www.readinga-z.com

Written by Peter C. Montin

Holidays Aroundthe World

A Reading A–Z Level T Leveled Reader

Word Count: 1,679

LLEEVVEELLEEDD RREEAADDEERR •• TT

Visit www.readinga-z.com for thousands of books and materials.

❄HHoolliiddaayyssHHoolliiddaayyss

AArroouunndd tthhee WWoorrlldd

Holidays Around the WorldLevel T Leveled Reader© 2003 Learning Page, Inc.Written by Peter C. Montin

ReadingA–ZTM

© Learning Page, Inc.

All rights reserved.

Learning Page1630 E. River Road #121Tucson, AZ 85718

www.readinga-z.comwww.readinga-z.com

Written by Peter C. Montin

A note on spelling:To ease student reading of names and terms,this book uses spellings that are as close aspossible to phonetic English. You may wish to review words such as Koran and Hanukkahand introduce their traditional spellings.

❄HHoolliiddaayyssHHoolliiddaayyss

AArroouunndd tthhee WWoorrlldd

Photo Credits:Front cover, back cover, pages 10, 14 (middle), 15, 17, 23: © Artville;title page, pages 11, 13, 18, 22: © clipart.com; page 4: John Meyer/© LearningPage, Inc.; pages 5, 9, 12, 16, 20: © Royalty-Free/CORBIS;page 6: © AFP/CORBIS; page 7: © A. Ramey/PhotoEdit; page 8: © Michael Newman/PhotoEdit; page 14 (top, bottom): © PhotoDisc; page 21: © Bennett Dean; Eye Ubiquitous/CORBIS; page 24: © ArneHodalic/CORBIS.

CorrelationLEVEL T

Fountas & Pinnell PReading Recovery 23

DRA 38

43

Table of Contents

Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Ramadan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Hanukkah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Christmas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Kwanzaa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Chinese New Year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Holi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

New Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Conclusion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Introduction

People all around the world love tocelebrate special holidays. As each monthcomes to an end, we turn our calendars andlook for the holidays that will come duringthe new month. It seems that there is no timeof the year that holds more holiday excitementthan the time between November and March.It is a season of holidays.

–––––––––––❖–––––––––––

––––––––––––––❖––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––❖––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––❖–––––––––––––––––––––––

Festive holidays fill the months between November and March.

65

Ramadan

Each year, people who belong to a faithcalled Islam set aside an entire month tocelebrate a holiday called Ramadan. Islamuses a calendar that is based on the moon.Ramadan, the ninth month of the calendar,begins with the sighting of the new moon. During this month-long holiday, people readthe Islam holy book, the Koran. They alsopray and fast.

Holidays during this season are usuallyfilled with traditions. Traditions are thingsthat people do because the people beforethem did those same things. Traditions arepassed down from one generation of peopleto another. Holidays are usually happy times.They are times when friends and family gettogether. People celebrate with song, dance,and lots of good food. In this book, you willread about many of the different holidays thatkids just like you, from all around the world,celebrate during this season of holidays.

During most holidays, families come together.

Two Moslem boys in Indonesia read the Koran during Ramadan.

––––––––– –––––––––

––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––❖–––––––––––––––––––––––

87

The tradition of fasting serves manypurposes. It helps remind the more fortunatepeople of Islam that there are people who are always hungry. It reminds them to givethanks for what they have. It also remindsthem to be generous and share their goodfortune with those who are not as fortunate.Ramadan is a time to think about one’s lifeand to do good deeds for others.

Muslims who fast do not eat or drinkduring the day. According to Islamic tradition, people cannot eat as long as there is enough light to see the difference between a black thread and a white thread. Eachmorning before the sun rises, most people eat a small meal. At sunset, the fast is oftenbroken with a fruit called dates, followed bysunset prayer, and then dinner. Friends andrelatives often eat together. The biggest day of celebrating comes after the last day ofRamadan. Families and friends join togetherfor large meals, and cities hold festivals.

Do You Know?One Ramadan tradition began with

a king who would go out to look for thenew moon that begins the holiday. Children wentout with the king, carrying colored lanterns andsinging songs to guide the way. In some placestoday, children carry colorful lanterns into the nightand sing songs at the start of Ramadan.

––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––

Muslim family members break their fast at the end of Ramadan. Muslim women and children during prayer at the end of Ramadan.

109

A menorah holds nine candles—one foreach night of Hanukkah, and one to light theother eight candles. The ninth candle, calledthe shamash, sits taller than the others. Onthe first night of Hanukkah, only one candle

and the shamash are lit. On each ofthe next nights, onemore candle is lit,until on the lastnight, all of thecandles are burning.

As part of theHanukkah tradition,people also give and receive giftsthroughout the eight days. Usually,children get one

small gift and a little money eachnight. They are encouraged togive at least part of the money toothers who are less fortunate.

Hanukkah

Hanukkah is a holiday celebrated byJewish people, who practice a faith calledJudaism (JOO-dee-is-um). Judaism also uses its own calendar, and Hanukkah falls in thethird month. This eight-day holiday begins in late November or in December.

