Christmas wishes from Poland

On behalf of all the teachers and students from Gimnazjum nr 16 im. Fryderyka Chopina in Lublin, Poland let me wish you a peaceful and beautiful Christmas. No matter if it's white, green or grey Christmas - I am sure it will fill your hearts with faith, hope and love.

Have a great time with your families and friends.

Jolanta Gajda

(Polish teacher)

Christmas in Poland - cinquain poems

Christmas tree

Coniferous, big
Buying, decorating, watering
Finding presents under it
Tradition

Ola Zwijacz, 1b

Christmas Day

Happy, joyful

Forgiving, eating, meeting

Wonderful - God is coming

Peace
Adrian Sochaczewski, 1b

Presents

colourful, nice,

laughing, glading, sharing,

under a christmas tree,

gifts
Agnieszka Wdowiak, 1b

CHRISTMAS

Magic, calm

Glowing, singing, celebrating

What a magic time

Love
Monika Szydłowska, 2f

CHRISTMAS

merry, happy,

smiling, sharing, singing,

everyone waits for it,

peace.
Agnieszka Wdowiak, 1b

Christmas

Happy, golden

Talking, knowing, accepting

It is Christmas - finally!

Rest
Melania Smyk, 1b

Christmas tree

green , big

smelling , living , decorating

the plant of Christmas

tradition
Natalia Białach, 2f

Christmas tree

Green, beautiful

Dazzling, hiding, focusing

I love decorating Christmas tree!

Symbol
Melania Smyk, 1b

Christmas

happy, joyful

singing, eating, laughing

its the best day

flame
Michał Sadowski, 1b

Glass ball
Round, shiny
Decorating, hanging, shining
This thing is pretty
Christmas
Alicja Niczyporuk, 2i

Trip to Germany by Spanish students

Trip to Wernigerode, Germany


On Monday, we got up at 4.30 in the morning to get our flight. In the airport, I met my friends Laura and Marina and the two teachers who came with us, Conchita and Manuel.
We arrived at Wernigerode about 20.00. Our host families were waiting for us at the train station. Then, we went to our houses, it was a really tirying day!

On Tuesday, we had to wake up early again and went by bus to Volswagen's factory in Wolfsburg and, after, to the Phaeno science museum. This evening, my host, Karo, and her best friend, Nina, took me around their village, Silstedt. They explained me lots of things about that place.

Wednesday, we went to our partner school; we had poetry workshop! Marina, Laura and I wrote an acrostic. After that, we took a look around the school and we had lunch. In the afternoon we made a rally in Wernigerode with our hosts. In the evening, we went to the bowling!!!!!! At night, all spanish students, our hosts and two germans more met in Silstedt, it was very funny only because we were together.

Thursday, last day, we took an old lovely train to the Broken, a mountain. We walked eight kilometres until the top of the mountain. It wasn't a very pleasant way because it was cold, windy and also, it was raining!! Then, we had lunch, took another train to go back to Wernigerode and we went to our hauses. This night, all students from every country went to a café and had a "goodbye party".

On Friday, we had to say goodbye, we'll miss everybody. We took a train in Wernigerode to Hannover, in one place it was even snowing!!!!! And at night, we were in Vigo; we were tired, but happy. It was one of the shortest and greatest weeks of my life. Now, we chat by msn with the other boys and girls :) I'd like to repeat soon!

By Beatriz Padrón (4º ESO A)

Trip to Wernigerode

Trip to Wernigerode by Tanja, Minttu and Kaisa.

November 17.-21.2008

Monday: We went to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport at 7:40 am.

There we met our teachers and went to Germany by plane.

When we got to Germany everything felt strange because everybody talked German.

In Berlin we went to the central railway station and from there we went by train to Wernigerode.

When we got there we met our host families. After that we went to the house.

And later that night we met Minttu and Niclas, we went to cafeteria.

Tuesday: We woke up really early and then we went to Wolfsburg by bus.

In Wolfsburg was a town called Autostad. It was really cool in there, there were many cool cars and many other things. Me Tanja, and Kaisa went to by some coffee and it was really good if you put there three spoons of sugar and half cup of milk.

In Autostad we went inside of the car factory by minibus, it was really cool because you can go there only if you buy a new car.

After that we went to Phaeno that was science museum. It was great in there, there were all kinds of cool science things. After that we went home. Later in the evening we went to play pool(billiard).

