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Christmas Around the World
Christmas in Mexico
• Christmas in Mexico is full of posadas and piñatas.
Posada
• A posada is a religious parade that takes place nine days before Christmas. Children dress up as Mary and Joseph and look for a place to stay.
Piñata
• Piñata means gift. It is a paper maché figure filled with presents.
• The piñata is hung from the ceiling.
• Then blindfolded boys and girls take turns trying to hit it with a stick.
• When it has cracked open, the children are showered with dolls, trinkets, candy and fruit.
Christmas in Italy
• La Befeana, a kind old witch, searches for good boys and girls and leaves gifts for them.
She makes a list
• If the children are good, La Befana leaves them presents.
• But, if you’re a bad boy or girl La Befana leaves you coal and ashes.
Christmas in Sweden
• Santa Lucia is celebrated on December 13th.
• The Christmas tree is decorated with real lighted candles.
Christmas in Holland
• Sinterklaas arrives in a steamboat from Spain with a white horse and dozens of helpers.
December 6th
• Children place their wooden shoes filled with carrots and hay by the fireplace for Sinterklaas’ horse.
Christmas in America
• Christmas in America is Christmas trees, gifts, tinsel, mistletoe, cards and that jolly old elf – Santa Claus.
Christmas Trees
• The Christmas tree is a custom taken from Germany.
• The tree is covered with festive lights and colourful decorations.
Tinsel
• According to legend, a poor old woman was unable to provide decorations for her children’s Christmas tree. When she woke up she discovered that a spider had spun a magical silver web that covered the tree.
• Today tinsel still adds a magical touch to our trees.
Mistletoe
• The evergreen leaves are a symbol of good luck. That is why it is hung above the doorway.
• The kiss under the mistletoe is a symbol of peace.
Christmas Cards
• This is an English custom.
• The first card was sent in 1870.
• Today it is a holiday greeting for family and friends, near and far.
Christmas Gifts
• The custom of giving gifts goes back to when the Wise Men came to Bethlehem carrying gifts for baby Jesús.
• Today Santa Claus, Sinterklaas, La Befana, and Father Christmas all around the world deliver gifts on this special day.
Elf
• Test your skill. Could you become an Elf for the Jolly Old Elf himself.
Wishing Youa Very Merry Christmas