Christmas Around the World

   We had a great time on our trip around the world.  Everyone had a passport and got it stamped when we visited a new country.  We learned about the Christmas traditions from England, Germany, Sweden, Holland, Mexico, Italy, Russia, Ireland,  France, Kwanzaa, China, and Hanukah

       America found it's traditions of stockings, singing carols, Christmas cards, and wreaths from England.  We made Christmas stocking to celebrate our visit.

                           

                          

                               

                              

                              

   Our class joined an internet project where we exchanged Christmas cards with other first grade classes from around the U.S.

                                               

        The tradition of decorating a tree came from Germany .  Kris Kringle is what they call "Santa".  Gingerbread came from Germany.  We all made gingerbread men.  The gingerbread men all ran away. 

                   

                                         

                                    

                                   

                                       Kris Kringle

                                      

                            

                           

                             

                                      

                                          

                               

      Our class read the Gingerbread man story.  The Gingerbread Man came to visit and ran away.  He left clues for us to follow all over the building.  It was so exciting to read each new clue.  We finally ended up finding the special treats that he left us.                              

                 

       Amelia read our first clue.  He was thirsty so we went to the water fountain.

                 

      Liz found clue # 2.  He said he wanted a book so we went to the library.

                

      Clue # 3 told Boone that he was hungry.  We went to the cafeteria.

                

       Clue # 4 told Peyton that he had stomach ache.  We went to see the nurse.

                

       Clue # 5  told Kendrianna that he was making a phone call.  We headed to the office.

                 

       Clue # 6 said that he was going to where you went when you were in trouble.   Braxton said we needed to see Mrs. Burns.

                   

         Mrs. Burns told us that he had ran away  but he had left everyone a surprise.  There a basket of delicious gingerbread cookies for everyone!!!!

                                                                         

      In Italy,  a witch comes to visit the children.   She is called

"La Befena".  She is a kind witch

                 This is a picture of our "La Befena".

                               

                    

                             

                             

                               

     We got the beautiful flower, poinsettia, from Mexico.  We read the book " The Legend of the Poinsettia" by Tomie dePaola. 

                          

                          

                             

 

       We also made wooden shoes and filled them with toys. We made windmills and colored a flag. This is how Christmas in Holland is celebrated.  

                      

                               

                             

                      

                                        We made a Crown of Candles for Sweden. We colored a girl and boy dressed in traditional Swedish outfits.  We made a Swedish flag.  The class enjoyed reading The Christmas Trolls by Jan Brett and designing a toy horse that was in the story. In Sweden if you are not good, a goat will come to visit and butt you!

                             

         

                             

                               

                   

  

                                  

 

             We made Pere Noel and the French flag.  We also decorated a Nativity scene because the Nativity is a very big part of French Christmas traditions.  We made beautiful angels for France.

 

                     Kwanzaa is the African American celebration of Christmas.  We made a Kinara and an African flag.  We also made a small reader with the definitions for each of the candles in the Kinara.  The candles are called Mishumaa saba.

      

    

      

      

In Israel Hanukah is celebrated.  We made Menorahs.

     

    

       In Ireland, they place lighted candles in the window on Christmas Eve to show Mary and Joseph the way.  Christmas is celebrated  more from a religious view than fun activities.  They hang Christmas sacks instead of stockings.  Everyone makes Christmas candles with holly around them.

      

       

                In Russia they call it Festival of Winter.  They  have a Babushka which means Grandma.  She comes around and brings presents.  The Nutcracker Ballet is a tradition at Christmas time.

 

   

Jacob brought a real nutcracker to share with us.

  This year we added China to our countries.  In China they celebrate Chinese New Year.  The children enjoyed reading books about China and their customs.  They made a Chinese mask  and also a Chinese dragon.