Worldwide Christmas traditions
By Dylan Craft
In Argentina people go to church with their parents. When they go back home after they eat their toast, the adults dance while younger people go to see fireworks outside. After this they go to sleep, but not before they open their presents under the Christmas trees. In China, only about one percent of people are Christians, so most people in China only know a few things about Christmas. Because of this, Christmas is only often celebrated in the major cities. In these big cities there are Christmas trees, lights, and other decorations on the streets and in department stores. Santa Claus is called Shen Dan Lao Ren' and has grottos in shops like in Europe and America. The strange thing is that most of the world's plastic Christmas trees and Christmas decorations are made in China, but the people making them might not know what they are for. |
In Canada, a large country and people of many different cultural back rounds, there are lots of different Christmas traditions. Many of the traditions and celebrations come from France, English, Irish, Scottish, German and native/first nation influences.
In Australia, Christmas comes in the middle of the summer holidays. Children have their summer holidays from early to mid December to early February, so some people might even be camping at Christmas. In the early days of the Soviet Union, Christmas was not celebrated very much. New Year was the more important time. Now Christmas is normally celebrated on the January 7 (only a few Catholics might celebrate it on the 25th of December). The date is different because the Russian Orthodox Church uses the old Julian Calendar for religious celebration days. |
Adapted from Cooper, James. "Christmas around the World." 2013 [http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/]
A day at the Berlin mosque
By Seerut Mir
Here's a day at the Berlin mosque. To get ready for my school, first, I wear my Pakistani dress. Then we go to the mosque. When we get there I take out the Quran, our holy book. We always start with bismillah Al-Rahman Al –Rahim. After reading, our teacher tells a story about Ibrahim and how we got a holy well and the water called Zamzam. For example, she says, Ibrahim had to leave, so the mother took care of the little boy they had. But the little boy needed water. His mother ran to hills seven times until a little fountain of water appeared by the little boy. They drank the water. Then Ibrahim came back to his family.
At 11:30, we have a snack. Then it was time for Islamic studies. We learned about promise and if we keep it we will be doing a good job. When we finish class, we go up to the prayer area. Men stand before the women. After we pray, we go to a bake sale. I buy an ice cream cone cup cake. So good! We eat on the swing sets and then go home. We cannot wait for Monday to come.
Here's a day at the Berlin mosque. To get ready for my school, first, I wear my Pakistani dress. Then we go to the mosque. When we get there I take out the Quran, our holy book. We always start with bismillah Al-Rahman Al –Rahim. After reading, our teacher tells a story about Ibrahim and how we got a holy well and the water called Zamzam. For example, she says, Ibrahim had to leave, so the mother took care of the little boy they had. But the little boy needed water. His mother ran to hills seven times until a little fountain of water appeared by the little boy. They drank the water. Then Ibrahim came back to his family.
At 11:30, we have a snack. Then it was time for Islamic studies. We learned about promise and if we keep it we will be doing a good job. When we finish class, we go up to the prayer area. Men stand before the women. After we pray, we go to a bake sale. I buy an ice cream cone cup cake. So good! We eat on the swing sets and then go home. We cannot wait for Monday to come.