
If you haven't got a ha'penny, then God bless you.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,
And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay.
Close by me forever, and love my I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care.
And take them to heaven, to be with thee there.

Ding dong merrily on high,
In heav'n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! verily the sky
Is riv'n with angel singing.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

E'en so here below, below,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
And "Io, io, io!"
By priest and people sungen.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers;
May you beautifully rime
Your evetime song, ye singers.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

Take the orange and fasten a piece of red sticky tape or ribbon around the middle.

Cut a small cross in the top of the orange and lay the square of silver foil (3" square) over it. (The foil is to catch the hot wax.)

Put raisins, sultanas, cherries or soft sweets onto the ends of the four cocktail sticks making sure the points are covered. Insert them around the base of the candle so that there is one in each quarter.

Lots of brightly coloured paper cut into strips about 1” wide and 6” long
Good paper glue

paper that has glue on the back that you lick to stick cut into 1” wide strips

5. Take another strip of paper and thread it through the circle you have just made.

7. Continue with this until you have a chain long enough to hang across your ceiling.

Angel for the top of the Christmas tree

What you need: White card/white paper plate
an empty toilet roll tube
Glitter
PVA glue
Felt tip pens/crayons/paint/pencils etc
a White paper doily

3. While the glitter is drying, draw wing shapes onto the white card. These can be as simple as a semi-circle or as ornate as you like. Draw both wings as one piece.

7. Apply some glue to the tab and stick to the inside of the tube so the face is facing forwards.

8. Cut the doily in half and glue onto the wings. Let the doily create a lace-edge affect by overlapping the edge of the card.

4. Thread some wool through this hole into the inside of the cup so that there is a loop at the top – this will go over the tree branch.

5. Tie a knot about 2” up the string so that the egg carton cup is prevented from slipping down.

6. Tie another knot which should be level or just below the edge of the cardboard cup.

Ethiopia is in the eastern part of Africa, west of Somalia, Djibouti, and Eritrea. Its other neighbors are Kenya and The Sudan. It forms part of the horn of Africa. Rainfall and temperatures range from cool moist mountain air to scorching heat along the border.

Ethiopia is one of the oldest Christian nations, having been converted in 330 A.D. Ganna, or Christmas, is celebrated on January 7 not on December 25^th, this is done in accordance with the calendar of the Coptic Church. Leading up to Christmas is a 40 day period of fasting and spiritual preparation that ends when everyone attends a Christmas morning Mass. It's a very bright ceremony since it is customary to wear white to the Mass.

Following ancient tradition, each person enters the church carrying a candle that they light when they get inside. After circling the inside of the church three times they take their place and stand (there are no seats in Ethiopian churches) for what is usually a three-hour service.

Christmas is a religious day and a family day where little thought is given to commercial aspects of the holiday.

The food for Christmas dinner includes injera, a sourdough pancake bread that is easily cooked over an open fire. Doro wat, a spicy chicken stew, is usually the main course. Bits of injera are broken off to scoop up the stew and other parts of the feast.

Gift giving is an insignificant part of the Christmas celebration, however young children often receive clothing and sometimes a small toy.

Ganna is also the name of a game played only on this day by Ethiopian boys. It is similar to hockey, ganna is played with a stick and a wooden puck. Players often get cuts and broken bones in the rough action. At nightfall the game ends as the teams shout naughty limericks at each other.

The season continues through Timket or Epiphany, a three-day holiday that begins two weeks after Christmas to celebrate the baptism of Jesus and St. Michael. On that occasion, children walk in a ceremonial parade wearing crowns and robes while turban-wearing priests carry embroidered umbrellas. Percussive music for the parade is played on the sistrum, a rattle like instrument shaped like a pear. It has small metal disks that make a tinkling sound when shaken.

The Christmas greeting in Ethiopia is Melkm Ganna, pronounced Mel-calm Geh-nuh, which means “Wishing you a Happy Christmas”.

Joyeux Noël: Learning Songs and Traditions in French ( Teach Me series) ( book and audio CD) by Judy R Mahoney.

France is a country in western Europe and is about the size of the state of Texas. The Alps border it in the southeast and the Pyreenees span the border between France and Spain. The Seine River runs through Paris. Paris is the capital of France. The Eiffel Tower in Paris is France's most famous landmark. The Cathedral of Notre Dame is also in Paris. In December the weather in France is cold and snowy in the north but mild and sunny in the south.

Preparations:
Christmas decorations are better known as ‘sapin de Noël’ introduced in early 14th century when people decorated their homes with apples, paper flowers, and ribbons, though this custom has undergone several changes, yet it’s still continued in France where people beautifully decorate their homes, shops, offices and streets.

The crèche (pronounced KRESH) or nativity scene is set up in many homes. It is believed that the first crèche appeared in France in the early 1300's. Clay figurines called santons (sahn-TOHN) are used in the crèche. While some homes do have Christmas trees, they are not as popular as they are in the USA.

Mistletoe is hung above the door during the Christmas season to bring good fortune throughout the year.

The traditional French Christmas greeting is Joyeux Noël --pronounced (jwah-Yeuh no-El). Which means " Happy Christmas".

In France, Christmas is a time for family and for generosity, marked by family reunions, gifts and candy for children, gifts for the poor, Midnight Mass, and le Réveillon.

The celebration of Christmas in France varies by region. Most provinces celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December, which is a bank holiday. However, in eastern and northern France, the Christmas season begins on 6 December, la fête de Saint Nicolas, and in some provinces la fête des Rois* is one the most important holidays of the Christmas season. In Lyon, 8 December is la Fête de lumières, when Lyonnais pay hommage to the virgin Mary by putting candles in their windows which light up the village.

