Christmas Around The World

Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noël, Buon Natale, Merry Christmas ...whatever language you choose to say it in, it still means Merry Christmas!

Christmas is a holiday that is celebrated in many ways around the world. This is called a tradition. In the United States, a Christmas tradition that many of us are familiar with is when Santa Claus comes down the chimney on Christmas Eve and leaves presents under the Christmas tree for all the good boys and girls. 

How do traditions in other countries differ?

	A popular Christmas tradition in Italy involves music played by zampognari.
	In Germany, the three Thursdays before Christmas are known as Knocking Nights.
	In Ireland, candles are placed in the windows on Christmas Eve.
	Christmas trees are not commonly used in Greece.
	Children in Spain do something special with their shoes on January 5th.

How about Australia, France, England, and Poland? Does Santa Claus even visit these countries, or do they have another Christmas tradition that we would like to know more about?

In this project you will research Christmas traditions in a country of your choice. You  will create a Power Point presentation about the Christmas traditions you found in that country. You will also come up with 3 important question & answers that you feel the rest of the class should know about.

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Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits

In order to discover the different Christmas traditions from other countries, you will:

1. Compile a list of Christmas traditions in the United States.

2. Choose a country and research it's Christmas traditions.

3. Use the Internet site provided on the Resource page to search for all your information.

4. Create  a PowerPoint featuring your findings.

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The Process:

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits

1. You will create a PowerPoint entitled Christmas Traditions Around the World.

2. Select a country, other than the United States, and research it's Christmas traditions. There should be no two people with the same country.

3. Gather information about Christmas traditions in the country that you chose.

4. Prepare a Power Point presentation using 8 or more slides. The following information should be a part of your slide show:

°Introduction slide-title of your presentation.
°List of Christmas traditions in your country.
°Similarities between Christmas traditions in the

  United States and your chosen country.
°Map of the country you chose.

°Differences between Christmas traditions in the 

 United States and your chosen country.
°Pictures or graphics on each slide.

°A Reference slide indicating which websites you

  used to find your information.
°On a concluding slide ask the class three questions

  about your presentation.

5. Each group will present their Power Point presentation to the rest of the class.

6. Take a look at a sample PowerPoint for this project.

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Resources:

