Christmas in the USA!!!

[joshuateacher]

One of the biggest differences I've noticed while being in Korea is the difference between Christmas in Korea, and Christmas in the USA.

In the USA we have people that have many different religions, but where I am from almost everyone is Christian. Also, in the USA we say that Catholic people are also Christians. If you believe in Jesus, we say, you are Christian. It was very weird for me to hear my Korean friends who are Catholic tell me, "I'm not Christian, I'm Catholic." To me, it's just two different kinds of the same thing.

Also, where I am from in the USA almost everyone will say they are Christian, even if they don't go to church very often. For most of the history of the USA, (which is much shorter than Korea's- only about 400 years) most people have been Christian. Even me, I went to church when I was young, but I stopped going as got older. Still, even though I don't go to church now, I still believe in Jesus and I feel I can call myself a Christian. Some of my Korean friends who are Christian tell me that it is very strange if I call myself Christian because I don't go to church very often.

Of course, one of the main parts of why children like Christmas in America is because they can get some gifts. Even if you're parents don't go to church often, you will get some really nice gifts. In fact, there is a very special shopping day called "Black Friday." Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving Day, and it's always the fourth Friday in November. On this day all of the big stores like Wal-mart, Target, and Costco (they are like E-mart or Homeplus) will have really huge discounts.

One very important part of Christmas is writing a Christmas list. When we are small children, we are taught that Santa Claus is a real person, and that he will give us gifts if we are very good boys and girls. As we get older we still make Christmas lists, because our parents need to know what to buy for us. One time, my brother really wanted some very expensive skis so he only wrote one think on his list. He thought, "If I only put one thing, I think our parents will buy it for me!" But, he was wrong. Instead, he got a lot of small things he didn't like!!!

Each family might celebrate Christmas in a different way. I can only explain how it was for my family. The night before Christmas we would have a small party and watch some Christmas movies. We would eat some special snacks my dad made, which was really fun because my dad would only make one thing, and this was the only time of the year he cooked.

In my family all of the children would wake up very early and we would make some coffee for our parents. Then, we would wake our parents up, and they would come so we could open our presents. The youngest child always had to give the presents to everyone. Then, we could all open one present at one time. My father or mother would say, "OK, open!!!" Then, we would all show each other our present.

After we opened all our gifts, we would go back to sleep!!!

Then later in the day we would go to my mom's sister's house and we would have a large Christmas dinner there. Almost every time we will eat ham and turkey. We will have a lot of side dishes like pickles and olives, sweet potatoes, and cheese. My cousins on my mom's side of the family would be there, and we would watch sports on TV. Early in the day we would watch american football, and then later we would watch NBA basketball. We would also get some small gifts from our grand parents, and our other family members.

After we finish at my aunts house, we often go to the movies. Christmas is one of the most popular days to watch a movie, so that is why so many movies come out in the winter. I want to watch a movie with my friends this Christmas, maybe I can watch Harry Potter!!!

I wonder what the student at our school like to do for Christmas? Do you celebrate Christmas? What do you do during Christmas if you are Buddhist or if you don't have a religion? It seems strange to me if you don't celebrate something.

[문건호(5-2)]

This passage about your family in Christmas is very specific, I like it!
Actually, I believe Santa Claus exists really, but I don't have a religion.
So, we only thanks to the presents!
The most different behavior that your family and our family is,
You said children have to open the present after the parent's permission.
Our is not. We open our present freely. Because it is like a fruit of our effort.
Thank you for good writing!