Père Noël ( prounced PEHR no-EL) is father Christmas. He looks different than the American Santa. He is a tall, thin man. He has a white beard and wears a long red robe. Sometimes a donkey helps him carry his sack of gifts. French children put their shoes in front of the fireplace, on Christmas Eve in the hopes that Père Noël (aka Papa Noël) will fill them with gifts. Candy, fruit, nuts, and small toys will also be hung on the tree overnight. In some regions there's also Père Fouettard who gives out spankings to bad children (sort of the equivalent of Santa Claus giving coal to the naughty).

In some parts of France Pere Noel brings small gifts on St. Nicholas Eve (December 6) and visits again on Christmas. In other places it is le petit Jsus who brings the gifts. Generally adults wait until New Year's Day to exchange gifts.

In 1962, a law was passed decreeing that all letters written to Santa would be responded to with a postcard. When a class writes a letter, each student gets a response.

Many people celebrate on Christmas Eve. They go to midnight church services. A meal called le réveillon (pronounced reh-vay-OHN) is eaten after services. Réveillon means the awakening. Réveillon is a meal with many courses. It may include roast goose, turkey, oysters, lobster, salad, cheese, fruit, etc depending on the regional customs. Most include a traditional dessert called bûche de Noël.

On January 6th Epiphany or Three Kings Day is celebrated. The day the three kings first saw Jesus. In the past it was celebrated with a special cake in which a bean or tiny figurine is baked into the cake. The person who finds this becomes "king" for the day.

In years past, people use to burn a large log for Christmas called a yule log. Now many people like to eat a special dessert called a bûche de Noël (pronounced BOOSH DUH no-EL). It's a sponge cake shaped like a yule log. It's filled with chocolate filling and decorated to look like a log.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whip cream, 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa, and 1 teaspoon vanilla until thick and stiff. Refrigerate.

Songs:
One famous Christmas song that originated in France in 1847 is Oh, Holy Night or "Minuit Chrétiens". Other popular songs include " Noel Nouvelet" which means Christmas Comes Anew and "Il est né, le divin enfant" , He Is Born The Divine Child.

Crafts:

Christmas in the Holy Land

Israel is a country in Western Asia located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea.

It is often referred to as part of the Middle East nations. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan in the east, and Egypt on the southwest, and contains geographically diverse features within its relatively small area. Israel is the world's only predominantly Jewish state with a population of about 7.4 million people, of which approximately 5.57 million are Jewish. The largest ethnic minority group is the segment denominated as Arab citizens of Israel, while minority religious groups include Muslims, Christians, Druze , Samaritans and others, most of which are found within the Arab segment.

Mountains and plains, fertile land, and desert are often minutes apart. The width of the country, from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the Dead Sea in the east, can be crossed by car in about 90 minutes; and the trip from Metulla, in the far North, to Eilat at the country's southern tip takes about six hours.

Two distinct seasons predominate: a rainy winter period from November to May; and a dry summer season, which extends through the next six months. Some of the higher elevations may experience snowfall.

Christian homes in Bethlehem are marked by a cross painted over the door and each home displays a homemade manger scene. A star is set up on a pole in the village square.

For most Israelis December 25 is nothing more than another work day. (It is not considered a Holiday because Jews do not believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, therefore they do not celebrate his Birth.

“Mo'adim Lesimkha" is Hebrew for "Merry Christmas". In Israel there are many Christians who celebrate Christmas by going to the church built on the exact spot where Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Thousands of people visit the Church of the Nativity, which is usually ablaze with flags and decorations at Christmas.

On Christmas Eve natives and visitors alike crowd the church's doorways and stand on the roof to watch for the dramatic annual procession. Galloping horsemen and police mounted on Arabian horses lead the parade. They are followed by solitary horseman carrying a cross and sitting astride a coal-black steed. Then come the churchmen and government officials. The procession solemnly enters the doors and places an ancient effigy of the Holy Child in the church. The manger, down deep winding stairs, can be found in a grotto with a silver star and fifteen silver lamps shining above it. Around the star is the inscription "Here of the Virgin Mary Jesus Christ was born."

Christmas comes three times each year to the city of Bethlehem. While the Western Church and Russian Orthodox Church both celebrate Christmas on December 25, the Russian Church still uses the old Julian calendar, which places their celebration on January 7 according to our calendar. The Armenian Church celebrates on January 6 by the Julian calendar, which translates as January 19 to us. To add to the confusion, our January 6 celebration of Epiphany overlaps into the Russian Christmas.

Christmas Eve services traditionally begin at Shepherds' Field and then move on to the church. There is room for only a few hundred people at the Mass and they are there by invitation only. Outside in Manger Square the service is broadcast on huge television screens to thousands of people who have joined together to be close to this special Christmas celebration.

Most families have a meal on Christmas Day. Meals vary depending upon background ethnicity.

For the sauce:
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 egg whites, beaten lightly
1 Tbsp. cognac or rum

For the pudding:
1 cup flour, sifted before measuring
1 tsp. each baking powder and powdered cinnamon
1/2 tsp. each salt and powdered nutmeg
1/4 tsp. each powdered cloves and allspice
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup fresh breadcrumbs
5 eggs, beaten until frothy
3/4 cup milk
225 gr. suet, chopped finely
juice and rind of 1 lemon
3 cups raisins
3/4 cup mixed candied rind, chopped
1/2 cup slivered blanched almonds
1/2 cup dark rum or cognac hard sauce for serving (recipe follows)

Make the sauce by creaming together the butter, sugar and egg whites until thick and fluffy. Flavor with the cognac and chill well before serving.

