Involved schools:

a) Základní Skola Malecí, Nové Město nad Metují, Česká Republika

b) Scoala "Ioan Bob" Cluj-Napoca, Romania

c) Primary School Rosina 624, 01322, Rosina, Slovakia
d) Caja Granada School, Granada - Spain
e) De Spreng cbs, Hoevelaken, The Nederlands

Coordinators:

a) Pavla Smolová, Adéla Nosková, Milena Vacková

b) Maria Vaida, Salamon Edit, Anuta Mesesan

c) Lucia Holá

d) Mercedes García

e) Mieke Verdonk

8th March- International Women's Day
A song for all mothers

Christmas in Romania
Carols form an important part of the Romanian folklore. Romanian carols are not simple songs (a sort of invocation in verse sung by children and lads, on the evening of Winters Holidays) with religions origin, but wide windows through which we are allowed once a year to go by the immaculate snow towards the evergreen Heaven and to eye-touch God at least for an instant , in order to give us the power to surpass the obstacles of life. Carols put people in the mood for a perfect communion with the simple and healing greatness of Jesus's Birth.
"Do you receive the pretty star,
Pretty and so very bright?
It Haseko we did in the sky
Just like God thought it would be right,
Stand it could be seen on high,
Just like we did in the sky"
The first Christmas day children walk in the streets of snow covered towns and villages, when holding in their hands a star made of board and paper with a biblical scenes painted in water colors or an icon showing Virgin Mary and baby Jesus, they sing somewhat of a question:
"Do you receive the pretty star,
Pretty and so bright?
It has appeared on the earth
Just like God through it would be right
And it could be seen on high,
Just like we did, in the sky.
Five days before Christmas with a very sharp knife the pig is killed. This custom is called "Ignatius" from Saint Ignatius (celebrated on December the 20th). Then it is covered with burning straws. The pig is nicely washed and covered with a piece of cloth for ten minutes. The housewife comes and incense the pig and then the husband comes and makes the sign of the cross on the pig's head saying to the family gathered around: "Let's eat the pig!" After the pig is cut there is a feast called the pig's funeral feast or alms. At the feast the whole family friends and neighbors take part. All eat the rid or the skin of the bacon and they also eat small pieces of fried pork they drink wine or plum brandy.(Oana Cimponeriu, Ioan Bob School,Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

Many faces of Santa
Children know Santa as a big fat man with a long white beard dressed in red. Well that is not all: Santa has a lot of faces. One of them is his white face. About it and his other faces we will tell you later on.
He also has a lovely wife: she has a big heart, loves to bake cookies and she is called Missis Claus. The thing we do not know about her is her weight and if she is slim or the same way Santa is, who gets more kilos every year on the night before Christmas because of all the goodies children prepare for him.
Santa is very mysterious. This is his black face. It is a black face because in the dark you can only see his shadow if you are lucky enough to see him. If not, not.
Santa's white face represents his favorite time: winter, when everything is covered with white snow.
Another face of Santa is the red one that reminds everyone of his red suit he wears. Children know very well that this color fits Santa, because you can’t imagine Santa in green or other sparkling color.
His last face: greenish with lots and lost of colored dots, lights shining and long “snakes” sneaking and sparkling beautifully around: The Christmas Tree where everybody finds a present from Santa and his elves.
There is no Christmas without Santa and his faces! (Andreea Samoila, Ioan Bob School, Cluj-Napoca, Romania)


Christmas stockings
For centuries children have hung their Christmas stockings by the fire in hope that Santa will come and stuff the stockings with many surprises. There are many kinds of Christmas stockings, like a simple red stocking, a personalized Christmas stocking, a plush stocking and many others. Personalized stockings are always our favourite because no one forgets whose they are.
All the children continue the tradition of the Christmas stockings. In France the children place their shoes near the fireplace. In Holland the children fill their shoes with hay and carrot. In Hungary children polish their shoes before putting them near the door or on the window. Italian children leave their shoes out the night before January 5, for a good witch, and in Puerto Rico children put flowers in a small box and place them under their beds.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hope that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.(Francu Natalia and Condurache Petra, Ioan Bob School,Cluj-Napoca,Romania)

Christmas carols
In this period of the year, people become good; they give each other gifts…That’s the spirit of Christmas! Children receive presents form Santa Claus. In the evening before Christmas, people go to their relatives, friends or even to persons they do not know and spread the joy of Christmas. They sing carols. Most of the carols talk about Jesus Christ, God’s son who was born on 25th December. So, when we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The other part of the carols talks about Santa’s activity every year. That “♫He’s making a list, He’s checking it twice, He’s going to find out who was naughty or nice, Santa Claus is coming to town ♪” So, you’d better be nice if you want a Christmas present… Be nice all the year, because the final naughty and nice report is made on the 24th of December! (Moldovan Diana, Ioan Bob School,Cluj-Napoca,Romania)
Christmas blog
In our country, Christmas is very important for christian families. On Christmas Eve my family usually stays by theChristmas Tree and sings carols, after that we eat Sarmale . As you know, at Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus`Christ.
In Romania we use to go to our neighbors and sing carols, some of them invite us inside and give us cakes , nuts and apples.
The little children used to make snowmen and play with snow with their parents .
Even though there is no snow outside now, we can go skating during our winter holidays which is a lot of fun.
` If you want to learn more about our country, come and visit it !!! (Gentarau Ilinca,Ioan Bob School, Cluj-Napoca,Romania)

