A+USA+Christmas+by+Jamison's+Class



**Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.** **Norman Vincent Peale** =**M****erry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings, Happy Hanukkah and Feliz Navidad from Ms. Jamison's third grade class. We are so very excited about sharing our holiday traditions with you! Our lives in Eden, North Carolina are very simple with very little change from day to day. Christmas is our time to truly to shine.** =

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 * While we live in Eden, North Carolina, USA. Our community is called Draper. Here is a picture of our state. **



To get a glimpse of our beautiful state please follow this link

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 * In America, states are broken down into counties. We live in Rockingham County. The Atlantic Ocean is to the east about about 250 miles. The Blue Ridge Mountains are about 250 miles to the west. Rockingham County is in the most northern and central part of the state, that is way we are called the, "north star." **

=**The weather here is very moderate. In the summer, the average is just above 90 degrees. The temperature rarely falls below 15-20 degrees in the winter. We get plenty of rain and some snow, never more than a foot. A foot of snow is rare. The climate is perfect.** = = = =**Our favorite foods are PIZZA (yum), hamburgers and hotdogs, tacos, and spaghetti. North Carolina is famous for its barbeque (BBQ- roast/ grilled pork cooked in thick, sweet sauce). It is usually served with cole slaw (finely chopped cabbage salad), baked beans, and hush puppies (bite-sized, deep-fried corn bread).** =

=**Our Christmas is first, a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Most of the holiday is spent with family and friends.** = = = **Teacher will add student comments next week.** = =

=**Holiday Traditions of the United States of America** = http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-america.htm


 * History books refer to the United States as "the melting pot" where all nations and traditions blend together. Indeed, our Christmas celebrations would indicate just that. We have carols from England and Australia and trees from Germany. Santa Claus, or St. Nick in a red suit originated in Scandinavia and his arrival through the chimney to fill stockings is reminiscent of the Netherlands. His sleigh drawn by reindeer began in Switzerland, and our parades may be a carry-over from Latin processions. Of course the traditional feasting is typical of all nations. We, in turn, have fattened up the jolly old man in the red suit and blended all the traditions until he comes down the chimney on Christmas Eve, leaves gifts and stockings filled with treats and departs in a sleigh drawn by eight tiny reindeer. The media has helped to make this a universal Christmas image. Yet each regions of the U.S. has its own peculiarity. **

= = = = =Perhaps nothing has fixed the image of Santa Claus so firmly in the American mind as a poem entitled //A Visit from St. Nicholas// written by Clement Moore in 1822. = =**.** =
 * From ancient times, American Indians have held religious dances to coincide with the winter solstice. Franciscan monks succeeded in bringing this Indian celebration and the Christmas Holy Day together. Thirty-five miles south of Santa Fe, in the San Felipe Pueblo, is held perhaps one of the most unique Christmas Eve dances. Shortly after the priest has delivered his Christmas Eve sermon and departed, bird calls burst from the loft (sounds produced by blowing into a shallow dish of water through a split, perforated hollow reed). An insistent drum takes over and dancers move into the blazing light of the altar. Dressed in masks, animal skins, feathers, coral, shells, turquoise and head dresses with real antlers, they perform the deer, turtle, eagle and buffalo dances. Women carry a sprig of HAKAK, the sacred spruce tree, which represents eternal life and which they believed helped to create mankind. **



Click on the Christmas Archives to learn more about Christmas traditions across the globe.

=The Christmas Archives =