Resift 3/4 cup of the flour together with the baking powder, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, cloves and allspice. Combine these with the brown sugar and breadcrumbs. Into this mixture add, alternatively, the eggs and the milk. Add the suet, lemon juice and lemon rind.

With the remaining flour combine the raisins, candied rind, and almonds and add these to the mixture. Add the cognac folding in well. Transfer the pudding to a 12 cup mold or bowl, cover with a double layer of aluminum foil and set on a trivet in a pot with about 2 1/2 cm of water. Cover and steam for about 4 1/2 - 5 hours, adding water as necessary to maintain the level. Serve with the hard sauce. (Serves 12).

1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 egg whites, beaten lightly
1 Tbsp. cognac or rum

Cream together the butter, sugar and egg whites until thick and fluffy. Flavor with the cognac and chill well before using.

cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup softened butter
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon brandy

Sift together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs and brandy; beat thoroughly. Gradually add sifted dry ingredients to creamed mixture, mixing well. Cover and chill several hours or overnight.

Heat oven to 400 degrees F.

Roll out a small portion of the dough at a time on a floured board to a thickness of 1/4 inch (keep remaining dough in refrigerator). Cut with a cookie cutter into desired shapes (I usually use stars). Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 12 to 14 minutes.

Makes about 4 to 5 dozen.

Rector Phillips Brooks (1835-1903) of Philadelphia, wrote the words to O Little Town of Bethlehem in 1868, following a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He was inspired by the view of Bethlehem from the hills of Palestine especially at night time hence the lyrics of O Little Town of Bethlehem. His church organist Lewis Redner (1831-1908) wrote the melody to O Little Town of Bethlehem for the Sunday school children's choir.

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may his His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel

What Child is this, who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

The Church of the Nativity was built by Emperor Justinian in the sixth century over the ruins of an older church built by the Emperor Constantine and his mother, St. Helena. That church had been built to replace a temple to the Greek god Adonis. All of these structures were built over a series of caves that were considered to be the location of Christ's birth.

The church was nearly destroyed by invading Persians in the seventh century, however they stopped when they came upon a mural of the Magi that depicted the Kings in Persian dress.

There is a fourteen-pointed silver star marking the location of the original manger. It was donated by the Turkish Sultan after a previous star had disappeared. The floor around it is marked in Latin, Hic De Virgine Maria Jesus Christus Natus Est, "Here of the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ was born."

For more information on a Jewish Holiday celebrated around the same time as Christmas see:

The Miracle of the First Poinsetta A Mexican Christmas Story by Joanne Oppenheim

Mexico is the fifth largest country in the Western Hemisphere and is rich in natural resources such as petroleum and natural gas. Mexico’s efforts to develop and modernize its economy have been slowed by the nation’s rugged terrain, limited farmland, rapidly growing population, and a series of economic crises. The nation’s capital, Mexico City, is one of the largest cities in the world.

Mexico is bordered by the United States on the north, the Pacific Ocean on the west, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea on the east, and Guatemala and Belize on the south. It has very diverse climates and topography and is crossed by two major mountain chains, the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre Oriental. The high central plateau between these two mountain ranges historically funneled most of the human population toward the center of this region. Mexico features volcanic peaks, snow-capped mountains, tropical rain forests, and internationally famous beaches. Mexico City is an enormous metropolitan area and dominates the rest of the country’s culture, economy, and politics. Mexico City is also a central hub for Mexico’s transportation network—including railroads, highways, and airlines.

The Tropic of Cancer effectively divides the country into temperate and tropical zones. Land north of the twenty-fourth parallel experiences cooler temperatures during the winter months. South of the twenty-fourth parallel, temperatures are fairly constant year round and vary solely as a function of elevation. This gives Mexico one of the world's most diverse weather systems in the world.

Areas south of the twenty-fourth parallel with elevations up to 1,000 meters (the southern parts of both coastal plains as well as the Yucatán Peninsula). Many parts of Mexico, particularly the north, have a dry climate with sporadic rainfall while parts of the tropical lowlands in the south average more than 200 cm of annual precipitation.

Several weeks before Christmas, elaborately decorated market stalls or puestos are set up in the plazas of every town and city. Some people travel for days from remote areas to get to these markets. The puestos offer crafts of every conceivable kind, foods such as cheese, bananas, nuts, and cookies, and flowers such as orchids and poinsettias

To decorate for a Mexican Christmas, be sure to add some of the beatiful red poinsettas or "La Flor De Noche Buena". They have been a Christmas tradition throughout much of the world since an American ambassador introduced it to South Carolina in the 1820's. A well-dressed Mexican Christmas home would also have to have a pinata! As part of the fun, the children gather around and smack it with sticks until they are showered by the candy explosion!

The Christmas trees have to travel a good way, and that drives up the price. Usually, full sized trees are only found in the homes of the wealthy, but many others find a way to honor the evergreen by adding ornaments to a small branch or shrub

Although the custom of putting up a Christmas tree has become very popular, the real Mexican tradition consists of setting up a nativity scene. These scenes are set up on December 16, but the figure of the Baby Jesus is not put into the manger until December 24, and the Three Kings are added on January 5.

The Mexican Christmas festival is an impressive sight, with elaborate decorations and celebrations for nearly a month! The holiday is overwhelming in its magnitude, but amazingly, in all this revelry the people rarely lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas!

The main Christmas celebration in Mexico is called las posadas, which refers to processions reenacting Joseph and Mary's search for a place to stay in Bethlehem. The processions begin nine days before Christmas because the original journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem took nine days. They start on December 16th and end on December 24th. Posadas means inn or place to lodge.

