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#3 ....................... A Publication Of SchoolNet Global
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In This Issue
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We celebrate Christmas with the contributions from the SchoolNet Family in several nations. We go to Norway, Romania, and the United Kingdom and then we learn about a year end celebration that isn't Christmas but is very old and important to the people who celebrate it.
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Christmas On Rovaer
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The Christmas Eve is just an hour old as I am writing this. As you might know, in Norway the Christmas Eve is the peak of our celebration. The families are gathered to eat and, the most important event for most of the children and many of the elders is the sharing of their Christmas presents.
At Rovaer we start together with a sermon in the chapel at 13.00, and then everybody goes home to their house. In our house all our three children will be with us; Gro Synnove 30 yrs, Odd Eirik 28 yrs and Anlaug at 19. My mother (88) and Marit's father (80) are also staying with us.
After eating "pinnekjatt", dried and smoked ribs of lamb with a desert of rice cream, the person who found an almond in the desert gets to "slaughter" the marcipan pig, one and a half kilo made from scratch and modelled by the head of the household from almonds, powdered sugar (50-50), the whites of a couple of eggs, some citrus juice and two drops of rose oil. Slices are cut and enjoyed. The meal is ended by reading together from the Bible the story that started it all.
After a pause for clearing the table, we join hands around the Christmas tree singing carols, and then we move on to the presents. The procedure is that Anlaug brings around the presents from underneath the Chrismas tree. Then on to the unwrapping of the presents, where we start with the youngest opening one. We follow the age order, one by one and back to the youngest for round two. This will take a couple of hours. After that we have coffee and sweet cakes, nuts and fruit. And then it is time for bed.
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Winter Customs and Traditions in Romania
by eurokids191
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In Romania, the winter feasts start on 24th December and finish on 7th December. The central events occur during the Christmas Days, New Year and Epiphany.
A very beautiful custom performed by children individually on New Year's Day is the "sorcova". This is a small branch or stick decorated with coloured artificial flowers, called "sorcova" with which they touch rhythmically and lightly their elders, while congratulating them on the occasion and wishing them a long life and a Happy New Year:
Sorcova, the merry sorcova/Long may you live/Long may you flourish/ Like apple trees/ Like pear trees/ In midsummer/ Like the rich autumn/ Overflowing with abundance/ Hard as steel/ Fast as an arrow/ For many years to come/ Happy New Year! More
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Our Nativity Play
by Emily S,Abbie Q and Zoe B
St Marys CE Primary School, UK
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Most of us went to our Junior Nativity play in the evening after school, at St Eanswythe's church in Folkestone.
It was dark and the Christmas tree lights shone in the old church. There were lots and lots of parents, grandparents and friends who had come to join us in this special Christmas Service.
We sang,acted and some of us read some sayings from the bible. At first Mr Bird, (our headteacher) said an introduction for the parents and children. After that we started our nativity play with carols, reading and acting. We acted out the Christmas Story of Jesus being born in Bethlehem in a stable to Mary and Joseph. The angels, the shepherds and the wise men visited him there. At the end of the service year 5 children read some prayers then Father David (our vicar) said a speech and a prayer after that it was over. More
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The Jewish Holiday of Hanukkah
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Click on image to go to source
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Hanukah. Chanukah. Hanukkah. The eight day Festival of Rededication is also known as the Festival of Lights. It is one of the most important of the Jewish holidays. This holiday goes back almost 2,400 years, and celebrates one of the greatest miracles in Jewish history. It takes place every year in mid to late December. While its date varies if you go by the western calendar, in the Hebrew calendar Hanukkah always falls on the 25th day of Kislev.
Chanukah is probably one of the best known Jewish holidays, not because of its religious significance, but because of its proximity to Christmas. Although it isn't so, many think of this holiday as the Jewish Christmas, adopting many of the Christmas customs, such as elaborate gift-giving and decoration.
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