Christmas around the world

Delaney has been doing her Christmas Around the World report on Hungary so it has been fun to remember our Hungarian traditions. We went to the Budapest Bistro in Mukilteo today and got some traditional Hungarian candies called szaloncukor. In Hungary they are hung from the Christmas tree. Hearing the owner of the Bistro speak in her Hungarian accent made me miss my Nana terribly. Nana loved Christmas and always made it special and fun. So I will be thinking of her tomorrow while we come up with a Hungarian looking outfit and make Biegli. A poppy seed roll traditionally served during Christmas. I love this project Keegan did it when he was a 2nd grader and I was looking forward to Laney having it. It was the perfect way to kick off our own Christmas Around the World. Since my preschool teaching days where I started doing this. I have tried each year to do Christmas around the world with my own kids. I LOVE IT! I love all the different customs and traditions. We talk about the different ways to say Merry Christmas and what families around the world do to get ready for the holidays.

You don't need to go crazy researching or spend tons of money to have fun with this concept. Thanks to the internet there is tons of info easily accessed and thanks to your local craft store there are many supplies easily purchased. Here is what we have done so far and what we have coming up. I also am including a couple links to find more Christmas Around the World traditions.


http://santas.net/aroundtheworld.htm
http://www.the-north-pole.com/around

Hungary- 

Merry Christmas: Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket

Santa: Mikulas 

On Dec. 5th we put our shoes by the window for St. Nicholas or Mikulas (me-Ku-lash) to leave treats in them. Dec. 6th is St. Nicholas Feast Day. Many Europeans celebrate this holiday as the night Santa comes and save Christmas as a Holy Day. Hungarian children know they will only receive gifts from Mikulas if their shoes are clean. If they are not then they will receive a switch or branch from a little signifying they deserve a punishment. Most receive both because no one is all good or all bad :) 

Poland-  

Merry Christmas: Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia or Boze Narodzenie

Santa: Mikolaj

For Poland as in many European countries Advent is the beginning of the Holiday Season. Children use Advent Calendars to count the days until Christmas. We got our chocolate filled calendars and the kids are thrilled each morning to have their chocolate for dessert after breakfast :)

Germany-
Merry Christmas: Froehliche Weihnachten
Santa: Kris Kringle But it is Christkindl "Christ Child" who brings their gifts. 

Use your Tree Cutting and trimming as a lesson on where this tradition originated. Legend has it that Martin Luther began the tradition of decorating trees to celebrate Christmas. One crisp Christmas Eve, about the year 1500, he was walking through snow-covered woods and was struck by the beauty of a group of small evergreens. Their branches, dusted with snow, shimmered in the moonlight. When he got home, he set up a little fir tree indoors so he could share this story with his children. He decorated it with candles, which he lighted in honor of Christ's birth.

Sweden-

God Jul

Santa: A Gnome called Tomte

On December 13th Swedes as well as several other European countries celebrate St. Lucia Day. The oldest daughter wakes early and wears a white robe and an evergreen crown with 7 candles. She serves her family Lucia Buns (kind of like cinnamon rolls) and coffee.
Delaney is always excited to play Lucia, the boys are always jealous :) Will post pics!

We also made a Santa Gnome. We are making a bunch to be on our table on Christmas eve. They started out as sticks and ended up SO CUTE! I bought Crayola Modeling Clay and Joe cut me the branches.

 

 

 ARE THESE SO GREAT OR WHAT! I found them on my new favorite blog 

http://www.thatartistwoman.org/

Mexico-

Merry Christmas: Feliz Navidad 

Santa: I never have found the Mexican equivalent to Santa. It is more about the Holy aspects of the day.

In Mexico they celebrate Las Posadas "the inns" It is celebrated in the days before Christmas. Usually 2 people act as Mary and Joseph searching for shelter in Bethlehem. The procession goes from house to house where they are turned away until at last they are told they may stay in the stable. At this place is a big celebration! Food, family, friends and pinata!

We will be making paper banners called Papel Picado. They are pieces of brightly colored tissue that are cut almost like a snowflake would be. They are hung to decorate for many celebrations in Mexico. I am trying to figure out how to do Las Posadas. The problem is we have only our 1 neighbor and so it is kind of boring procession wise :) I'll figure it out.

France-

Merry Christmas: Joyeux Noel

Santa: Pere Noel

In France most homes display Nativity scenes or "Creches." Sets are passed from generation to generation. The Yule log is a traditional cake that is served as well. 

We are going to make "creches" out of popsicle sticks and we are going to get a Yule log cake from our local French Bakery. 

Ireland-

Merry Christmas: Nollaig Shona Dhuit, or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat

Santa: Daddaí Na Nollaig

Lighted candles are placed in windows on Christmas Eve, as a guide that Joseph and Mary might be looking for shelter. The candles are usually red in color, and decorated with sprigs of holly.

We are making candles using red tissue paper and flameless tea lights. You can use a jar as a base and then Modge Podge red tissue on it. Or you can have your kids paint or color a toilet paper roll red and cut out pieces of holly to decorate it. I'll post pics when we do it. 

Now this tradition is just ours. When we were kids my mom let us make fireplaces for our rooms every Christmas. Sometimes we would just use paper and sometimes a box if we were lucky. Last year we made these with my kids and it was such a hit that our cousins even did it. I saved them and put them up again and I just think they are SO FUN! These pics are from our adventure making them last year. Two of my sisters Tiff and Kels were here to help me :) As you can see it was messy, and it still looks like there was a murder down in our basement. But it was worth it. Its a memory my kids will keep forever. As will I. 

It's hard to see but with some Christmas lights it makes for a cozy little sight :) I hope these ideas inspire you to do something different this holiday season. If you have neat traditions you'd like to share comment so we can all learn something new :) enJOY!