Hanukkah is known as the “Festival ofLights.” During each of the eight nights ofHanukkah, Jewish families light candles heldin a special candle holder called a menorah(meh-NOR-ah). The entire family gatherseach night for the lighting of the menorah.

A Jewish family enjoys a Hanukkah meal.

–––––––––✡–––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––✡––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––✡–––––––––––––––––––––––

A menorah

Christmas

Christmas is a special holiday celebratedby people of the Christian faith. While it is officially celebrated on December 25, it hasbecome filled with activities that begin wellbefore that day. In this way, Christmas isreally a holiday season that lasts for days oreven weeks. It is the biggest Christian holidayof the year.

People decoratetheir homes in blueand white. They playtraditional games,including thegame of dreidel(DRAY-del), whichis played by spinninga four-sided top withdifferent Hebrewletters written on each side.Winning the game depends on which letter is showing when the dreidel stops spinning.Families and friends sing songs and eatdelicious, rich foods made with or cooked in oil. Potato pancakes and jelly-filled pastriesare among the favorites.

1211

Do You Know?Latkes (LAT-kuhs) are one of the traditional foods

of Hanukkah. They are pancakes made from gratedpotatoes mixed with eggs, onions, and flour. Theyare fried in vegetable oil until they are crispy onthe outside and soft inside. Latkes are served hot,and many people like to dip them in applesauce or sour cream.

A dreidel

A Mexican-Americangirl celebrates LasPosadas, a nine-dayMexican Christmascelebration. Participantsrecreate Mary andJoseph’s search forlodging on the night of Jesus’s birth by going door to door and asking to be invited inside.

––––––––––✩––––––––––

––––––––––––––––––––––✩––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––✡––––––––––––––––––––––

Christmas is a time for manytraditions andactivities. TheChristmas season

is a season ofgiving, not only

to friends and family, butalso to people who are poor or

in need. Toys, clothing, and food arecollected and given to those whohave very little. Manycities and towns have fairs,celebrations, andparades. On Christmas

Day, Christians visit with familyand friends, open presents, and

eat special foods, especiallysweets. Many Christians go tochurch on Christmas Day orthe night before. They sing

songs and pray that otherswill be safe, healthy,

and happy during the holiday season.

Most people who celebrate Christmas bringa pine tree into their homes and decorate itwith lights and ornaments a week or twobefore Christmas Day. They place brightlywrapped gifts under the tree. They open thegifts either the night before Christmas or onChristmas morning. People also hang littlelights in and around their homes and decoratewith red, green, and white.

13

Christmas trees and lights decorate many Christian homes.

–––––––––––––––––––––––✩––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––✩–––––––––––––––––––––––14

On each night of Kwanzaa, someone in the family, often the youngest child, lights one candle in a special holder called a kinara(KEE-nah-rah). The candles are red, green,and black, to match the colors of the Africanflag. On the sixth day of Kwanzaa, family and friends come together for a big meal.They pass a special cup around the table.Families tell a traditional African-Americanstory or share something about African-American history or culture before everyonetakes a sip. Gifts are often exchanged, andchildren usually receive a book, toy, or videothat teaches something important about life.

Kwanzaa

Each year from December 26 until January 1, many African Americans celebrateKwanzaa. It is not a holiday connected to aspecific faith. Instead, it celebrates African-American history and the many contributionsof Africans and African Americans. Many ofthe traditions of Kwanzaa come from harvestcelebrations on the continent of Africa.

Kwanzaa is seven days long. At thebeginning of the holiday, families set up atable or shelf with a special mat, candles, and a bowl or basket of vegetables. Thesevegetables celebrate a good harvest and otheraccomplishments during the year. Familiesalso display one ear of corn for each child.Homes aredecorated withstreamers,balloons, andflowers ofblack, red, and green.

16

This Kwanzaa table includes the kinara, the unity cup, and harvest vegetables.

One candle in the kinara is lit for each night of Kwanzaa.

15

–––––––– ––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––

The biggest celebration comes on thefifteenth night. In cities and towns, peopleplay games and light fireworks. Dancers in costumes perform the flashy Lion Dance.Friends visit each other and wish each other well in the coming year. At the end of the celebration comes the Dragon Parade.

Everyone gathers to watchthe parade, and people

sing and dance. At the end of the parade, abeautiful, luckydragon made of

cloth dances downthe street.

Chinese New Year

Many Chinese people celebrate a 15-day-long holiday known as Chinese NewYear. The holiday is based on the Chinesecalendar and begins on the first new moon of the new year.

During the 15-day Chinese New Yearcelebration, people do many things they hopewill bring them good luck during the comingyear. They clean their homes from top tobottom, decorate with flowers, and put out a special tray of candies.

Red and orange are the lucky colors forChinese New Year. People wear red clothesand eat foods such as oranges. They decoratetheir homes with red pieces of paper printedwith good-luck sayings. They also give giftsof money in red paper envelopes.

