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Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966. It is celebrated through singing, speaking, dancing and reciting traditional. Kwanzaa is built on seven principles that are commonly known as "Nguzo Saba". These principles are: umoja - unity kujichagulia - self-determination ujima - collective work and responsibility ujamaa - cooperative economics nia - purpose kuumba - creativity imani - faith
Kwanzaa was developed from elements of the African heritage. The African celebration of Kwanzaa was a ceremony of appreciation for the "first fruits of harvest". The four elements that made up the original African meaning of Kwanzaa were unity, awareness of ancestry and heritage, recommitment to traditional values, and reverence for creator and the creation.
The modern celebration of Kwanzaa lasts seven days, from December 26 to
January 1. Each of the seven days of the celebration is dedicated to one of the seven principles. Each day one candle is lit that represents each principle.

Click on the Kwanzaa picture for an on-line jigsaw puzzle.
To make this Kwanzaa hand-print wreath, follow these directions:
• Trace your hand 12 times on green, black, and red paper.
• Cut out handprints.
• Glue together to form a circle.
• Write the name of a family member or friend who is special to you on each hand.

Christians in China celebrate by lighting their houses with beautiful paper lanterns and decorating their Christmas trees, which they call "Trees of Light," with paper chains, paper flowers, and paper lanterns. Chinese Children hang muslin stockings and await a visit from Santa Claus, whom they call Dun Che Lao Ren (dwyn-chuh-lau-oh-run) which means "Christmas Old Man.”
To find out more about Christmas in China, click on the picture below:

Fold a rectangular piece of paper in half, making a long, thin rectangle.
Make a series of cuts (about a dozen or more) along the fold line. Don't cut all the way to the edge of the paper.
Unfold the paper. Glue or staple the short edges of the paper together.
Cut a strip of paper 6 inches long and 1/2 inch wide. Glue or staple this strip of paper across one end of the lantern - this will be the handle of the lantern.

In Germany, the Christmas season begins with Advent. A wreath of evergreens with four red candles is hung in the home. One candle is lit on each Sunday before Christmas.
Decorating the tree is an important part of the Christmas celebration. Besides using ornaments, lights, and tinsel, the German people also hang cookies (shaped like people, animals, hearts, or stars ) on the branches.
St. Nicholas visits the children on Dec.6th and leaves candy and other sweets. Children leave notes with St. Nicholas, telling him what they want. Children believe gifts are brought by the Christ Child (called
Christkindl). The gifts are opened on Christmas Eve.
On Christmas Eve families go to church, then feast on a large dinner of roast goose or duck (stuffed with apples), "stollen" (Christmas bread) and marzipan candy. After dinner, the children are allowed to eat the candies and the cookies that are hung on the tree. Some families also have a gingerbread house covered with candies, cookies and tiny decorations.

Click on the bell to listen to the tune of
“O Tannenbaum”, which is German for
“O Christmas Tree!” The tradition of a
Christmas Tree began in Germany.

In England boys and girls hang Christmas cards from their trees.
They also put little candles on the branches of their trees.
Some families do not eat turkey in England! Children there enjoy a wonderful meal of roast beef and plum pudding.
On December 26th in England, the English celebrate a holiday called
"Boxing Day." This name and holiday comes from a legend about noblemen boxing up gifts to give to their servants. This holiday is also called Saint
Stephen's Day. Do you know who Saint Stephen was?
In England little boys and girls receive their gifts from Father
Christmas and they are not allowed to open their gifts on Christmas morning as is the custom in the United States. Children in England must wait and wait and wait until Christmas afternoon! Can you imagine!
Children do hang their stockings by the fireplace to allow Father Christmas to stuff them with goodies.
Children in England have a very unusual way of delivering their mail to Santa Claus. Instead of using their local post office, they throw their letters in the fireplace!

