Happy Holidays Around the World

1. Happy Holidays Around the World

2. United States and Canada • Common decorations include Christmas trees, Ornaments, Lights, Wreaths, and Stockings • Children write letters to Santa asking for the presents they want • Presents are believed to be placed under the tree by Santa on Christmas Eve • Many attend Christmas Eve or Morning Church services.

3. England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales • They send Christmas Cards • Hang mistletoe in hallways or a room • The day before Christmas groups of Kids or Adults go door to door singing Carols. • Kids will ask for $ for themselves. Adults ask for $ for Charity. • Put lit candles in their windows on Christmas Eve • Roasted Turkey is the common main Christmas Dinner Course. • Scottish people usually hold their main Christmas celebration on New Year’s Day.

4. France • Families decorate with small nativity scenes • Children put their shoes in front of their fireplace for Father Christmas to fill with gifts. • Many families attend midnight Mass then have a festive supper called Le reveillon

5. Germany • Have Christmas trees that they decorate with lights, ornaments, and tinsel. • Spicy cakes called lebkuchen are made in various shapes and used as decorations. • Believe that Saint Nicholas visits children's homes on Saint Nicholas Eve, Dec. 5, and delivers candy and other sweets to be opened on Dec 6, St Nicholas Day • Then Christmas eve gifts are brought. • South Germany families believes Christkind (Christ Child) brings the gifts • North German Families believe Weihnachtsmann(Christmas Man) brings them.

6. Mexico • The nine days before Christmas have special importance. • They are called posadas, which means inns or lodgings. • On each day, they reenact Mary and Joseph's search for lodgings on the first Christmas Eve. • After each ceremony they feast and celebrate, then the kids break piñatas • In some parts kids receive gifts on Christmas day • In most parts, it is believed that the wise men leave the presents on the eve of Epiphany.

7. Africa • The celebration of Christmas is not widespread. • But, they sing carols and hymns in their own languages. • Christmas is celebrated on January 7th. • The major celebration takes place nearly two weeks later at Epiphany.

8. Hanukkah • Also known as Chanukah • It is the Jewish Feast of Lights or Feast of Dedication • Begins on the eve of the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev (approximately December) • Lasts 8 days • Each evening at sundown, the Hanukkah menorah is lit. • One candle per day. • The 1st night-1 is lit. • 2nd night- 2 are lit, so on • The menorah has 9 candles • The one in the middle (called the Shamash) is used to light all the others

9. Kwanzaa • Begins on December 26 and lasts for seven days. • The holiday centers on the Nguzo Saba, seven principles of African American culture • Unity, Self-Determination, Collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, faith. • Each evening, families light one of the seven candles in the kinara and discuss the day's principle. • Families exchange zawadi (gifts), which are usually homemade • Near the end of the holiday, the community gathers for a feast called karamu

10. To Sum It Up