Christmas Around the World

Hi kids:
I found some great information about the way Christmas is celebrated all over the world. Interesting, huh?

If you want to know more, research, it's really fun! Just be sure you have adult supervision while doing so.

Well, here is what I found out.

Christmas in Australia


Of course, in Australia, Christmas is in the middle of their summer! So, Christmas is often celebrated like the 4th of July in the United States: at the beach or with a back yard barbecue. Many Australians decorate Christmas Bushes, native plants with little red-flowered leaves.

Brazil


Again, in the Southern hemisphere, Christmas falls during the summer! Pine trees are decorated with little pieces of cotton to represent falling snow.

Britain


Trees: Since Henry VII deforested the land, the Norway Spruce which was replanted is the most common tree in homes in Britain.
Lights: Colored lights and wreaths are common in the High Streets and outside some homes. Gifts are left under the tree to be opened on Christmas morning. A large number of packages, even of quite small items, is preferred!

Mistletoe is still hung in doorways, usually during parties and New Years eve. This goes back to Celtic beliefs that mistletoe had the ability to heal wounds, Kissing someone under the mistletoe became popular!
Foods: The main meal on Christmas day is a turkey, ham or roast beef. Goose is quite rare. Turkey is a relatively recent addition, as turkeys are native to America and don’t do well in the English climate. Christmas pudding, Figgy pudding and plum pudding are English fruitcakes, saturated in brandy, that date back to the Middle Ages. Suet, flour, sugar, raisins, nuts, and spices are tied loosely in cloth and boiled until the ingredients are "plum," meaning they have enlarged enough to fill the cloth. Brandy is poured over it daily for weeks until it is well pickled! It is then unwrapped, sliced, and topped with cream or custard. You can feel your arteries hardening just looking at it; but it still tastes better than a fruitcake.


Caroling also started in medieval England. Wandering musicians would travel from town to town visiting castles and homes of the rich. In return for their performance, the musicians would (if they were good) receive a hot meal or money.


In both the United States and England, children hang stockings on their by a fireplace on Christmas Eve, hoping that Saint Nicholas (aka Santa Claus, St. Nick or most commonly in the UK, father Christmas) will fill it with small gifts while they sleep.

Canada
 
Trees: Thanks to the German settlers to Canada in the 1700’s, Canadians today still have Christmas trees!
Foods: Advent calendars, gingerbread houses, Christmas cookies are also popular. Of course, Canada has several major cultures, notably the French and English speaking groups, each of which has their own variations to Christmas traditions. Gifts are left under the tree on Christmas morning.

China


Of the small percentage of Chinese who do celebrate Christmas, most erect artificial trees decorated with spangles and paper chains, flowers and lanterns. Christmas trees are called "trees of light."
Finland

Trees: In the year 1829, a Helsinki nobleman, Barön Klinckowstrom, decorated his house (inside) with 8 Christmas trees; one of the earliest know uses of the trees. The first known outdoor Christmas tree decorated with electric lights was in the market square in the town of Pietarsaari in 1905. The city of Helsinki has had a Christmas tree in the Senate Square since 1930 and since 1954, Helsinki has donated a Christmas tree to Brussels, Belgian.

Other traditions: Finns love the sauna and many families visit the sauna on Christmas Eve. Families gather to listen to the national "Peace of Christmas" radio broadcast.

France


Trees: The French also like Christmas trees, but now quite to the extent of the Germans or English. The "yule Log" tradition stems from an ancient tradition in southern France, where some people burn a log in their homes from Christmas Eve until New Year's Day.
Germany

Germany is the source of many of the world’s Christmas traditions. Martin Luther is attributed with bringing fir trees into the home, but it is much more likely that it is a tradition assimilated from the pagan’s winter solstice tradition in the early sixteenth century, combining the Paradise tree (a fir tree decorated with apples) that represented the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. Small candles were attached to the trees to represent the stars and the apples were replaced with red glass balls.