17

––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––

Redmoneyenvelopes

18

The Lion Dance is wild and colorful.

Holi

Holi is a holiday celebrated by people ofthe Hindu (HIN-doo) faith. Most Hindus livein the country of India. Holi is celebratedduring the first part of March on the first dayafter the full moon.

Holi is the festival of colors, and itcelebrates the return of spring. It is a timefilled with games, sports, and mischief.Everyone is allowed to break the rules, playpranks, and have fun. Bright colors play a bigpart in the holiday festivities, and they covereverything in sight. People wear brightlycolored clothing and decorate their homeswith colorful fabrics, powders, and dyes.

Families celebrate Chinese New Year in a variety of ways. Some families honormembers who have died. They have a largedinner for the spirits of the dead and for thosestill living in order to honor family unity. Allof the festivals and traditions of Chinese NewYear welcome the coming of spring.

2019

Do You Know?Traditionally, Chinese people celebrated

everyone’s birthday at the same time. According to Chinese tradition, everyone turns a year olderon the first day of the new year. So everyonecelebrates his or her birthday on the same day!

Family members decorate each other for the Holi festival.

––––– –––––

–––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––

Relatives sing songs and celebrate the Chinese New Year together.

New Year

People all over the world celebrate the new year. No matter what country you live in or what religion you belong to, the newyear is the time when you celebrate thepassing of the old year and the coming of the new. On New Year’s Eve, many peoplestay up until midnight to greet the new year.They count down the last seconds of the oldyear and greet the new one with explodingfireworks, shouting, songs, and all sorts of merriment.

The night before Holi begins, people build big bonfires, sing, and dance. Allthroughout Holi, children and adults alikeplay rowdy games. People chase each otherand try to spray each other with coloredpowder or water. Boys and girls split up andhave contests with each other. Many peoplewear white clothing so that the splashes ofcolor will show up. Enemies try to forget their fights and be happy together.

2221

Before the bonfire, the ground is brightly painted. ––––––––––✺––––––––––

––––––––––––––––––––––✺––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––

Fireworks greet the new year.

Conclusion

People around the world celebrate manydifferent holidays. No matter what the place,faith, or culture they come from, all holidayshave many things in common. They allcelebrate family, friends, sharing, and love.

New Year’s parties are common everywhere. They are filled with colorful pieces of paper tossed into the air, noisemakers, and hats. People sing songs

and wish their friends goodluck in the coming year. It is also a time when

people make resolutions, or promises to

themselves, that theywill do somethinggood for their health

and well-being.

2423

A NativeAmericanmedicineman of theTohonoO’odhamtribe inprayer on wintersolstice

Do You Know?Many other cultures around the world celebrate

the winter solstice—the day when the sun is the farthest north in the sky. In the Northernhemisphere, it is the shortest day of the year. In theSouthern hemisphere, it is the longest day. NativeAmericans, ancient Europeans, and hundreds ofother cultures celebrate the winter solstice as partof honoring the cycles of nature.

–––––––––––❖–––––––––––

––––––––––––––––––––––❖––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––✺––––––––––––––––––––––

Glossary

dreidel a four-sided top used in a Hanukkah game (p. 11)

generation all the people who are born andlive at about the same time;parents are one generation, andtheir children are the nextgeneration (p. 5)

kinara a special candleholder forKwanzaa candles (p. 16)

merriment fun and happiness (p. 22)

menorah a special candleholder that holdseight candles plus the lightingcandle of Hanukkah (p. 9)

ornaments small hanging decorations (p. 13)

resolutions promises to oneself to do goodthings (p. 23)

shamash the candle in a menorah used tolight the other candles (p. 10)

traditions customs handed down throughgenerations (p. 5)

2625

Hol

iday

Tim

eFa

ith

or

Nat

ion

alit

yE

ven

ts

Ram

adan

9th

mon

th o

f Isl

amFa

sting

dur

ing

the

day

Islam

ic c

alen

dar

Giv

ing

to th

ose

less

fortu

nate

Han

ukka

h25

th d

ay o

f Jew

ish

Juda

ism

Light

ing

the

men

orah

mon

th o

f Kis

lev

Play

ing

drei

del

(late

Nov

. or

Dec

.)Ea

ting

food

s w

ith o

il

Chr

istm

asD

ecem

ber

25C

hris

tiani

tyG

ivin

g gi

ftsD

ecor

atin

g a

tree

Giv

ing

to th

ose

less

fortu

nate

Chi

nese

The

first

new

moo

n C

hine

seW

earin

g an

d de

cora

ting

New

Yea

rof

the

year

with

red

Fire

wor

ks a

nd p

arad

es

Hol

iLa

te F

ebru

ary

Hin

duW

earin

g br

ight

col

ors

Gam

es a

nd p

rank

s

New

Yea

rJa

nuar

y 1

All

Stay

ing

up u

ntil

mid

nigh

tFi

rew

orks

, son

gs, a

nd n

oise –––––––––❖–––––––––

––––––––––––––––––––––❖––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––❖––––––––––––––––––––––