I haven't had time to make mine actually show the pictures...sorry but my system is just too slow. I have sources and links to pictures, and I believe that between us the team has covered all the answers and we've got pictures - or links to pictures - for everything. I was thinking for the last one that we could just use the Hungary calendar - underneith it is a list of the holidays.
If we have multiple answers for various foods or traditions then lets list them all. Nothing says we have to narrow the choices down to one food or tradition.
Here's everything I've found. I tried sending this out last night as PMs but I tried sending to everyone at the same time and now I don't think it went out at all. And, I'm thick skinned enough...if I misread or misinterpreted a question because I was trying to hurry up...don't worry about telling me so.
Scavenger hunt for 21b:
[Note: I think her questions came from
www.henry.k12.ga.us/PGES/projects/around2.htm ]
1. What is the shape of the popular buche de Noel cake made in France at Christmas time?
By: TYRARACHELE
"Buche de Noel is the French name for a Christmas cake shaped like a log. This one is a heavenly flourless chocolate cake rolled with chocolate whipped cream. Traditionally, Buche de Noel is decorated with confectioners' sugar to resemble snow on a Yule log."
allrecipes.com/Recipe/Buche-de-Noel/Detail.aspx <<includes picture>>
2. What are the most popular Christmas tree decorations in China?
Christians in China celebrate by lighting their houses with beautiful paper lanterns and decorating their Christmas trees, which they call "Trees of Light," with paper chains, paper flowers, and paper lanterns.
www.made-in-china.com/china-products/productviewRbeJYHcEVxry/Christmas-Paper-Lantern-String-Lights.html <Includes Picture>
3. Why are candles placed in the windows of Irish homes on Christmas Eve?
Irish homes typically have a candle in the window to light the way for the Christ Child. Often the task of lighting the Christmas Eve candle falls upon the head of household. Additionally, an Advent calendar and candles add a nice touch. Decorations remain up until Epiphany, January 6.
www.irelandforvisitors.com/articles/christmas_eve_menu.htm <<no picture>>
www.fantasy-ireland.com/candle-in-the-window.html <Includes Picture>>
4. According to tradition in Belgium, how does St. Nicholas travel from house to house delivering gifts to children?
St. Nicholas travels with his horse called Amerigo.
That's also the reason why many children place a carrot into their shoes so that the horse has something to eat.
wiki.answers.com/Q/According_to_tradition_in_Belgium_how_does_St._Nicholas_travel_fom_house_to_house_delivering_gifts_to_children << No picture>>
www.new-age.co.uk/advent-calendar-7.htm <<Picture but doesn't include Amerigo>>
www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=100 <<Includes picture>>
5.On what date does the Christmas holiday season begin in Armenia?
January 6
www.msichicago.org/whats-here/exhibits/christmas-around-the-world/trees-traditions/armenia-to-bulgaria/ <<no picture>>
www.armeniainfo.am/about/?section=holidays <<no pictures>>
images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=Christmas+in+Armenia+pictures&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=1xInS5nLE9D8_AayhuGcDQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBIQsAQwAA << pictures >>
6.Who brings gifts for good children in Italy?
In Italy Babbo Natale, which means Father Christmas, is Santa. Children put a pair of their shoes by the door on the day before Epiphany and the following morning they find them filled with small gifts and candy. Italy, like Spain, Portugal and most of the Latin American nations ( or countries speaking Romance languages ), is mostly Catholic. December 25 is a day of more religious observance, remembering the birth of Christ. The Epiphany, called Little Christmas, is the day for gift giving. However, Babbo Natale does come on Christmas Eve in some parts of Italy. <<no picture>>
In Italy, he is called Babbo Natale. Also, they recieve their presents on January 6th from the gift bringer an old lady called Befana.
^http://www.infostarbase.com/holidays/christmas/santa.php <no picture>>
images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=Babbo+Natale+picture&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=CBcnS-S2LZyF_AaGjvmpDQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBQQsAQwAA <<jpictures>>
7. What are "chicken bones" in Canadian Christmas celebrations?
At Christmas Canadian eats sweets called Barley Candy and Chicken Bones! They are really sweets made by local candy companies. Barley Candy is usually on a stick and is shaped like Santa, reindeer, snowmen, a tree and other symbols of Christmas. Chicken Bones a pink candy that tastes like cinnamon. You melt them in your mouth and once melted, they reveal a creamy milk chocolate center.