On the night of the 16th the first procession is formed with two young children at the front. They carry a litter made from twigs, which carry figures of the nativity. When they arrive at the house that is giving the posadas for that night they knock on the door and sing a song begging for lodging. The people inside sing a reply saying that the house is not an inn. The children keep on pleading for lodging and eventually persuade those in the house to let them in. When the children are finally let in they place the figures on the altar and they all sing and say prayers.

The most exciting part of the celebration comes now...the breaking of the piñata. A piñata is clay or papier mache shape filled with peanuts in the shell, oranges, tangerines, sugar canes, and seldom wrapped hard candy. Of course, there will be other types of chants the children will sing while the child in turn is trying to break the Piñata with a stick while he/she will be blindfolded. It is hung up high and dangles on a long string. In a game the children have sticks and try to break the piñata to release the toys and sweets held within.

At the Posadas everyone enjoys tamales, sweet fritters that are called, buñeulos, and a hot chocolate drink that is called chocolate caliente

The same process is repeated for eight nights. The final night, Christmas Eve (December 24) is a huge event ending with midnight fireworks, whistles and beels. Many Mexican families attend a midnight mass on Christmas Eve. The Birth of Christ is very much the central theme to the Mexican celebration, and this is a grand change from the commercialized American Christmas. This mass is called Misa de Gallo. Dinner is served after mass and that always includes bunuelos...pancake served with a sort of maple syrup.

A traditional Mexican food for Christmas Eve is a dish known as bacalao a la vizcaina. This colorful and eclectic dish includes salted cod that has been dried, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, olives, capers and bright red bell peppers. Often served with a selection of fruits and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, the dish is usually made in large quantities. This is because families tend to open their doors to others on Christmas Eve, especially persons with no family in the area. With a focus on being together and celebrating the birth of Jesus, hospitality dictates that there be plenty to eat and drink.

On December 25, children wake up early, to find under the tree the gifts they asked for from Santa Claus. But many have another special Christmas spirit who brings gifts and joy. On Christmas Eve, kids can expect a visit from "el Ni-o Dios". The Holy Child brings gifts to the good girls and boys.

For the Christmas Day meal, romeritos are not uncommon. Composed of such ingredients as dried shrimp and potatoes, romeritos provide a simple but effective example of traditional Mexican food for Christmas. Colorful red, yellow, and green bell peppers may be added to the mixture if desired. The ingredients are seasoned with a spice that is also called romerito, and is understood to be similar to rosemary. The mixture is cooked in what is known as mole sauce. Mole sauce is made with garlic, onions, chocolate, sugar, nuts, chili peppers, olive oil, and small amounts of toasted bread. Along with romeritos, such dishes as shrimp croquettes may also be served, with the mole sauce used as an accompaniment. Traditional Mexican food for Christmas tends to rely heavily on what is readily available, and often makes use of combinations that may seem unusual to persons from other culture.

All Mexican children anxiously wait January 5, because this is when the Three Kings, Los Reyes Magos, arrive with gifts for them, sometimes leaving them in their shoes!

A few days before, the children write their letters asking the Kings for the toys they want the most. Accompanied by their family, they go to the town's plaza or zócalo, to send their letters, attached to multicolored balloons that float up, taking their dreams with them.

A traditional Mexican food for Three Kings Day is the sweet dish of rosca de Reyes. Essentially a bread that is shaped into the form of a Christmas wreath, the bread is often sweetened with spices, and includes small figurines of Jesus baked into the loaf. Usually, there is a glaze or sauce that is added to the top of the bread. Rosca de Reyes is only made during the first days of January, and is considered to be a final offering to the Christ child during the season.

Riu Riu Chiu is a 16th century Spanish carol. I love THIS version by the Monkeys.

¡Dale, dale, dale,
no pierdas el tino,
porque si lo pierdes,
pierdes el camino,
Una, dos, tres!"

"Strike it, Strike it, Strike it,
don't lose your aim,
because if you lose it,
you won't find your way!
One, two, three!"

6 cups of milk
6 oz sweet chocolate
6 oz semi sweet chocolate
1/2 tsp vanilla
dash of cinnamon

Heat the milk over medium flame. Break the chocolate into pieces. When the milk is hot, dissolve in it the chocolate pieces, moving constantly until everything is dissolved. Increase heat and let the mixture slowly boil. Add the vanilla and the cinnamon. Continue beating until frothy.

2 cups water
1 lb. flour
2 whole eggs
1 egg yolk
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp anisette
9 oz. lard
9 oz. piloncillo -raw sugar

Boil one tablespoon anisette in a cup of water and leave to cool. Mix and sift the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix in the eggs, the yolk and the anisette in water, as required, and knead until the dough stiffens. Form into small balls and roll out on a floured board until very thin. Continue flattening by hand on a napkin and place on a floured table. Heat the lard .Fry one by one in the lard.

Heat the piloncillo in one cup of water with the remaining tablespoon of anisette. This mixture will thicken to a light syrup. remove from heat and strain.

Bunuelos (pronounced boon-WAY-los) are addictive. You won't be able to stop after the first one. Or the second or third. Store bought flour tortillas will make good Bunuelos, but for exceptional ones try finding some homemade tortillas.

Combine sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a large plastic bag, mixing well. Set aside. Cut tortillas into 3x2-inch strips. Fry a few at a time in 1 inch of hot oil (375°F) until crisp and golden, turning once. (Or deep-fry in 375°F oil until golden.) Drain on paper towels. While still warm, place a few at a time in sugar mixture in bag. Shake gently to coat. Store in airtight container. Makes about 5 dozen pieces.

A very easy piñata craft is to use a small paper lunch sack. Fill with candy and tissue paper -torn or cut up to use as confetti. Close and tie the bag. Decorate the outside with crayons, markers, paint or By adding tissue paper and streamers.