This Christmas I was very happy. I won the Special prize of Edward Pamfil guitar contest, I received lots of presents from Santa, I was together with my family and I sang carols next to the Christmas tree. I did all the things I wanted to do… At theNew Year’s Eve party I danced a lot. It has been the greatest New Year’s Eve party ever! I’d love to live those moments again! (Moldovan Diana, Ioan Bob School,Cluj-Napoca,Romania)

At Christmas Eve I went carol-singing . One of my classmates came with me . We had a lot of fun singing Christmas carols , visiting some of our school teachers and one of our friends . We went to our school headmaster . From there we gave Mrs. Monica Moraru a phone call and we sang for her, too . After that we went to Diana Moldovan's house , the girl that came with me . We tried to sing Christmas carols for Mrs. Salamon and Mrs.Iepure, our maths and English teachers . It turned out that they weren't at home . We visited Mrs. Mesesan , our form teacher . She was so happy to see us and I was happy that I had made her happy . Andra, another classmate, was surprised too, when she saw me and Diana at her door . When I arrived home I recived a lot of presents . On the first day of Christmas I went to my aunt's house to have lunch with them . After that I prepared my luggage for my trip to Austria . I had a wonderful Christmas !(Rimboiu Andreea,Ioan Bob School,Cluj-Napoca,Romania)

I had a wonderful, funny and special Christmas with my family. I went to my grandparents and I found them happy because my dog had three puppies. Outside it was very cold but it didn’t snow. I received a lot of presents: a game called Twister, ice skates, candies, chocolates, a book about pirates and some beautiful clothes. I went shopping with my parents. I helped my grandmother to make cookies and cakes. I played with my best friends and we had many guests. The Christmas tree was rich with tinsels and ornaments. I spent magic moments. This Christmas was one of the best of my life. Unfortunately, this holiday was too short and I couldn’t enjoy it enough! I hope that next Christmas will be like this one. (Banu Alessandra,Ioan Bob School,Cluj-Napoca,Romania)

I spent my Christmas at home,only with my parents and my grandmother. It was a special Christmas because we had a nice Christmas tree and a lot of presents. We went singing Christmas carols to our relatives. I got a lot of clothes, I was very glad. (Galis Irina,Ioan Bob School,Cluj-Napoca,Romania)

I spent my Christmas together with my family and with my grandmother.I think it's very important to stay together with your family on Christmas Eve.In our family this is a tradition and we respect it every year because we love to stay around the Christmas Tree singing carols and opening the presents. (Oana Cimponeriu,Ioan Bob School,Cluj-Napoca,Romania)

On Christmas Eve in the morning I started decorating the Christmas tree. I have got an enormous and beautiful fir tree with red tinsels and lighting installation on it. I also handcrafted a Santa Claus and painted fir cones in bright golden colour. At noon I helped my grandmother with special cookies and a nice Christmas cake. Everything was tasteful, smelt nice and looked good. On that day we also celebrated my father’s birthday. So, I went out with my mom to buy a present for him. Luckily I found a funny present typical for this event: a tie with winter pattern representing lots of snowmen. I was watching movies about Christmas time and my parents were listening to Christmas carols and … we were all together in the house waiting for Him. “Ho, ho, ho … Merry Christmas everybody!”. And we opened the presents. I got a mini sewing machine, a book called “Enchanted” about Magic in Manhattan, and some clothes: a silvery jacket, a dress, a winter pullover, a white skating waistcoat. And all the others in the family were blessed with surprises! The night was falling, the stars were shining, and our dreams became true as Santa Claus was again with us. (Literat Andra,Ioan Bob School,CN,Romania)

The most beautiful holiday of the year is Christmas. I like this holiday not only for the presents. I like it because all the people are generous and happy and the city is decorated with thousands of Christmas ornaments. Every year I celebrate Christmas with my family: my parents and my grandparents. We always have a high Christmas tree in the drawing-room. I and my grandpa listen to traditional Christmas songs and decorate the Christmas tree with red and silver globes, silver tinsels and a lot of other Christmas ornaments. Then, my mum lays the Christmas table and puts the presents under the Christmas tree. At seven o’clock in the evening we open yhe presents and celebrate this most beautiful holiday of the year: we sing traditional Romanian songs, we send messages to our friends and eat specific food. (Isacu Alexandru,Ioan Bob School, CN,Romania)