Christmas

Christmas is the day when Jesus was born.

Children hang up stockings on Christmas Eve.

Santa comes in the night and puts presents in the stockings.

People have pretty trees and lights in their houses.

Carols are Christmas songs.

Christmas is the time that Christians celebrate the birth of baby Jesus in Bethlehem nearly two thousand years ago. Christmas Day is 25^th December, but no one knows the real day Jesus was born. In many countries Christmas is in winter, but in other places, like Australia, it is in summer time.

People make small nativity scenes of the birth of Jesus - photograph © [2007] Jupiterimages Corporation

For many children, Santa Claus comes on Christmas Eve and leaves presents for them to find in the morning.  Children hang up stockings for him to fill with goodies. Santa is also called Father Christmas or Saint Nicholas. 

photograph © [2007] Jupiterimages Corporation

In Sweden a little gnome in a red hat leaves gifts for children on Christmas Eve. Children leave a bowl of rice pudding to feed him. In Norway it is elves who bring gifts. In Germany a Christmas Angel brings gifts. When children hear her ring her little bell, they run to find the presents she has left.

It is not always on Christmas Eve that gifts are left for children. In Holland Saint Nicholas visits on 6^th December and leaves small gifts for good children.  In Greece, Saint Basil brings gifts on 1^st January. In Italy a kind old lady called La Befana brings gifts to children on 6^th January.

The very first decorated Christmas trees were in Germany long ago and now people all over the world have a decorated tree in their houses at Christmas time.  In Denmark and in Germany, parents decorate the Christmas tree secretly and it is only at dinner time on Christmas Eve that the rest of the family sees the beautiful tree. The whole family gathers to watch as the tree’s lights are turned on for the first time.

photograph © [2007] Jupiterimages Corporation

A plant called mistletoe is hung up in many homes at Christmas. If two people meet under the mistletoe, they kiss. Thousands of years ago, people thought mistletoe was a magic plant. If enemies met in a forest where there was mistletoe, they would put down their bows and arrows and leave the forest.

A bunch of mistletoe - photograph © [2007] Jupiterimages Corporation

Special food is eaten at Christmas. Different countries have different foods, and the feast is eaten on different days at different times. In parts of the USA, pumpkin pie is part of Christmas dinner, following roast turkey. In England, plum pudding is part of a Christmas feast. It is a rich, dark pudding full of mixed dried fruit. To cook it, the pudding is put into boiling water for many hours. In Italy panettone, a special sweet bread with sultanas and mixed peel is served. In Greece, roast lamb and other meats is followed by a special cake decorated with a cross made of walnuts. In France, a chocolate cake is made in the shape of a log, called a Yule log. Yule is an old word for Christmas. In Australia many people eat seafood and salads as part of their Christmas meal and many cook and eat their feast outdoors.

French Yule log cake - photograph © [2007] Jupiterimages Corporation

Christmas carols are special songs sung at Christmas. Some carols were written hundreds of years ago. Long ago, groups of singers went from house to house singing carols. They were given some coins and perhaps a warming drink. Because it is summertime and people can enjoy being outdoors, Carols by Candlelight is very popular in Australia. Everyone holds candles at outdoor carols concerts, often joining in or just listening.

Go here to read  about the birth of Jesus: http://www.topmarks.co.uk/christianity/nativity/index.htm

Go here to find Christmas things to make:
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/christmas_pages.htm

Go here for Christmas games, activities and music:
http://www.merry-christmas.com/kids_zone.htm

If you use any part of this in your own work, acknowledge the source in your bibliography like this:
Sydenham, S. & Thomas, R. Christmas [online] www.kidcyber.com.au (2010)

Updated May 2010 ©kidcyber