Naty Crib Scene History

There are similarities and differences between Christmas in America and Christmas in Italy. The Christmas holiday originated with the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25, a day around the shortest day of the year. Therefore, the main reason we celebrate the holiday is to celebrate Christ's birthday. Another reason for celebrating Christmas includes the changing of the seasons and the days that will become short before becoming long again. The shortest day, not necessarily falling on Christmas, is Winter Solstice which happens also to be a Pagan, agricultural holiday to mark the changes is the seasons. Most simply, we celebrate Christmas across the world as inspiration to imitate ethical behaviors of Christ who unconditionally loved all men and women regardless of their beliefs or backgrounds.

The central focus and purpose of teaching this learning segment is to educate students about other holidays and cultures, but specifically focusing on Christmas in Italy. While this unit is essentially literacy based, it is also linked to Social Studies when students use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of themes, traditions, and stories in different countries. This unit supports diversity within the classroom and it will expose students to the different ways of celebrating holidays among various cultures. The essential literacy strategy used throughout this unit is to analyze, explain, and describe the similarities and differences between Christmas in Italy and Christmas in their own home in the United States. The students are required to examine the way Christmas is celebrated in Italy in a variety of different ways, through both teacher directed guidance and student centered learning.]

That said, Christmas also moved around the globe between 900 - 1000 Common Era (C.E.) and was adapted to match their winter celebrations there as well. Christmas evolved slowly and gradually, with no firm mention of it until the mid 11th century, where we actually find the first reference to it. It evolved and changed and

In addition, all passed generations of the Morocho have all been catholic because of their belief and faith in God and Jesus. The Morocho family has all turned to God and Jesus in time of need and thanked Jesus for giving them everything they have. An essential part of being catholic is children have to be baptized, do their first communion, and confirmation. Going through baptism, first communion, and confirmation give them the fundaments to learn more about their religion also how to communicate with god. Oscar a member of the Morocho family stated, “I learned the importance of believing in my religion and I pray for my whole family and I, using what I have learned in religion school”. In the Morocho’s Family parents sign their children up to be part of the play of Jesus birth in Bethlehem.” Through religion school they learn to say prayers and make the sign of the cross that is used in mass and in the mass of Christmas Eve. Lourdes said “We praise Jesus on Christmas because he is the Son of God and did so many things for us for example he sacrificed himself for us”. All in all, purpose of practicing religion on Christmas Eve is to honor Jesus’s birth.

“I mean ‘Jingle Bells.’ You know, Santa Claus and ho-ho-ho, and mistletoe and presents to pretty girls.” In A Charlie Brown Christmas, Lucy Van Pelt perfectly outlined the modern American Christmas. But Christmas hasn't always been about reindeer and boughs of holly and Mariah Carey. Before the 16th century, Christmas was not a particularly festive holiday; in fact it more of a holy time to pray. However, when the Tudor Dynasty was established in the late 1400s, the various monarchs over the years created and made popular new Christmas traditions, most of which are still present every December. The Tudor Dynasty truly evolved the path of Christmas by popularizing and developing traditions, specifically Father Christmas and the popular carol “The First Noel”.

Christianity celebrates Christmas on the 25th of December to commemorate the birth of Jesus who is believed to be the son of God. This is a day of holy

Christmas was first started by the Mesopotamians. The Mesopotamians were pagans and they believed in many gods such as a Chief God named Marduk. They believed that Marduk would battle monsters in the winter months so to help him in his struggle they held a festival every New Year. In this festival the Mesopotamians would “sacrifice a mock king” so he could help Marduk in his battle

Throughout the world there are many holidays that connect with people’s culture. Since you live your daily life in the same culture you may not notice that you have certain ways or traditions of doing things. For me Christmas has large role in my culture. It has a specific meaning to me and my family, it helps us connect with one another while enjoying family favorite recipes.

In 1843 an artist was commissioned to draw a card for christmas, showing a group of people around a table and a christmas message. This was the start of the commercialization of Christmas

One thing that makes Christmas such a special holiday is the fact that it combines festivities and religion, two things that have driven humanity for centuries. The fact that Christianity is the most popular religion around the world, drives anticipation for a day tied to the centerpiece of the religion. There is also the historical context of religion and festivals that has stake in many cultures throughout history. These two things make Christmas uniquely positioned to drive anticipation in the lives of people around the world.

In Portugal, on Christmas Eve, noite de Natal, families gather around their Christmas tree and the Crèche, a model representing the scene of Jesus Christ. Catholicism is the main religion in Portugal. Thus, the Crèche is a very important part of the family celebration. It is very rare to not see the children of the family collecting the materials for Crèche. There are two ways Portuguese families decorate the Crèche. Some families only put three figures, baby Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and St. Joseph. Other families decorate their Crèche with many figures alongside the three main figures, baby Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and St. Joesph including the shepherd and the sheep, The Three Wise Men, lakes (made of mirrors), and hills (made with clay, moss,

Did you know it was common that no meat should be eaten on Christmas eve? Instead of meat, a light seafood meal was eaten. After the meal, people go to Midnight Mass service. When they return from Mass , they might have a slice of Italian Christmas cake named Panettone if it's cold. A popular tradition is to have the feast of the seven fishes, and it has it's root in Southern Italy. Some common fish eaten were Baccala, Clams, Calamari, Sardines, and Eel. Epiphany was an important part of the Christmas celebrations in Italy. It was the main day for present giving. Children believe that on Epiphany night, an old lady named Befana bring presents. Stockings were put up by the fireplace for Befana to fill. In some parts of northern Italy, the three

Almost every culture in the world has their own Santa origin story. Most of these stories are based around a real life person named Nicholas. Nicholas was born in 270 CE in Turkey and was later made a Bishop of Myra. It is believed that he died somewhere around 345 CE and was sainted during the 19th century. Not much is known about his life except that he was a very jolly person and that he gave to charity quite often. After his death, a sort of cult following happened. Members of his cult would give gifts to children on the day of St. Nicholas’ death which was assumed to be around the 6th of December. This gift giving was extended to filling stockings full of small prizes for children that had been good and virtuous. Families that celebrated the saint would come together and feast in his honour. Eventually the church decided to incorporate Christmas and St. Nicholas, and instead of children receiving gifts on the 6th of December, they would now have their feast and receive their gifts on the 25th of December, in celebration of Jesus Christ’s

Christmas is held on January 7th. Everyone goes to church that morning and at church they have a big feast. The feast consists of basically the same food, dried fruits, nuts, breads, desserts, nut there is also ham and other meats. They do not do the gift giving tradition that Americans do on Christmas. This is a holiday that is based heavily on family and friends and about faith.

In America during the month of December, most people will go and pick out a Christmas tree, string lights on its branches, listen to music about the holidays, and decorate their houses with little toys and ceramics representing Saint Nicholas. A fictional character that as children we are told will bring presents the night of Christmas if we behave throughout the year. But what about in other countries? What sort of holidays do they rejoice at when the thought of the birth Christ passes their mind?