Newsletter

SOUTHEAST ASIA: THE MAGIC OF HANDS AROUND THE WORLD SOUTHEAST ASIA CULTURE CAMP Each year the Hands Around The World Southeast Asian Culture Camp gets bigger and better! Our first year, we only had five campers, and last year we had 15, all from either Vietnam or Cambodia! When the children arrive, they are always so happy to see others who look like them and families that look like their family! And camp affo... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 04-06-2005

LATIN AMERICA: CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS IN GUATEMALA The Christmas fiesta in GUATEMALA mixes Christian and Mayan traditional celebrations. The days before Christmas are filled with parties and preparations. You and your family will decorate your home with pine wreaths, poinsettias and manzanillas, a small yellow fruit. Each home displays almost life-sized replicas of the Nativity scene ... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 03-16-2005

LATIN AMERICA: NAVIDAD PUERTORRIQUENA or Christmas in Puerto Rico How would you celebrate Navidad Puertorriqueña, Christmas in PUERTO RICO? Even before December arrives, you might join with a group of friends to form a small band of carolers, known as trullas. The members of the trulla bring musical instruments such as congas, maracas, guitars, tamboriles, güiros, and <... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 03-16-2005

LATIN AMERICA: CHRISTMAS IN PARAGUAY Christmas in PARAGUAY is Christmas of the Coco Flower. You can see this lovely flower blooming everywhere and smell its scent carried far in the warm night. Since it is summer, other flowers also bloom and homes and churches are decorated in bright colors to match the flowers. Once your pesebre (Nativity scene) is set up - often wi... Read The Complete Story Posted By: cheriedas@aol.com Date Posted: 03-09-2005

CUTTING EDGE: MY CUTTING EDGE EXPERIENCE Hello my name is Rebecca Das; I am an adoptee and was born in Peru. My older sister, also adopted, was born in India. I’m here to tell you about my Cutting Edge experience. Well, I have been going to Hands Around The World Culture Camp for 11 years. I’ve loved camp ever since I was a toddler. But now that I am a teenager, I get to... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-08-2005

CHINA: CHINESE NEW YEAR Chinese New Year is the big event, for most people, of the season. Now officially called the “Spring Festival”, it takes place towards the end of January and marks the beginning of the Chinese calendar year. Children are the main focus of the celebrations, and it is a time parents give them new clothing and toys. They al... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-07-2005

SOUTHEAST ASIA: CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN THAILAND If you lived in a country in Southeast Asia, would you celebrate Christmas, and if so, would the traditions be different than those in the United States? In THAILAND, ninety-nine percent of people follow Buddhism, so Christmas is not celebrated among the general population. There are small churches in some of the larger... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-07-2005

SOUTHEAST ASIA: CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN VIETNAM If you lived in a country in Southeast Asia, would you celebrate Christmas, and if so, would the traditions be different than those in the United States? In VIETNAM, most people are Buddhists or believe in the Chinese philosophies of Taoism and Confucianism. They do not celebrate Christmas. But, if you were a Christia... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-07-2005

AFRICAN AMERICAN: CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN KENYA In Africa, the celebration of Christmas is not widespread because most of the people in the African countries are not Christians. Most African Christians follow Western traditions, but Africans sing carols and hymns in their own languages. In KENYA, family members travel great distances to be together at Christmas, so ... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-07-2005

AFRICAN AMERICAN: CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN NIGERIA In Africa, the celebration of Christmas is not widespread because most of the people in the African countries are not Christians. Most African Christians follow Western traditions, but Africans sing carols and hymns in their own languages. If you lived in NIGERIA, you and your family would all go back to your parents’ ... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-07-2005

EASTERN EUROPE: CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN RUSSIA If you lived in Eastern Europe, would you celebrate Christmas differently than you do here in the United States? The answer is yes, but each Eastern European country’s traditions are slightly different. Did you know that RUSSIA actually has two Christmases? One is celebrated based on the Current calendar - December 25, ... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-07-2005

EASTERN EUROPE: CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN UKRAINE If you lived in Eastern Europe, would you celebrate Christmas differently than you do here in the United States? The answer is yes, but each Eastern European country’s traditions are slightly different. The birth of Christ is celebrated in UKRAINE with a rich blend of Eastern Orthodox and age-old peasant customs. Numerou... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-07-2005

EASTERN EUROPE: CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS KAZAKHSTAN If you lived in Eastern Europe, would you celebrate Christmas differently than you do here in the United States? The answer is yes, but each Eastern European country’s traditions are slightly different. KAZAKHSTAN is a primarily Muslim country, but Russian Orthodox Christians constitute a large minority of about 40 perce... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-07-2005

EASTERN EUROPE: CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN ROMANIA If you lived in Eastern Europe, would you celebrate Christmas differently than you do here in the United States? The answer is yes, but each Eastern European country’s traditions are slightly different. In ROMANIA, Christmas is celebrated on December 25th and it is a white Christmas with snow. Imagine living in Romania and... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-07-2005

EASTERN EUROPE: CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN POLAND If you lived in Eastern Europe, would you celebrate Christmas differently than you do here in the United States? The answer is yes, but each Eastern European country’s traditions are slightly different. Although Christmas in POLAND is officially known as “Bozz Narodzenie”, it is most often referred to as “Gwiazdka”, whic... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-07-2005

EASTERN EUROPE: CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN BULGARIA If you lived in Eastern Europe, would you celebrate Christmas differently than you do here in the United States? The answer is yes, but each Eastern European country’s traditions are slightly different. Christmas is a very important holy day in BULGARIA. It is also very family-centered. Santa Claus is the gift-giver and... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-07-2005

LATIN AMERICAN: CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN MEXICO Christmas is an important time in MEXICO, where ninety five percent of the people are Roman Catholic. During the nine nights before Christmas, pageants are held that tell the story of Mary and Joseph’s search for an inn where Jesus could be born. Adults and children dress in biblical costumes and carry candles and statues of... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-07-2005

LATIN AMERICAN: CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN COLOMBIA Throughout South America Christmas is celebrated in a deeply religious way. The main focus of the season throughout the continent is the presepio ("the manger"). Often a whole room is devoted to the presepio display, complete with landscape and tiny figures made to scale. Though the central feature is the manger at Bethlehem, elabora... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-07-2005

LATIN AMERICAN: CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN CHILE Throughout South America, Christmas is celebrated in a deeply religious way. The main focus of the season throughout the continent is the presepio ("the manger"). Often a whole room is devoted to the presepio display, complete with landscape and tiny figures made to scale. Though the central feature is the manger at Bethlehem, elabor... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-07-2005

LATIN AMERICAN: CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN PERU Throughout South America Christmas is celebrated in a deeply religious way. The main focus of the season throughout the continent is the presepio ("the manger"). Often a whole room is devoted to the presepio display, complete with landscape and tiny figures made to scale. Though the central feature is the manger at Bethlehem, elabora... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-07-2005

LATIN AMERICAN: CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN ECUADOR Throughout South America Christmas is celebrated in a deeply religious way. The main focus of the season throughout the continent is the presepio ("the manger"). Often a whole room is devoted to the presepio display, complete with landscape and tiny figures made to scale. Though the central feature is the manger at Bethlehem, elabora... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-07-2005

KOREA: CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS South Korea is now about 30 percent Christian even though the official religion of the country is Buddhism. If you were living in Korea, you would see stores with Christmas decorations and you might hear Christmas music on the radio and television a couple days before Christmas and on Christmas Day. You might even see Christmas tree... Read The Complete Story Posted By: cheriedas@aol.com Date Posted: 02-06-2005

SOUTHEAST ASIA: CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN CAMBODIA If you lived in a country in Southeast Asia, would you celebrate Christmas, and if so, would the traditions be different than those in the United States? Christmas is not a public holiday in CAMBODIA, where most people are not Christians. The village and city streets are busy as usual with interweaving cycles, motor bik... Read The Complete Story Posted By: cheriedas@aol.com Date Posted: 02-06-2005

CHINA: CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN CHINA How would you celebrate Christmas if you lived in China? First, you would make beautiful paper lanterns to decorate your house. Next, you would decorate what the Chinese call a “Tree of Light”, an artificial Christmas tree adorned with paper chains, paper flowers, and paper lanterns. You would hang up your muslin stocking so th... Read The Complete Story Posted By: Cheriedas@aol.com Date Posted: 02-06-2005

