Christmas

On this webquest you will learn more about Christmas' origins and traditions!

Have fun!

Here is your task for your webquest.

In groups, you will read the texts indicated by your teacher to answers these questions:

Origins:

Question 1: Why are we celebrating of Chrismast? Why are we celebrating Chrismat on the 25th of December?

Traditions:

Question 2: What about Chrismast Traditions? What are they? What do we do to celebrate Chrismast?

Question 3: What is the History behind Santa Claus?

Question 4: Why do we use misteltoe? Why do we use wreaths? Why are we decorating?

Question 5: Why are we doing stuffing-stocking? Why are we offering presents?

Question 6:What are we eating on Christmas?

Question 7: Christmas Today?

Why are we celebrating of Chrismast? Why are we celebrating Chrismat on the 25th of December?

Christmas is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. It is a Christian tradition honoring the birth of Christ. To us, Christmas represents a time of joy, gift-giving, and family.

December 25–Christmas Day–has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870. It is possible that we celebrate Christmas on the 25th of  December because of the Roman tradition of Saturnalia. They were having a festival honoring their god of agriculture, Saturn, on the winter solstice.The Winter Solstice is the day where there is the shortest time between the sun rising and the sun setting. This meant that the winter was over and spring was coming and they had a festival to celebrate it and worshipped( idôlatrer) the sun for winning over the darkness of winter. Therfore, as this day was already a day for celebration (de fête), they decided to do Christmas on this date.

What about Chrismast Traditions?

What are they? What do we do to celebrate Chrismast?

To celebrate Chrismast, we do traditional things, such as gift-giving, stockings, we put wreaths on our doors and we decorate our houses and the chrismast tree. We are having a chrismast meal, with traditional christmas recipes. We kiss under the mistletoe. And of course, there is Santa who comes on his sleigh, pulled by his reindeers to bring gifts to children. He goes throught the chimney and puts the presents under the Christmas Tree. There are also carols that are sang in the streets: it represents the spirit of Christmas

There is also the Boxing Day. On this day, in the past, it was a day for charity (charité). People used to give presents to the poorest people. Today however, it is a day where people go shopping and enjoy the psot-Christmas sales (soldes).

What is the History behind Santa Claus?

Santa comes from the generous Saint who gave presents to children in need, Saint Nicolas.

He was also inspired by the Dutch Sinterklaas. He is dressed the same as Santa Claus. He knows if children have been naughty or nice and he punishes the children who have been naughty. He has elfs to help him. He wore a bishop hat. Santa Claus doesn't.

The modern Santa Claus has been in the American folklore since the 18th century.He was not created by Coca Cola. His name comes from the Americanization of SinterKlaas.

Question 4: Why do we use misteltoe? Why do we use wreaths? Why are we decorating?

Misteltoe has a mythological background. In pre-Christian cultures, mistletole was believed to carry the male essence: it symbolized romance, fertility and vitality. It was used as a decoration because it was believed to protect homes from fire and lighting (éclair). It then become associated wit kissing: kissing under a mistletoe is a sign of good luck.

Since classicam antiquity, the wreath symbolizes power and strenght (force). Crows were made with weaths in the past. It also represents tenacity and an everlasting life.

The tradition of the Christmas tree was similar to the traditions of using a wreath: it come from the fact that the evergreen (feuilles des sapins de Noel) represented force, strenght and immortality.  It was used to cast away evil but also so birds could perch (se percher) on it. However, they were decorating before the Renaissance.

Question 5: Why are we doing stuffing-stocking? Why are we offering presents?

It is sometimes said that the tradition of gift giving started with the three wise (sage) men who visited Jesus and gave him gifts of myyrh, frankincese and gold.

Christmas stuff-stocking came from the fact that Saint Nicolas used to donate homemade food, clothes and furniture to the children in need back then. They were poor and had to work to help their families. Saint Nicolas put these gifts in the socks.

Question 6:What are we eating on Christmas?

The different countries around the world have peculiar meals for Christmas. In France, we eat goose or duck liver (foie gras); oysters; smoked salmon; lobster; roasted duck, goose or turkey with chestnuts and stuffing; and, for dessert, a traditional christmas cake called “La Buche de Noel”. In the USA, they eat cranberry sauce, turkey (or ham or roast beef),  corn, squash, and green beans. Dessert often reflects the ethnic background of the participants, but examples include pumpkin pie, sugar cookies, apple pie, carrot cake, oreo pie, and mince pie. In the UK and Ireland, the meal usually consists of roast turkey or roast goose (or duck, sometimes with ham or pork), roast potatoes, vegetables (usually brussels sprouts). For dessrt, they eat a Christmas pudding.

However, traditional food includes cookies, gingerbread man, candy canes, crackers, chocolate.

Christmas Today?

Today, we do not celebrate Christmas the way we did before. The celebration isn't as sacred and religious as it used to be. However, people still find pleasure in being with family, in enjoying being together around a meal. People still like buying presents for their loved ones to make them happy.

It is still a moment of sharing, of glee, when people are kind and generous and charitable.