Large Bag Christmas Pinata

Large paper shopping bag
Wrapped candy
Newspaper
Red and green tissue paper
White glitter
Tape
Scissors
Glue
Stick, baseball bat or broom

Fill the shopping bag lightly with crumpled newspaper. Add the wrapped candy along with the newspaper. Close the bag and tape.

Cut tissue paper into 3-inch strips. Fringe the strips by cutting along the edge, being careful not to cut all the way through. Glue the strips around the bag. Start at the bottom or at one side, overlapping the tissue paper. Decorate the pinata to look like a Christmas ornament, Santa Claus, donkey or snowman.

Hang the pinata. Blindfold one person at a time, aim him or her in the direction of the pinata. Make sure that everyone is clear of the stick. Make sure that everyone stands clear so that they don't get hit. Make sure everyone shares the candy when the pinata is broken.

Here is another example of the craft.. (Though it is a monster piñata.) Hopefully you will get the jest of it.

Mexican "Tin" Christmas Ornaments

Foil cupcake liners
Colored tissue paper (various colors)
Glue
Lengths of yarn for hanging

Brush glue on the liners, and lay tissue paper pieces over the glue, overlapping each piece added. Leave a little foil showing around the edges of the liner.

When dry, punch holes in the tops of the ornaments and tie on loops of yarn for hanging.

Before Three Kings Day children send notes to the Kings, telling them how good they’ve been and letting them know what they want.

Write letters to them in your best handwriting. Their names are Gaspar, Melchoir and Baltazar in Spanish.

The poinsettia is native to Mexico and is believed to have first been used in connection with Christmas in the 17th century when Mexican Franciscans included the flowers in their Christmas celebration. There is a legend connected with the flower. A little boy named Pablo was walking to the church in his village to visit the Nativity scene, when he realized he had nothing to offer the Christ Child. He saw some green branches growing along the roadside and gathered them up. Other children scoffed, but when he laid them by the manger, a brilliant red star-shaped flower appeared on each branch.

Christmas in the Philippines

Jingle Bells by Iza Trapani
Merry Christmas Everywhere by Arlene Erlbach
A Kid's Guide to Asian American History by Valerie Petrillo
The Philippines by Shirley Wimbish Gray
Christmas in the Philippines (Christmas Around the World) by Cheryl L. Enderlein
The Story of the Three Kings Tommie DePaola

The Philippines is known as the "Land of Fiestas," and at Christmas time, this is especially true. Here are a couple great videos to give you an overview to show your kids that will help capture the spirit of Christmas in the Philippines. (Songs are included.)

The Philippines is a country made up of more than 7,000 islands. The islands are off the coast of Asia in the western Pacific Ocean, just southeast of Hong Kong and northeast of Indonesia. The country of Borneo is its nearest neighbor.

Some of the islands are too small for people to live on while other islands are very large and have volcanoes, mountain ranges, valleys, and rivers. A group of islands like the Philippines is called an archipelago. Can you think of any other archipelago countries?

The Philippines is a small country. If all of the islands were put together, the Philippines would be about the size of Arizona.

There are two main seasons in the Philippines. During the summer, between May and November, strong monsoon winds bring lots of rain and, often, flooding. In the winter, between December and April, the weather is generally much drier. It is almost always warm and humid in the Philippines, with temperatures averaging about 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

The largest of the Philippine islands is Luzon (pronounced LOO-zon). On its eastern coast is its capital and largest city, Manila (pronounced ma-NIL-ah). Most of the large cities are located along the islands’ coasts and serve as seaports and centers of trade.

The undeveloped parts of the Philippines have thick mangrove swamps and tropical forests that serve as homes for many exotic animals including reptiles, amphibians, birds, and insects. The waters surrounding the islands are rich with coral reefs full of colorful fish and other marine animals. Most people who visit the Philippines describe it as a tropical paradise.

Sometimes, Filipinos (what the people of the Philippines call themselves) experience earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. There are more than 20 actives volcanoes on the islands. That means that they are likely to erupt soon!

The weather during this time of year is at its coolest which is around 70 degrees F.

People:
Over hundreds of years, the Philippines has been settled by Chinese traders, Malaysian settlers, and Spanish colonists. Even the United States of America controlled the Philippines for a while after it won the country from Spain at the end of the Spanish-American War in 1889. During the 45 years of American rule, Filipinos were considered US citizens until their independence in 1946. To this day, Filipinos still have very warm feelings about their ‘brothers’ in the USA. All of this mixing of cultures resulted in a truly unique population of citizens. No two Filipinos are exactly alike!

Even though there are about 70 difference languages spoken in the Philippines, the official language of the Philippines is Pilipino (it is also called Tagalog), which is a mix of an old language called Tagalog along with Spanish and English words. Most Filipinos speak Tagalog, English, and Spanish, depending on which part of the Philippines they live in. You would probably have no problem talking to a Filipino child, especially if he or she lived in one of the larger cities.

Their Christmas greeting is Maligayang Pasko (may-lee-Gah-yang pahs-KOH). It means Merry Christmas.

More than 90% of all Filipinos are Christians, mostly Roman Catholic, so Christmas is a very big deal. The Philippines is the only Asian nation in which Christianity is the religion chosen by the people.

Preparations:
Filipinos are proud to proclaim their Christmas celebration to be the longest and merriest in the world. The Christmas season begins on December 16 at 4:00 am with bells. They ring all over the Philippines, announcing the first mass of the Christmas season. Once people hear the bells, they know it’s time to go to church to attend the Misa de Gallo (pronounced MEE-suh deh gahl-yoh) which means the Mass of the Rooster.

