holidays around the world research booklet · 2020. 12. 3. · some holiday traditions include:...

Holidays around the world research booklet

Use the information in this booklet to help you complete your Holidays around the world booklet. Each day, spend 45 minutes choosing a holiday or country to learn about and find the information you need in your holiday's booklet. You can click each title below to be taken to the page about the country or holiday you are looking at!

USA

Australia Chinese New YearEngland France

Germany Hanukkah Italy Kwanzaa

RussiaMexico Sweden

Other countries and holidays not listed above

Australia

DecorationsMany families decorate their homes by hanging wreaths on doors, setting up Christmas trees with lights, and decorating with bunches of a Christmas Bush which is a native Australian Tree.

TraditionsSome holiday traditions include:

Carols by Candlelight. This takes place before Christmas where thousands gather to sing carols together. Sometimes the father of the family will place a candle in their window and the youngest child will light itPresents are opened Christmas morningDecember 26th is also a holiday (Boxing Day) and many Australianswatch a sport called Cricket or watch a Yacht race

Holiday:

Christmas, Boxing Day

Food &

drink

BBQLobsterPrawnsTraditional English food

celebrated December 26-January 1

holiday greeting

Happy Christmas

fun facts:December in Australia is one of the hottest months of the year, as they are currently experiencing summerBecause it’s so warm, they need to use fake snowSanta uses kangaroos in this part of the world and many children sing a song called “Six White Boomers”

England

DecorationsChristmas trees are in most English homes with holly, ivy, and mistletoe. Many businesses are decorated with lights.

TraditionsSome Christmas traditions include:

children write a letter or wish list to Father Christmas on Christmas Eve. They toss the letters into the fireplace and it is said that their wishes travel up the chimney to Father ChristmasIn the evening, the family gathers in the living room to listen to the Queen of EnglandChristmas celebrations begin during the advent, 4 Sundays before Christmas. Children receive an advent calendar to count downmany people enjoy holiday baking and Christmas carolingsome families attend church service Christmas morningThere is a fun tradition of Christmas crackers. These small tubes pop when pulled apart and have toys and jokes inside.

Country flag:

Food &

drink

turkeybrussel sproutsChristmas puddingpotatoesminced pie

celebrated December 25

holiday greeting

Merry Christmas

Happy Holidays

fun facts:Father Christmas is the name of Santa Clausthe traditional Christmas meal is usually served around lunch time, and families listen to the Queen give her annual Christmas message after lunchThe day after Christmas, Boxing Day, is a national holiday, so everyone can relax and enjoy family.

France

DecorationsLike Italy, the most popular decorations are the nativity made out of clay. Children often add moss, stones, and evergreen branches to the scenes. They also decorate with mistletoe, yule logs, and Christmas trees.


Christmas celebrations begin 4 weeks before with the beginning of AdventAdvent wreaths are found at many tablesMany enjoy puppet shows and Christmas playsChildren write letters to Pere NoelDinner is often eaten in Christmas Eve, and families attend churchOn Christmas day, children open gifts from Pere Noel. The Christmas season ends with the Epiphany on January 6th

Holidays celebrated:

Christmas, the Day of Epiphany

Food &

drink

roast gooseoystersfoie graslobstervenisonvariety of cheeses


holiday greeting

Joyeux Noel

means Merry Christmas

fun facts:Like Italy, most homes in France have a nativity sceneA giant ice rink is set up around the Eiffel Tower and there is a little Christmas market surrounding itSanta Claus is called Pere Noel in France

Germany

DecorationsThe Christmas Tree is one of the most important parts of German decorations. They also decorate their homes with nativity scenes, hand-carved Nutcracker figures, and lights.


Advent is celebrated in Germany, is is the 24 days leading up to Christmas.Advent wreaths and Advent calendars are used to track this.Many Germans enjoy baking gingerbread houses and special Christmas cookies cal Platzchen On December 5th children put out their newly cleaned shoes for St. Nicholas Day. The next morning, if they are good, they find treats, if they are naughty, they get coal, sticks, or stones.Christmas presents are exchanged on Christmas Eve


St. Nicholas day, Christmas, Three kings day

Food &

drink

dumpling soupham rollschestnut stuffingbutter cookiesstollen (bread)


holiday greeting

Frohe Weihnachten


fun facts:the Christmas Tree is very important. The most famous German decorations are glass ornamentsThe tradition of the Christmas tree was started in Germany in 1419 by town baker FreiburgThe Christmas tree is normally taken down on New Year’s Day or January 6th, which is Three King’s DayChristkind is the one who is believed to deliver gifts to children in Germany

Hanukkah(Chanukah)

DecorationsA menorah is the primary decoration used during this time. Each night, a candle is lit, until all 8 are lit.


Most families use a menorah. A menorah has 8 branches, with a ninth branch in the middle. Each branch has a candle that is lit each night. Some families celebrate by giving a small gift each night of HanukkahEach night there is lots of delicious food and many play a game of dreidel

Holiday:

Jewish Holiday

Food &

drink

LatkesDoughnutsBrisketShort ribsNoodle kugel

celebratedCan occur anywhere from late November to late December

holiday greeting

Chanukah Samekh

Happy Hanukkah

fun facts:Hanukkah is also known as the holiday of lightThroughout Hanukkah, each candle burns 44 candles. A candle is lit every night, which results in 9 candles burning on the last day.

Italy

DecorationsHomes and town squares display detailed nativity scenes. Decorating with Christmas trees, yule logs, and lights are starting to become more popular.


