Winter Holidays In the U.S.A

Table of Contents Slide 1: Title Slide 2: Table of Contents Slide 3: Objectives Slide 4: About Christmas Side 5: Christmas Symbols Slide 6: About Kwanzaa Slide 7: Kwanzaa Symbols Slide 8: About Hanukkah Slide 9: Hanukka Symbols Slide 10: Other Winter Holidays Slide 11-17: Quiz Slide 18: Journal Activity Slide 19: Websites Used

Objectives The students will be able to demonstrate their understanding of Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah by taking a short quiz. The students will be able to recognize symbols representing Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah. Students will be able to write a short passage about how they would celebrate one of the three winter holidays.

All About Christmas In the United States we celebrate Christmas on December 25 th each year, the day celebrates Jesus Christ's birth. In the days or even weeks before Christmas Day, many people decorate their homes and outside with different Christmas decorations such as lights, snowflakes, snowmen, reindeer, and many more. Inside of the house the most common decoration is of course the Christmas tree. Many families cut down their own small evergreen Christmas tree and decorate them together while listening to Christmas music. On Christmas day it is common to organize a special meal and desert to share with family. Families and friends traditionally exchange gifts with each other. Children, in particular, often receive a lot of gifts from their parents and other relatives and of course from Santa Claus! The traditional colors of Christmas are red, green, and white.

Christmas Symbols Santa ClausChristmas Tree Christmas Nativity Scene Reindeer Christmas PresentsStockings

All About Kwanzaa Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday honoring African culture and traditions. It falls between December 26 and January 1 each year. Kwanzaa is celebrated by people from a range of African countries and their descendants. Kwanzaa consists of a week of celebrations, which ends with a feast and the exchange of gifts. During the celebrations, candles are lit and libations are poured. A libation is the name given to a ritual pouring of a drink as an offering to a god. During Kwanzaa, a wooden unity cup is used to pour the libations. The colors of Kwanzaa are red, black and green. The Kwanzaa flag consists of three blocks, one in each of these colors. Three of the seven candles are red, three are green and one is black. Each candle represents one of the principles of Kwanzaa. The seven principles are unity; self-determination; collective work and responsibility; co-operative economics; purpose; creativity; and earth.

Kwanzaa Symbols Kwanzaa Mat Kwanzaa Flag Unity Cup Kinara with seven candles

All About Hanukkah Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish observance that remembers the Jewish people’s struggle for religious freedom. Jewish communities in the United States celebrate the first day of Hanukkah on the 25th day of the month of Kislev in the Jewish calendar. The Hanukkah period lasts for eight days and is celebrated from the 25th day of Kislev to the second day of Tevet. The first night of Hanukkah starts with special blessings at sunset the day before the 25th of Kislev. Many Jewish people light the menorah which is a type of candelabrum. Many Americans of Jewish faith also eat food fried in olive oil, such as potato cakes, and different fried breads. The first day of Hanukkah is the start of a celebratory period in which a four-sided toy called dreidel is used for games. The first night of Chanukah is also a night when people sing traditional songs to celebrate Chanukah. Gift-giving is also popular at this time of the year. Traditional Hanukkah colors are blue, white, and silver.

Hanukkah Symbols The Star of DavidDreidle MenorahPotato Latkes (Staple Hannukah dish)

Other Important Winter Holidays New Years Eve/ New Years Day, December 31 st / January 1 st Martin Luther King Day, January 16 th Valentines Day, February 14 th Presidents Day, February 20th

Quiz!!!Quiz!!! Click to Begin

Question #1: Which of the following dates is Christmas celebrated every year? January 1st October 12th December 25th No YES!

Question #2: How many days is the celebration of Hanukkah? 14 days 8 days 3 days Try Again Great Job!

Question #3: Where did the holiday of Kwanzaa come from? Africa Australia France Correct! Try Again Not Quite

Question #4: What are the traditional colors of Christmas? Blue, Purple, Pink Red, Green, White Orange, Yellow, Black Try Again Great Job! Try Again

Question #5: What is the name of the spinning toy children play with during Hanukkah? Dreidle Teddy Bear Dolls Correct! Try Again Not Quite

Question #6: What is the name of the wooden cup people drink out of throughout Kwanzaa? Tea Cup Coffee Mug Unity Cup No YES!

Journal Activity In your writing journals write a paragraph (5-7 sentences) about how you would like to celebrate either Christmas, Kwanzaa, or Hanukkah and why you chose that holiday. Use your imaginations and try to write about a holiday you do not celebrate. Be sure to include fun writing details!

Websites Used