Guatemala


As in Mexico, the Nativity scene is the center of Christmas decorations, and thanks to the large German community, a Christmas tree has been added as an ornament. As in other countries, gifts are left under the tree on Christmas morning for the children, however, parents and adults do not exchange gifts until New Year’s Day.

Ireland


Christmas trees are brought in anytime in December and decorated with colored lights, tinsel, and other ornaments. As in America, the most popular tree toppers are the angel or the star. The house is decorated with evergreen garlands, candles, holly and ivy. Wreaths and mistletoe are hung on the door.
Italy

In Italy, as iun many Latin speaking countries, the nativity scene (presepio) is the center of decoration for Christmas. Guests kneel before it and musicians sing before it . The presepio figures are usually hand-carved and very detailed in features and dress. The scene is often set out in the shape of a triangle. It provides the base of a pyramid-like structure called the ceppo. This is a wooden frame arranged to make a pyramid several feet high. Several tiers of thin shelves are supported by this frame. It is entirely decorated with colored paper, gilt pine cones and miniature colored pennants. Small candles are fastened to the tapering sides. A star or small doll is hung at the apex of the triangular sides. The shelves above the manger scene have small gifts of fruit, candy and presents. The ceppo is in the old Tree of Light tradition which became the Christmas tree in other countries. Some houses even have a ceppo for each child in the family. Italians say Buono Natale! or "Happy Birthday" for Christmas.

Foods: a traditional Christmas bread, called Pantenone, which is light in texture and has nuts and fruit in it is very popular.

Japan


Few Japanese celebrate Christmas and for those who do, it is generally not a religious holiday. Christmas trees are decorated with small toys, dolls, paper ornaments, gold paper fans and lanterns and wind chimes. Tiny candles are also put among the tree branches. One of the most popular ornaments is the origami swan. Japanese children have exchanged thousands of folded paper "birds of peace" with young people all over the world as a pledge of peace.


Mexico  

Trees: We adopted the  Christmas tree from our neighbors, United States.

Other: A prominently displayed elaborate Nativity scene (el Nacimiento) is the focus of Christmas decorations in Mexico. Outdoor lights, of bright colors and often large bulbs are common. Piñatas are a must- be in all Mexican Christmas celebrations.
Poinsettias ( Noche Buena Flowers) are the Mexican gift to the world for this season.

As a side note, the name of the Poinsettia flower comes from the American minister, Joel R. Poinsett, who brought the plant from Mexico to America in 1828, where it caught on due to its coloring. After being sold in New York stores in the late 1800’s, by 1900, they caught on nationally.

As you can see, the celebrations vary but they are equally fun. happy Holidays!

Sources: http://pickyourownchristmastree.org/global.php

http://theenvironmentshow.com/wp-content/uploads/christmas-lights-15-480w.jpg
http://photos.igougo.com/images/p218413-Brazil-Main_Square_of_Sao_Joao_del_Rei_on_Christmas_Eve_Eve.jpg
http://www.english-blogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/et-xmas-frankfurt.jpg
http://www.hickerphoto.com/data/media/152/christmas-lights-display_16183.jpg
http://www.gofinland.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Christmas-in-Finland.jpg
http://www.jackiechankids.com/images/Christmas_HK_5.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3069/3048051719_52b1c760f1.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3048/3091899450_740117a5b7_o.jpg
http://www.navidadmania.com/Navidad-en-el-Mundo/Irlanda/103229-004-08B1F75E.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_96IvRfNy69Y/SxVxpJpCHeI/AAAAAAAAAGU/rYOKlUqGG1Y/s1600/nativity-scene-siena.jpg
http://www.gourmetgirlmagazine.com/08/12/images/image.jpg
http://www.mumbaikar.com/en/media/get/20091223_mexico.jpg
http://ciudadmexico.com.mx/images/fiestas/navidad/bazar_navidad.JPG 
http://mexicoquierealemania.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/nacimiento.jpg
http://viajandoandamos.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/20122009344.jpg
http://www.elalmanaque.com/Dic08/fotos/posadas.JPG
http://www.viajejet.com/wp-content/viajes/cena-navidena-peru.jpg

The Not So Fortunate Ones

Hi kiddos!
As you know, we're studying how human actions, like pollution and habitat destruction, have led animal and plant species to endangerment and even extinction. Here I present to you just a few of the animal species that are now on the IUCN (World Conservation Union) Red list. I'll leave the IUCN link so you can see the rest of them. They are a lot! Sad, isn' it? And alarming too!