Children in France receive their Christmas presents in their shoes!
Before children go to bed in France, they put their shoes in front of the fireplace in hopes that Pere Noel (Father Christmas) will fill them with goodies!
Almost all the homes in France display a Nativity scene or creche which reminds everyone of the true meaning of Christmas.
On Christmas Eve restaurants and cafes in France stay open all night! The restaurants are serving a special meal that is called "le reveillon." The word reveillon means to wake up
Children of France are busy munching away on sausages, oysters, ham and pastries while you are putting away roast turkey! French children also eat a cake which is called a "Christ Cake." A Christ cake is coated with sugar and is decorated to look like the Christ child.
One very interesting custom in France is to leave a candle burning in case the Virgin Mary passes by!
Something that you might find very interesting is that the children in France receive their gifts on December 6th!

Christmas was introduced in Japan by the Christian missionaries, and for many years the only people who celebrated it were those who had turned to the Christian faith. But now the
Christmas season in Japan is full of meaning and is almost universally observed. The idea of exchanging gifts seems to appeal strongly to the Japanese people. The tradesmen have commercialized Christmas just as our western shops have done. For several weeks before the day, the stores shout Christmas. There are decorations and wonderful displays of appropriate gifts for men, women, and children -- especially children. The story of the Child Jesus born in a manger is fascinating to the little girls of Japan, for they love anything having to do with babies. In the scene of the Nativity they become familiar for the first time with a cradle, for Japanese babies never sleep in cradles.
Many western customs in observing Christmas have been adopted by the Japanese.
Besides exchanging gifts they eat turkey on Christmas Day, and in some places there are even community Christmas trees. They decorate their houses with evergreens and mistletoe, and in some homes Christmas carols are sung gaily.
In Japan there is a god or priest known as Hoteiosho, who closely resembles our Santa
Claus. He is always pictured as a kind old man carrying a huge pack. He is thought to have eyes in the back of his head. It is well for the children to be good when this all-seeing gentleman is abroad.
New Year's Day is the most important day of the whole calendar in Japan. On New
Year's Eve the houses are cleaned thoroughly from top to bottom, and are decorated for the morrow. when everything has been made clean and neat the people of the house dress themselves in their finest clothes. Then the father of the household marches through the house, followed by all the family, and drives the evil spirits out. He throws dried beans into every corner bidding the evil spirits withdraw and good luck enter.

Christmas is a very religious time in Italy. A manger scene
(presipio) is set up in each home.
The Christmas season is filled with much singing and music.
The streets, shops and homes are decorated. Fruit shaped decorations are seen everywhere. For twenty-four hours before
Christmas people fast (do not eat). This is followed by Christmas Eve dinner called a Cennone. This feast includes fish (no meat), pasta, vegetables, fresh fruits and special sweets and cakes.
Special prayers and church services called "novena" last for nine days prior to Christmas. Mass is celebrated on Christmas morning.
In certain parts of Italy the children hang their stockings near the head of the bed. An old lady is supposed to visit each child and leave sweetmeats or coal in the stocking (depending whether the child has been good or bad.)
The Epiphany (Feast of the Three Kings), on January 6th, is the last day of Christmas celebrations.

The Legend of La Befana
(An Italian Christmas Story)
A woman was busily sweeping her house when the Three Wise Men came to her door. They said they were seeking the new King who was born in Bethlehem. When they asked her to show them the way, she replied that she was much too busy.
Later, she felt sorry that she had not helped the
Wise Men, so she set out after them. She searched and searched, but she never found them. Because
La Befana felt so bad, she continues to travel throughout the country at Christmas time, searching for the Christ Child.
Italian children believe they get a visit from La Befana , a kind but ugly witch. She is dressed in a long black coat with a black scarf tied around her head. She brings gifts to each child on
January 6th, which is the Epiphany (feast of the
Wise Men). They believe that La Befana flies from house to house on a broomstick, slides down the chimney and fills the stockings of the good children with gifts, but leaves a lump of coal for the bad children.

