Christmas Celebration
4th Grade Class of Herlong Cathedral School
Detroit, Michigan, USA
In America
We celebrate Christmas by decking trees and I don't mean
knocking them down. On Christmas Day we have a mound of toys at
the base of the tree just like the three wise men brought gifts
to baby Jesus. (Nehemiah Adams)
It takes all Christmas Day to cook all the food for
Christmas dinner. We have pies, cakes, ham, sweet potatoes,
greens and I don't know what else. We hang up our mistletoe over
the front door so who ever comes in first has to get a kiss.
(Siobhan Bowles)
Our family celebrates Christmas by going to our
grandparent's house. While we are there we get lots of gifts and
play outside in the snow by making snowmen and snow angels. We
also have snowball fights. (Karianne Cummings)
We go to church on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. At
church we sing songs and remember our Lord. We also give gifts to
friends, family, and good causes. (A'lyssia Hyde)
At Christmas time we celebrate Kwaanza. I have Kwaanza books,
candles, and outfits. We all eat food from Africa, but you do not
have to go to Africa for Kwaanza; you can find Kwaanza anywhere.
(Ottumn Kennedy)
My sister and I beg my mom to let us open some of our
presents on Christmas Eve. We open the rest of the presents the
next morning. Next, my mom cooks a big breakfast for everyone.
After breakfast we just relax and play with the toys that we
received for Christmas. Sometimes we keep our pajamas on for as
long as we want. Mom says that we all waited for a very long time
for this holiday, so she wants us to relax and spend the day
however we want. I think she says this so she can keep her
pajamas on longer too. (Erin Key)
The first thing we do on Christmas vacation is pick a tree.
It's very fun to cut down the tree and take it home. We decorate
the tree with all sorts of stuff like Christmas ornaments,
lights, and candy canes. Then we go Christmas shopping. We also
watch Christmas videos. On Christmas Eve we leave milk and
cookies for Santa Claus. Everybody comes over to our house on
Christmas Day. (Trevor Swan)
I spend my Christmas two different ways. One way is with my
grandma, aunts, uncle, my aunt's friend, sister, mom and dad. We
eat candied yams, macaroni and cheese, chicken, cranberry sauce,
and dressing. The other way is opening gifts on Christmas morning
after Santa Claus brings me about ten gifts. First my mom wakes
me up and makes me take a bath. My family takes a lot of pictures
so I will remember how I spent my Christmas. (Hilary Whiteside)
Everyone comes to our house on Christmas. My granny and
grandpa, my aunts and uncles, a few of my cousins, my god-
brother, and a few other people celebrate with us. We listen to
the musical lights that are on the Christmas tree. We also eat
and drink. After Santa Claus leaves, my brother and I open our
gifts. Later everybody leaves, and we put our opened gifts back
under the tree and eventually go to bed. (Briana Ramsey)
In India
Many people in India like to celebrate Christmas too. The
Christians there do it the same way we do in America, but the
other people do it a different way. They think that Christmas is
the coldest day of the year, even though the temperature is not
even half as cold as it is here. Some people have concerts at
their schools. I have one every year. We sing Christmas carols as
soon as Santa Claus comes. (Imran Syed)
In Nigeria
In Nigeria we celebrate Christmas by going to church first
thing in the morning. We come home and open our presents. Then we
visit our relatives. Then the father passes down a gift that
their father gave to them, like money, clothes, or jewelry. Then
we have a Christmas feast and have a good time. (Chinyere Uju-
Eke)
In Ghana
On Christmas morning the Ghanians wake up. Some go to
church; some don't. When they get out of church, everyone goes to
parties, but they don't get gifts. From afternoon until night all
the Ghanians eat, drink, and dance. Once a boy named Kobi came to
a party. He really wanted a gift. But no one would give Kobi a
gift. One time somebody gave Kobi a gift. When he opened it
another box came. It went on from big to small, and he didn't
like it. So, he never asked for a present again. (Christie
Boahene)
Texas Christmas by Tiffany
Hello, my name is Tiffany. I am 10 years old and I live in
Huntsville, Texas. Each year we pick a country to learn about, this
year my family has chosen Australia! We plan to celebrate Christmas
down under. Our family and closest friends will come over and we
serve a complete meal and share traditions with everyone. Our guests
bring their stockings and we fill them (for opening and sharing on
Christmas Eve). We've been reading through your home page and were
wondering if you have any special Christmas songs and/or traditions
you could share with us? Oh, we also visit Santa at the Mall and have
pictures taken with him. Do you all do that? It is cold here, but we
usually don't have any snow...so we don't get to make snow people
boohoo! We hope you have a very Merry, Happy Christmas!!!
