Introduction

The purpose of this Web page is to give you a sampling of some of the aspects of Christmas Worldwide. Good luck and have fun!

The following links come from all over the World Wide Web and represent a variety of viewpoints. You may complete the following Internet activities alone or by working with a partner.

Internet Activities

The History Channel Christmas Exhibit

1. Why was the end of December a perfect time for celebration in most areas of Europe?
2. What pagan god did the Germans honor during the mid-winter holiday?
3. What did the Romans celebrate around the time of the winter solstice?

Pathfinders for Kids: Christmas History

1. Who wrote a book about a young pioneer girl and her family celebrate Christmas in their cabin in the Wisconsin woods?
2. Who wrote the book, 'The Shoe Tree of Chagrin?'
3. What is the title of the book by C.L. Davis?

Holiday Traditions

1. Most people in Luxembourg celebrate Christmas Eve with ______ and ________?
2. What is one Danish tradition associated with kids Christmas calendar?
3. What is the main celebration takes place on Christmas Eve in Spain?

An Italian Christmas

1. What is the name of a light Milanese cake filled with candied fruit and raisins?
2. In Rome, where would you find pipers playing?
3. In most Italian Christmas sweets you will find ________ and ________.

A Spanish Christmas

1. According to Spanish tradition, who gives gifts to children on the morning of January 6th?
2. Describe the 'lucky grapes' tradition for New Years?
3. What other holiday takes place in Spain between December 22 and January 6?

A German Christmas

1. What do children do on the first day of their Christmas holiday?
2. What do good children receive on St. Nicholas Day?
3. What is the name of long loaves of bread with nuts, raisins, lemon and dried fruit eaten on Christmas Day?

A French Christmas

1. What do French children receive for Christmas if they have been bad?
2. What do French children place by the fire?
3. What is the French name for Father Christmas?

Christmas in Mexico

1. Mexicans revere the Nativity so much that they recreate it with _____ _______.
2. Who visits Mexican children on January 6 and what does he leave them?
3. What is a central theme to the Mexican celebration of Christmas?

Did You Know? Christmas Carols

1. When were Christmas carols banned?
2. When was the earliest known Christmas carol written and by whom?
3. Silent Night is sung in more than _______ languages?

Did You Know? Festivals held by other religions over the holiday season

1. How many candles does the Jewish menorah hold?
2. When does Ramadan begin?
3. When and by whom was Kwanzaa founded?

Conclusion

While exploring this sampler on Christmas Worldwide, we hope you've had fun, learned, and most importantly connected with some part of this topic. If you did not, please go back and explore some other links and look deeper inside yourself. Be prepared to explain how you feel more interested in or connected to the topic now than before you tried this sampler.