Christmas Around the World for History Class

For the month of December, we will be studying Christmas Around the World, for History class. We have done some Christmas for other religions, in the past, this time we will focus on traditions and the holiday in other countries. I am sharing some links for you to pick and choose which ones you would like to use. Below is a video for your kiddos to watch, after you have completed the study. We will be doing one or two different countries each day. For our purposes their activity will be to read about Christmas in a specific country, write Merry Christmas in their language, say what the weather is like at Christmas, find the country on the map, songs, and symbols. Both my kids will be doing this. I probably won't do all the countries listed, as time is limited. After Christmas break we will be doing Virtual Tours of the United States. I am still working on getting that all together, but will share it when it is completed. In my archives you can find the popsicle stick game to help learn the states.

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/christmas_around_the_world.php

http://www.rochedalss.eq.edu.au/xmas/world1.htm

http://www.santas.net/aroundtheworld.htm

http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson041.shtml

http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/

Easter Food Craft Resurrection Rolls

Sometimes the Easter Bunny takes over Easter, and we forget why we are supposed to really celebrate Easter, much like Christmas. This is a simple, and creative way to teach about the resurrection, and make a nice little craft snack. Even if you teach from a secular stand point, and not religious, it is a good idea to teach your child about the history, and customs behind our holidays, even the religious reasons.

Why Do We Celebrate Halloween?

Halloween, sometimes called All Hollows Eve, Night of the Dead, and other creepy names. But why do we really celebrate Halloween? Why, did we start Halloween? Some cultures do you use Halloween, as a celebration of the dark side. For the most part Halloween is a fun celebration, to dress up and be someone else for a night.

Halloween started many years ago, in other countries. These other countries celebrated the end of Summer, and the season of the Sun. They prepared for season of cold, and long nights. October 31st was the day they chose to hold their festival, sometimes referred to as the Fall Festival, or Harvest.

When settlers came to America, they brought their holiday customs with them. Many of the settlers came from different countries. Of course all the customs have been joined and we have our own Halloween celebration. The most important symbol of Halloween is the Pumpkin.

The early settlers used to cut out other fruits and vegetables, and decorate them. The people of Ireland cut out and decorated Turnips. They hollowed out the Turnip, and put a candle on the inside. When the Irish came to America they used big, round, orange Pumpkins, and now we have our famous Jack-O-Lantern.

Years ago, in other countries, the poor would beg for food. They were called soulers, and people would give them soul cakes. The beggers would then promise that would remember the dead.

Here, today in America children dress in silly, funny, and scary costumes and go Trick Or Treating. The receive candy, and small trinkets in their basket or pumpkin of choice.

Halloween has become a huge profit maker for American businesses, and according to early polls people have spent more money on Halloween this year, than any other year. Some companies base their whole company on Halloween, and are actually closed the rest of the year. You can find almost any costume imaginable, now today. From celebrities, to super heros, prncesses, politicians, what ever you could think of. It has become one night of fun, a night to get away from the stress of the real world, and live in a fantasy. To be someone else for one night, isn't that something everyone wants?

Please remember your Halloween safety rules:

Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
Wear a light on your suit, or carry a flash light
Walk on walkways, not the street if possible
Go slow, kids run out in the street without thinking
Never eat any candy, before it has been thoroughly inspected by an adult
Have fun, isnt that the most important one






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