Every morning for nine days, people go to church to pray. On Christmas Eve, everyone goes to Midnight Mass then they go home for a big family feast called Noche Buena (pronounced NOH-chay BWAY-nuh), which is served buffet-style. This means that people can go around a big table full of foods and fill their plates with whichever foods they’d like to eat. There are usually about a dozen dishes to choose from. Food and cooking are BIG parts of Filipino life. You would most definitely find some rice and fish on the table, as they are the most popular foods in the Philippines. You might also find some crunchy egg rolls, all kinds of seafood, a whole roasted pig, chicken, noodle dishes, vegetable dishes, and many kinds of tropical fruits. You'd also find a lot of desserts at the table as Filipinos have big sweet tooths! This feast will last all night. No one goes to bed.

Christmas celebrations last until around the first Sunday of January. This is the time of year when Filipinos exhibit three-dimensional, five-pointed stars made of bamboo and paper with a light inside. This kind of star lantern’s called a parol (pronounced pa-ROLL). People display parols everywhere during the Christmas season. Some parols are small enough to hang on a Christmas tree while other stars measure 100 feet high. Most parols are meant to be displayed in windows and measure about 1-2 feet high. Some people buy their parols while others spend months making them. Most small towns in the Philippines hold a parade of parols on Christmas and it’s a beautiful sight when you see all of the lighted stars floating through the streets. The parols remind many Filipinos of the star the wise men followed.

Filipinos go all out in decorating their homes for Christmas. Along with parols, you’ll usually find a Christmas tree in every house. There are very few evergreen trees in the Philippines; so most people have colorful trees made out of cardboard, tinsel, or twigs.

Traditions:

Christmas celebrations start nine days before Christmas on December 16^th with attendance at the first of nine predawn Masses and continues nonstop until January 6^th, Three Kings Day, the official end of the season.

On December 16^th most all Filipinos are awakened before dawn by the tolling of the church bells calling them to the first Misa de Gallo (MEE suh deh GAHL yoh). Misa de Gallo is a Spanish term and translated means “Mass of the Rooster” since it is celebrated very early in the morning. 4 O’clock to be exact at the first cockcrow. For nine mornings until Christmas Eve, the faithful arise before dawn and go to church and pray.

On Christmas Eve, people go to Midnight Mass, and then they go home for a family feast. Right before Christmas Eve mass begins, there's always a play put on either in front of the church or within the church if it's big enough. The actors are often children and the play shows Mary and Joseph's plight the night Jesus was born. There are even live animals involved in the play. The feast is called Noche Buena (No-chay BWAY-nuh) meaning Good Night. In more affluent households, it is traditional to serve all kinds of food as a form of Thanksgiving to all that Jesus Christ embodied with the traditional lechon or roast suckling pig and pansit (noodles) as centerpieces. This celebration lasts all night. No one goes to bed. Children start visiting their family members when it is daylight. They usually receive a gift at each house they visit. It might be a toy or money or candy.

During the Family Feast on Christmas Eve, everyone gives Christmas gifts to everyone. Grandparents, along with everyone else, throw gold coins in the air; the children rush to get the money!

The easiest parol craft I found is located in Merry Christmas Everywhere by Arlene Erlbach, page 40. There is a more complex one in Christmas Crafts from Around the World by Judy Ann Sadler pg. 36

HERE and HERE are a couple online. (This craft really needs to be seen to understand the directions.)

Recipes:
The favorite Christmas dessert in the Philippines is bibingka (pronounced bi-BING-kah). There are many different kinds of bibingka. One kind is a delicious, sticky, sweet dessert made of rice, coconut milk, and sugar. It kind of looks like a lemon square. Another kind of bibingka looks like an unfrosted cake and is often cooked in big banana leaves.

Bibingka (bee-BING-kah) is a favorite Christmas dessert. It is a pancake made from rice flour. It is cooked with milk, cheese, and duck egg. It is served in a banana leaf. The leaf is like a plate. They top the bibingka with coconut and brown sugar. They drink ginger tea with dessert.

2 cups rice flour
¼ cup glutinous rice flour
3 eggs
½ cup + 2 tbsp sugar
¼ cup butter melted, plus additional for basting or brushing
1 cup thick coconut milk
1 tbsp baking powder
few pieces wilted banana leaves
grated fresh coconut and sliced salted eggs for toppings
or grated cheddar cheese as toppings if preferred )

Directions:
1. Beat eggs in a bowl until foamy. Add sugar and butter and beat until fluffy.
2. Mix the rice flour, glutinous rice flour and baking powder in a bowl. Add coconut milk. Blend well.
3. Add the two mixtures: the egg mixture with the coconut-flour mixture, beating well until smooth.
4. Line small round pans with wilted banana leaves. Brush banana leaves with butter.
5. Pour mixture into pan. Bake in (preheated ) oven 180 C or 350 F for 20 minutes.
6. Top with sliced salted eggs. Bake again for 5 minutes. Brush some butter on top.
7. Serve with freshly grated coconut and sugar or brown sugar

Songs:
Singing Christmas songs is a very popular holiday activity in the Philippines. Everyone, young and old, takes part in the singing. They sing every night starting on December 16^th, and they sing some Filipino songs and some English ones. Some people will sing with friends and relatives in their homes while others sing songs while they walk through the streets of their neighborhoods. Some towns have groups of singers called pastores (pronounced pahs-TOHR-ez) which means shepherds in Spanish. They sing songs, dance, and wear special, beautiful Christmas costumes. In the big cities, groups of children called cumbancheros (pronounced kum-ban-CHAY-rohs) walk around their neighborhoods, singing Christmas songs and playing musical instruments which are often homemade. People give them coins and small gifts like candy. Cumbamcheros. end their performances by singing Maligayang Pasko to the tune of "Happy Birthday".

http://pinoyfoodblog.com/site-news/filipino-christmas-carols-for-your-noche-buena/

Christmas in Sweden

Book List:

Christmas in Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren

Kirsten’s Surprise by Janet Beeler Shaw and Renee Graef

Annika’s Secret Wish by Beverly Lewis (HSS unit)

Geography:

Sweden is in Northern Europe and is considered a Scandinavian country. Stockholm is the largest city and the capital. Sweden is bordered by the Gulf of Bothnia, the Baltic Sea, Norway and Finland. The country is traditional divided into three “Lands” or areas: Gotaland (South), Svealand (mid-section of Sweden), and Norrland (North).