Wednesday: We woke up a little later that Tuesday. After that we went to their school.

Their school was really beautiful, it was really big. At their school we did poetry.

After that we got en exercise to write different things about Wernigerode. Niclas Josi and Sylvi went to the town hall and we waited outside. After that everybody went home, and after we ate we went shopping. I bought things for me and my friends. Later that evening we went bowling.

That was very cool, I was a little nervous because many people was looking and I didn’t get the strike. But it was a nice day. Later that evening I called my friends and we talked about how was it like in Germany.

Thursday: We had to go to the mountains called Brocken.

But me and Sylvia went to the wrong train station and missed the train.

We didn’t know what to do so we went by bus to big shopping center, I bought there all kinds of stuff. When we got back we went to the big castle. There was great view and we thought about what was it like at Brocken, when it was raining and all…

Minttu and Kaisa were on the Brocken and it was not that nice. They really didn’t like it because it was cold and it was a very long way to the top. So we went back home and we ate there and all. After that we went to some bar and drank soda there. After that we went to some park and just “hang out”

Friday: We woke up early and packed our stuff and went to the train station.

We said goodbye to everybody and left. When we were on the train it started to snow. When we were in Berlin we went to some Shopping centre. After that we went to airport and flew to Finland. When we were in Finland we went home.

Christmas in Poland - Monika Przybysz, 2g

Last Christmas was very nice. My family from all the world arrived to Lublin.

I remember that many languages were spoken at my home. Aunt with uncle from France and big family from Czech republic and family form Poland of course.

The atmosphere was pleasant. Everybody was in living room at Christmas Eve.

Conversations, kisses,hugging...everone was happy!

We didn't remeber about sad stories and unpleasant things.

The Christmas tree was real ! I liked it because it gave us nice feelings. Presents were the best !!! 12 dishes according to custom were good.

My parents always prepare meals . I always help with Christmas cakes early. I hope that this Christmas will be nice, the same as the previous one...

Christmas in Poland - Kasia Opłocka, 2g

All I want for Christmas is family and good atmosphere at my home.
I like Christmas very much but I think when family aren't in love and attached everything is useless.

All families have problems but Christmas is the time to reconcile and forgive all bad things. I know it is a banal idea but if all of us do it, Christmas will be special and amazing time.
I know it is special and amazing but not to the end. Unfortunately, family often imitate they don't have problems but often problems get back with double power after Christmas. Next are tears, ache and sorrow.

For some people Christmas is happy time but unfortunately for another ones sad. They inform what people are like. Maybe it's good. I hope that only a few people are sad at Christmas.

As far as I am concerned I like Christmas. I think we (people) need some days to wonder over life. I try not to waste this time.

I know I am not an angel at home but sometimes some people don't value who I am.
I think this Christmas will be exceptional. I hope. I should hope. I have to hope.

Christmas in Poland - Justyna Milczak, 2g

CHRISTMAS IN POLAND
In Poland Christmas begins on 24th December but people prepare for this day very early because they love Christmas.
At first people prepare twelve Christmas dishes. Then they buy a Christmas tree and decorate its.
People decorate Christmas tree with Christmas balls, a chain and a Christmas star.

When start a Christmas dinner the oldest man in family reads a passage from the Bible and next people shere the wafer. Then they eat beetroot soup with little 'ears' and other fantastic dishes. At the end of dinner people open and see their gifts and sing carols.
The second day of Christmas is called Christmas Day. They go to church and meet with friends and family. People eat a Christmas breakfast with family and sing carols and christmas songs.
I like Christmas because it is a very happy time.

CHRISTMAS CARDS FROM SPAIN

Festivals: Christmas in Spain

Xmas in Spain

Christmas is a celebration. We celebrate it with a special sweet called turrón, bars made of almonds, sugar and honey. We decorate the Cristmas tree with a large and beautiful star on top. Bárbara D. Carmona Guillermo, ESO 1 D

I celebrate Christmas with my family in our village. We eat ham and potatoes. We go to the main square at night. I stay at my grandparents' house. I love the presents.

Iago Álvarez Souto, ESO 2B

Christmas holidays are the 24th, 25th , 31st of December and the 1st, 5th and 6th of January.The 24th at night we celebrate the birth of Jesus, and the 25th in the morning we got the presents Papá Noel left under the Christmas tree.

