Christmas Around the World

Each country celebrates Christmas with its own traditions, recipes, and folklore. For example, in our country, it is traditional to decorate a Christmas tree and place gifts beneath it. Our folklore celebrates elves who help Santa at the North Pole in making and delivering gifts to good girls and boys all over the world on Christmas Eve.

These customs differ from country to country. Choose one of the countries from the list below. Only one student may choose each country. Use the links to research your country and find out about its folklore, customs, and traditions. Then write the information to create a webpage about that country. Your page must include the following information about Christmas in your country:

• What Christmas is called in that country
• What date it is celebrated on
• What is Santa Claus called and what he does or is there some other tradition closely related to Santa Claus
• What foods are traditional
• What decorations are used
• What traditions are observed about gift-giving
• What other customs there are
• Any special folklore or stories that are told which are different from the United States

In addition to the information, your webpage must include the elements of good web page design and writing:

• a title of "Christmas in ___________"
• at least 3 paragraphs using complete sentences
• correct grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling
• use one of the Christmas backgrounds provided
• use 2 to 5 of the animated Christmas gifs provided. More may NOT be used or the page will become too busy. Static gifs or jpgs may be used.

When your page is done, you will use the information to present an oral report on your country to the class.

You will be graded on the following scale:

3 points

1. Has included 95% or more the of the required information
2. Has followed the elements of good web page design and writing
3. Has presented their report to the class following the rules of a good oral presentation.

2 points

1. Has included 75% to 94% of the required information
2. Has followed 75 to 90% of the elements of good web page design and writing.
3. Has presented their report to the class following most of the rules of a good oral presentation

1 point

1. Has included less than 75% of the required information
2. Has followed less than 75% of the elements of good web page design and writing
3. Has presented their report to the class but not followed the rules of a good oral presentation

Choose one of the following countries about which to write: Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Russia, or England/United Kingdom. You will draw your country from the basket so that everyone has an equal chance at the countries. Follow the links below for that country to conduct your research for this assignment.

Australia
Christmas in Australia
Aussie Christmas Traditions
Christmas Down Under

Canada
Christmas in Canada
Christmas in Canada
Communal Activites Be sure to follow the hyperlinks

China
Christmas in China
Christmas in China
Christmas in Aisa

France
Christmas in France
Christmas in France!
Christmas in France

Germany
Christmas in Germany
December Holidays in Germany
The German Way Christmas Page 2000
Christmas in Germany

Italy
Christmas in Italy
Christmas in Italy
Christmas in Italia

Mexico
Christmas in Mexico
Christmas in Mexico
Celebrating Christmas in Mexico

Russia
Christmas in Russia
Christmas in Russia!
Christmas in Russia

Spain
Christmas in Spain
Christmas in Spain
Christmas Traditions in Spain

England/United Kingdom
Christmas in the British Isles
Christmas in the United Kingdom
Christmas and New Years Traditions in the UK
Christmas in England