St Bonaventure’s School celebrates Christmas, European style

Young linguists at a school in Forest Gate have been learning about Christmas traditions in Germany.

Year 7 pupils at St Bonaventure’s School were treated to festive gifts in their German lesson with teacher Sue Pritchard.

In Germany, St Nicholas traditionally leaves chocolates, nuts and oranges on St Nicholas’ Day, which takes place on December 6.

The night before, children will leave out their shoes and boots, and if they’re been deemed to have been good they’ll receive treats, and if not, they might get twigs or lumps of coal.

Before their lesson, students left their shoes outside the classroom. Fortunately they’d been deemed well behaved, and were rewarded at the end of the lesson with sweets.

A St Bonaventure’s spokeswoman said: “What a fun way to learn about how our European neighbours spend this special season. I’m sure it enhanced their learning and it’s something the boys will remember for a very long time.”