See these maps.

The Swedish flag has a medium blue background with a yellow cross on it. Here is a coloring page.

Here is an outline map of Sweden.

Preparation:

Christmas is celebrated for almost two months in Sweden. It starts with the first Sunday in Advent. Each Sunday prior to Christmas another candle is lit. Christmas trees are normally brought into homes a few days before Christmas.

Traditions:

St. Lucia-Early on the morning of December 13^th the oldest daughter of the family puts on a white robe and a head wreath of candles. She then serves the family Lussekatter (St. Lucia buns) and coffee in bed. This custom goes back to Lucia, a Christian girl martyred for her beliefs in the 4^th century. Today in every town and school a “Lucia” is chosen. There is also an election to choose a Lucia for the big parade in Stockholm.

Christmas Eve- This is the day of the Christmas feast, which is a smorgasbord with ham, lutfisk (cod in a cream sauce), pickled pigs feet, and rice pudding (There is normally an almond hidden in the pudding. The person to find the almond is said to be the next to marry). After dinner, the gifts are opened. These gifts are brought by a gnome called Jultomten. The Jultomten is normally a family member that dresses up in a white beard and red robes. He is supposed to live under the house or barn and rides a straw goat.

Christmas-Swedes attend church in the early morning hours. The rest of the day is quietly spent with family and friends. “God Jul” means Merry Christmas in Swedish.

Knut’s Day-Christmas ends January 13^th. King Canute was the king of Sweden 1,000 years ago and decreed that Christmas should be 20 days of feasting thus ending on the 13^th.

Recipes:

Rice pudding (Ris a la Malta) http://scandinavianfood.about.com/od/ricedishes/r/ricepudding.htm

LusseKatter (St. Lucia Buns) http://www.relishmag.com/recipes/view/28632/lussekatter.html

Pepparkakor

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Traditional-Swedish-Pepparkakor/Detail.aspx

Songs:

Santa Lucia Song lyrics

Sankta Lucia

Natten går tunga fjät, runt gård och stuga.
Kring jord som sol'n förlät, skuggorna ruva.
Då i vårt mörka hus, stiga med tända ljus,
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.

Natten var stor och stum. Nu hör det svingar,
i alla tysta rum, sus som av vingar.
Se på vår tröskel står vitkläd, med ljus i hår,
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.

Mörkret skall flykta snart ur jordens dalar.
Så hon ett underbart ord till oss talar.
Dagen skall åter ny, stiga ur rosig sky,
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.

Translation

Hark! through the darksome night
Sounds come a winging:
Lo! 'tis the Queen of Light
Joyfully singing.
Clad in her garment white,
Wearing her crown of light,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!

Deep in the northern sky
Bright stars are beaming;
Christmas is drawing nigh
Candles are gleaming.
Welcome thou vision rare,
Lights glowing in thy hair.
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!

1. Midnatt råder, det är tyst i husen,
Tyst i husen. Alla sova, släckta äro ljusen,
Äro ljusen,

2. Se då krypa tomtar upp ur vrårna,
Upp ur vrårna, Lyssna, speja, trippa fram på tårna, Fram på tårna. Tipp tapp . . . .

3. Snälla folket låtit maten rara, Maten rara
Stå på bordet åt en tomteskara,
Tomteskara. Tipp tapp . . . .

4. Hur de mysa, hoppa upp bland faten,
Upp bland faten, Tissla, tassla: "God är julematen, Julematen"! Tipp tapp . . . .

5. Gröt och skinka, lilla äppelbiten,
Äppelbiten, Tänk, så rart det smakar Nisse liten, Nisse liten. Tipp tapp . . . .

6. Nu till lekar! Glada skrattet klingar,
Skrattet klingar Runt om granen skaran muntert svingar, Muntert svingar.
Tipp tapp . . . .

7. Natten lider. Snart de tomtar snälla,
Tomtar snälla, Kvickt och näpet allt i ordning ställa, Ordning Ställa. Tipp tapp . . .

8. Sedan åter in i tysta vrårna, Tysta vrårna,
Tomteskaran, tassar nätt på tårna,
Nätt på tårna. Tipp tapp . . . .

It is midnight, the houses are quiet,
the houses are quiet. All are asleep,
the lights are turned off.

Look, the elves are coming out of their holes, out of their holes. They listen, look around, going on tippitoes, going on tippitoes. Tipp tapp . . . .

Kind people have left delicious food,
delicious food, Standing on the table for a host of elves, host of elves. Tipp tapp . . . .

How they smile, jump up to the dishes, up to the dishes, Whisper and rustle: The Christmas food is good, food is good
Tipp tapp . . . .

Porridge and ham, little bits of apple, bits of apple. How lovely it tastes, little Elf,
little Elf. Tipp tapp . . . .

Now for games! Happy laughter rings out,
laughter rings out. Around the Christmas tree the crowd cheerfully dances,
cheerfully dances. Tipp tapp . . . .

It's getting late. Soon the kind elves, the kind elves Quickly and prettily put everything in place, everything in place. Tipp tapp . . . .