Christmas in America by Dawn
Christmas tradition here in America I believe is what you make it. I
personally get all my decorations up about the first or second week in
December. I hopefully get all my Christmas shopping done by the second
week in December so that I can enjoy the rest of the Christmas season.
Once a week I go around and look at Christmas lights in different
neighborhoods as well as at Walt Disney World. I have a season pass
that lets me in all year as an Orlando, Florida resident. Disney goes
all out at Christmas decorating the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, MGM as well as
all the resorts and the Disney Village Market Place. It's very
exciting. Then on Christmas eve, I pour myself some eggnog in a special
Christmas glass, put on Christmas music, turn all the lights off except
the Christmas tree lights, the outside Christmas lights, and candles. I
sit back and enjoy the atmosphere until I get tired and head for bed.
Then in the morning, my boyfriend and I exchange presents and we let my
dog and cat open their presents as well. Everyone sees what's in there
stockings and we all listen to Christmas music, watch the Christmas
parade on T.V., and enjoy our gifts! Merry Christmas to all here from
Orlando, Florida. (It's a little cold here, but no snow)
Christmas by the Woodman
EACH YEAR MY FAMILY GETS TOGETHER FOR A BIG MEAL ON CHRISTMAS DAY.ALL THE
CHILDREN ARE SO EXCITED BECAUSE THEY WILL BE OPENING GIFTS PRETTY
SOON.AFTER WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT MEAL EVERYBODY GATHERS AROUND THE
CHRISTMAS TREE AND WE BEGIN TO OPEN UP CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.WE ALWAYS HAND
OUT ALL THE PRESENTS BEFORE ANYONE CAN OPEN THEM.THEN WE GO AROUND THE
ROOM AND EACH PERSON WILL TELL WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO THEM AND NAME
SEVERAL THINGS THAT THEY ARE THANKFUL FOR.
IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL WE FORGET THAT THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS IS
JESUS CHRIST. I SURE HOPE EVERYONE HAS A FANTASTIC
CHRISTMAS
Christmas in Virgina, USA by Cathy Collins
Hello to our Down Under friends. I am in college and was surfing the
internet and came across your web page. It was very interesting. I
always wondered how you all celebrated Christmas. I am from Virgina in
America. We celebrate with a Live Nativity scene at my church. Which
recreated the night of the birth of Christ. We all go to my
grandmother's house on Christmas morning and have breakfast. Which
consist of ham, eggs, biscuits and coffee. You have to remember that it
is about 35 degrees f. We celebrate the true meaning of
Christmas first, the birth of Christ then we open Christmas gifts. We
decorate with trees, lights, candles and poinsettas. (That is a
flower). I wasn't sure if you all were familar with poinsettas or not.
Christmas in Tennessee, USA by Robert E.Ellis Middle School
Greetings from the great State of Tennessee in the United States.
Christmas in the Southland is usually very traditionally American
although we rarely have snow. When we do have snow, none of us know how
to drive in it! People attend church services to celebrate the birth of
Christ. Santa comes to all good girls and boys (!) and we love to eat all
the time. The South is famous for its hospitality and good food.
Traditionally, we eat ham or turkey, sweet potatoes,lots of veggies, and
tons of sweets! At my house, we always have a fresh Christmas tree that
we decorate with ornaments that we have collected over the years. I
always cry when I put up the tree and when I take it down. I think about
my boys being babies (they are now 19 and 15) and other sweet and maybe
not so sweet Christmas memories. My family always lights a "memory
candle" before our meal on Thanksgiving and Christmas to remember our
family members who have died and who will never be forgotten.We don't
spend tons of money on gifts--being a teacher, I don't make great
fortunes. But we usually end up getting at least one or two things we
really want or need. We would like it here at our school if you could
e-mail us back and tell us about your customs. We are studying this now
and any information you send would be delightful! We are the Robert E.
Ellis Middle School, grades 6-8 in Hendersonville, Tennessee. We are
located about 22 miles north of Nashville, which is famous for being the
home of country music. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!