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!