Page 24 - Red Alert

RED ALERT - CELEBRATION

Countries all over the world have fire festivals ACTIVITY
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Although most of us connect Christmas with snow and frost, some
international Christmas traditions are very much to do with fire. In
France, children put their shoes by the fireside so that Father
A
Christmas can fill them with presents. In some areas of France, a A B C D
yule log is kept burning throughout the whole Christmas period.

Christmas in Sweden begins on 13th December - St. Lucia’s day. 1
Many years ago, the early Christians were victimised or picked on
and they had to have their meetings in dark underground caves. • Stockholm
St. Lucia risked her life to bring food to the Christians. She wore a
crown of candles to light her way. Eventually, St. Lucia was caught
by soldiers and killed. Today she is remembered each year on
13th December by young Swedish girls who dress up as St. Lucia 2
and take coffee and buns to their families.
In many countries fire is used as a symbol. Flames can be seen as
a sign of hope and new life. The best example of this is the torch • Paris
used in the Olympic Games. Every four years this Olympic torch is
carried from the country where the last games took place to the
country where the next games will be. This torch represents all of
the athletes' hard work and the uniting of many countries. The 3
Olympic torch is kept burning throughout the Olympic Games.

Look at this map and grid references
1.What square is Paris in? What are its co-ordinates?
2.What are the co-ordinates of Stockholm?
3. What are the co-ordinates of Athens? 4 Athens •

DID YOU KNOW?
Chinese celebrations usually include a traditional Fire
Dragon. People in Papua New Guinea enjoy fire dancing. ANSWERS: 1. 2B, 2. 1C, 3. 4C.

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