The good news is that we still can help them come out of that list. Let's all work together to find out ways to preserve these amazing species. After all, we're all live in this magnificent blue planet,and share the same future.

Here are some of the not so fortunate ones:

Aethopyga duyvenbodei — Elegant Sunbird


Aetomylaeus maculatus — Mottled eagle ray
 



Afrixalus knysnae — Knysna Banana Frog



Ailuropoda melanoleuca — Giant Panda


Ailurus fulgens — Lesser Panda, Red Cat-bear, Red Panda



Alligator sinensis — China Alligator, Chinese Alligator



Atelopuia boucardi — Mangrove Hummingbird



Amazona imperialis — Imperial Parrot



Amblysomus marleyi — Marley's Golden Mole


Ateles hybridus — Variegated Spider Monkey



Balaenoptera musculus — Blue Whale



Canis rufus — Red Wolf


Cebus xanthosternos — Yellow-breasted Capuchin


Cephalorhynchus hectori — Hector's Dolphin, New Zealand Dolphin, White-headed Dolphin



Chelonia mydas — Green sea turtle, Green Turtle



Cynomys mexicanus — Mexican Prairie Dog, Mexican Prairie Marmot



Dicerorhinus sumatrensis — Sumatran Rhinoceros



Eastern Wolf



Elephas maximus — Asian Elephant, Indian Elephant

 
Panthera Tigris_ Tiger



Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IUCN_Red_List_endangered_animalia_species

Calculate your age on other planets!!

Hi kids!

As promised, Here are the instructions to calculate your age on the planets of our solar system. It also includes how to get your age on Pluto, even if it's no longer considered a planet of our solar system.

Enjoy!


Instructions:

Use the table below and a calculator to determine your age on a particular planet. If you were exactly 12 years old, that’s 4 380 days (12 x 365). It would also mean that today would be your birthday. If, however, you lived on Mercury and had a birthday every 88 days then you would be nearly 50 years old (4 380 ÷ 88 = 49.77).

What you need

• Calculator

What to do

• Calculate your exact age in days: ( Multiply your age times  365.25)

I am ________________ days old (D) today _____/_____/_____(date)

Planet

Time to orbit Sun

On this planet I am this many years old:

* Mercury: divide your age in days by 88


* Venus: divide your age in days by 225


Mars: divide your age in days by 687

Jupiter: your age in days / ( 11.8 x 365.25)

Saturn: your age in days / ( 29.4 x 365.25)


Uranus: your age in days / ( 84 x 365.25)


Neptune: your age in days / ( 164 x 365.25)


Pluto (dwarf planet): your age in days / ( 248 x 365.25)



http://museumvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/education/

Fooling Your Eyes?

Hi:

As I promised in class, during the Science lesson about the eye, here are some excercises about optical  illusions. Enjoy!

                                                                       Can you see the Mona Lisa?

Stare at the black point. You'll see all the colors fading out!

How about these circles? Are they moving too?

Keep staring at this picture for about 20 seconds and then look at a white surface (a wall or a big piece of paper). One of the very classic illusions. The best thing is ; the afterimage seems to be a sharper picture than the original

Reading asignment: Female Power !!!

Hi kids:
We are studying the lives of great women that decided to take the future in their hands and follow their dreams, eventhough the path they chose was not an easy one.

Therefore, here I give you this task:

You will investigate the story of the first famous women  explorers. There are alot! Just search for "first women explorers" and choose one of them to write about. Explain what amazing thing they did and why you chose them.

Type  at least 2 paragraphs here. The asignment is to do here in the blog.

You have until Friday April 23, 7:00p.m.

