Christmas

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Christmas
Jane Doe
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Christmas Season

• Christmas is not celebrated on a single day like
  most holidays, but as a season.
• For many people, this season extends from
  December 24th until January 6th, including the
  New Year.
• During this time, there are many Christmas
  traditions that are celebrated.

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Christmas Tree
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The Christmas Tree

• Most well known and beloved symbol of the
  holidays
• Originated in Germany
• First decorations were made of real fruit,
  cookies, and nuts.

• Popular Trees throughout the US
• National Christmas Tree in Washington
• New York City at Rockefeller Center

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Christmas Trees in Europe

• In France, the tree is not very popular.
  Instead, they have a Yule Log. The Yule Log is a
  traditional cake in the shape of a log. This
  cake is then served for dinner.
• In Germany, the tree is the center of attention.
  Traditionally the mother decorates the tree and
  no one can see it until she is finished.

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What goes under the tree????
GIFTS!!
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Americans give gifts on the 25th of December, but
the date varies greatly among Christian cultures.

• In parts of Northern France, gift giving occurs
  on December 6th, in memory of St. Nicholas.
• In England and France, along with the United
  States, exchange of gifts is on the 25th of
  December, the Birthday of Jesus.
• January 6th is Epiphany and Italy and Spain give
  gifts on that day.

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Where do the presents go?
Socks?? Shoes??
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The Stocking

• In the U.S., the children hang stockings out in
  hopes of a few small gifts of candy or toys. The
  stocking is usually hung on the chimney.
• In England, the children hang their stockings at
  the foot of their bed.

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The Shoe

• In France, the children put out sabots,
  traditional wooden shoes. They are placed in
  front of the fireplace to be filled on Christmas
  Eve.

• In Spain, the children put their shoes on the
  windowsill filled with straw, carrots, and barley
  for the horses believed to bring their gifts.

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The Piñata

• In Mexico, the children take turns swinging at a
  piñata. A piñata is a clay shaped animal. It is
  hollow inside and filled with candy.
• When the piñata breaks, candy falls to the ground
  for the children to gather.

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Who brings the presents?
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SANTA CLAUS
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Santa Claus

• Santa symbolizes the spirit of holiday giving and
  good cheer.
• Santa Claus is known throughout America as the
  white-bearded, chubby figure that wears a red
  suit.

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Germany Christkind

• In Germany, Saint Nicholas is referred to as
  Christkind.
• He travels with an assistant named Krampus.
• Good children receive gifts while the naughty
  children are punished with a few hits of the rod.

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Santas Around the World

• In France, Father Christmas, or Pere Noel, brings
  gifts for the children.
• He travels with his companion Pre Fouettard who
  reminds him how each child behaved through the
  year.

• In Italy, La Befana is a good witch who dresses
  in black and delivers gifts to the children.
• In Russia, it is a figure called Babouschka who
  brings the presents.
• In the Scandinavian countries, an elf called
  julenisse bears gifts.

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Englands Father Christmas

• In England, Santa is depicted wearing long robes
  with holly in his long white hair.
• The children write letters to him, but they are
  not mailed. Instead, they are thrown into the
  fireplace. If they go up the chimney, the
  childs wish will be granted.

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Songs of the Season
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Christmas Carols

• Two different kinds of Christmas carols
  Traditional and Religious.
• Traditional songs are festive holiday songs.
• Religious carols are those songs that are sung in
  churches.

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Traditional Carols

• Jingle Bells
• Winter Wonderland
• Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
• White Christmas
• Sleighride
• Santa Claus is Coming to Town

• Frosty the Snowman
• Twelve Days of Christmas
• Let it Snow
• Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
• We Wish you a Merry Christmas

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Religious Carols

• O Come All Ye Faithful
• Silent Night
• Joy to the World
• It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
• Away in a Manger

• God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
• The First Noel
• Hark The Herald Angels Sing
• Angels We Have Heard on High

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Food for the Festivities
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Traditional Christmastime Meals

• Christmas is a time for families to gather and
  share in a delicious meal.
• Each family has special traditional foods that
  are served. In the United States, similar to
  England, the traditional meal consists of turkey
  or beef, various side dishes, and mincemeat pie
  for dessert.

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Meals Abroad

• Spain serves the dinner, or cena, after mass. It
  usually features turkey and the Christmas
  favorite, turron, a candy loaf of roasted almonds
  in caramel sauce.
• In Russia, the main dish is a porridge, kutya,
  that symbolizes unity.

• In Italy, the general menu would feature baked,
  roasted, or fried female eel for the Christmas
  Eve dinner and tortellini and a varity of cakes
  of the Christmas dinner.
• In France, their dinner, le reveillon, is eaten
  after midnight mass. Among others things, the
  Yule log is served at this meal.

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Candy Cane

• The Candy cane has a lot of symbolic meaning.
  The white represents purity. The red symbolizes
  the pain inflicted on Jesus.
• The shape of the cane symbolizes Jesus as a
  shepherd. If you turn it upside down, it becomes
  a J to stand for the first letter of Jesus .

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The other little things of Christmas...
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Poinsettia

• The poinsettia is native to Mexico.
• The plants are thought to be symbolic of the Star
  of Bethlehem.
• The actual flower is yellow with bright red
  leaves.

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The Advent Calendar

• The Advent Calendar is sometimes the picture of a
  house or Christmas scene with windows that can be
  opened to reveal pictures behind the windows.
• There is one flap or window for each day of the
  Advent season or each day of December leading up
  to Christmas.

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Mistletoe and Holly

• Mistletoe symbolizes peace and kisses. The
  tradition states that when standing under
  mistletoe, one must kiss another.
• Holly is a green shrub, usually with red berries
  and dark green leaves with thorny tips.

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Merry Christmas