[Mandy4President]

Hello all

I'm going to be part of a unit that is teaching about Christmas around the world to 40 second graders and kindergarteners. If anyone has any good information on the traditions in Guatemala for Christmas could you please post them? OR if you have any lesson plans on this OR a Powerpoint presentation could you email them to me (you'll get credit, not looking to copy)? I also have to write a content research paper so any websites would be great (unless my prof would let me cite "Quesita, from the forum". Would be hard to write that in APA style ) Thanks for any help! I appreciate it!!

[Guatemomtobe]

bumping up for you

[Mandy4President]

bumping...anyone? Quesita? You always know this stuff!!

[Pipercub]

I don't know. I thought this thread was going to be about who was planning on visiting their child in Guatemala over Christmas and I was going to say ME!!

But I'll bump this thread for you!

[LucyLuMyLuv]

LOTS of fireworks -- pretty much the whole month of December. And BEAUTIFUL Nativity scenes.

[nykrissy]

Sory Mandy, No help here but figured i would keep you up on top! Good Luck with all those kiddies!

[keithandkristy]

I taught first grade until I became a stay home mom a couple of years ago and we did Christmas Around the World every year. My last year teaching I taught a unit on Christmas in Guatemala. I can't seem to find my materials (I'll keep looking), but I did have this on my computer. I had copied and pasted it from a website (Christmas Joy!:

Christmas in Guatemala

Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo!

http://www.lhmint.org/christmas/trad...s/guatpic1.jpgIn Guatemala, the folklore relating to the Christmas celebration is very rich and full of details. One will find many families building manger scenes, representing the town of Bethlehem. These manger scenes sometimes are so large they occupy a whole room of the home. Mountains, rivers, desserts, lakes, and valleys, along with figures of the holy family, wise men, shepherds, and animals are created out of natural materials like moss, colored wooddust, sand, pebbles and tropical leaves called "pacaya."
http://www.lhmint.org/christmas/trad...s/guatpic2.jpg It is the tradition of the Guatemalan people to go to church on Christmas Eve and then visit family and friends. At the exact stroke of midnight, when everyone has returned home, much like the New Year's celebration in the U.S., the "Christmas Embrace" is shared and young people set off firecrackers. Traditionally, everyone eats a dinner of delicious "tamal," made of corn and rice, filled with turkey, prunes, raisins and a sauce made with local spices, which has been cooked for at least eight hours. Tamal is packed in banana leaves and tied with a dried weed. It is served with white bread and a slice of lemon, accompanied with a cup of hot chocolate or coffee. http://www.lhmint.org/christmas/trad...s/guatpic3.jpg The Christmas celebration in Guatemala continues well into the early morning hours of Christmas day. At midday on the 25th, people will again set off firecrackers and attend church. Children are very much an important part of this special celebration.

Anyway, I'll keep looking for my unit. I'm thinking I might have given it to a friend. Hope this helps a little.

[keithandkristy]

I wanted to add...I remember when I did this unit, I just typed in "Christmas traditions in Guatemala" on a google search and came up with lots of information.

I remember reading a childrens book about it and it's driving me crazy that I can't think of it?!?!?!? I'll have to call my friends later who still teach...they'll know.

[Mandy4President]

Thank you everyone!! Kristy the links are excellent! Thanks!!

[fochtru]

Mandy--
I'm pm'ing you with some stuff; and bumping for you.

[Mandy4President]

bumping for some more great information! Thanks everyone!!

[jose'smom]

I have a book about Los Posadas (the Inn-as in the search for a place to have baby Jesus) but I forgot where I got it. It tells about the Christmas traditions in both English and Spanish. I'll try to look and see where I found it. Basically, it talks about the 10 days preceeding Christmas and the children (representing Mary and Joseph) that travel the streets in the villages asking for a place to stay, just as Joseph and Mary, and they are turned away until the last night, where everyone joins in for celebration. I know they do this in Mexico too. It's a great thing to experience.
Amy

[widgit]

Originally Posted by jose'smom

I have a book about Los Posadas (the Inn-as in the search for a place to have baby Jesus) but I forgot where I got it. It tells about the Christmas traditions in both English and Spanish. I'll try to look and see where I found it. Basically, it talks about the 10 days preceeding Christmas and the children (representing Mary and Joseph) that travel the streets in the villages asking for a place to stay, just as Joseph and Mary, and they are turned away until the last night, where everyone joins in for celebration. I know they do this in Mexico too. It's a great thing to experience.
Amy

Las Posadas is a great tradition. I didn't know that it is celebrated in Guatemala too, but I knew that it is a common tradition in Mexico. Often Scriptures or a paraphrased portion of the Christmas story is read at each house before the people are turned away.