TCMS E-NEWS CHRISTMAS EDITION VOLUME 1FOOD CHRISTMAS AROUND

THE WORLD

Candy CanesCandy canes are

delicious treats we all eat around Christmas time. But the truth is we don’t know the actual history of them. The candy canes were originally meant to be shaped like a J for Jesus’s birthday. The red peppermint stripes are to be used as the blood of Jesus. The white sugar part is supposed to resemble the purity of Jesus. The solid texture on the candy cane is supposed to resemble the solid rock for the church foundation. Today candy

Christmas in Germany Christmas trees were first used in Germany during the late Middle Ages. If there are young children in the house, the trees are usually secretly decorated by the mother of the family. The Christmas tree was traditionally brought into the house on Christmas Eve. In some parts of Germany, during the evening, the family would read the Bible and sing Christmas songs such as O Tannenbaum, Ihr Kinderlein Kommet and Stille Nacht Silent Night. Sometimes wooden frames, covered with colored plastic sheets and with electric candles inside, are put in windows to make the house look pretty from the outside. Christmas Eve is the main day when Germans exchange presents with their families.

By: Thomas Sapp

canes can be bought in many different shapes, sizes, and even flavors. Now that you truly know the meaning of the candy cane maybe it will interest you a little more than tasting it.

source:http://www.candyhistory.net/

candy-origin/candy-cane-history/

- Kadi StokesNanaimo bars recipe:Bottom layer- 2 cups graham crumbs 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut1 cup chopped walnuts½ cup of sugar¼ cup +2 tablespoons cocoa powder1 egg⅔ cup of melted butterCustard layer:3 tablespoons custard powder ¼ cup unsalted butter½ teaspoon vanilla2 cups of powdered sugarTop layer:5 oz semi-sweet chocolate or chocolate chips1 tablespoon of butterInstructions-

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees line 9x9 pan with foil

2. Mix your ingredients of bottom layer

Christmas in ItalyIn Italy, the children hang their stockings on the chimney for Befana to bring them presents. In northern Italy, three kings can bring them presents instead of Befana. On Christmas day, Babbo Natale’ will bring them small presents, but the most important present is giving on Epiphany.

By: Mollie Skipworth

bake 11 min cool completely3. Mix custard layer spread on bottom

layer and refrigerate4. Spread top layer on custard and

refrigerate for 5 min5. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight

and cut into bars By: Natalie Eells

Alexis Taylor- Chocolate Christmas Tree Cupcake~ 2 cups of all-purpose flour~¾ unsweetened cocoa powder~ 1 teaspoon of baking soda~ ¾ baking powder~½ salt~¾ unsalted butter, room temperature ~2 cups of sugar~3 large eggs~2 teaspoons vanilla~1 cup whole milk~1 cup green candy melts~1 cup pretzel sticks~2 cups shredded sweetened coconut flakes*Assorted sprinkles if chosen *Frosting*~¼ cup unsalted butter softened ~3 ounces cream cheese softened~1 teaspoon vanilla extract~2 cups powdered sugar *Instructions*Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a muffin pan with baking cups. Put the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix, set aside. In the stand mixer mix the eggs one time. Beat in vanilla, then mix in the flour mixture. This is a good sweet treat to have in front of the Christmas tree.

Christmas in MexicoBy, Madi Harrison

Christmas Eve is known as 'Noche Buena' and is a family day. People often take part in the final Posada and then in the evening have the main Christmas meal. Popular dishes for the main Christmas meal include Pozole (a thick soup made with hominy, chicken or pork and chilies with is topped with greens), roast turkey, roast pork, tamales, bacalao (salt cod), romeritos (a green vegetable that's cooked in a mole sauce with potatoes and shrimps) and there are normally salads served as side dishes such as Ensalada Nochebuena (Christmas Eve salad). For dessert bunuelos are very popular, they are fried pastries sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon or hot sugar syrup. Bunuelos come in two shapes flat and round/ball! To drink there might be Ponche (a warm Christmas punch made with fruit) and Rompope (a drink like an eggnog which often has rum added to it!).

Christmas in

Mexico Christmas in Mexico runs from

December 12 to January 6 with

one last related celebration on

February 2. From December

16th to Christmas eve,Children

perform ‘Posada’processions or

posadas. Posada is Spanish for Inn or

Lodging. There are nine Posadas. These

celebrate the part of the Christmas story

where Joseph and Mary looked for

somewhere to stay. For the Posadas, the

outside of houses is decorated with

evergreens, moss and paper lanterns.

