Christmas Customs and Traditions by the pupils of Echt Primary School 2011
All About Echt Let's tell you about about our village: We live in a small village called Echt.It is in the North East of Scotland near the city of ABERDEEN. It is a very rural place with lots of our pupils living on farms or a farm estate. There is a village shop,an Indian Restaurant,a church,the Town Hall,an Old Folks Home and of course our school. Let's tell you about our school: Our School is called Echt Primary School.We have 30 children in our whole school. Our playground is lovely with lots of toys and equipment to play with and we have a beautiful garden in which we keep our four chickens.they lay 4 eggs every day and we sell them to our friends, families and the rest of our community.
We will now tell you all about some of these customs and traditions... Why do we celebrate Christmas? Every year in December we celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ.That is why we call this time of year Christmas. We celebrate the Mass or church service for Christ Christmas is celebrated on 25 th December.Everyone in Echt is on holiday and family and friends get together to share much loved customs and traditions which have been around for centuries.
How do we prepare for Christmas? During the weeks before Christmas Day we send cards,watch nativity plays and carol singing.we put up Christmas decorations in our homes and churches.
When is Christmas? Christmas Day is on the 25 th of December
Why do we give gifts to each other? The tradition of giving gifts is thought to come from the gifts that the wise men brought to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem.
What happens throughout Christmas Day in Echt?
Christmas Day Timetable 1. Go down stairs 2. Open half of our presents 3. Have breakfast 4. Open rest of presents 5.Get dressed
6. Play with them 8. Crack our crackers 7. Sit down for lunch 9. Have lunch
10. Play more with our toys 11. Dinner with Christmas pudding 12. Go outside and play in the snow
Christmas cards At the beginning of December we send Christmas cards around the world to our friends and family to wish them a Merry Christmas. We send all kinds of Christmas Cards: Traditionally they Showed religious pictures of Mary,Joseph and scenery and cartoons and jokes and baby Jesus. Nowadays they show snowmen,santa Claus and winter scenery
Carol singing Carol singing or carolling is when people sing public or in the street.people sometimes go from house to house singing. Carols were written for a special purpose - often to be included in medieval plays. In the middle ages people danced while they were singing carols.this year the we are all going carol singing around the village of Echt after we have performed our Christmas Nativity in the village Hall to all our parents and members of the community. We will carry lanterns and sing as we walk.
The most popular Christmas Carols to sing are: Silent Night Away in a Manger We Three Kings Good King Wenceslas O Little Town of Bethlehem O Come All Ye Faithful Ding Dong Merrily on High
Why christmas trees became popular? Christmas trees first became popular in 1914 In 1914 Queen Victonas husband brought a fir tree over from Germany
Christmas trees What do we decorate trees with?
tinsel baubles lights Little ornaments
We put a angel or star on top of our tree Then decorate with more Candy canes
We put presents under the tree for our friends and family.
What is the nativity? The nativity is the story of the birth of Jesus. Mary and Joseph, the three wise men and the shepherds play a major part in the story. Mary and Joseph try find somewhere to stay and to deliver the baby but there is nowhere to stay. Finally Mary and Joseph get given a stable with a manger to have the baby Jesus in.
Where and when do we have a nativity in Echt? This year our school is performing the Wriggly Nativity on Wednesday 14 th December in the Village Hall. for family,friends and everyone in our community to watch. All the pupils in the school will also perform a Nativity in the local church before our Christmas Holidays begin on the 23 rd December.
What do we traditionally eat on Christmas day? In Echt we traditionally eat roast turkey with trimmings such as : bacon,parsnips,pigs in blankets,stuffing,roast potatoes,brussel sprouts followed by Christmas pudding. We also set out Christmas crackers on the table. Christmas Dinner is eaten at mid-day or early afternoon.
Christmas pudding & Turkey Hidden in the Christmas pudding there is traditionally a silver coin in the middle which brings the finder good fortune. The breast or wish bone in the turkey is dried.two people then pull and the person with the biggest bit makes a wish. The pudding is covered in brandy to scare off evil spirits.
A festive menu Starter: home made soup with bread Main course : turkey with stuffing bacon, parsnips, pigs in blankets, roast potatoes Pudding : sticky toffee pudding with ice cream or cream Christmas pudding with ice cream or cream. Mince Pies and brandy cream
Boxing day We celebrate Boxing day on the day after Christmas the 26 th of December. It is a holiday for everyone. In the past boxing day was the day to open the Christmas box to share its contents with the poor.
What do we eat on boxing day We eat more mince pies with brandy sauce or cream We eat left over turkey and make it into curry or sandwiches... mmmmmm delicious. We also have some Christmas cake and a cup of tea.
Boxing Day in the 21 st Century Nowadays we spend boxing day watching Sport playing games and going for walks in the in the countryside with our families. Many shops and businesses now start reducing their prices of goods in their stores on Boxing Day. Many people go shopping for bargains and spend their Christmas money on gifts they didn t receive on Christmas Day
All of us at Echt School Aberdeenshire would like to wish you all : A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY 2012!