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| Welcome! to "Christmas Around the World" with Ms. Byerly's Kindergarten Class |
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| "Gosh, you must be freezin'! Come on over here by the fire and warm up. My name is Tsao, and Ms. Byerly has graciously agreed to let the other elves and I be your tour guides while you're here exploring Christmas Around the World with her Class! Neat, huh? We're all so excited you're here! Oh, and please have a candycane with your cocoa! It's Yummy!" |
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| On Christmas Eve, children in France leave their shoes by the fireplace to be filled with gifts from Pere Noel. The next morning they find that sweets, fruit, nuts and small toys have been hung on the tree. An important French tradition is the Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. After church people feast at a large table and a traditional dessert at this supper is chocolate cake filled with whipped cream and shaped in the form of a Yule log. |
| Christmas Around the World |
| "Hi! My name is Noel! Let's learn about Christmas in France!" |
| "My name is Hernandez and I'm here to tell you about Christmas in Mexico!" |
| "Hi! I'm Helena! Let's learn about Christmas in Switzerland!" |
| Hi My Name is April! Christmas is always fun in the United States and Canada! |
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| "I'm Hans and I'd love to tell you about Christmas in Germany!" |
| Scandinavian countries have cold weather at Christmastime and their traditions reflect this! Beautiful Christmas trees, good foods, clean homes, and gifts are just a few of these. Each country also has a little elf or gnome who delivers gifts to children on Christmas Eve. In Sweden, it is Juletomten. In Norway and Denmark, it is Julenisse. Both elves are tiny and mischievous. In Sweden, the Feast of Lucia is held and the oldest daughter in the family wears a white robe and a wreath of greens and candles on her head while serving special breakfast buns to her family. Trees in Scandinavia are decorated with garlands of flags. Bowls of grot (pooridge) are set out for the elves, and fish, grot, and a variety of desserts are enjoyed by everyone. |
| "I'm Peter and I love Sinter Klaas - read more about Chrismas in the Netherlands below!" |
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| "My name is Julienne and I'll be telling you about Christmas in Scandinavia!" |
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| "It's me Tsao again! Let's learn about upside down Christmas trees in Austria!" |
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| "We really hope you enjoyed going "Around the World" with us! Feel free to make yourself at home and just enjoy firelight, music, cocoa, and candycanes! There's plenty for everyone!" "Oh, I forgot to tell you,.... there's a test tomorrow on all of the above,........ OK, OK, just kidding. Have a wonderful holiday, wherever you may be!" |
| Feliz Navidad! - or Merry Christmas in Spanish! The poinsettia flower is very popular in Mexico during Christmas time. There is a legend that a poinsettia plant formed miraculously when a little girl offered a bunch of weeds as a gift to baby Jesus during a Christmas Eve service at her church. Also, popular are luminarios, decoratively cut paper bags with small, lit candles inside. |
| In Switzerland, the ringing of a silver bell announces the arrival of Christkindi. The week before Christmas, children dress up and visit homes with small gifts. Bell ringing has become a tradition, each village competes with the next when calling people to midnight mass. On December 5, there is a parade and the people wear a huge headdress shaped like a bishop's hat. The Christmas Child delivers gifts to many Swiss children on Christmas Eve. A star is always on top of their christmas tree. |
| In the United States and Canada, people decorate their homes with Christmas trees and wreaths. Many people share greeting by sending Christmas cards to friends and relatives. Many children believe that Santa Claus arrives in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. Some youngsters hang up stockings hoping that Santa will fill them with candy, fruit, and other small toys. Many people attend church services on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. Candy canes are a special treat for children. |
| Froliche Weihnachten! - or Merry Christmas in German. In Germany the people have many traditions! The Christmas tree comes from Germany, as well as the carol, "O Christmas Tree." The Gingerbread House and Gingerbread cookie also originated here. Families decorate their trees, go to church, eat food and open gifts on Christmas Eve. Kriss Kringle or Weihnachtsmann (the Christmas Man) delivers gifts to only the good children and Hans Trapp brings switches to the naughty ones! |
| The Netherlands are famous for bringing Sinter Klaas to the world, for it is his name that is the origin of Santa Claus. Sinter Klaas arrives in the Netherlands on a white horse with his helper Zwarte Piet, who writes down the names of the naughty children in his big red book! He also carries the bag full of goodies to be given to good children. Dutch children set out their wooden shoes on December 5 and leave carrots or hay for Sinter Klaas' horse. In the morning, they find their surprises. Family gifts are wrapped in many layers of paper. Also in the Netherlands, sneldichters (fast poets) write funny personalized poems to go with the gifts! |
| In Austria, people celebrate Christmas for the entire month between St. Nicholas Day and January 6, Epiphany. "Silent Night," the most popular Christmas carol in the world, originated in Austria, and marzipan is enjoyed as a tasty dessert here and across Europe. Christkind, the gift giver, leaves presents unwrapped under the tree to be received on Christmas Eve. People sometimes hang their trees upside down in special corners. It is usually decorated with paper ornaments, nuts, apples, and candles! |