In Mexico children decorate their homes for Christmas with colored paper lanterns and flowers. Children in Mexico often celebrate with a presebra which is a replica of the manger scene.
In Mexico children have a great deal of fun when they participate in a parade called a posada. These parades represent Mary and Joseph searching for a place to stay on the night Jesus was born. Some of the people in the parade dress as Mary and Joseph and some dress as angels. The parade goes from door to door searching for shelter just as Mary and Joseph did the night Jesus was born. Just as Mary and Joseph could find no room in the inn, neither can the participants of the parade.
Have you ever seen a pinata before? A pinata is usually a clay pot that is decorated to look like an animal. The pinata is filled with candy and goodies for the children and is hung from the ceiling. The boys and girls tkae turns swinging at the pinata until it is broken and candy falls on the ground for the children to gather!
A very unusual tradition happens in Mexico when the people there carve Christmas scense out of gaint radishes!
In Mexico children write letters to the Christ child and on the eve of the
Epiphany which is January 6th, they put their shoes at the end of their beds for the Three Magi to fill.

How to make a paper Poinsettia:
Materials Needed: Red Paper, Glue, Scissors
1. Cut out squares of red paper. You will need one square for each petal on your flower. The flower in the picture used 4 inch or 10 cm squares.
2. Cut out two circles from the red paper. The larger circle should be about 2 inches (5 cm) across and the smaller circle about 1 inch (2.5 cm) across. The exact size is not important.
3. For each square, run glue in a line along edge. Fold over the edge beside it to create a cone shape. Press flat to create the petal shape. Repeat for each of the petals.
4. Glue the petals around the large circle, fold side down. Try to space them evenly. Once they are all in place, glue the small circle on top.
5. Add glitter glue or sequins to the small center circle if you want.

In Finland children participate in what is called "Little
Christmas." Little Christmas is a pre-Christmas celebration.
Children in Finland celebrate Christmas with advent candles.
The advent candles are lit the Sundays that precede Christmas and are put into a special candle holder that holds 4 candles.
Children in Finland get their first Christmas presents with the lighting of the first Advent candle. The children also have advent calendars that contain windows which are to be opened each day before Christmas.
Turkey is not a popular meat in Finland. Most Christmas dinners in finland contain cold ham, salted meat and pickled herrings.
Christmas celebrations officially begin at 12:00 on Christmas
Eve. The Mayor of Helsinki tells everyone to pay their respects to the
Christ child. Children rise early in Finland and go to church services on
Christmas . Churches in Finland are often decorated with candles.

Afrikaner (Afrikaans) ~ "Geseënde Kersfees"
Argentine ~ "Felices Pascuas"
Bohemian ~ "Vesele Vanoce"
Brazilian ~ "Boas Festas"
Chinese (Cantonese) ~ "Saint Dan Fai Lok"
Danish ~ "Glædelig Jul"
Dutch ~ "Vrolijk Kerstfeest"
English ~ "Merry Christmas"
Filipino ~ "Maligayang Pasko"
Finnish ~ "Hyvaa Joulua"
French ~ "Joyeux Noël"
German ~ "Froehliche Weihnachten"
Greek ~ "Kala Christouyenna"
Hawaiian ~ "Mele Kalikimaka"
Hebrew ~ "Mo'adim Lesimkha"
Icelandic ~ "Gledileg Jol"
Indonesian ~ "Selamat Hari Natal"
Irish ~ "Nollaig Shona Dhuit"
Italian ~ "Buone Feste Natalizie”
Japanese ~ "Kurisumasu Omedeto"
Korean ~ "Sung Tan Chuk Ha"
Lithuanian ~ "Linksmu Kaledu"
Malay ~ "Selamat Hari Natal"
Maori ~ "Meri Kirihimete"
Norwegian ~ "God Jul“
Romanian ~ "Craciun Fericit"
Peruvian ~ "Felices Fiestas"
Portugese ~ "Boas Festas"
Slovakian ~ "Vesele Vianoce"
Spanish ~ "Feliz Navidad" -
Swedish ~ "God Jul“
Welsh ~ "Nadolig Llawen"

Click on the candles to enjoy playing games. On this website, move around your mouse to different dates on the Advent calendar to play!