Laura Riveiro Lago, ESO 1B

The End-of-Year (New Year's Eve) is held to express that a year is over and another one starts again. We eat twelve grapes, no more no less, as they mean every month in the year.

Bárbara, ESO 1 D

The 31st of December is Nochevieja -it is the last day of the year. At twelve o'clock, we eat one grape for every twelve strikes from the clock.

Laura R. L., ESO 1B

Later, the night between the 5th and the 6th of January the Three Kings (Reis/Reyes Magos -wizards) come and bring presents to every home. We leave our shoes in the living or hall to get their presents and some water for “the camels to drink”.I like Christmas because the family meet together.Then holidays finish and school starts again.

Laura R. L. and Bárbara, ESO 1B

Listen to some famous Spanish carols here http://www.hoy.com.ec/especiales/2008/navidad-2008/villancicos.htm

Listen to some Galician carols in http://www.galiciadigital.com/images/especiales/especiales/nadal/vilancicos.php

http://vello.vieiros.com/nadal2001/panxolinhas.html

http://www.galiciadigital.com/images/especiales/especiales/nadal/musica/01-nopendello01.mp3

We're singing it at the school hall!

In Spain people decorate their houses with a Christmas tree and a bethlehem, and on the streets there are many coloured lights. Our holidays are three weeks, being the special days:Nochebuena / Noiteboa (Christmas' Eve, the 24th),Navidad / Nadal (Christmas, 25th),Nochevieja / Noitevella (New Year's Eve), Año Nuevo / Aninovo (New Year) and January 5th is the night of los Reyes Magos / os Reis Magos (the Three Kings), when we have got presents and the family meet you again -it is very very happy and funny. I sing songs with my family. Christmas are very good.

Andrea Casado, ESO 1D

On the party days we eat and sing carols with the family. On the street there are many Christmas lights and at home we also put a Xmas tree with lights and many adornments: balls in different colours and garlands.

Laura Falagán, ESO 1D

Christmas time in Spain is lovely. There is snow in some places, but it is not always a white christmas.We decorate our houses with christmas trees. All the families get together and have typical christmas meals, such as "turrón", "polvorones" -recipe... We give and get presents especially on 6th January, called "Dia de los Reyes". We also celebrate "New Year's Eve" and we eat twelve grapes. We don't have to go to school and we play a lot with friends.This is the Spanish Christmas and I love it.

Antonio Serrat Seoane, ESO 2C

Hello! This is María, from St. Tomé Secondary School in Vigo, Spain. This is a small text about Christmas, how we celebrate it, and things like that.On Christmas the Town Council puts lights on the streets. People usually set a Christmas tree at home and also a belén (Bethlehem). A belén is a miniature village with figurines representing the newborn Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and more people from the christian Bible.On Christmas Eve families eat dinner together. Then, after having eaten (a lot), they go home, usually really late. What do we eat? Well, usually sweets like mazapán and turrón. For dinner, seafood or meat are usually eaten.Also, traditional songs are sung, like Los peces en el río (Fish in the river).Presents are given to children, too. Normally, the Reyes Magos bring them. Father Christmas is not very popular here.

María Bolaño, ESO 2D

I am Eva, I'm from Vigo and there I live. At my home we celebrate Christmas on the 24th of december. That night we have a great meal and have dinner in the living room, and we watch tv, but we must go to bed very early, because Papá Noel (Father Christmas) is going to come and bring the gifts. Those gifts are the presents that previously we had asked for through a letter to Father Christmas. Next day morning we have all the gifts near the Christmas tree. That night we have e.g. quails for dinner and turrón, mazapanes, polvorones, ... as dessert.The streets have got lights in all colours and they have shapes like reindeers, stars, Father Christmas, etc. My home is decorated with the Christmas tree, garlands, colour lights, small dolls as snowmen, etc.Children sing Christmas carols called villancicos.

Eva Álvarez Regueiro, ESO 2D

Christmas is one of the most important festivals in the whole world. Here in Vigo we celebrate it eating with with our relatives. We have turkey, and the 12 grapes, which is a singular tradition in Spain. On January the 6th we open the presents that the Three Kings have brought us.I love this time of the year because we have holidays at school.

