Kids’ Craic: Happy Christmas!
Fun Facts: Christmas is celebrated in Ireland very similarly to how it is in the United States, with a few exceptions:
Christmas Trivia:
Q: In the song “Frosty the Snowman”, what made Frosty come to life?
A: An old silk hat
Q: What type of red bird is featured on many Christmas cards?
A: Cardinal
Q: How many reindeer are featured in the poem “T’was the Night Before Christmas?”
A: Eight (no Rudolph!)
Q: According to legend, what holiday treat is shaped to resemble a shepherd’s staff, as a way to remind us of the shepherds who visited baby Jesus?
A: Candy Canes
Q: What do many families (in America and in Ireland) leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve?
A: Milk and cookies….and sometimes, carrots for Santa’s reindeer! *In the past, it was common for Irish families to leave Santa a Guinness and a mince pie!
Gab in Gaelic: Nollaig Shona Duit! (pron. NO-lihg HO-nuh gwich), which means “Happy Christmas!”
Kitchen Craic: Make a simple Rudolph by using the following:
Literature Corner: An Irish Night Before Christmas, written by Sarah Kirwan Blazek, illustrated by James Rice. A narrative poem with colorful, full-page illustrations. The book features the customs and language of the Irish.
*Dottie taught kindergarten and second grade for thirty-two years, and now handles promotions and marketing for Yorktown Service Plaza in Parma Heights. She is a baker extraordinaire, and also enjoys reading, walking, and being a lifelong learner.
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