By: Callie C.https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/mexico.shtml .

Christmas in Mexico:

Emily ThomasChristmas in Mexico is

very interesting compared to where we live. It begins on December 12th - December 16th. Posada is Spanish for Inn

or Lodging. There are nine Posadas in Mexico! Mexico celebrated Christmas as the Christmas story where Joseph and Mary looked for somewhere to stay. For the Posadas, the outside of houses is decorated with evergreens, moss and paper lanterns.

Haylee RustFrench Christmas CookiesIngredients-½ cup of butter, softened 1 cup of packed brown sugar 1 cup of 2% milk 2 ¾ cups of graham cracker crumbs 2 cups of finely California Walnuts Topping- ½ cup milk chocolate chips, melted Instructions- 1-Preheat oven to 375°. In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in milk. Gradually beat cracker crumbs into creamed mixture. Stir in walnuts and 2 cups of chocolate chips.2- Fill 2-in. foil baking cup liners three-fourths full. Place 1 in. apart in 15x10x1-in. baking pans. Bake 10-12 minutes or until set. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

The First Christmas

The first Christmas was when Jesus was born in a manger he was born on Christmas day see they did not have Christmas trees when he was born because not a little while later he created the heavens and the earth and everything else they did not even have presents for their kids or a tree so they can get something.

BY Shawn Wagoner

3- Drizzle with melted chocolate; let stand until set. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Tamales

Tamales is a type of Mexican food that is traditionally made on Thanksgiving or Christmas. People also make them throughout the year but they are more commonly made on these holidays. The steps to making this may seem simple but in reality you need a lot of time and patience.

Ingredients: -Maseca -Salt-Cumin -Baking powder-Lard-Chicken broth ( broth leftover from cooking the chicken for the filling)-Corn Husks-Filling of your preference (typically pork or chicken in green or red sauce)

Materials: -Large bowl-Steamer-Large spoon -Table spoon

Christmas in Greenland Families in Greenland visit each other and have dinner on Christmas eve. Traditional presents are model sleds, a pair of polished walrus tusk and sealskin mitts. Another traditional and popular decoration is to put an illuminated star in windows. They also put up a large tree on a hill to light up the village and to bring Christmas cheer. By Emma Nichols

-Baking pan

Directions:

1) You need to have your filling prepared beforehand, you can choose whatever filling you'd like. If you don't cook the chicken filling, you can buy chicken broth from the store.

2) Soak your corn husks in warm water so that they are easy to use

3) First you have to make your masa by mixing 2 cups of maseca, ⅔ cups of melted lard , 1 teaspoon of baking powder, ½ reaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of cumin, and 1-½ cups of chicken broth. Make sure it is mixed well, you get better consistency if you mix by hand. Make it to where it's not too sticky but not too dry.

4) Now take a corn husk and spread an even layer of the masa with the tablespoon, not too thin but not too thick.

5) With a large spoon your filling in the middle but don't put it too close to the edges

6) Now fold you tamale close, first roll over the sides towards the middle, pinch the bottom closed, and fold the top part down.

7) Rip a small piece of a corn husk and wrap it around the tamale to make sure it stays closed when being cooked

8) As you make the other tamales place the already made ones on a baking pan

9) Cook in a steamer in medium heat for 1- 1 ½ hours

10) After the given time, if the tamale comes off nice and cleanly off the corn husks they are ready!

Can be served with rice, homemade salsa, or in pozole. Different parts of mexico have different ways of eating tamales but my family likes to eat them topped with sour cream, chopped up lettuce, and slsa.

- Joana Flores

Madi Mckinney SOFT CHRISTMAS COOKIES Ingredients-

- Flour- Baking powder- Salt- Margarine - White sugar- 2 eggs- Vanilla extract

Step 1- Mix flour, baking powder, and salt together. Crack the eggs and stir the vanilla. Slowly blend in the ingredients until absorbed. Cover dough and wait for 2 hours. Step 2- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. On a clean surface, roll out small portions of cookie dough. Cut out shapes using cookie cutters.

Christmas in Russia by Philip MoseleyIn Russia, the Russians celebrate Christmas on January 7th instead of Dec 25. The Russians use a different calendar. But the Russians also celebrate advent.

