• HILITE NEWS HAS BEEN NAMED A NATIONAL SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION ONLINE PACEMAKER FINALIST
  • HILITE NEWS HAS BEEN NAMED THE HOOSIER STAR WINNER FOR NEWS SITE
  • HILITE NEWS HAS BEEN NAMED A COLUMBIA SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION GOLD CROWN WINNER
Your source for CHS news

HiLite

Your source for CHS news

HiLite

Your source for CHS news

HiLite

Around the world in five minutes

By: HiLite Staff

North America

1. Christmas today in North America is a conglomerate of cultures and traditions from all over the world.

2. The Christmas tree, Advent calendars and gingerbread house all came from Germany.

3. The English introduced greeting cards.

4. Ireland introduced the custom of decorating our windows with lights.

5. The United States gave us Santa Claus.

6. The French introduced the crèche (Nativity) scene and carols.

South America

1. On the eve of Jan. 6, children leave hay and water outside the house so the horses of the Magi who bring them their gifts will have a meal, as they journey toward the Christ Child in Bethlehem.

2. Since Peru has no social security, Christmas is an important occasion for the poor. Churches, patrons and businesses hold “chocolatadas” where they give hot chocolate, bread and a toy to the children and the old.

3. Prior to Christmas, Catholics in Chile observe a novena, which is basically a nine-day period of prayer and spiritual preparation.

4. To save money, most Brazilian families rely on “amigo secreto,” which is the equivalent of America’s “Secret Santa,” for presents.

Eurasia

1. In 1962, a law was passed in France decreeing that all letters written to Santa would be responded to with a postcard. When a class writes a letter, each student gets a response.

2. Near the top of Monte Ingino in Italy, a 800-meter Christmas tree is decorated with 450 light bulbs. In 1991 the Guinness Book of Records named it “The World’s Tallest Christmas Tree.” The tree is topped by a star that can be seen for nearly 50 kilometers. The tree is lit up every year on Dec. 7, the evening before the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

3. Fresh pine trees are too expensive for many Filipinos, so handmade trees in an array of colors and sizes are often used. Star lanterns, or parol, app–ear everywhere in December. They are made from bamboo sticks, covered with brightly colored rice paper or cellophane and usually feature a tassel on each point. There is usually one in every window, each representing the star of Bethlehem.

Africa

1. Christmas is a summer holiday in South Africa. Although Christmas trees are not common, windows are often draped with sparkling cotton, wool and tinsel.

2. The most important part of Christmas in Congo is the love offering, which is the gift in honor of Jesus. In the morning, everyone makes their way to the celebration of Jesus’s birth. Everyone who attends the service goes forward to lay down their gift upon the raised platform near the communion table.

Australia

1. Due to the problematic nature of recreating the “convict spirit,” few Australians use holidays to reflect upon history or tell stories about the past.

2. Because families spend more time outdoors in Australia, the tree is often a stringy shrub.

Sources: historychannel.com, about.com, caryn.com, santas.net, convictcreations.com

Leave a Comment
Donate to HiLite
$20
$500
Contributed
Our Goal

Comments (0)

All HiLite Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *