Christmas in the world

Italy

In Italy the Crib ia a symbol of Christmas time. It represents the birth of the Infant Jesus in a stable.Now many families also have a Christmas tree.
Many children receive their presents from an ugly old lady called the Befana. They find a stocking with sweets and candies.
On Christmas Eve, at Midnight, many people go to church to remember when Jesus Christ was born.

Great Britain

In Great Britain all families have a Christmas tree. On Christmas Eve children hang up their stockings on the ends of the beds or by the chimney so that when Father Christmas comes he can leave them something.
On Christmas morning the family traditionally opens their presents and prepares for a big feast. The meal begins with a toast, followed by the popping of the crackers. After the meal they sit down in front of the Television for the traditional Christmas speech of the British Monarch.
In Britain, children write their letters to Father Christmas and then throw them into the fireplace so they will float up the chimney and fly to the North Pole.
At Christmas dinner, a plum pudding is served with little treasures hidden inside that bring their finders good luck. Britain was the first country to hang up mistletoe.

The United States

Christmas trees can be found in every home and shops are always full of goods which can be given as presents.
In America the traditional Christmas dinner is roast turkey with vegetables and sauces. For dessert it is rich, fruity Christmas pudding with brandy sauce; mince pies, pastry cases filled with a mixture of chopped dried fruit.
American homes are decorated with holly, mistletoe and branches of trees, most have a Christmas tree hung with electric lights, tinsel, baubles, and strings of popcorn and candy canes.

Germany

Some homes in Germany have several Christmas trees, and in all towns across Germany, they can be seen glittering and glowing. In Germany they hang up advent wreaths of Holly with four red candles in the center. They light one candle each Sunday and last on Christmas Eve. Children count the days until Christmas using an Advent calendar. They open one window each day and find a Christmas picture inside.
Children leave letters on their windowsills for Christkind, a winged figure dressed in white robes and a golden crown who distributes gifts. Sometimes the letters are decorated with glue and sprinkled with sugar to make them sparkle.
Marzipan is a favourite sweet at Christmas.

In Mexico the main Christmas celebration is called La Posada, which is a religious procession that reenacts the search for shelter by Joseph and Mary before the birth of Jesus. During the procession, the celebrants go from house to house carrying the images of Mary and Joseph looking for shelter.
The mexican children receive gifts. On Christmas day they are blindfolded and taken to try and break a decorated clay pinata that dangles and swings at the end of a rope. Once the pinata has been broken, the children clammer to recover the candy that was inside the pinata. Those children who have been good also on January 6th receive a gift from the Three Wise Men.

Spain

In Spain it is a very festive time at Christmas. On Christmas Eve, as the stars come out, tiny oil lamps are lit in every house, and after Midnight Mess and Christmas Dinner, streets fill with dancers and onlookers. There is a special Christmas dance called the Jota and the words and music have been handed down for hundreds of years. They dance to the sound of guitars and castanets.
Most homes have a manger, like cathedrals and churches. These are complete with carved figures.
During the weeks before Christmas, families gather around their manger to sing, whilst children play tambourines and dance.
Christmas Eve is known as Nochebuena or "the Good Night." It is a time for family members to gather together to rejoice and feast around the Nativity scenes that are present in nearly every home. A traditional Christmas treat is turron, a kind of almond candy.
The children of Spain receive gifts on the feast of the Epiphany. The Magi are particularly revered in Spain. It is believed that they travel through the countryside reenacting their journey to Bethlehem every year at this time. Children leave their shoes on the windowsills and fill them with straw, carrots, and barley or the horses of the Wise Men. Their favorite is Balthazar who rides a donkey and is the one believed to leave the gifts.

Sweden

Christmas begins in Sweden with the Saint Lucia ceremony. Before dawn on the morning of 13 December, the youngest daughter from each family puts on a white robe with a red sash. She wears a crown of evergreens with tall-lighted candles attached to it. She wakes her parents, and serves them with coffee and Lucia buns.
Christmas trees are usually found in Swedish homes two days before Christmas. Decoration may include candles, apples, Swedish flags, small gnomes wearing red tasseled caps, straw ornaments. The houses may filled with red tulips and smell like pepparkakor, which is a heart-star, or goat-shaped gingerbread biscuit.
In Sweden Jultomten, a little brownie helps Santa Claus give gifts to the children who have been good. On Christmas morning, churches are lit up entirely by candles for the Christmas service.

Switzerland

The week before Christmas, children dress up and visit homes with small gifts. Bell ringing has become a tradition, and each village competes with the next when calling people to midnight mess.
The Swiss wait for the Christ child called Christkindli, to arrive with gifts for all in his reindeer-drawn sleigh.
In Zurich, Santa visits in a special fairytale tram and gives the children a ride through the city, singing songs with them and sharing a basket full of sweets.

Christmas bells

Five little bells hanging in a row,
(Hold up five fingers.)
The first one said, "Ring me slow."
(Hold up one finger.)
The second one said, "Ring me fast."
(Hold up two fingers.)
The third one said, "Ring me last."
(Hold up three fingers.)
The forth one said, "I'm like a chime."
(Hold up four fingers.)
The fifth one said, "Ring us all at Christmas time."

Christmas

As Christmas comes,
Soft and still,
May the spirit of peace
Gently fill
Your heart and home
With love and good will.

The First Christmas (Action Rhyme)

Clop, clop, clop went the donkey's feet,
Clop, clop, clop down the stoney street.
Nod, nod, nod went Mary's head.
She was tired, and she needed a bed.
Knock, knock, knock went Joseph at the door.
"Do you have room for anyone more?"
"No, No, No!" the innkeeper said,
"I don't even have one more bed."
"Wait, wait, wait," the innkeeper said,
"You can use my stable for a bed."
"Shh, shh, shh...What is that I hear?
The cry of Baby Jesus, oh so dear!"

Christmas Presents (Fingerplay)

See the many presents by the Christmas tree,
(Point to eye; sweep hand in wide half-circle; form tree with hands.)
Some for you,
(Point to others.)
And some for me.
(Point to self.)
Long ones,
(Spread hands wide apart.)
Tall ones,
(Hold hand high above head.)
Short ones, too.
(Hold hands close together.)
And here is a round one
(Make circle with arms.)
Wrapped in blue.
Isn't it fun to look and see
(Point to eyes.)
All the presents by the Christmas tree?
(Sweep hand in wide half-circle; form tree with hands.)

Christmas Candy (Action Rhyme)

I took a lick of my peppermint stick
(Pretend to lick candy.)
And was it ever yummy!
(Lick lips.)
It used to be on my Christmas tree.
(Form tree shape with hands.)
Now, it's in my tummy!
(Rub stomach.)

Away In A Manger

Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay.