Christmas in Italy

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Archive : 2002 : December : 9

Christmas in Italy
By Ms

I compare the holiday in Italy to the holiday in the U.S. In Italy they begin the holiday season with a cannon being fired from a castle and here one thing that happens is the tree being lit in Rockefeller Center. We use
Christmas trees and they use ceppos with is a tripod like object which holds gifts and angel and a nativity scene. The children write a letter to their father and place it under his napkin to be read aloud at the Christmas meal. We have Santa Claus who brings gifts and they believe Old Befana brings their gifts. We create stars because the star of Bethlehem is what woke Befana from

her sleep. Try to read the Legend of Old Befana by Tomie dePaola and you will get an idea of what she stands for.
The stars are made from popsicle sticks because I present this lesson to 9 kinder classes and I need a quick craft to go with the lesson. Make an x with them and then one across its middle. I have them color both sides of the sticks with markers and then decorate on of those sides with glitter to use as an ornament.
Best of luck!