| December is well-known for Christmas but do | | | | families eat a festive meal, dance, play |
| you know how people in countries around the | | | | games, and open presents. They also attend |
| world celebrate it? Here are some customs | | | | Chanukah parties. |
| from various parts of the world. | | | | |
| | | | Japan |
| Australia | | | | |
| | | | Greeting - Kurisumasu Omedeto |
| Greeting - Merry Christmas | | | | |
| | | | Santa's Name - Santa Kurohsu. He does not |
| Santa's Name - Santa Claus. Children leave | | | | appear in person but is pictured in |
| him a piece of cake or biscuits and a glass | | | | advertisements as a kind old man with a round |
| of milk or a bottle of beer. | | | | sack on his back. |
| | | | |
| Food - Many Christmas dinners include roasted | | | | Food - Depending upon the family's custom, |
| meats and vegetables, special fruit cakes, | | | | they eat turkey on Christmas Day or on |
| and puddings with a coin baked inside. Since | | | | Christmas Eve. Japanese families also eat |
| the temperature can reach 100 degrees | | | | Christmas cake. |
| Fahrenheit, people are starting to eat cold | | | | |
| meats and salads, tropical fruits like | | | | Gifts - Stores sell merchandise for men, |
| mangoes, and stone fruits like plums. Often, | | | | women, and children; and on Christmas Day, |
| the main meal is eaten for lunch. | | | | families exchange gifts. |
| | | | |
| Gifts - These are left under the Christmas | | | | Decorations - More and more artificial |
| tree and opened Christmas morning. | | | | Christmas trees are beginning to appear. They |
| | | | are decorated with small toys, gold paper |
| Decorations - Shops and homes are decorated | | | | fans, dolls, lanterns, paper ornaments, and |
| with tinsel, Christmas trees, decorations for | | | | wind chimes. A popular ornament is the |
| the holiday, and special lights. | | | | origami swan. Other decorations are |
| | | | mistletoe, evergreen, tinsel, and lights. An |
| Customs - Traditional and Australian carols | | | | amulet is put on the front door for good luck |
| are sung by candlelight on Christmas Eve and | | | | and children exchange 'birds of peace,' |
| are broadcast on television. On Boxing Day, | | | | pledging there must not be anymore war. |
| the day after Christmas, two sporting events | | | | |
| take place: | | | | Customs - The daiku, or Great Nine, refers to |
| | | | Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and is performed |
| The Boxing Day Test Match (cricket game) and | | | | many places. |
| the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. | | | | |
| | | | Mexico |
| Brazil | | | | |
| | | | Greeting - Feliz Navidad |
| Greeting - Feliz Natal | | | | |
| | | | Customs - Beginning on December 15, some |
| Santa's Name - Papai Noel (Father Noel), who | | | | families carry colorful lanterns and walk |
| is dressed in a red, silk suit with boots. | | | | from house to house in their neighborhoods, |
| | | | each night, until Christmas Eve. This is |
| Food - Many people eat a traditional feast | | | | called La Posada, which means 'the |
| with roast turkey and vegetables, while | | | | procession.' On each of the nights, the |
| others eat chicken and rice or beans. Beer | | | | families are invited into different houses |
| and wine are also served. Some regions begin | | | | where they become guests at a party. There is |
| eating around 9 PM on Christmas Eve, while | | | | plenty to eat and drink. Children play the |
| others eat around midnight. | | | | pinata game, trying to break open the |
| | | | papier-mache figure with a stick while |
| Gifts - Local charities take in donations but | | | | blindfolded; when it is cracked open, candies |
| do not seem to have enough presents for all | | | | and small gifts fall out. |
| the children. | | | | |
| | | | Netherlands |
| Decorations - Brazil has a mixture of people | | | | |
| so Christmas is celebrated in different ways. | | | | Greeting - Hartelijke Kerstroeten |
| In the northeastern area, it is common to | | | | |
| find Nativity Scenes; in the southern part, | | | | Santa's Name - Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas), |
| snow is simulated with little pieces of | | | | who wears a red bishop's hat and bishop's |
| cotton on pine trees. | | | | cloak and has white hair and a white beard. |
| | | | He arrives on a white horse with his servant, |
| Customs - Brazilians sing a number of | | | | Black Pete, to put small gifts in children's |
