Exchange of packages for Christmas
| Keywords | Knowledge Emotion Communication Participation Practical Application Cultural Heritage Intercultural Bread |
| Target Group | Civil Society Pupils All Ages Associations |
| Type of Action | Mini-Project Research Baking Action |
| Research | Cultural And Religious Festivities Recipes-Seasonal/Christmas/Eastern/... Traditions, Welcome Tradition |
| Location | Senior Meeting Point School Pensioners Club Private Location |
| Pedagogical Aims | Cooperation Practical Application |
| Use of Media | Computer Internet |
| Dissemination | Press Internet |
| Geographical Scope | Internation |
| Type of Method | Participatory-Orientated |
| Knowledge Transfer | Creative Skills |
| Area of work | Cultural Event |
| Location or Venue | Danubian Countries |
| Number of Participants | 56 |
| Website | bread-wine-herbs.tastes-of-danube.eu/christmas/ |
Duration
| From | Until |
| 01/11/2016 | 31/12/2016 |
Short Description
This method consists of exchanging small packages between 4 different institutions (NGO or schools), which have not been in contact before, from a number of Danubian countries. The coordinator, ILEU e.V., formed the mixed groups and presented the photos of the packages on the website. The packages contain key information about the way Christmas is celebrated in the participating countries, as well as several notable items, specific to the manner in which the countries celebrate Christmas and information about the own group, in native language and in English.
Full Description
The method of exchanging packages for Christmas fosters intercultural awareness and promotes the cultural heritage and the tradition of each of the participating countries. Individuals and institutions, which were grouped by the coordinator, ILEU e.V., analysed their country’s Christmas traditions and selected valuable data and information, which were then summarized and included in the package. The participants received the addresses of the partners as well as financial support for material and transport from the coordinator. The packages weresent by post around the middle of December, to arrive at the partner institutions before Christmas, as the package is to be considered an intercultural Christmas gift. The aim is promoting each country’s own traditions, as well as highlighting the many similarities and common traditions which we share with the other Danubian countries. The awareness of the differences, but also of the corresponding aspects, which we have in the Danube Region countries is an essential aim of the initiative.
Step-by-step explanation
Step 1
ILEU
A call to analyse specific national Christmas traditions to be collected for the development of the packages. The call was made by a letter, sent by the coordinator ILEU e.V., to the partners in the frame of the network Danube-Networkers. The purpose of the letter was to ask the members of the network if they are willing to take part in this initiative. It was also mentioned that the partners taking part would get a financial support of about 50 € for the cost of the package contentand the postal costs.
Step 2
ILEU
From the organizations who have answered the call, the coordinator formes groups: four different types of NGOs or schools from four countries, which have not been in contact before. Then the coordinator sends a second letter to them, in which they are informed about the addresses of their partners. Key details that the coordinator has to take into consideration is mixing the type of organizations and institutions, achieving intergenerational impact, and for the research to be done on many different levels. The packages have to include a short description of the specific ways of celebrating Christmas, self-baked Christmas cookies, recipes, as well as decorations and related items, and a group photo along with a short description of the sending institution.
Step 3
ILEU and Danube-Networkers
The participants send their packages by post to their pair-institutions. The initiative can involve a large number of partners from many different countries and institutions.
Step 4
ILEU and Danube-Networkers
Around Christmas Eve, the packages should reach their destination and be opened by the participants, who thus learn how people from other Danubian countries celebrate Christmas, and can compare their descriptions with their own.
Step 5
Danube-Networkers
As results of the initiative, there will also be photos with the content of the packages sent by the partner organizations to the coordinator for further dissemination and research purposes.
Step 6
ILEU e.V.
The coordinator presents the results of the initiative on the project’s website.
Results
The results should be a number of packages which consist of a short analysis on how is Christmas traditionally celebrated in the named participating country, as well as a number of items which are of significance to the specific national Christmas traditions. The cultural packages should be exchanged between the participating institutions as well as presented on the project website. In the described initiative, also an online “Christmas-tree” wasmade, forming a friendly interface for the webpage visitors. The short descriptions made by the participants were presented as small globes on the tree- one for each partner institution, which when clicked, would show further details.
Problems
- Possible delays in the arrival of the packages per post
- There can be problems at the customs in non-EU countries: some products can`t pass the border; taxes to be paid.
Variation of the approach
The exchange of packages could also take place on other occasions (Easter, other festivities).
Partner Organistions
| Name | Homepage | Logo |
| Danube-Networkers from 11 countries | http://danube-networkers.eu/ |
Responsbile Organistion
| Name | Homepage | Logo |
| ILEU e.V. | ileu.net |
Products and Materials
| Web Presence |
http://bread-wine-herbs.tastes-of-danube.eu/christmas-packages-along-the-danube/ http://bread-wine-herbs.tastes-of-danube.eu/christmas/ |
Facebook Presence | https://www.facebook.com/pg/tastesofdanube/posts/ |
| Documentation of the Project/Event | |
| Post Cards | |
| Poster | |
| Press Release | |
| Photo Gallery | |
| Video | |
| Blog | |
| Decoration: Flags/Bookmarks | |
| Information about the Danube Countries |