Then once more into the quiet holes,
quiet holes, The elves sweetly tippitoe,
sweetly tippitoe.

Book List:
Titles and authors of potentially good go-along books about the country itself, as well as any books about how they celebrate the Christmas season in that country. Try to include at least two.

Switzerland is a small landlocked (which means it has no seacoast) country in the continent of Europe. The capital of Switzerland is Bern and its largest city is Zurich. The Swiss flag is a red square with a white cross on it which represents Christianity. Switzerland has religious freedom, the main religions are Roman Catholic and Protestant. Switzerland has three main land regions: The Jura Mountains, the Swiss Plateau and the Swiss Alps. The Jura Mountains are along the western border next to France. The Swiss Plateau is between the two mountains and is where the richest croplands and grazing lands are as well as most of the large cities and manufacturing industries. The Swiss Alps are part of the Alps, the largest mountain system in Europe. Switzerland has many lakes in the mountains and most are rather small, the largest is Lake Geneva which 225 square miles. The Rhine River is one of the longest, most important rivers in Europe and it begins in the Swiss Alps.

Preparations:

In preparation for Christmas most people start with Advent. December is the Advent or waiting period, it starts 4 weeks before Christmas which is December 25. Advent is a busy time, buying gifts, making treats, learning songs and preparing for the festivities. The two traditions used along with Advent are the calendar and wreath. Children made a calendar with 24 little flaps each opening to a Christmas scene. In the 19th century this was viewed as a good way to teach your children patience. The wreath was a green spruce garland with four candles arranged in it. On the fourth Sunday before Christmas one candle was lit, on the third Sunday before Christmas two candles were lit and continued each Sunday till all four were lit.

Christmas in Switzerland is very rich in traditions: but it has a unique blend because of the differing religions: Roman Catholic and Protestant and languages: German, French and Italian..

The Catholics, on December 5 have “Klausjagen” (chasing St. Nicholas). It is not an actual chase but a torchlight procession. Two hundred men carry on their heads "Infuln", which is made of thick cardboard and colorful transparent paper, with candles lit inside. They dance through the street. Saint Nicholas comes after them with his Schmutzlis (his dark-robed assistants). They are followed by several hundred men, the Klausjäger, (pursuers). They blow brass instruments or beat on cowbells, others crack whips.

The German speaking part of Switzerland has Samichlaus. He appears on December 6 filling the children boots or shoes, that they have set out the night before, with oranges, nuts or cookies. He is accompanied by Schmutzli, a dark, gloomy figure who carries a "Rute" (cane) and a sack filled with presents. Cookies are also very important. Many cooks start early and bake lots of (Guetzli) cookies. They pack them in festive tins, baskets or boxes.

The French on December 24 have P`ere Noel or Father Christmas climb through the window to leave presents for the good little boys and girls. In some families they are treated with a visit from Father Christmas. He makes them display their talents by singing a song, reciting a poem or playing an instrument before handing out gifts. He also leaves a bundle of twigs as a reminder of the consequences of being a naughty boy or girl.

On Christmas Eve parents set up and decorate the tree, it is a joyful family celebration. The Christmas lights shine a soft yellowish glow instead of the multi-colored American lights and it is not unusual to use real candles on their trees. They then have a delicious feast. After dinner everyone gathers around the tree to sing Christmas songs and hymns. Gifts are then exchanged. Many families attend Midnight Mass at their local church. After the service the families get together to have hot chocolate and "ringli" (homemade doughnuts).

1 pound unsweetened butter, softened
1 cup sugar
6 egg yolks
1 tablespoon vanilla
5 cups all-purpose flour
zest of 2 lemons
1 egg

Preheat oven to 325F. Cream together butter and sugar. Add egg yolks, vanilla, and lemon zest and mix well. Gradually add flour while stirring. Chill. Roll out 1/4" thick and cut in shapes desired. Beat remaining egg, brush each cookie with beaten egg. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 24 minutes or until lightly golden.

1 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups butter
2 1/4 cups ground blanched almonds
2 teaspoons vanilla flavoring
3 1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
apricot or strawberry jam
confectioners' sugar

Beat the sugar and the butter together until light and fluffy. Beat in the almonds and the vanilla flavoring. Add the flour. Knead until smooth. Chill 1 to 2 hours. Preheat oven to 325 F. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured cutting board to the thickness of 1/8 to 1/4 inch; the thinner, the better the cookie. Cut with small round, star or diamond-shaped cookie cutters. Place the cookies on lightly buttered and floured cookie sheets. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until golden. Remove cookies from the baking sheet. Spread half the cookies with apricot jam. Top with the remaining cookies, dip the edges into confectioners' sugar.

I could not find any songs that originated in Switzerland but I found these two carols are often sung at Christmas time.

1. Trace a bell shape onto cardboard (like a cereal box). Here is a link for a bell shape.

2. Punch a hole near the top and thread with a ribbon. You can thread jingle bells on the ribbon, too before knotting it.

3. Cover your table with newspaper and spread glue all over the one side on the bell and press moss onto it. Let it dry and do the second side.

4. Using seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, squash, melon) glue them onto the moss in a creative pattern. After the first side is dry do the second side. A tweezers may help in positioning the seeds. After the glue is dry, hang your bell in the window, on your tree or wherever you like.

Additional Information:
Switzerland has for hundreds of years practiced neutrality; they refused to take sides in the World Wars 1 and 2. More recently they also refused to join the European Union which is 15 European countries trying to work together. Because of their neutrality, they are the center for the International Red Cross.

Unit Review
As a fun review of this Christmas Around the World unit, play this file folder game:

Christmas Around the World Unit and Lapbook