Christmas Traditions

Christmas Customs

TEKS 2)  History. The student

understands the origins of customs, holidays, and celebrations. The student is expected to:

(A)  describe the origins of selected customs, holidays, and celebrations of the community, state, and nation such as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Independence Day, and Veterans' Day

Objective The students will learn the differences in the way different cultures celebrate

Christmas.

How Different Countries Celebrate

DecorationsCustomsMagical SymbolsLength of CelebrationGifts

Christmas Traditions

“Merry Christmas”

Decorations

Many countries celebrate Christmas by decorating different kinds of trees.

Some countries decorate letters to Santa

Some countries lavishly decorate their homes with lights.

Decorate a Christmas Tree

Customs

Decorating treesLetters to Santa ClausPlaying GamesAdvent CalendarMaking Gingerbread housesGiving GiftsLighting the Menora Letter

to Santa

Naughty or Nice

Good Deeds

Calendar

Santas From Around the World

The person flying the sleigh bringing presents is commonly knows as Santa Claus to most of us.

The students will go to the attached link and find 3 different names for Santa Claus from 3 different countries.

Santas from around the world

Pictures of Santa

Santa Quiz Santa Question and Answer Session

Three Most Commonly Celebrated Holidays in

DecemberChristmas is celebrated on December

25 by Christians

Kwanzaa is celebrated the 25th of Kislev by African-Americans (African-Americans also celebrate Christmas)

Hanukkah is celebrated from December 26th –January 1st or for 8 days by JewsHanukka

hKwanzaa

Christmas

Gifts

In many Asian countries children received gifts from Santa even though there Christmas is not generally celebrated.

Saint Nicholas Day is celebrated on Dec. 6th in Eastern Europe. Children put a boot by the window on Dec. 5th and it is filled with treats by Saint Nicholas. Naughty children get coal and onions.

In the United States children go to bed early on Dec. 24th in hopes of receiving gifts on Christmas morning. Color a Gif

t

Gifts

The Dutch “Sintirklass” arrives by boat on Dec. 6th. Children leave a wooden shoe filled with hay and carrots for the donkey which carries St. Nicholas’ pack of toys.

In Italy “La Befana” is a good witch who dresses all in black. Children leave their shoes by the fireplace on the eve of Jan.6th. Befana comes down the chimney on her broomstick to leave gifts.

In Germany families go to church on Christmas Eve. While they are at church the “Christkind” or Christ Child brings presents to their home.

Activities/Assessments

Use a Venn diagram to compare two or more of the different countries’ customs.

Have students write about what they would see and do if they celebrated Christmas in another country.

Have students create and illustrate a new “Santa Claus”

Have students create their own Christmas Tree

Resources

www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/index.html#december (Games)

www.the-north-pole.com (Christmas songs)

www.yahooligans.yahoo.com/content/news/brainpop/movie?id=winterholidays (Games)

www.ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk/christmas/santa/ (Santas from around the world)

www.holidays.net/Christmas/voices.htm (Merry Christmas in different languages)