Step 3- Bake 6 to 8 minutes in the oven. Remove from cookie sheet to cool down. Source- https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/10110/soft-christmas-cookies/?internalSource=streams&referringId=841&referringContentType=Recipe%20Hub&clickId=st_trending_s

Christmas in America!

Natalie Shemwell As most people know Christmas is a very special and important holiday to most. What I believe Christmas is all about is it's not about the presents, the tree, or how many chocolate pies you make for the family! Not that I don’t love any of those or am against it but i like to look at the big picture. You may ask what the big picture is? I am talking about the birth of Jesus Christ! You know the little baby boy that was born in a stable and laid in a manger because there was no room for them in any of the inns. This is a very special story to me and I believe this is what Christmas is all about! Some people in America believe that Christmas is all about giving and the presents, I also think it is important to give. The most played Christmas song in America is-All I Want For Christmas Is You By: Mariah Carey! I absolutely love this song, it is one of my favorites! Most people at Christmas in America like to be with their families all day! Personally, we all have brunch together and spend the whole day together.

sources:goodhousekeeping.com

Christmas tradition, in the USA!

By: Heavenly Coiner

Christmas. celebrated by most Christians on December 25, Americans celebrate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Americans, like many of the world’s peoples, have developed their own Christmas traditions and these have changed over time.

Meals for christmas:Traditional Christmas dinner features turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce and veggies. Many people around america love the traditional meals because the food gives meaning to the holiday like family get togethers or maybe even a day to enjoy what means the most, family. The turkey most people, 87% believe that the turkey makes the holiday special as if

christmas would not be the same without the traditional roast turkey. It also goes with the rest of the traditional meal, everything goes together perfectly.

The meaning of christmas:What is the real meaning of Christmas? Is it the gifts under the tree, the lights in the windows, the cards in the mail, turkey dinners with family and friends, snow in the yard, or even the stockings hanging in the living room? Well if you think of it, if all these things that you may think “this is what Christmas is about” , then you're wrong. What started it all, or what made Christmas begin, started with a wonderful person named Jesus. Who is jesus you ask? Well he was born in bethlehem and he was a religious leader who taught Christians to believe in God the Father. Well anyways he was born on Christmas and he was what started it all the presents the stockings and even the familys.

The Christmas tree:The Christmas tree has traditionally been used to celebrate winter festivals for thousands of years. Christians use it as a sign of everlasting life with God. Christmas trees bring out the life of the special holiday Christmas. Many people around America use Christmas

weather they are fake christmas trees or real. Christmas trees are used as decoration to put your presents under the tree or to even hang ornaments on.according to research, “The Paradise tree (a fir tree decorated with apples) represented the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. The Christmas Light, a small, pyramid-like frame, usually decorated with glass balls, tinsel and a candle on top, was a symbol of the birth of Christ as the Light of the world. Decorations in america:Other symbols of Christmas, which are usually included in Christmas decorations, include: bells, angels, candles, candy canes, and stockings. Bells are connected with Christmas because of the ringing of church bells on Christmas morning. The stackings are used to be filled with candy so on Christmas morning you can gobble the candy all up as a delight for christmas. Angels are used for the guardian angel to bring out the meaning of Christmas which is God. THE END! Websites used:https://blogs.transparent.com/english/christmas-decorations-in-america/https://

www.whychristmas.com/customs/trees.shtmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_din

Christmas in Jamaica By: Nadia carpenter

In Jamaica, Christmas, the day Jesus was born is celebrated. Jamaica is mostly a Christian island. Jamaicans look forward to going to church on Sunday or Saturday following Christmas Day. In Jamaica, the main event in Christmas happens on Christmas Eve~the Grand Market.

Christmas in IndiaDenny Banton

One of the largest Indian Christian Communities in a city is in Mumbai. A lot of the Christians in Mumbai (previously known as Bombay) are Roman Catholics. In India's smallest state, Goa which is on the west of India, about 26% of people are Christians. Many of the Christians in Mumbai came from or have roots in Goa. The states of Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram (all on the very east of India) have high populations of Christians as well.

Instead of having traditional Christmas trees a banana or mango tree is decorated (or whatever tree

people can find to decorate!). Sometimes people use mango leaves to decorate their homes.but in In Southern India, Christians often put small oil burning clay lamps on the flat roofs of their homes to show their neighbors that Jesus is the light of the world. On Christmas Eve, Christians in Goa hang out giant paper lanterns, in the shape of stars, between the houses so that the stars float above you as you walk down the road. The main Christmas meal is also eaten on Christmas Eve and is also 'western' with roast turkey or chicken being popular. After the meal, Christians head to Church for a Midnight mass service. After the service the church bells ring to announce that Christmas Day has arrived. Many Christians in Goa also celebrate Epiphany and remember the Wise Men visiting Jesus.