Alejandro Iglesias, ESO 2C

Christmas in Holland - Melanie and Ruby

Saint Nicolas.

In the past there was a man called Sinterklaas, in English its Saint Nicolas. He was a holy man who gives things to people. We still have this party, but he doesn’t exist anymore. When it’s around half November a man dressed like Saint Nicolas comes in the city. Little children wait for him in the city, so they get some candy and see him at the steam boat. When they put their shoes in front of the fireplace, sing songs and write a poem. Then the next day there is a present in their shoes. They think it was Saint Nicolas, but it were just their parents. Then at 5 December we celebrate Saint Nicolas evening, his birthday. Then everybody sings songs and get presents. Then Saint Nicolas is over.

Christmas.

Around half December we buy a Christmas tree. Everybody in your family decorate the Christmas tree, with shiny baubles and lights and in the top op the tree is a peak. At 24 December we have presents under the tree. Than everyone open a present with their name on it. At the second Christmas day we visit our grandparents, or other family. I love this time, because it is so peaceful and happy.

Christmas in Holland - Robbert van Tilborg: International Christmas

Christmas

As soon as the first winter winds blow through the city and as soon as the night begins early I start looking forward to the day I can get the Christmas stuff out of the cabinet. The great thing about Christmas is that it makes such a big part of the world feel connected. Both people in New York as people in Amsterdam or in Paris think of delicious food, a warm fire and Christmas trees with colored lamps. These countries might all celebrate Christmas, but all in a different way off course. Sometimes as different from each other as the name of the celebration might sound in different languages. Christmas, Weihnachten, Kerstmis, la Navidad and le Noël are the words that make people happy in many countries.
In the Netherlands Christmas is an extensive celebrated party as well. However, we celebrate it in many different ways. Some families come together to enjoy each others presence, others celebrate the day Jesus Christ was born and some wait till Santa Clause comes by to bring them some nice presents.
I celebrate Christmas with my friends and family, to give my way of Christmas as an example. In December we visit musicals, movies, big shopping malls and restaurants. From the first of December we’re all very busy with shopping and buying presents for each other. Every time anyone of us bought a present we put it under the decorated Christmas tree. The piling up heap of presents is getting bigger and bigger, and at Christmas eve we open all the presents and give them to its new owner. We wear neat suits and dresses, listen real Christmas music, drink glühwein and Champaign and eat the most delicious food. Though, for many Dutch people Christmas in Holland isn’t enough! We often visit the huge markets in Belgium or Germany. The number 1 holiday spots during Christmas are Paris for shopping and culture, Bern and Vienna for winter sports or the Dutch Antilles to get some sunshine during the winter!
In the past this celebration gave people hope in the dark nights, warmth in the cold winters and company in lonely days. Since the amount of religious people in the Netherlands decreased, this certain need to celebrate Christmas disappeared as well. Anyway, the Dutch winter still makes people rather grumpy, as it makes me grumpy. But when the first lights decorate the shopping mall and the well known commercials are on TV again this grumpiness makes place for a feeling of warmth. The feeling of Christmas.

Christmas wishes from Finland

We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer

We won't go until we get some;
We won't go until we get some;
We won't go until we get some, so bring some out here

We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Anna, Hilkka and Pia with their pupils

Christmas in Finland - Niina Mäki 9c

Christmas in Finland

We celebrate Christmas in 24th December. Christmas is time of happines. The Best things in Christmas are Christmas food, presents and, of course, being together with family.
Week before Christmas Eve we decorate Christmas tree and home. Every Christmas morning we eat rice porridge. After that we go to a graveyard. Then we go to relatives’. In the evening we eat and then we open presents. For Christmas dinner we have ham and a carrot casserole.
All people in Finland celebrate Christmas differently.
Nowadays in Finland we don’t have snow, for example last year. But I hope that we have this year snow, at least a little.
I think that everybody as a child believes in the Santa Claus. When you become older, you don’t believe anymore.
Symbols of Christmas in Finland are reindeer, Santa Claus, Santa’s little helper and Christmas tree.

Christmas in Finland

We spend Christmas on 24th December. Christmas is very funny here because people and children like to have a lot of surprises. Christmas brings a lot of feelings.

It’s usually snowy and cold at Christmas. I like Christmas and I get many gifts from my parents. Therefore children really love Christmas. Close to every house people decorate Christmas tree and their houses.

