Christmas Blog Facts Notes

Equador (Eric)-
1.) Always put two large dolls under their Christmas trees.
2.) Tours of their houses are given during the holidays, usually nine days before Christmas.
3.) Children place their gift lists into an old shoe and wait for Papa Noel to visit.

Egypt (Tyler)-
1.) Christmas is celebrated on the 7th of January.
2.) All churches and Christmas homes are decorated by having lights, trees, and small mangers around.
3.) To celebrate, they all go out for Christmas to parks, cinemas, and theaters.

Russia (Dylan)-
1.) It is an offical holiday in Russia thanks to the Russian Orthodox Church.
2.) Christmas is typically celebrated on January 7th.
3.) Previously it was celebrated on December 25th.

China (Kristen)-
1.) They call Santa Claus Dun Che Lao Ren
2.) Only 1% of China's population is Christian, so it is hardly celebrated.
3.)  Christmas is not a major holiday in China.

El Salvador (Taylor)-
1.) Houses, hotels, streets, and restuarants are lit up in various colors for Christmas.
2.) After the Christmas dinner and the relatives are about to leave it is tradition to place a baby Jesus figure under the Christmas tree.
3.) The rich donate a lot of money during the holiday season.

India (Haley)-
1.) They use mangos and bananas for decorations.
2.) They sacrifice a goat to represent freedom and holiness.
3.) Two hour ceremonies are held at the churches.

Russia (Amber)-
1.) Christmas is called the Festival of Winter.
2.) Fasting occurs up to 39 days, usually until Jnauary 6th on Christmas Eve.
3.) Hyms and carols are sung.

Japan (Madori)-
1.) They make a traditional Japanese Christmas cake.
2.) They have smaller Christmas trees.
3.) They go out and buy their gifts, so no presents are under the tree.

France (Shania)-
1.) French children put their shoes in front of fireplaces so they will be filled with gifts.
2.) They have a culinary celebration called le Reveillon.
3.) After Christmas a yule log made of Cherry wood is burned all night.

Madagascar (Samantha)-
1.) Common decorations include holly, robins, and snow, even though none of these exist in Madagascar,
2.) Most people go to church on Christmas Eve.
3.) Families like to eat dinner and dress up in their best clothes.
Italy (Keeley)-
1.) Christmas in Italy is celebrated from December 24th to January 6th.
2.) Traditionally a meatless dinner is eaten on Christmas Eve with your family.
3.) In Italy, presents are brought by La Befana who arrives in the night to fill children's stockings.

Peru (Katara)-
1.) Christmas is celbrated as Nocha Buena on December 24th.
2.) Parties are thrown by the adults after midnight until 6:00 A.M.
3.) They celebrate with religious symbols such as the Retablos or nativity scenes.

Canada (Paige)-
1.) Songs and carols brought from Brtitain two centuries ago are sung each Christmas morning.
2.) Like Americans, Canadians also celebrate with cards, carols, trees, lights, and more.
3.) They display nativity scenes in their homes.

Germany (Raychel)-
1.) Santa Clause doesn't arrive at Christmas.
2.) The German Christmas starts the first day of Advent.
3.) The children hang a show in the fireplace: if children are good the shoes are filled with candies, if they were bad the boots are filled with twigs.