Christmas Around the World

Zalig Kerstfeest! Feliz Navidad! Froehliche Weihnachten! God Jul! Merry Christmas!

So for the past two weeks my kiddos have been "traveling" around the world to learn how other kiddos celebrate this holiday season. This is the 1st year I've ever done this project for the holiday season and oh is it a project. It's very fun and rewarding but it's a lot of work. So far we've learned about Hannukah. We played the dreidel game, learned about the menorah and why it has eight candles, we also learned the significance of using oil to make latkes and we learned about gelt (Hannukah money).

We've also learned about Christmas in the Netherlands and how Sinter Klaas visited the children on a white horse and brought his friend Black Pete who wrote down the naughty kids names in his big red book. We also made shoes (kiddos in the Netherlands put out their wooden shoes full of hay and carrots for Sinter Klaas' horse) and left them out over night and found a gold coin in them the next day. For this country we also watched a movie called Santa and Pete and we learned that our Santa followed the children over to America and we learned how he got his hat and red coat (from the Native Americans). We also learned why Santa goes down the chimney, and why we hang stockings and don't put out our shoes, and we watched how Sinter Klaas' horse eventually became Santa's reindeer. It's actually a really good movie and I think everyone should see it at some time in their lifetime.

Then we were off to England where we learned that the tradition of Christmas cards started there and it's been around for over 100 years. We also learned about the yule log and why they save the ashes...to bring good luck of course. We also learned that a lot of our Christmas carols came from England as well.

We've also visited Sweden and learned about St. Lucia and that she brings a nice treat of cinnamon rolls to families on December 13. We got to partake in our own cinnamon rolls! We also learned about Jultomte and how he helps Santa deliver presents. We also learned about Dipping Day where the Swedes dip a piece of black bread into soup broth for good luck.

Today we visited Mexico and learned about Las Posadas and that traditionally they don't open presents until January 6 and that the Three Kings bring the presents to the good boys and girls. We also learned the significance of the poinsettia.

Tomorrow we're off to Germany to learn about the tannebaum (Christmas tree) and gingerbread houses. We even get to make our own.

Last but not least the US. We'll make our own stockings to hang up in the classroom to be filled by Santa. We'll also be making Christmas ornaments.

I tell you the past two weeks have been very crazy but so fun and it's really been neat to learn about how other countries and how they celebrate this time of year. After we learn about a country they have to write about it in their Holiday Traditions book. Pictures of that to come. I know a lot of the kiddos have found interesting pieces which I hope they'll remember.

Some of our poinsettias.

Oh...sorry for the random trivia...but in case you're ever on Jeopardy and you win because of one of these facts you can send half your winnings to me..broke teacher. =)