Santa Claus lives in Finland in place called Korvatunturi. He comes to visit all children in Helsinki every year in December. On Christmas day families often socialize together and children play with their toys. On Christmas day we prepare a Christmas meal and a lot of delicious deserts. At nigh sometimes we go out with my brother, sister and my parents. We walk and play with snow. My brother and my sister really like snow and they are very happy.

After Christmas day, new day is coming. I and my father buy lots of fireworks. On new year day Finnish sky is very lightly.

Merry Christmas and Happy new Year!!!

Jovan Klaric 9A

FINNISH CHRISTMAS -Maxim 9A

ARTWORK BY LIISA BERG

FINNISH CHRISTMAS

Finnish people believe that Santa Claus lives in Lapland. People from all over the world send letters to Santa Claus in Finland. There is a big tourist theme park called 'Christmas Land' in the north of Finland, near to where they say that Father Christmas lives.
Everybody's house is given a very good clean in readiness for Christmas. Hours are spent in the kitchen cooking and baking special treats for the festive season.
Family always stays together at Christmas.
All houses are very nice decorated. Then everybody comes to the kitchen to have Christmas dinner. At 5- 7 o’clock Santa comes and gives gifts.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Christmas in Finland - Maryan, Iiman and Marthe, 9A

Christmas in Finland

We don’t spend Christmas since we are of different religion, but we think that Christmas is beautiful because everything is so beautiful that while and we like Christmas, because then everything is on sale. The nice thing is that we have holiday from the school which lasts two weeks.

Christmas in Finland - Henna-Riikka

Christmas in Finland

Christmas is on the 24 day of December.

Every year we decorate the Christmas tree in Christmas morning

AT Christmas we eat ham, turkey, carrot casserole, Swede purée, escalloped potatoes and a lot, lot all good food.

Then when we have eaten we can open the Christmas presents and have a look at them.

Christmas in Finland - Enni, Sonja and Villet

Christmas in Finland

In Finland we celebrate Christmas with our families or relatives. It can be a huge party or a small one with just a few people.
We believe in Santa Claus (who lives in Korvatunturi, Finland)
We either have Christmas tree, or we don’t, but we put the tree up before Christmas Eve.
Christmas Eve goes usually like this:
When we wake up, we watch Santa Claus’s hotline from TV, you can send e-mail from the web-page or call there and Santa Claus will either talk to you or read your e-mail on TV.
Then we eat rice porridge.
After the porridge we go and see our relatives or they come to our house. After seeing the relatives we eat. The traditional Christmas foods are ham, carrot casserole, swede casserole and potato casserole and beetroot salad. We also eat mince pies and gingerbreads. Then we drink mulled wine and home-brewed beer.
After dinner the Santa Claus comes and brings all the gifts. When the presents are opened we go to visit our relatives’ graves, and we take candles there. The cemetery looks absolutely beautiful when it’s dark and the candles are shining on the ground.

Christmas in Finland

Finnish Christmas

Finnish Christmas starts at the start of December. At that time people start to buy gifts and sing Christmas songs. The Christmas tree is brought to the house and the children start to decorate it with beautiful decorations. Advent calendars are bought to little children so they can wait for Christmas every day in December. Some people even burn advent candles every Sunday for the four weeks before Christmas Day, because they are waiting for Jesus to be born (not literally). People start to act nicely from the start of December because Santa’s little helpers might just be watching for you around the corner.

When it’s getting close to Christmas Eve parents start to make all kinds of food for the Christmas dinner. There are carrot, potato and swede casserole, ham, beetroot salad called rosolli, raw pickled salmon and many others. The dinning at Christmas Eve usually lasts for few hours because there is so much food to eat.

But before the dinner, there are lots of things people do on the 24th of December. For example in the morning people go to their relatives graves to wish them happy Christmas. Some people do this on the 23rd evening because people bring candles to the graves and they are burning brightly in the dark evening.

After the visit to the graves people start the preparations for the great evening. Probably they have already decorated the house but they can finish the last of the great amounts of food. Their relatives come and they start to spend time with them. Soon the huge dinner start.

When the dinner’s finished they start to wait for Santa to show up and they can open the presents. The little children might see a red brownie’s cap whiz in the window.

