Plan for Winter Holidays Around the World Unit — in Progress — Suggestions?

I’ve wanted to do this for years, and I think we’ll finally give it a go. Maybe we’ll invite some other families to join us for some of this fun stuff.

Obviously, I have a long way to go with this. If anyone knows of any terrific books, projects or on-line resources, or if you have any thoughts on fun activities to do or ideas to explore, please pass them along!

I. Monday, December 8 — Winter Solstice

School of the Seasons: Celebrating Winter Solstice

Books:

• The Winter Solstice by Ellen Jackson, illustrated by Jan Davey Ellis
• The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer, illustrated by Jesse Reisch
• The Return of the Light: Twelve Tales from Around the World for the Winter Solstice by Carol McVickar Edwards

Music:

• A Winter’s Solstice CD

II. Tuesday, December 9 — Yalda (Iranian Winter Solstice Celebration)

From This site:

In Iran, the winter solstice, which falls on December 21, is hailed with Shab-e Yalda―the birthday of the sun. It’s a celebration of the triumph of light over dark, good over evil. It is thought that on the longest night with evil at its zenith, light needs help to overcome darkness. On this day, families build a bonfire outside and gather until sunrise for a night of storytelling, dancing, and food.

More Information: The Festival of “Yalda” and Iranians celebrate “Yalda” as longest night of the year

Activities:

Food: grapes, honeydew melons, watermelons, pears, oranges, tangerines, apples, and cucumbers, nuts, ???

III. Christmas

A. Wednesday, December 10 — Religious and Cultural Roots of Christmas

• The Christmas Story (from the New Testament)
• The Legend of St. Nicholas

B. Thursday, December 11-Friday, December 12 — Christmas in Mexico (Las Posadas)

C. From this site:

As they march, the members of the procession knock at nine doors. At the first eight doors, they are sent on their way; but at the ninth, the door is opened and the fiesta begins. Songs, prayers, food, dancing, and games are all part of the evening.

For children, the highlight of posadas is the breaking of the pinata, a specially decorated container filled with treats of candy, fruit, or small toys. Pinatas come in many shapes and sizes and are also used to celebrate other events, but for Christmas, the traditional shape is a star.

There is more information here

Activities:

• Make Pinata & Maracas
• Poinsettia Fan Craft: here and here
• Food: Vegetable Tamale Pie, Fresh Fruit Quesadillas & Mexican Cookies

Books:

• Carlos, Light the Farolito by Jean Ciavonne ; illustrated by Donna Clair.
• Nine Days to Christmas by Marie Hall Ets & Aurora Labastida
• The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie de Paola
• The Eagle and the Rainbow: Timeless Tales from Mexico by Antonio Hernandez Madrigal, illustrated by Tomie dePaola.
• Going Home by Eve Bunting, illustrated by David Diaz.
• Lights on the River by Jane Resh Thomas, illustrated by Michael Dooling
• Mexican Christmas by Michael Elsohn Ross, photographs by Felix Rigau

Music: Here

D. Monday, December 15: Christmas in Sweden

The Swedish people call Santa tomte, and see him as a gnome who comes out from under the floor of the house or barn carrying his sack of gifts for them.

JULKLAPP is another custom, in Sweden. a present is wrapped in many layers of paper and then someone knocks on the door to a house and they leave the gift their. The longer it takes for the present to be opened the better the JULKLAPP.

From this site:

St. Lucia’s Day is now celebrated by a girl dressing in a white dress with a red sash round her waist and a crown of candles on her head. (Normally electric candles are used for safety!) The crown is made of Lingonberry branches which are evergreen and symbolise new life in winter. Schools normally have their own St. Lucias and some town and villages also choose a girl to play St. Lucia in a procession where carols are sung.

A national Lucia is also chosen. Lucias also visit hospitals and old people’s homes singing a song about St Lucia and handing out ‘Pepparkakor’, ginger snap biscuits.

In homes often the eldest girl plays St Lucia for her family, bringing them ‘Lussekatts’, St Lucia’s day buns flavoured with saffron and dotted with raisins which are eaten for breakfast.

St Lucia’s Day first became widely celebrated in Sweden in the late 1700s. St Lucia’s Day is also celebrated in Denmark, Norway, Finland, Bosnia, and Croatia. In Denmark it is more a of a children’s day and in some part of Italy, children are told that St Lucy brings them presents. They leave out a sandwich for her and the donkey that helps carry the gifts!

Activities:

• Make a Candle Crown
• Food: Saint Lucia Bread and Swedish Rice Pudding (on the bottom of this page)

Books:

• Annika’s Secret Wish by Beverly Lewis, illustrated by Pamela Querin

Music: ??

E. Tuesday, December 16: Christmas in Italy

Information here

Activities:

• Draw presents from the Urn of Fate

• Food: Sicilian Christmas Cookies

Books:

• The Legend of Old Befana by Tomie de Paola

F. Wednesday, December 17: Christmas in Germany

G. Thursday, December 18: Christmas in England

From England we have acquired several customs. The first is the use of Christmas trees. This was made popular during the rein of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Prince Albert came from the country of Germany and missed his native practice of bringing in trees to place on the tables in the house, therefore one Christmas the royal couple brought a tree inside the Palace and decorated it with apples and other pretty items.

The second custom is what is known as Boxing Day. It is celebrated the first weekday after Christmas. What this means is that small wrapped boxes with food and sweets, or small gifts, or coins are given to anyone who comes calling that day.

Santa is known as Father Christmas, wearing long red robes and had sprigs of holly in his hair. Instead of mailing out their christmas list, children throw it into the fireplace and Father Christmas reads the smoke. England is also where the tradition of hanging stockings by the chimney began, due to the fact that Father Christmas once accidentally dropped some gold coins on his way down the chimney which got caught in a drying stocking. Another interesting thing is that instead of opening up their gifts as soon as they wake up, English children wait until the afternoon.

H. Friday, December 19:

IV. Hannukah: Monday, December 22