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*Across 1. In Mexico, the celebration begins nine days before Christmas with nightly processions called Las Posadas which are reenactments of Mary and Joseph’s search for a place to stay in __________. Children enjoy breaking piñatas at the parties which follow the parades. In Sweden, the Feast of St. Lucia is celebrated on December 13. Girls dress in long white dresses with red sashes and a crown of greens and candles, bringing light to the darkness of winter. They serve coffee and __________ buns and sing traditional Lucia songs. 5. In Germany, the children count down the days until Christmas by opening windows on an Advent __________. A nice example. 6. Winter Solstice is a celebration of the first day of Winter, the __________ day of the year. Bonfires and candles are lit to chase away the darkness. 9. One of the five __________ of the Muslim faith is to make a Hajj, or pilgrimage to Makkah at least once during their lifetime. Eid Al-Adha is the Feast of Sacrifice, celebrated at the end of the time of the Hajj. 11. Kwanzaa is a seven day African American celebration. There are Seven Principles of Kwanzaa. The first principle is Umoja, which means __________. 12. In Brazil, Santa Claus is called Papai Noel. He wears clothes made of __________ because it is summer there. 14. During Chanukah, Jewish children play with a __________, a top with four Hebrew letters: Nun, Gimel, Hay, and Shin. 15. Bûche de Noël is a traditional Christmas dessert in __________. It is shaped like the Yule log, which has been a traditional celebration of the Winter Solstice.

*Down 1. La __________ is an old woman who brings gifts to children in Italy on the eve of the feast of the Epiphany. 2. Chanukah celebrates the victory of the __________ and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. To commemorate the miracle of the oil that lasted for eight days, a Menorah is lit for the eight days of this festival. 3. It is a Tradition to watch the Rose Bowl Parade, which takes place in Pasadena, California, on New Year’s Day. The entire surface of every float must be covered with flowers or other __________ materials. 7. Since 1907, a ball has been lowered at midnight on New Year’s Eve in __________ Square in downtown New York City. 8. Boxing Day, sometimes called St. Stephen’s Day, is a holiday celebrated in __________, Australia, Canada and New Zealand on December 26. It began as a holiday on which gifts were given to trades people and servants. It is also a day for giving to the poor. 9. Pongal is a festival that is usually celebrated during January in India. It is a harvest festival and a traditional sweet rice dish called __________ is served on the second day of this 4 day celebration. 10. In the Netherlands, on December 6, the Feast of St. Nicholas, children put out __________ shoes filled with hay and carrots for the horse of Sinterklass. If they have been good, Sinterklass will fill the shoes with candy and presents. If they have been bad, Zwarte Piet will fill them with coal. 13. Chinese New Year is based on a lunar calendar. Each year is named for one of the 12 animals in the __________. The celebration lasts for 15 days.