Christmas in Finland - Jarmo and Niko, 9c

Finnish Christmas

Finnish Christmas starts at the beginning of Christmas and ends at Epiphany that is usually the first Tuesday of January. Normally Finnish people buy Christmas gifts and gather together with their families, and celebrate Christmas. Normally they buy a Christmas tree, or they just go and get that from woods. Finnish visit their relatives and on Christmas Eve they go also to a graveyard.

Jarmo and Niko, 9c

Christmas in Finland - Teemu, 9a

Christmas in Finland

I go maybe to my grandmother’s place in Christmas or maybe I stay at home. I wish to have some presents. If I stay at home I think I go to shopping. I will eat a lot of Christmas food. I want have a lot of fun at Christmas.

Teemu, 9a

Christmas in Finland - Tytti, 9a

My Christmas

We open present 24.12 and not in 25, and we open then always in night. And now is morning of 24! Yes! Now Ill just have to wait for night, so I can open presents. When I was young my parents told me about Santa Claus, that he would bring presents for good behaving people. Little elf’s were watching us every day and told Santa Claus that did we behave good or bad. My dad always told that Santa Claus was his good friend and Santa gives him our present, so we can put them under Christmas tree. Because I had wild imagination so I believed that story, and I always behaved good. For breakfast we eat rice pudding, but everybody have to be in table and only then we can start to eat. In day we do all kind of things, we go outside to play in snow or just do something in inside. When evening was coming we go to sauna, and who wasn’t in sauna he or she helps making food and decorate table. When we have eaten, everybody goes to living room. I always “share” gifts to everybody, and then they open their gifts in their turn. If somebody got DVD we watch it or another movie together. When it is almost morning everybody goes to sleep.
I love in Christmas that everybody is home and we spend time together. I think that Christmas holiday is the best holiday!

Tytti, 9a

Christmas in Finland -pupils from 7A

When Christmas is coming we start to decorate our home about a month earlier.

We send the Christmas cards to people at the latest time, 15^th of December. Usually we get the Christmas tree about three or five days before Christmas. We decorate the Christmas tree as soon as the tree has melt down. We go to eat Christmas meal to my aunt or to my grandparents’ place. We eat about tree or four dishes, potato casserole, carrot casserole, swede casserole and of course turkey. When we have eaten the food, we then open all the Christmas presents. My mom and others relatives can’t buy me good presents because I’m so “old” now and they don’t know what to buy me, so they give me money and that’s fine. After we have opened the presents and eaten the food then we go back home and maybe play some games or something fun that we can do together. That’s our Christmas, and I love it!

Happy Christmas for everyone!!

Christmassy regards: Anette Lindroos 7A, Jakomäen yläaste, Helsinki

My Christmas

At Christmas we eat Christmas food. I eat Christmas food with my mother and my little sister. We eat ham, casseroles, salad and we drink water and milk. After dinner, we go to my grandmother’s place. Then we drink coffee and eat cake and gingerbread cookies. Then we wait for Santa Claus. Santa Claus brings lots of presents. When Santa Claus has left we open the presents. I hope I get clothes as presents. We have decorated our home we have lot of ornaments and we have Christmas lights and we have a Christmas tree. It is big, huge and beautiful. My little sister waits eagerly for Christmas. I also visit my father at Christmas. I give Christmas present my mother, father and little sisters. We also go to church at Christmas and we also sing Christmas Carrols.

Harriet Mäenpää 7A, Jakomäen yläaste, Helsinki

_______________________________________

Christmas is in December. It is in 24^th. We eat Christmas meal on home. Our home is eating seven peoples. My dad, mom, granny, granddad, big brother and little brother. We eat potato soufflé, carrot casserole, swede casserole and of course turkey. We send every year Christmas cards. I send to my friends and my parents their friends. We get Christmas tree two days before Christmas. I have eid too. In eid I get 50e. When New Year comes I buy New Year fireworks. I like fireworks. Happy Christmas and Happy New Year.

Jasim al-Shebibi 7A, Jakomäen yläaste, Helsinki
_________________________________________________
My Eid-Holiday

”RING RING”!

I woke up in the alarm voice. The clock was about 7.00 a.m.

The whole family was squillering around. We were a bit of late.

Then at 8.00 a.m we finally got out of the house. My family went to Myllypuro’s Arena Center to pray. After praying we went home.

