Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What are some examples of holidays that include traditions, festivals, or rituals? Use bulleted lists or a chart to organize traditions, festivals, and rituals in connection with the holiday they typically accompany. Are these holidays tied to certain religious beliefs? What do holidays and accompanying traditions often represent to people, and why do many people have an emotional response to them?

Teaching Suggestion: It may be beneficial to introduce the novella with a discussion of holiday celebrations around the world; students can share specific holidays, traditions, and festivals they celebrate in their families and communities or have witnessed friends or extended family celebrating. In this way, though the text focuses on the Christian tradition of celebrating Christmas, the novella can be used as a springboard for discussion of holiday celebrations in other cultures. If student demographics do not represent a diverse group of beliefs, investigation and research into other holiday celebrations like Diwali, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, and winter solstice may be appropriate. Students also have the opportunity for cross-curricular learning by examining the historical backgrounds of these holidays.