Love.

(Amelia Earhart)

Ms. Toni P.

Camouflage Art

Hi kids:

This is your new assignment for Science, now that we're studying adaptation in class, specifically camouflage.

You are to use half a cardboard and make a collage ( An artistic composition of materials and objects pasted over a surface) with animals that use camouflage either as defense or as attack. You can get images from magazines, stamps, internet, etc.

The most creative works will get 2 extra points in Science quiz 3.

You will have to bring  your work  to class next friday january 22.


Love.

Ms. Toni P.

P.S. Study hard for Language quiz!

Fantastic Creatures: All About Sloths!!!

Hi kids:

I'm so happy for the people that did the other blog homework ( the food chain game). I really hope you liked it, and most of all, learnt from it. I promise I'll get you more games like this.

Now, to our matter.

Remember we talked about the sloths? These great and amazing animals whose most konown trait is their slow motion? I loved the interest you showed on them and... well, here you'll find more information about them! Learn more about these animals and I know that you'll get to admire these creatures as much as I do.

Enjoy!
*********************************************

The sloth is a slow-moving mammal that lives in trees. Sloths spend most of their lives hanging upside-down from tree branches; they eat, sleep, mate, and give birth upside-down in the trees. They hold onto tree branches with strong, curved claws that are on each of their four feet.

Male sloths are solitary, shy animals. Females sometimes congregate together. Sloths are nocturnal; they are most active at night and sleep all day.

SLOTH ANATOMY

Sloths have a thick brown (and slightly-greenish) fur coat. Sloths are about the size of a cat (roughly 2 feet = 61 cm long). They have a short, flat head, big eyes, a short snout, a short or non-existent tail, long legs, and tiny ears. Sturdy, curved claws are on each foot; they use these claws to hang from trees.

Some sloths have colonies of green algae encrusting their fur, both adding to the camouflage effect and providing some nutrients to the sloths, who lick the algae.



NAME

The sloth got its name from its slow movement. It is not lazy, just slow-moving.



DIET

Sloths are plant-eaters who are more active at night; they eat leaves (including leaves from the cecropia tree), tender young shoots, and fruit; they are herbivores (plant-eaters). It used to be thought that sloths ate mostly cecropia leaves because they were often spotted in cecropia trees. It turns out that they also live in many other trees, but aren't spotted there as easily as in cecropia trees.

Sloths have a low metabolic rate and a low body temperature (91°F). This keeps their food and water needs to a minimum. Sloths have small molars which they use to chew up their leafy food. Their stomach has many separate compartments that are used to digest the tough cellulose (a component of plant material that they eat).



SLEEP

Sloths sleep during the day. They sleep about 15 to 18 hours each day, hanging upside down.



PREDATORS

Sloths are hunted by jaguars, harpy eagles, and people. A sloth's main forms of protection are its camouflage (greatly increased by the coating of algae growing on its fur) and its very slow movement; these adaptations make it virtually disappear in the rain forest canopy.



HABITAT AND RANGE

Sloths spend almost all of their lives in trees; they are arboreal. These mostly-quiet mammals live in the tropical rain forests of South and Central America.



LOCOMOTION

The sloth is the slowest mammal on Earth. Sloths are quadrupeds (four-legged animals) who "walk" upside-down along tree branches. They only rarely venture to the ground and walk on the ground in an upright position. Sloths can swim well.



LIFE SPAN

Sloths may live 10-20 years in the wild.



REPRODUCTION

Adult females produce a singe baby each year. They give birth upside down hanging from a tree branch.

Food Chain: Let's Play!!

Hi kids:
The following is a link where you can put your knowledge about food chains to the test. This site contains an animated food chain game, where you'll have to match the different organisms in the proper order to form a food chain. You even get scores!

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/games/foodchaingame.htm

Your assignment is to enter the link and  PLAY THE GAME! You will then have to type your score here as a comment. I will be revising on monday after 7:00 pm, so you have plenty of  time to do this.

I hope you like the game and prove to bee real food chain masters!

See you!