2. Christmas Advent Calendar Click on the numbers to see the surprises!

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4. Holly is a popular decoration at Christmas time and is often used to make Christmas wreaths. The thorns and berries are said to represent the thorny crown and blood of Christ

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6. Candy canes were first made in Germany and represent a shepherd’s crook. The white and red stripes are meant to represent Jesus’ purity and blood.

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8. Stockings holding presents date back to St. Nicholas’ time, when three young girls hung their stockings over the fireplace to dry.

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10. Fir trees have been decorated, usually with apples and other fruit, since the 16 th century in Germany. A picture of Queen Victoria and her family gathered around a tree made them popular in Britain

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12. Songs have been sung to celebrate Christmas for many, many years. In the 19 th century writing Christmas carols became more popular and some of the carols you sing at school were written then.

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14. The three wise men who came to visit Jesus are also called the Magi. Their names were Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar.

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16. In China houses and streets are decorated with traditional Chinese lanterns at Christmas time.

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18. Rudolph is the name of the reindeer who leads Santa’s sleigh. The story ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’ was written in 1939 by an American called Robert L. May.

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20. Bells are often mentioned at Christmas because the ringing of bells is a tradition that dates back to old Pagan festivals.

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22. In Ireland candles have religious significance at Christmas time. Candles burning in windows show that the house has room for Mary and Joseph, just like the stable.

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24. A Christmas wreath is circular. It has no end and no beginning. It is said to be everlasting, like our love for Jesus.

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26. In Sweden the person who delivers gifts at Christmas is a gnome called the Tomte.

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28. In Norway the person who delivers gifts at Christmas is a goat like creature called Julebukk.

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30. Giving Christmas cards is a tradition that was started in Britain in 1843 by a man called Sir Henry Cole.

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32. Gingerbread men and gingerbread houses are popular at Christmas time in parts of Europe.

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34. In South America, celebrating the manger, which they call the presepio, is the most important part of Christmas celebrations.

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36. Mary and Joseph had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem to pay taxes. They had to pay them in Bethlehem as this was where Joseph was from.

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38. In Poland Christmas is often called Gwaizdka, which means ‘little star’. Celebrations do not start until the star appears.

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40. Decorating the tree with glass baubles became popular about 1500 years ago. It was also around this time that the first tree lights were made.

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42. The Virgin Mary is the Patron Saint of Spain and they start their Christmas celebrations with a feast celebrating her.

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44. When the Christmas story was first heard in Japan many people were surprised that Jesus slept in a cradle as most Japanese babies slept in bed with their parents!

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46. In the city of Rome in Italy cannons are fired on Christmas Eve to show it is the start of the Christmas Holiday.

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48. Mistletoe became popular at Christmas in Scandinavian countries. Kissing underneath it is supposed to bring you good luck all year.

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50. We now call St. Nicholas Santa or Father Christmas, but he has many names around the world including ‘Pere Noël (France), Svaty Miklaus (Czechoslovakia) and Sinterklaas (Holland).

53. Animations available from www.animationfactory.com www.animationfactory.com