TASK: CHRISTMAS WEBQUEST

Eliana Caballero y Juan Espinosa

Blogger

Activity 1: Christmas traditions

Choose one or more of the traditions below and investigate it using
the websites provided. For each tradition complete a note card.
(See questions below). You can use the cards to give an oral
presentation or write a composition.
1. What is your tradition called?
Christmas tree
2. Describe your tradition.
The Christmas tree originated in Germany in the 16th century. It was
common for the Germanic people to decorate fir trees, both inside and
out, with roses, apples, and collared paper. It is believed that Martin
Luther, the Protestant reformer, was the first to light a Christmas tree
with candles. While coming home one dark winter's night near
Christmas, he was struck with the beauty of the starlight shining through
the branches of a small fir tree outside his home. He duplicated the
starlight by using candles attached to the branches of his indoor
Christmas tree. The Christmas tree was not widely used in Britain until
the 19th century. It was brought to America by the Pennsylvania
Germans in the 1820's.
3. What is the origin of your tradition?
It was common for the Germanic people to decorate fir trees, both inside
and out, with roses, apples, and collared paper. It is believed that Martin
Luther, the Protestant reformer, was the first to light a Christmas tree
with candles.
4. When is your tradition held?
The Christmas tree originated in Germany in the 16th century.
5. Where is your tradition held?
In Germany
6. What is the symbolism behind your tradition?
The symbolism of the Christmas tree is decorate the house
Activity 2: Christmas around the world: Treasure hunt
Use the following websites to find out the answers to the questions
below:
1. In India, what type of tree is decorated for Christmas?
Instead of having traditional Christmas Trees, a banana or mango tree is
decorated. Sometimes people use mango leaves to decorate their homes
2. Russians celebrate Christmas eating kutya. What is it and what
does it symbolize?
Kutia is a sweet grain pudding, traditionally served in Ukrainian[1],
Lithuanian, Belarusian and Polish cultures. Kutia is often the first dish in
the traditional twelve-dish Christmas Eve supper (also known as Svyateh
Vetchnyat). It is rarely served at other times of the year.

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 TASK: CHRISTMAS WEBQUEST
Eliana Caballero y Juan Espinosa
Blogger

3. Mexicans celebrate Christmas with posadas. What is a posada?

Las Posadas (Spanish for "The Inns") is a nine-day celebration beginning
December 16 and ending December 24, which is called Noche Buena
("Holy Night"). It is a yearly tradition for many Christian Latin Americans
and symbolizes the trials which they believe Mary and Joseph endured
before finding a place to stay and where Jesus could be born.
4. In Rome, Italy, capitone is served on Christmas Eve. What is
capitone?
the traditional dish of Christmas Eve is "Capitone," a big female eel,
roasted, baked or fried. North of Rome a traditional dish may be pork,
sausage packed in a pig's leg, smothered in lentils, or turkey stuffed with
chestnuts.
5. In Venezuela people listen to aguinaldos. What are aguinaldos?
The traditional songs of this period are called aguinaldos. In the old days
the aguinalderos (singers of aguinaldos) would go from home to home
singing their songs and playing traditional instruments such as the
cuatro (a small, four strings guitar), the maracas (rattle) and the furruco
(a small, elongated drum with a wooden stick in the middle. The
movement of the stick slightly indented on the drums leather is what
produces the sound).
6. In Provence, France, people put santons in a crèche. What are
santons and what is a crèche?
Another custom is that of the manger, "la crèche," which originated in
12th century France in the form of liturgical drama. At first the manger
itself resembled an alter and was placed either inside the church or
before the portal, as it was at the Abbey of Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire.
Antique mangers can be seen in churches at Chartres, Chaource, Nogent-
le-Rotrou, Sainte-Marie d'Oloron and in museums at Marseilles and
Orleans.
7. In Japan, people are visited by Hoteiosho. Who is he, and why is
he special?
This was Hotei or Hoteiosho, an old Japanese god. He was originally one of
the seven gods of good fortune. An amiable, serene and contented deity, he
is often represented as a Buddhist priest with large ear-lobes. His
distinguishing feature is a huge stomach believed to be a symbol of his large
soul.
8. In Greece people have to protect themselves from Killantzaroi.
What are Killantzaroi and how can you keep them away?
Killantzaroi are a species of goblins or sprites who appear only during the
12-day period from Christmas to the Epiphany (January 6). These
creatures are believed to emerge from the center of the earth and to slip
into people's house through the chimney. More mischievous than actually
evil, the Killantzaroi do things like extinguish fires, ride astride people's
backs, braid horses' tails, and sour the milk. To further repel the
undesirable sprites, the hearth is kept burning day and night throughout
the twelve days.

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 TASK: CHRISTMAS WEBQUEST
Eliana Caballero y Juan Espinosa
Blogger

9. Germans call Christmas Eve Dickbauch. Why is Christmas Eve

called Dickbauch?
“Dickbauch" means "fat stomach" and is a name given to the Christmas
Eve because of the tradition that those who do not eat well on Christmas
Eve will be haunted by demons during the night In China; a very
important person is named Dun Che Lao Ren.

10.In China, a very important person is named Dun Che Lao Ren.
Who is it?
Santa Claus in China is called Dun Che Lao Ren which means "Christmas
Old Man”. The Christian children of China hang muslin stockings hoping
that Christmas Old Man will fill them with gifts and treats. The Chinese
Christmas trees are called ‘Trees of Light’.