Name____________________________________________________________Date___________

Christmas Around the World Research

Choose a country other than your own. Use books, encyclopedias, the Internet, and other
resources to learn about Christmas tradi\ons in that country. Use the chart below to help
you organize your informa\on. Once you have completed your research, you will use what
you have learned to compose your own version of the popular song, The Twelve Days of
Christmas based on your country.

Country Name

What is Christmas called?

How do they say, Merry
Christmas, or what gree\ng
do they use?
Is there a Santa gure? If so,
what is his or her name? If
not, who if anyone delivers
gims?
Are there any magical beings
associated with Christmas?
(i.e. elves)

Are there any animals
associated with the Christmas
holiday?

Are there any people
associated with the Christmas
holiday?

2013 More Than a Worksheet 4

What are typical Christmas

decora\ons?

What are typical Christmas

foods? Drinks? Desserts?

Describe a unique tradi\on.

What are gims placed in?

(Stockings? Shoes?)

Use the following blanks to record at least 5 more symbols or

pieces of informa\on about Christmas in your chosen country.






Resources--Record the books, websites, and other resources where you found your
informa\on. Use another page if you need it.

2013 More Than a Worksheet 5

List of Research Materials

Here are some great books you may seek out for research:
*Encyclopedia of Christmas and New Years Celebra9ons by Tanya Gulevich
*Bathroom Book of Christmas Trivia by Lisa Wojna
Christmas Cra<s from Around the World by Judy Ann Sadler
Christmas Tradi9ons Around the World by Ann Ingalls
Christmas Around the World by Emily Kelley
Christmas Around the World by Mary D. Lankford
The Magic of Christmas by Linda Alchin
Joy to the World! Christmas Stories from Around the World by Saviour PiroRa and
Sheila Moxley
Christmas Customs Around the World by Herbert H. Wernecke
Children Around the World Celebrate Christmas by Chris\ne Harder Tangvald, Susan T.
Osborn, and Jodi McCallum
Christmas Recipes from Around the World by Barbour Publishing
*my personal favorites!

Here are some helpful, student-friendly websites:
Santas Net hRp://www.santas.net/aroundtheworld.htm
The North Pole hRp://www.the-north-pole.com/around/
Why Christmas hRp://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/
The Holiday Spot hRp://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/worldxmas/
Travel Channel (a slideshow of excellent pictures with cap\ons
hRp://www.travelchannel.com/interests/holidays/photos/christmas-around-the-world
Santa Claus.com hRp://www.santaclaus.com/christmas-around-the-world.php

Other resources:
Encyclopedias (hard bound and online)
Specic books about individual countries (World Book Encyclopedias has a whole
series of books about Christmas in individual countries)
Personal interview with family and friends
Videos
Santa Television (Videos that capture Christmas tradi\ons in other countries, most
are wordless and set to music, with excellent high quality images)
hRp://www.santatelevision.com/christmas/

2013 More Than a Worksheet 6

The Twelve Days of Christmas

(Tradi\onal, many authors)



On the rst day of Christmas,

my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the third day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the mh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the twelmh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!
2013 More Than a Worksheet 7

Here is an example I created for this project:

The 12 Days of Christmas in the US

12 Wreaths a hanging
11 Stockings dangling
10 Turkeys roas\ng
9 Bells a-jingling
8 Elves a-wrapping
7 Reindeer prancing
6 Kids a-caroling
5 Wrapped gims
4 Manger scenes
3 Mistletoes
2 Candy canes
and Santa Claus at the North Pole

If you search online, there are several other examples that people have wriRen,
not for this project, but s\ll interes\ng to read. You can nd the Australian version
here:
hRp://alldownunder.com/australian-music-songs/twelve-days-of-christmas.htm

Here is a Hawaiian version:
hRp://www.huapala.org/ChristReligious/Twelve_Days_of_Christmas.html

Addi\onally, because the original is in the public domain, you can nd many
recordings online if you want to play it for your class.

2013 More Than a Worksheet 8

Name________________________________________________________Date_______________

Brainstorm Chart

Use the chart below to help you brainstorm ideas for your song. Think of adjec\ves,
nouns, and ing verbs that pertain to your countrys Christmas tradi\ons.

AdjecWves

Nouns

-ing Verbs

2013 More Than a Worksheet 9

Name_____________________________________________________________Date______________

12 Days of Christmas Template

Before wri\ng your own song, be sure to read the original lyrics to The Twelve Days of
Christmas. Then, use this template to help you write your song in the same style. Your lyrics,
however, should be based on the country you researched.

The Twelve Days of _____________________________________________________
(name of Christmas in the country you researched)

Noun

-ing verb

Adjec\ve

Noun

12
11
10
9
8
7
6

5
4
3
2
Final Line 6-8 syllables. Be sure to include one of the most
important symbols.
and
2013 More Than a Worksheet 10

The Twelve Days of

____________________________

(a ___________________________version by ________________________)

On the twelmh day of _______________________, my true love gave to me

12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
and

2013 More Than a Worksheet 11

Name_____________________________________________________________Date______________

12 Days of Christmas Project Rubric

This is how you will be graded for your 12 Days of Christmas project.
0 points
Inadequate

1 point
Not Quite
There

2 points
On the Right
Track

3 points
Outstanding

Research template is
complete. Most quesWons
are answered, and it is clear
that student spent Wme
nding quality informaWon.
Research is thorough and
accurate. Few if any mistakes
and answers are more than
just one word responses.
Sources are cited and
mulWple quality sources are
used.
Brainstorming page is
complete and shows
thoughbul eort.
There are 12 complete lines
for the song.
Song is informaWve and
teaches about the country.
Song is creaWve and original.
It is enWrely the students
own work.
Student demonstrates best
eort.
Final copy is neat and
polished. There are no
grammar and spelling
mistakes. Neat handwriWng is
used.
Student presents with
enthusiasm, demonstraWng
knowledge and interest in
the topic.
2013 More Than a Worksheet 12