INDIA: CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN INDIA AND BANGLADESH Although India is mostly a Hindu and Moslem country, there are Christians living there, and Christmas Day is a national holiday enjoyed by people irrespective of their religion. If you lived in the plains of India, you and your family might decorate mango or banana trees and decorate your home with mango leaves. If you live... Read The Complete Story Posted By: cheriedas@aol.com Date Posted: 02-06-2005

AFRICAN AMERICAN: CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN ETHIOPIA In Africa, the celebration of Christmas is not widespread because most of the people in the African countries are not Christians. Most African Christians follow Western traditions, but Africans sing carols and hymns in their own languages. In ETHIOPIA, members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church hold religious services on... Read The Complete Story Posted By: cheriedas@aol.com Date Posted: 02-06-2005

LATIN AMERICAN: HAPPY ANNIVERSARY For 10 years, Hands Around The World, Latin American Culture Camp has been a very magical experience. One of my most moving memories is when I overheard a child just arriving at camp say to her mother “Look Mom, kids who look like me!” That feeling of connection and self-pride is a big part of what camp is all about. Hands Around... Read The Complete Story Posted By: Cheriedas!aol.com Date Posted: 02-16-2004

SOUTHEAST ASIA: WHAT HAPPENED TO MY TOOTH? “Look! Look! My tooth fell out! My tooth fell out! But what happens to it next? Here in the UNITED STATES, you would put your tooth under your pillow and while you were fast asleep, the Tooth Fairy would come into your room, take your tooth, and leave some money in its place. But as a child living in CAMBODIA or V... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-03-2004

AFRICAN AMERICAN: WHAT HAPPENED TO MY TOOTH? “Look! Look! My tooth fell out! My tooth fell out! But what happens to it next? Here in the UNITED STATES, you would put your tooth under your pillow and while you were fast asleep, the Tooth Fairy would come into your room, take your tooth, and leave some money in its place. Living in CAMEROON, you would thro... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-03-2004

CHINA: WHAT HAPPENED TO MY TOOTH? “Look! Look! My tooth fell out! My tooth fell out! But what happens to it next? Here in the UNITED STATES, you would put your tooth under your pillow and while you were fast asleep, the Tooth Fairy would come into your room, take your tooth, and leave some money in its place. Children who live in CHINA would t... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-03-2004

EASTERN EUROPE: WHAT HAPPENED TO MY TOOTH? “Look! Look! My tooth fell out! My tooth fell out! But what happens to it next? Here in the UNITED STATES, you would put your tooth under your pillow and while you were fast asleep, the Tooth Fairy would come into your room, take your tooth, and leave some money in its place. In KAZAKHSTAN you would drop you... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-03-2004

INDIA: WHAT HAPPENED TO MY TOOTH? “Look! Look! My tooth fell out! My tooth fell out! But what happens to it next? Here in the UNITED STATES, you would put your tooth under your pillow and while you were fast asleep, the Tooth Fairy would come into your room, take your tooth, and leave some money in its place. In BANGLADESH, you would throw you... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-03-2004

KOREA: WHAT HAPPENED TO MY TOOTH? “Look! Look! My tooth fell out! My tooth fell out! But what happens to it next? Here in the UNITED STATES, you would put your tooth under your pillow and while you were fast asleep, the Tooth Fairy would come into your room, take your tooth, and leave some money in its place. If you lived in KOREA, you would... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-03-2004

LATIN AMERICAN: WHAT HAPPENED TO MY TOOTH? “Look! Look! My tooth fell out! My tooth fell out! But what happens to it next? Here in the UNITED STATES, you would put your tooth under your pillow and while you were fast asleep, the Tooth Fairy would come into your room, take your tooth, and leave some money in its place. If you lived in MEXICO, GUATEMALA ... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-03-2004

PHILIPPINES: WHAT HAPPENED TO MY TOOTH? “Look! Look! My tooth fell out! My tooth fell out! But what happens to it next? Here in the UNITED STATES, you would put your tooth under your pillow and while you were fast asleep, the Tooth Fairy would come into your room, take your tooth, and leave some money in its place. In the PHILIPPINES, you would hide... Read The Complete Story Posted By: agwalton@aol.com Date Posted: 02-03-2004