Usually we eat eid-dinner in eid-holidays with my family. But this time we made an exception because my mum was spending her eid-holiday in Mekka. If you don’t know what Mekka is, I’ll tell you something about it. Mekka is the place where Prophet Muhammed is born, and the holy place of islam. They spend there eid-holiday very nicely. But in Finland it’s a bit different. After the praying we all got different ways. I spent my eid-holiday in the mall, with my friends. We went to eat in a kebab restaurant.

Happy Eid-Holiday to all of you.

16.12.2008 Jawahir Ahmed 7a, Jakomäen yläaste, Helsinki

_____________________________________________________

OUR EID

We Muslims have a holiday called Eid. In the Eid I wake up at 7’clock. The morning is like usually, and then I say to all part of my family happy holiday. Then we eat the breakfast. We go to the mosque. There I say happy holiday to my friends. In the mosque we pray the Eid pair.

All my relatives who live in Finland go usually to my grandfather. There we share our presents.

And say to each other happy holiday. We eat there holiday lunch. In The evening every one does what they want. Usually me, my brother and my cousins go to buy new things with the money we get. And the relatives who come from other place than Helsinki they be the night in our and the others place who live in Helsinki. It’s fun I cant wait to the next Eid come.

Mahmuud al-Hello 7 A

Jakomäen yläaste 7A

______________

Hello, my name is Nimco, and I tell you about my Eid holiday. It is a really fine day.

My families wake up about seven o’clock. We eat little breakfast, and we dress up beautiful clothes. We go to mosque, and shopping. We eat very good meal. I love Eid holiday because I don’t go to school. We also go to my cousin, and we have a lot of fun.

Nimco Ali 7A, Jakomäen yläaste, Helsinki

___________________________

My Christmas

In this story, I tell you, how I spend my Christmas. I usually go to my grandparents’ cottage or home with my grandma, grandpa, mom, her husband and my step little brother. First of all, I decorate the Christmas three at Christmas Eve morning. I also bake gingerbread biscuits with my grandma. We go to our relatives in the afternoon, and few of them come to our place in the evening. When we have eaten the Christmas dinner, which has many dishes, we share the presents. After that we go to sauna. And in the evening, when we have come from the sauna, we just spend time together and drink glogg. I think that Christmas is very lovely holiday because everybody is together.

Jenna Hietamäki 7A

Jakomäen yläaste, Helsinki
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We eat something little. Then about 10 o’clock we go to my grandparents´ home.

There we eat rice porridge. We do very much everything funny. At some time we go to the church. Then we come back to grandparents’ home. There we eat ham, carrot casserole, potato casserole, swede casserole and gravlax and everything else.

Then we do something. Sometime we share the presents. About 8-9 o’clock we go from to sauna. We sleep in my grandparents’ home. Next morning we eat everything what is left. Then we go to home when we want. Then we buy fireworks before New Year come.

This holiday is very good and lovely.

Niklas Tourunen 7A, Jakomäen yläaste, Helsinki

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I start the Christmas Eve with my parents and relatives. First we cook and make the table, then we eat. We have many dishes: rice porridge, turkey, potato soufflé, carrot casserole, gingerbread, Karelian pastry and we drink glogg. We eat first and then give the presents. Generally my grandpa makes from ice a kind of mode and he puts the candle there. We keep it outside and it looks fabulous. Usually we have Christmas tree and there are lots of Christmas decorations. We get together in the living room and give there the presents. When all open our own presents and we thank for what we get. Then we hang out with each other and have fun. I love Christmas because then everybody is together.

By: Oona Kolkka 7A, Jakomäen yläaste, Helsinki

Christmas in Holland - Chiara

Sinterklaas

On the 5th of December we celebrate ‘Sinterklaas’. Everybody celebrates it on their own way. We celebrate it with surprises. Everyone write their name and the things he wants to have on a peace of paper. You put them together. Than everyone can get one. For the person on the peace of paper you have to make something. Something funny or just something typical for that person. You also buy some presents. And on the 5th of December you give your surprise to each other.

SINTERKLAAS

ZWARTE PIET

Christmas

I really love Christmas! It’s always cosy and with all the decoration and the tasty food… On the 24th of December we celebrate Christmas evening. We eat something special. And we have some presents for each other. It’s very cosy. On the 25th we go to family. But I don’t really like that because our family isn’t very nice. And on the 26th we just stay at home

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