^http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/canada.shtml
images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://candyaddict.com/blog/candy_pictures/ganong_chicken_bones.jpg&imgrefurl=http://candyaddict.com/blog/2006/12/04/candy-review-ganong-chocolates/&usg=__O_dvq_fXi7cLF3Foc-_VLU5o0rY=&h=250&w=250&sz=18&hl=en&start=3&um=1&tbnid=gvIFvCZJkbMxtM:&tbnh=111&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522chicken%2Bbones%2522%2Bin%2BCanadian%2BChristmas%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1 <picture>
8. What do people in Costa Rica use to decorate their homes for Christmas?
the basics are a christmas tree and if you are catholic you must have a 'portal', which are small figurines that represent jesus birth. every family has a unique way to do theirs adding more characters, plants, water fixtures,etc. many people also hang lights on their roofs and trees and others fill their house with santa's figurines.
^http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091201094411AAVUAWH <no picture>
The family portal often occupies the majority of the living room.
^http://www.family-christmas-traditions.com/Christmas-traditions-in-Costa-Rica.html
As with many Catholic nations, nativity scenes with figurines of Mary, Joseph, the wise men and the animals of the manger are a standard Christmas decoration, called “Portals”. Offerings such as fruits and little toys are placed in front of the nativity scene. The baby Jesus figurine is placed in the nativity the night before Christmas, when he brings presents to the children of the household in lieu of Santa Claus.
^http://gocentralamerica.about.com/od/costaricaguide/p/CRChristmas.htm <no picture>
www.amcostarica.com/portaljudicial121202.jpg <Picture>> Several sites said the Nativity can take up an entire room.
9. In Austria, a bell is rung after Christmas Eve dinner to signal the opening of a locked door. What are children permitted to see for the first time behind the locked door?
The Christmas Tree. Wiki
On December 24, the Christ Child brings presents and the Christmas tree for the children. The children wait until they hear a bell tinkling. Then they enter a special room where the Christmas tree is waiting all decorated with candles, ornaments and candies. The whole family sings Christmas carols and wishes each other:
^http://www.santas.net/austrianchristmas.htm <no picture>
www.superstock.com/stock-photos-images/1269-1483 <Photo but it's a large public tree - not a home>
10. In addition to musical instruments, what do Greek children sometimes carry when they go caroling?
Sometimes the will also carry model boats decorated with nuts painted gold. Carrying a boat is a very old custom in the Greek Islands.
^
www.henry.k12.ga.us/PGES/projects/around2.htm Children with boat in front of Christmas tree
www.flickr.com/photos/7209077@N06/3089114184/Star picture
roembus.org/english/communities/copii/romanian_winter_season_tradition.htm#The%20Star%20Carol%20*Steaua11. Why does the country of Norway give a big Christmas tree to the United Kingdom each year?
Since 1947 the people of Norway have presented Britain each year with a Norwegian Christmas Tree. It is given to thank Britain for supporting Norway during the Second World War
Not a single picture, but a couple of the tree
www.ukstudentlife.com/Ideas/Album/NorwegianTree.htm12. In the Czech Republic, what do children do when they think they hear St. Nicholas coming?
During the evening of the 5th December, children watch the sky for any sign of St. Nicholas. They believe that he comes down from the sky with a bag of presents for good children and a bag of sticks for bad children. When children think they can hear him coming, they rush to the dinner table and say their prayers, hoping that they will get good presents.
^http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/czechrep.shtml
This is people at a dinner table...just to have a picture
www.bing.com/images/search?q=picture+children+at+dinner+table&FORM=IGRE1#focal=7236abad058e88c735432a67fe6a0adf&furl=http%3a%2f%2fbarmranch.com%2f~barm%2fimages%2fmeals_table.jpg13. What foods do families in Switzerland share after the traditional midnight mass?
The week before Christmas, children dress up and visit homes with small gifts. Bell ringing has become a tradition, and each village competes with the next when calling people to midnight mass. After the service, families gather to share huge homemade doughnuts called ringli and hot chocolate.
^http://www.santas.net/swisschristmas.htm
doughnut/ringli
media.photobucket.com/image/doughnut%20recipe/PheMOM/IMG_3143.jpg14. What do children do with their shoes in Spain on January 5?
You (Joxie) already had that one covered.
15. In Hungary, Christmas is celebrated twice. What are the dates for these celebrations?
Calendar for Hungary with listing of important days including both dates in December
www.timeanddate.com/calendar/?year=2009&country=12