The last 2 weeks before Christmas break, we did some traveling. First we made our suitcases. Have to have somewhere to store all our things!
First up, we learned about traditions in the United States. Peyton, Jamie, and Zack F served as our tour guides. We learned that in America, people like to send Christmas cards to their friends and family.
We learned that in the United States, children are visited by Santa Claus. He's a big, round man with a white beard. His sleigh is pulled by 8 flying reindeer.
In America, people traditionally eat ham, turkey, and cranberry sauce for Christmas dinner. We made our own reindeer from our hands and feet and we tasted cranberry sauce!
Our next stop was Mexico. In Mexico, they eat tamales and drink hot chocolate. Our hot chocolate had 2 marshmallows! In Mexico, they say Feliz Navidad!
Our tour guides, Layla, Valentina, and Jonathan taught us all about Mexico. They participate in a parade called Posadas for 9 nights. They dress as members of the Nativity scene and knock at neighbors' doors. After the parade, the kids take turns hitting a pinata.
They decorate with beautiful flowers called Poinsettias.
We made our own poinsettias to decorate our houses.
The next day we headed to France. Merry Christmas in French is Joyeux Noel. They eat a dessert called Buche de nol, which is a chocolate roll with frosting in the middle.
Jaycie, Grace, and Daniel taught us all about French traditions. Pere Noel visits the kids on Christmas night and leaves them gifts. He also leaves sweets, nuts, and snacks in their trees. We made a Pere Noel doorhanger.
In Sweden, children leave their shoes by the fireplace, for Pere Noel to put their gifts into.
Most French families decorate with a Nativity scene, or creche.
Italy was our next stop. Italians say Guon Natale! Casie, Caylei, and Annalesia told us all about Italian food. They traditionally eat things like lasagna on Christmas. They also have crositini, which is a crunchy bread.
In Italy, children go caroling and recite poems for their neighbors. Families decorate with ceppo trees, which are little trees made of wood. They have 3-5 shelves that they use to display important items to their family. The bottom shelf usually has a nativity scene. Italian children are visited by a witch named La Befana. Although she appears ugly, the children of Italy love her very much.
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