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She spoke fluent French to rapt students and
after a verse of Jingle Bells in English, taught them the chorus
in French.
Students learned the importance of the Nativity
scene in France. The Baby Jesus is not placed in the creche until
Christmas Eve and the three kings are carefully placed a distance
from the creche and each day are moved closer and closer until
they finally are placed in the scene on the first Sunday after
New Year's Day.
In France, the Christmas tree is known as Le
Sapin and stockings are not placed on the fireplace mantle. Children
giggled as they learned that French children place their shoes
right next to Le Sapin. Santa recognizes the shoes and places
the appropriate presents for children near their shoes. Therefore,
no gift tags are required! Children know which presents are theirs
because they are in or next to their shoes! Students also thought
it fun to learn that if children were naughty, Father Christmas
(Santa Claus) leaves a rock in their shoe!
As some students explained the type of meals
they enjoy eating on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, they learned
that French children enjoy a big dinner on Christmas Eve, which
includes extended family members such as their grandparents, aunts,
uncles and cousins as guests at the meal. This is the last time
of the year for family members to come together. On Christmas
Day, dinner always begins with snails and the meal always includes
some type of fish.
Mrs. Sharp brought baguettes and Nutella (a
French chocolate paste) and French King Cake, which she baked
herself, for students to sample. She wanted them to have the true
feeling of being in a French home for the Christmas holidays.
Students were very excited about the King Cake when they learned
that one piece contained a special ceramic nugget which would
determine the family king and queen of the holiday party. If a
female finds the nugget, then she becomes the queen and chooses
her king, and if a male finds the nugget, he becomes the king
and chooses his queen. In Mrs. Quigley's class, Casey Dinh was
the lucky student to receive the ceramic nugget. She became the
holiday queen of the classroom and chose Tristan Rudell as the
holiday king.
All in all, it was a most fascinating day in
France in Mrs. Quigley's classroom. Au Revoir!
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