How is Christmas celebrated in Portugal? What about Ireland, or Brazil?

First- and second-grade students in the Leading to Reading enrichment/extension program at Kingsley School recently spent about five weeks researching and creating Christmas Around the World brochures.

“Students worked in pairs to research a specific country’s Christmas customs and traditions,” said Kingsley LRC Director Jamie McPherrin.

Students’ brochures included the country’s flag, as well as information about such topics as the weather at Christmastime, how Merry Christmas is said, how they refer to Santa Claus, what decorations are used, and what traditionally is eaten during the holidays. A large map in the center of the display outside the LRC includes the words for Merry Christmas for each country researched.

Ethan Walz and his partner learned that in Ireland, the weather at Christmastime is “cool and comfortable.”

“They have very big decorations. They also eat pudding, and I think that most of us (here) have cookies. All of us have our own traditions,” he said.

Liana O’Rourke and her partner researched Christmas in China, and they enjoyed learning how Merry Christmas is said in that language. They also refer to Santa Claus as “old man,” she said.

Belle Sarussi-Barys and her partner learned that in England, Merry Christmas is said exactly the same way as it is here in the United States, and Matthew Melone and his partner learned that in Portugal, Christmas is celebrated on January 6.

“I’m so proud of the work they did,” McPherrin said.