December 1999
Mr. Collins' Fourth Grade
White Pine School
During the past few weeks we have spent a great deal of time gathering information from Internet web sites to learn how different cultures from around the world celebrate Christmas. We were quite surprised to learn just how differently this special holiday is observed. We were really shocked when we found out that some people are actually arrested just for celebrating Christmas. We came to appreciate how lucky we are to have the freedom to observe the holiday as we wish. We also learned that many countries place a high emphasis on recognizing the birth of Christ. Others seem to place importance on caring for others and giving to those in need. Below you will find the countries that we learned about and what we thought was interesting about the way each culture celebrated the Christmas Season. (The following articles have been edited but still retain each child’s original language.)
Christmas
in the Philippines
By LaShea
What I thought was interesting about the Philippines was they start decorating in September. They make Christmas ornaments and lantern shaped stars out of pieces of paper. They start opening presents on 24th of December. The Philippines is very similar to the Untied States in the way they celebrate Christmas.
Christmas in Saudi Arabia
By Ryan
In Saudi Arabia people can get arrested for celebrating Christmas. Some people in Saudi Arabia are not Christians because they don’t believe in Jesus. Saudi Arabians do not allow Christmas lights. If you do you will be arrested. Christian people hide their Christmas trees because they could be arrested.
Christmas
in India
By Cory
People in India get Christmas trees from Germany, ornaments from America, greeting cards from England, creeches from France, and books from Greece. They decorate poinsettia trees and tropical plants. They give a lemon to the household on Christmas morning. South Indian people make clay lamps with oil and then they put twisted cotton for the wick. I think Christmas is fun there.
Christmas
in Sweden
By: Bailey
Just before Christmas Swedish homes are very pretty. Children use advent calendars to count down the days in till Christmas Eve because Christmas is celebrated on the 24th and not the 25th.Most people buy Christmas trees well before Christmas Eve. Girls dress up as St. Lucian and wear candela wreaths on their head. They serve cakes on treys. Wheat Trees are made and placed out in the snow for brids. Instead of Santa Claus they have Father Christmas.
Christmas in Australia
By Zachary
Christmas is a family affair. Australians open their present on Christmas morning. They spend the day sitting and eating. They visit their friends all day too. They eat seafood for their Christmas dinner. They have a happy Christmas their way.
Christmas in Germany
By Emily
Christmas in Germany is cheerful and important. The
main night is when families eat and wait for Santa Claus (Weihnachtsman)
who brings all of their presents. The parents give their children calendars
to count down the days until Christmas Eve. As they count down, a little
candy or toy is placed in front of their door. From December1st until Decemember24th
is called Adventszeit, which means the night before Christmas Eve.
There are famous events in Christmas markets that sell ornaments,
candy, homemade jewelry and other things. People from all over the world
come visit these markets. A tradition is hanging an ornament wreath and
placing four candles on it and burning one candle every Sunday before Christmas
Eve. It is a part of “Adventszeit”.
Christmas
in Israel
By Jessica
Christmas
in the Bahamas
By Billy
In the Bahamas they do not have any snow. They do not even have an inch or two. In the Bahamas they celebrate Christmas during the middle of November. This is the British traditional way of celebrating Christmas.
Christmas
in England
By Ethan
In England Christmas begins in October. Some shops begin selling in November or earlier. Many children have calendars to count the days till Christmas. The houses are decorated with wreaths, mistletoe, holly, ivy and Scandinavian welcome lights. Their parents read stories to them. They also have mince pie and leave a carrot for Rudolph. The Queen of England always delivers a speech on Christmas Day.
Christmas in China
By Derek
Many people spend Christmas in Japan then spend it in China. They call Christmas trees, trees of light. They call Santa Claus China Santa. A festival of peace and renewal is celebrated. One percent of the people celebrates Jesus’ birthday on Christmas Day.
Christmas in Italy 
By Shawn
Christmas in Italy is full of happiness. In Italy Jesus Christ gives the children presents. Some kids leave corn for Jesus’ camels and milk and cookies for Jesus on the 24th night of Christmas. On the 25th day of Christmas everyone looks at their gifts and then they feast together. As a tradition they take down the Christmas tree on January 7th. I think Christmas in Italy is cool.
Christmas
in Romania
By Tabitha
Christmas in Romania brings family and friends together. A tradition in Romania is that they sing in their village going from one house to another singing until the morning of the 25th. In the evening of the 25th and the 26th they have folk music and dances in the village hall where everyone celebrates with food and drink. The children wait for Father Christmas to bring their tree on Christmas Eve. Romania has a cool Christmas.
Christmas
in Iraq
By Keisha
Iraq celebrates their Christmas in a special way every year. The night before Christmas, every family gets together and one of the children reads about Jesus birth. Everyone else holds a candle. After that they light a bonfire made of the thorn bushes. Then they wait until the thorns burn to ashes. If the thorns burn to ashes, it means good luck. Then they sing. The next day [Christmas day] they light another one in the churchyard. They carry a figure of Christ on a red pillow. The bishop will bless one person with his touch. That person will then touch the others. Finally everyone has the touch of peace. This is a good way to celebrate Christmas.
Christmas in Jamaica
By Jonathan
Christmas in Jamaica is a celebration of Jesus’ birth. One tradition is that everyone wakes up early on Christmas morning to go see the parade of mask dancing men. They beat their drums to let everyone know that it is Christmas day. Some children are scared of the dancing men. People who live in Jamaica can’t wait until the next year for Christmas to arrive.
Christmas
in the Netherlands
By Stephanie
In mid November St. Nicholas is on live TV. St. Nicholas brings his white horse and people dress in black as Black Pete who is Santa’s helper. Santa comes on a steam boat form Spain. December 5th is Christmas day in the Netherlands. Children leave a shoe with hay or a carrot in it for St. Nicholas’ white horse. I hope they have a great Christmas this year.
Christmas
in Austria
By Lauryn
A wide variety of activities mark the holiday season. Some of the most delightful are the candlelight concerts in the Hohemsalzluray Fortress overlooking the city. Just outside Salzburg on December 24, a torchlight parade will move from the Silent Night Memorial Chapel. You can join the parade and even sing the carols with people from all over the world who go to the birthplace of the worlds best known Christmas carol Silent Night.
Christmas in Canada
By Chase
Christmas in Greece
By Joshua
Most of the people decorate Christmas trees even though the tradition says that Greeks used to decorate little boats. Greece has the tallest decorated Christmas tree in Europe. If you are lucky, you might see Santa Claus handing out presents and lollipops outside a store. When the new year arrives at12:00 a.m. every family is together. They eat cake to celebrate the New Year.