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits

Countries Maps Clip Art Music Holiday Trivia (just for fun!)   Click on a button above to go to web based resources that will help you find information on that particular category.  Usually all you need to do is use the copy-paste tools to get text and images imported into your PowerPoint show from a website.   Take a look at the website listed below as it is very helpful.   History of the Holidays This site features sections on Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa give interesting background on these December holidays. The Christmas section contains articles on The Real Story of Christmas, World Traditions, Evolution of Santa and Christmas Trees. Under Hanukkah, you can read about the holiday's history and traditions. The Kwanzaa section discusses the holiday's history and the meanings of its seven symbols.   Back                               Countries: Click on any of these websites to learn about Christmas in a particular country:
	Two English Springer Spaniels take a trip to visit friends and discover how Christmas is celebrated in 20 European countries.
	The Legend of Saint Nicholas
	Welcome to Santa's Christmas Around the World Page!
	Christmas.com's WorldView
	Christmas traditions & customs round the world
	Christmas in The United States
	Christmas in Canada! Canada's Christmas celebrations are drawn from a mixed cultural background - French, English, German, Ukrainian, and First Nations. This mixture brings about much diversity in the customs and traditions of Canada's Christmas festivities.
	Christmas in Canada
	Christmas in the United Kingdom
	Christmas in Germany - Weihnachten Learn how Christmas is celebrated in Germany. Here are typical Christmas activities, traditions and recipes.
	Christmas in Germany
	Christmas in Australia
	Christmas in Mexico
	Christmas in Ireland: Irish Christmas Traditions
	Christmas in Ireland
	Christmas in the Netherlands
	Christmas in Italy
	The Holiday Season in Italy The Holiday Season in Italy
	A Different Christmas in Italy
	Christmas in France In France, religion is a very big part of the Christmas holiday
	Christmas in France
	Puerto Rican Christmas Traditions
	Christmas in Puerto Rico
	Christmas in  Puerto Rico
	Christmas in Poland In Eastern Poland it is still believed that girls who grind-up poppy seed in a pepper mill on Christmas Eve, can hope for a quick marriage
	A bit of Swedish Christmas traditions
	Christmas in Sweden 'Julen' - Christmas
	Christmas in Holland
	Christmas in Virtual Finland
	Christmas In Africa Preparation for Christmas begins...
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Maps: Usually you can just insert a clip-art of a map right from the PowerPoint program.  Just look for this icon.  Also try using Microsoft's Clips Online website (see link below)
	Microsoft's Clips Online website
	Classroom Clipart : Free Clipart, Illustrations and Photographs
	Map Resources digital maps clip art
	WorldAtlas.com
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Clip Art: Here is a selection of Backgrounds, Borders, and ClipArt's that should really dress up your PowerPoint show.  ...Just keep it tasteful by not going overboard with these!   Usually you can just insert a clip-art right from the PowerPoint program.  Just look for this icon.  Also try using Microsoft's Clips Online website (see link below)   Saving images and or backgrounds: 1. Place your cursor over the graphic or background you wish to use 2. Right click the image or background with the mouse. 3. Choose "Save Image as" / "Save Background as" 4. Click on Save or OK button to save the image to your hard drive!
	Microsoft's Clips Online website
	Christmas Backgrounds with trees, Santa, candles, gifts, toys ...
	Christmas Backgrounds and Borders
	Google "Christmas" image  search results (click on an image to load it's full size before saving or copying)
	Christmas Wallpaper images   (click on an image to load it's full size before saving or copying)
	Christmas Backgrounds
	Koala's Christmas Backgrounds
	Christmas, Christmas, and more Christmas Clipart
	Free Christmas Bordered Backgrounds and Graphics from enchantress. ...
	Christmas Backgrounds
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Christmas (MIDI & WAV) Music: MIDI are background songs for your PowerPoint WAV are sound effects for your PowerPoint   To DOWNLOAD a sound to your shared or hard drive... In Netscape: RIGHT click on it, then "Save this Link as". In Microsoft Explorer: RIGHT click on it, then "Save Target as".
MIDI Background Songs:
	Donna's Midi Christmas Carol Collection! you can choose to view just the lyrics, just the midi song, or load them together if you want to sing along! Simply right click on the title of the song and save the song to your home drive.
	Christmas Songs in MiDi Format by Catholic.net Here is a collection of Christmas songs. Simply right click on the title of the song and save the song to your home drive. Enjoy!
	MIDI Files of Christmas Carols Simply right click on the title of the song and save the song to your home drive.
	New Song Online Great Selection of Christmas MIDI songs. Simply right click on the title of the song and save the song to your home drive.
WAV Sound Effects:
	I Love Wavs Dot Com's Christmas Songs and Sound Effects
	Christmas Wavs, Etc. This page is limited in the number of hits it can take each month and will frequently be unavailable for weeks at a time!
	Audio Sparx's Holiday Sound Effects
	Sound America -An all around page for many sound effects.

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Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits

You PowerPoint project will be evaluated based on a rubric that your teacher will hand out.  You may also view and/or print it by clicking here.

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Conclusion:

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits

In researching Christmas traditions in other countries, you have seen that not every country celebrates Christmas like the United States. Now that you have seen how other countries celebrate Christmas, think about how you might be able use some of your new knowledge to start your own Christmas tradition in your family.
 

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Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits

	A WebQuest entitled Christmas Around the World by: Adrian Evans, Lori Makowiec, Tammy Thomson
	HistoryChannel.com
	All the websites listed in the Resource section.

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