| Christmas carols. | | | | wooden shoes. |
| | | | |
| Greece | | | | Food - The Dutch people eat lots of marzipan, |
| | | | spiced ginger biscuits, tall chocolate |
| Greeting - Eftihismena Christougenna | | | | letters, and 'bankletter' - initials made of |
| | | | pastry and filled with almond paste. When |
| Food - Special holiday cakes are baked. | | | | they are around the Christmas tree singing |
| | | | songs, they eat 'Kerstkrans' - a Christmas |
| Gifts - Most Greek people exchange gifts on | | | | ring. |
| Saint Basil's Day, January 1. | | | | |
| | | | Gifts - On December 6, after hearing a knock |
| Customs - To honor Saint Basil, the holiday | | | | at their door, children find a bag full of |
| cakes have gold coins hidden inside them. The | | | | toys, nuts, and gifts. |
| cakes are cut at midnight on New Year's Eve. | | | | |
| Whoever has a gold coin in his piece of cake | | | | Decorations - The Christmas tree is known as |
| will have good luck the following year. | | | | the Paradise Tree. Decorations of the season |
| | | | include dolls, musical instruments, fruit, |
| Hungary | | | | candies, and lights. |
| | | | |
| Santa's Name - Actually, the Baby Jesus is | | | | Customs - The Dutch sing carols, the most |
| said to bring presents on Christmas Eve. A | | | | popular one being "O Christmas Tree, O |
| bell sounds signaling that the Angels have | | | | Christmas Tree." |
| brought the tree and gifts. | | | | |
| | | | Sweden |
| Customs - On December 5, children leave out | | | | |
| their shoes. During the night, Mikulas and | | | | Greeting - God Jul |
| Black Peter come to fill them with goodies | | | | |
| for well-behaved children and switches for | | | | Food - Coffee, cakes, and special buns are |
| naughty children. | | | | served on Santa Lucia Day, December 13. |
| | | | |
| India | | | | Customs - Santa Lucia Day honors Saint Lucy, |
| | | | who helped blind people. The oldest daughter |
| Decorations - Sometimes, houses are decorated | | | | in each Swedish household dresses in a white |
| with mango leaves; mango or banana trees are | | | | gown with a red sash, wears a crown of |
| also decorated. Small, clay, oil-burning | | | | evergreenwith seven candles in it, awakens |
| lamps are placed on the edges of flat roofs | | | | the family with a song, and serves the |
| as decorations. | | | | coffee, cakes, and buns. Each town and city |
| | | | also chooses a young woman to be Lucia for |
| Israel | | | | the day. She then serves coffee and food to |
| | | | the townspeople at schools, hospitals, and |
| Greeting - Chag Semeach (Happy Chanukah) | | | | other public buildings. From these women, a |
| | | | national Lucia is chosen; followed by a |
| Santa's Name - Actually, parents, | | | | parade, feast, and dance. |
| grandparents, and other family members give | | | | |
| presents to the children. | | | | Now that you have this data, let your |
| | | | children put the information in a comparison |
| Food - Because oil is an important part of | | | | chart. Label the left side with the names of |
| the holiday, many foods are prepared with it. | | | | the countries and the bottom with the various |
| A favorite is potato latkes (pancakes). | | | | information (ie: Greeting, Food, and so on). |
| | | | Then fill in the boxes! |
| Gifts - Since Chanukah lasts for eight days, | | | | |
| children may receive one present each night. | | | | Let your children do research to find out the |
| | | | information I left out. |
| Decorations - Jewish stars, blue or silver | | | | |
| foil garlands,dreidels (spinning tops), | | | | Conduct research to find out the same customs |
| Chanukah gelt (chocolate coins), and pictures | | | | for other countries, especially the heritage |
| of the Macabees (Jewish army that recaptured | | | | countries of students in your class or your |
| the Holy Temple and Jerusalem from the | | | | own family. |
| Assyrian Greek King Antiochus) are found | | | | |
| around the house. | | | | However you celebrate the holidays, have a |
| | | | safe, wonderful season and a Happy New Year! |
| Customs - The menorah (candelabra) is lit | | | | |
| each night. On the first night, one candle is | | | | I hope these ideas are useful and inspire |
| lit; on, the second night, two candles; and | | | | your own creative thinking. |
| so on until all the candles are lit on the | | | | |
| eighth night. After lighting the candles, | | | | And remember...Reading is FUNdamental! |