KIDS UNITED
How Heidi and Niklas Celebrate Christmas
Heidi and Niklas celebrate Christmas in much the same way that American children do. The four weeks before Christmas ('Advent') are spent eagerly awaiting the celebration, learning songs and poems, decorating their home for Christmas, and enjoying the Christmas Tree.
Each Sunday during Advent, Heidi and Niklas light one candle on their Advent wreath a spruce wreath, decorated with four candles. When the fourth candle is lit, the Friends know that Christmas comes that week!
Santa Claus, called Saint Nicolas in Switzerland, comes in the beginning of December. He visit Heidi and Niklas' at home or at school, passing out sweets, fruits and nuts to the good children. The children who haven't been so good receive pieces of Advice from Saint Nicolas.
Heidi and Niklas love to decorate their Christmas Tree. The tree is strung with lights, and wooden or ceramic figures of the Baby Jesus in the manger are placed at the foot of the tree. They sing Switzerland's most popular Christmas song, 'Silent Night', which was written in the nearby country of Austria.
When Christmas finally arrives, the whole family sits down to an early dinner. Heidi and Niklas' mom, dad, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins gather around the tree after dinner, to sing songs and hymns.
Heidi's parents read the story of Jesus' birth aloud from the Bible, and then gifts are exchanged. If they are not too tired, everyone goes to Midnight Mass!
Of course, Heidi and Niklas have a hard time going to sleep on Christmas Eve. They're awaiting the excitement and surprises that Christmas Morning brings just like kids in the United States.