China's Christmas Kylen Watkins

In China, only about one percent of people are Christians, so most people only know a few

things about Christmas. Because of this, Christmas is only often celebrated in major cities. In these big cities, there are Christmas trees, lights and other decorations on the streets and in department stores. Santa Claus is called “Shen Dan Lao Ren” and has grottos in shops like in Europe and America. The postmen might dress up as Santa when delivering letters before Christmas.

Christmas In Greece

Greece has its own version of Santa Claus, they call him Saint Vasilis, who comes to their home on Christmas Eve to deliver

a few small gifts to the children. The Greek twelve days of Christmas begin at Christmas and continues until January 6th, which is known as the Feast of Epiphany.

By: Devin Schutt

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS CHRISTMAS SONGS

The origin of the Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree has been a tradition for a very long time. Most everybody has had a Christmas with a Christmas tree. But where did it come from, who started it? Today I will be answering this for you.

In about the 1600s Christians in Germany started to put up decorative trees around the holidays. And they would even put up decorative wood pyramids to celebrate. They put up candles on the trees because the wood was scarce to make ornaments.

Now that you know how it came to be it may help you appreciate it more for how old it is and how it came to be.

Jingle BellsJingle bells, jingle bells jingle all the

wa- oh hi I didn’t see you there…. Well since your here I might as well tell you about the history of the song Jingle Bells since it’s already stuck in my head!

Did you know that Jingle Bells was originally made for Thanksgiving? No, oh well now you do! First published in 1857 it was written by James Lord Pierpont to be sung on Thanksgiving- not Christmas. Medford Mass where sleigh races were popular in the 1800s, claims itself as the birthplace of the song.

-Abby Case

By: George Cumbee

Christmas Christmas is celebrated to remember the birth of Jesus Christ. The name “Christmas” comes from the mass of Christ but now Christmas is celebrated by people that are Christan and are not. Christmas is also a time to spend time with the people you don’t get to see that often and a time where you get to open presents. By: Scarlett.Lancaster

LINDA WOOD Do you have a special Christmas song? No, well maybe you just have one stuck in your head, I sure do! Away in a Manger is stuck in my head it doesn’t want to come out. Away in a Manger is about baby Jesus and when he was born and laying on hay. Some lyrics are “The little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head The stars in the sky look down where He lay the little Lord Jesus Asleep on the hay”. When Jesus was born Mary was giving birth and they had nowhere to keep him due to all the stalls full. There were too many people there that day but he had to go somewhere, so they put him on some hay. “ Poor baby had to sleep on hay when he was born. To this day we celebrate his birthday each year on Christmas

My Family’s Christmas Tradition

Every year on December 24th me and all my family ( from my dad sides ) We go to one of my uncle’s house and stay there for a while until we are tired. Between all of us except the kids, we do a secret Santa. Mostly every year we have

something different. Sometimes everyone has to bring something to help have enough food. After we ate we just hang out with each other and have fun. Half the time it’s too cold to be outside but some of the parents still stay outside. They always make a fire to stay warm. Most of the time we left at around 3 in the morning. This is my Family’s Tradition, :)-Adamary Resendiz -Lara

Why Christmas is celebrated on December

25th

Gavin Morris Christmas is a holiday

to remember the birth of Jesus who is the son of God The name 'Christmas' comes from the Mass of Christ (or Jesus)

Mass service (which is sometimes called Communion or Eucharist) is were Christans gather and

remember that Jesus died for us and came back to life.

Christmas is now celebrated by people around the world, whether they are Christians or not. It's a time when family and friends come together and remember the good things they have. People, and especially children, also like Christmas as it's a time when you give and receive presents.

https://www.whychristmas.com/custo ms/25th.shtml#:~:targetText=Christia ns%20believe%20that%20Jesus%20is,Mistletoe%20and%20even%20Christmas%20Carols!

The elf on the shelf is an awesome tradition that has been around for so long. The elf on the shelf can bring you candy like chocolate or other candies. You can not touch the elf on the shelf or it will not move or bring you stuff. The elf also makes lots of messes so watchout.By Connor A