CHRISTMAS IN THE WORKSHOP OF EUROPEAN ARTISTS

At our schools children tell Christmas stories through Nativity Plays, and they act Nativity scenes alive. Our students also sing Christmas Carols. S C O T T I S H S T U D E N T S I T A L I A N S T U D E N T S

All schools have celebrated Charity events. The products have made by our students or by their parents. The money raised has been given to non-profit voluntary organitations GREEK HANDCRAFTS SCOTTISH CHRISTMAS FAYRE SPANISH STUDENTS WITH THEIR PRIZES A FTER CHARITY LOTTERY

In some countries we sing Christmas Carols after dinner on Christmas’ Eve. Children knock at the front door of the houses and sing these traditional songs too. They recieve some coins after singing. GREEK STUDENTS SINGING CHRISTMAS CAROLS SPANISH INSTRUMENTS

In our countries we decorate our homes with Christmas trees or and with Nativity scenes. We also decorate the streets with ligths, stars and big illuminated Christmas trees. In Greece they decorate a ship with lights and ribbons. NATIVITY SCENES A SQUARE IN GREECE

On Christmas’ Eve or on Christmas’s Day all family have dinner together and eat special food and desserts: mushroom soup and poppy seed cake in Poland, roast turkey and melomakarona in Greece, roast lamb and nougat in Spain… There are also some traditions for example in Poland everybody sits down at the table when the first star appears and they leave an empty seat for a stranger. They also put hay under the tablecloth In Poland people take part in Christmas midnight mass This mass is called “Cock’s mass” in Spain. POPPY SEED CAKE SCOTTISH CHRISTMAS LUNCH AT SCHOOL T U R R Ó N ( N O U G A T ) TYPICAL ITALIAN CAKES

New Year’s Eve is also a special day. There are a lot of traditions on this day; specially with food or things that bring us good luck: pomegranates in Greece, grapes in Spain… In every country there are parties to celebrate the New year. In Greece they put a coin inside the cake called vasilopolita, who finds the coin will be lucky. In Spain they eat 12 grapes at midnight at the same time the clock’s bells. Who eats all grapes will be lucky next year. VASILOPOLITA

In Poland they exchange presents on Christmas’ Eve and in Greece on New Year’s Eve. Father Christmas bring presents to all family in other countries. In Spain the Three Wise Men bring toys to children on 6th January. THE THREE WISE MEN