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DECEMBER THEME
Celebrations!!
In Canada Christmas is a religious holiday many of us celebrate.
However, Canada's population reflects a rich cultural, ethnic and
linguistic makeup, found nowhere else in the world. A population that recognizes
many religious celebrations. December holidays include:
~ Christmas
~ Los Posados
~ Hanukkah
~ Kwanzaa
~ Diwali
~ Birth of Guru Gobind Singh Ji
~ Sharaf, to name a few
It's a time of family gatherings, renewing friendships, special meals, singing, worship.
Here are some suggestions for writing an article
(these ideas are appropriate for junior reporters as well):
1. Describe the winter celebration that your family participates in. What
does it mean to you and your family: a personal glimpse of how you celebrate
Hanukkah, Christmas or other festivities. Interview your parents about their
childhood memories; include a photo or two.
2. Investigate a religious celebration different than your own. Do research on
the web, talk with students in your school. What are the different elements of
the celebration? Why is the importance of the celebration to their faith?
Take out the video camera and interview people about their celebration.
3. Profile religious celebrations around the world. In France, Spain, Japan,
Mexico, Brazil, Afghanistan, Australia, Cuba.
4. Christmas Traditions: People in different parts of this country celebrate
Christmas in many different ways. For example, Mummering is still a tradition in
Newfoundland; but did you know that Ukranian Canadians also participate in
mummering. What traditions do your family or people in your province celebrate?
Canadians with an English Protestant heritage are likely to enjoy a feast of
turkey and plum pudding and focus their holiday celebrations on December 25. The
French Catholic population generally attend midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, then
hold a Christmas feast known as a Reveille.
5. In schools across Canada (especially in rural areas) the tradition has been
to celebrate Christmas in a big way.... concerts, christmas trees, etc.
With a diverse population of students in most schools with different ethnic and
cultural backgrounds, is this now appropriate? Do these students feel left out?
Should equal attention be given to other celebrations such as Ramadan, Hanukkah,
etc. Take out the video camera and interview students in your school.
Discuss how you feel out this issue.
6. Schools and young people throughout Canada realize that there are people in
our communities and around the world who are less fortunate and cannot afford to buy a Christmas
turkey or a present for their child. What are students in your school doing to
help these people. Collecting for the food bank, sponsoring a family in need,
collecting toys, etc.
7. Use photography, art, animation, web design, video, audio to portray
Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or other celebrations in your school, home
or community.
Here are some websites that may help you develop a story and have it published in the
December Edition of the SNN Student Magazine:
Holiday Festival.com
Holidays.net
www.the-north-pole.com
Christmas Around the World
Yesnet.yk.ca - Christmas Themes
Youth Online.com - resources on Ramadan
Jewish Outreach - Hanukkah
Kwanzaa resources
Canteach.ca - Sikhism resources
Canteach.ca - Shinto resources
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