Christmas traditionally lasts 3 weeks in Italy, but presents are opened on January 6thMost families celebrate Christmas by attending churchWhen Italians return from church, they often have a slice of a special Christmas cake called PanettoneSome families have a Yule Log which is burned through the Christmas seasonSometimes shepherds come down from the mountains and they sing Christmas carolsOn Christmas Eve, families go to midnight mass (midnight church service)


Christmas, the Day of Epiphany

Food &

drink

panettonepanfortetorronebaked pastafish

celebrated January 6th

holiday greeting

Buon Natale


fun facts:the largest nativity in the world is found in Naples and has over 600 pieces!Babbo Natale is Italy’s version of Santa Claus and is often a female. She delivers presents to children’s stockings hung in the homes.

Kwanzaa

DecorationsHomes are decorated with art and colourful African cloth.


Women often wear kaftans and fresh fruit and men wear dashikiChildren are included in these celebrationsThere are many celebrations that happen throughout the week. A kinara holds 7 candles, one for each day. 3 are red, 3 are green and the centre one is black. 7 principles are celebrated: unity, self-determination, community work and responsibility, building and supporting businesses in the community, having purpose, creativity, and faithhttps://www.cbc.ca/kidscbc2/the-feed/all-about-kwanzaa

Holiday:

Celebrating African heritage

https://www.cbc.ca/kidscbc2/the-feed/all-about-kwanzaa

Food &

drink

RiceSlawGritsBeansOkra


holiday greeting

Habari GaniHappy Kwanzaa

fun facts:There are many important parts of the festival, including a big feast on December 31st

On January 1st, families exchange homemade gifts.

Mexico

DecorationsHomes are decorated with lilies and evergreens. Some families have Christmas trees. Red poinsettias are originally from Mexico, something used to symbolize Christmas around the world.


From December 16-Christmas Eve there are posada’s every night (everyone walks to a friends house and sing songs)Posada parties often have a pinata made of clay and paper machefilled with candy. Gifts are given to children on Christmas Eve, or January 5th or 6th

(the Epiphany)On Christmas Eve, families get together to celebrate the last Posada and share a large meal together


Christmas, the Epiphany

Food &

drink

TamalesHot chocolateThree kings cakeEnsalada Navidena


holiday greeting

Feliz Navidad

Merry Christmas

fun facts:Some traditions come from Spain while others started in Mexico The weather is warm in Mexico at ChristmasChristmas Eve is called Noche Buena

Russia

DecorationsRussians decorate their homes with a Christmas tree and often place pine leaves at the front door and around the house, as well as lots of ornaments.


Christmas and New Holidays last from December 31st to January 10th. Presents are delivered to Children on New Years Eve.Some people fast (don’t eat anything) on Christmas Eve until the first start shows up in the sky.They go to midnight Church and sometimes don’t get home until 4:00 am!


Christmas, New Years, New Holidays

Food &

drink

fishfruitbiscuitshoneymushroomsRussian fish pie

celebrated Thursday January 7

holiday greeting

C novom godom

meaning “with the New Year”

fun facts:A common gift during the holiday season are nesting dolls and lacquered boxesThe Russian version of Santa Claus is Father Frost or Old Man Frost. Hi grand daughter, Snegurochka, is his helperThey wear blue robes and a furry cap

Sweden

DecorationsTo celebrate St. Lucia, they hold a festival of lights each year. A Christmas tree is put up, and it is taken down January 13.


The festival of lightsChildren sing songs and each year there is a girl dressed up as St. Lucia (she wears a white robe, a red sash, and a wreath with candles on her head)During these celebrations girls wear white robes with shiny belts and boys wear cone shaped hats and carry a staff decorated with starsThe oldest girl in each home dresses as St. Lucia and serves her family coffee and sweet buns to her family


St. Lucia’s Day, Christmas Eve

Food &

drink

LussebullarJulskinkaLiver and pateJellied pigs feet


holiday greeting

God jul (gud-yule)

Merry Christmas

fun facts:When the tree is taken down on January 13th, all of the leftover sweets are also eatenSanta is a gnome named Jultomten who is helped by other gnomes called Nissars

USA

DecorationsChristmas decorations can be seen in many homes and businesses. Some people use pine branches, holly, pinecones, mistletoe, and poinsettia flowers. A Christmas tree can be found in many places decorated with ornaments, garlands, and lights. There are often wrapped gifts under the trees. Some traditional decorations include angels, Santa, reindeer, snowmen, and stars.


hanging stockings above the fireplace for Santa to fillwalking around and singing carolswatch Christmas movies togethersharing a big dinner with familyopening Christmas presents on Christmas morning

fun facts:Homes across the United States are often decorated with wreaths, garland, yard decorations, and Christmas lightsSome Americans use popcorn threaded on string to help decorate their Christmas tree.Many Americans will go to church for a special service at Christmas. Before bed, many children leave out cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for Reindeer

Food &

drink

turkeyhamcranberriesmashed potatoesstuffinggravy


holiday greeting

Merry Christmas

Happy Holidays

Country flag:

Other countries and holidays you could learn about and share:

• Argentina• Bahamas• Brazil• Belgium• Chile• Egypt• Finland• Greece• Hungary

• Indonesia• Ireland• Japan• Peru• Philippines• Poland• Scotland• Ukraine

• Diwali• Ramadan• Eid-al-fitr• Winter solstice

• www.whychristmas.com/cultures

• https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/winter-celebrations/

• https://www.cbc.ca/kidscbc2/explore/winter-holidays

Places to learn:

http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/winter-celebrations/

https://www.cbc.ca/kidscbc2/explore/winter-holidays

holidays around the world research booklet · 2020. 12. 3. · some holiday traditions include:...

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