St. Lucia's day-last day of traveling the world

 Today was the last travel day before we celebrate with our Polar Express Party. We traveled to Sweden. We learned that:

1. The biggest celebration in Sweden is St. Lucia's Day which is on 12/13.

2. This is also the Winter Solstice which is the shortest day of the year

3. Girls dress in white dresses with a red sash and a crown of candles

4. Visit hospitals and sing songs as well as hand out ginger snap biscuits

5. St Lucy brings presents and they leave out a sandwich for her, and a donkey carries the gifts.

We made a crown of candles to remember our time.

We went to China today to celebrate the new year, spring festival and lantern festival! We learned about:

 1. They celebrate the spring festival. This day changes every year because it follows the lunar calendar. 

2. Chinese new year starts a new animal zodiac year. 2022 is the year of the Tiger

3. The celebration lasts for 15 days till Lantern festival.

4. Most decorations are in red\

We made a lantern to remember our time!

Happy Kwanzaa!

 We traveled to Africa today-to celebrate Kwanzaa. We learned that:

1. Kwanzaa is a Swahili word which means "first fruits of the harvest".  

2. It is celebrated from December 26th through January 1 each year.  

3. This holiday was started so African American people could learn about their African history, customs and traditions.

4. The colors represent: Red-struggles, Green-for the future and hope, and black-for the people

We made a Kwanzaa bracelet to represent the 3 colors.