Christmas around the world

Steve Moyer/Daily Mail-- Students at Benton Elementary learn about Christmas in other cultures and locations during a school-wide event on Thursday. Above, a student points out Germany's location on the map while another student points out Nevada's location.

Students at Benton Elementary School in Nevada spent the day Thursday learning about the celebration of Christmas around the world.

Classrooms focused on studies of culture and geography relating to such places as Hawaii, Japan, China, Germany and more.

The children created a craft and enjoyed a snack in keeping with the theme for each culture discussed.

According to a "Christmas Around the World" Web site, "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. Chinese Children hang muslin stockings and await a visit from Santa Claus, whom they call Dun Che Lao Ren (dwyn-chuh-lau-oh-run) which means 'Christmas Old Man.'" Santa, in fact, appears in many versions throughout the world, with clothing and trappings customized by the cultures of various locales.

For more information about how other cultures celebrate the holiday, visit www.the-north-pole.com.