Most Americans typically think of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa when thinking about winter holidays. But when I was a teacher, my class always had fun learning about winter holidays and traditions from around the world that they knew less about.
Here are a few of my favorites we learned about in class, along with ideas for activities around each that you can do with your kids!
First, let's take a tour of Europe:
GERMANY | Christmas Markets
Although Christmas Markets are a popular holiday activity around the world these days, they can actually be traced to medieval Germany. In medieval times, Christmas Markets were a simple gathering of vendors and performers — a fun celebration and a chance for communities to come together. Dresden holds the honor of being the oldest, while Striezelmarkt, the most well-known, offers a slew of vendors, rides, and shows.
Watch:
Activity idea: Create your own Christmas Market! Decide on a product to make and sell, or a talent to perform. Decorate your space and have fun!
SCANDINAVIA | Yule Goat
You’ve probably heard of a Yule log, but I'll bet you haven't heard of a Yule goat! Scandinavians celebrate a variation of the Santa Claus legend, in which he rides a goat instead of a sleigh. As I'm sure you can guess, goat ornaments abound in these countries. The town of Gävle, Sweden, takes it a step further by constructing a giant straw goat in the town square... large enough to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records!
Watch:
Activity idea: Make your own Yule Goat ornament out of supplies you have around the house! Get creative with supplies like toothpicks and marshmallows, old socks, grocery store bags, paper, cardboard boxes, or salt dough.
SWEDEN| St. Lucia
December 13th marks Lucia Day or the feast of Saint Lucy, a festival of lights that kicks off the Christmas season in most Scandinavian countries. The festival commemorates Saint Lucia, a young girl that was martyred in 304 AD by Romans for delivering food to Christians hiding from persecution. Each year, one girl is elected “St. Lucia” to lead the procession of young girls dressed in white with red sashes through town to the church. They wear a crown of lit candles and lingonberry branches on their heads. Boys dress all in white as well, and everyone sings traditional songs to mark the day. After church, families celebrate at home, with the oldest daughter designated as St. Lucia, serving coffee, ginger biscuits and saffron bread (lussekatter) to family and friends who visit during the day.
Activity idea: Follow our recipe to make your own Saffron Buns to serve with Swedish glögg (recipe on the same page with buns) to your family.
ICELAND | Jolabokaflod
The custom of giving books at Christmas in Iceland is called 'Jolabokaflod' or 'Jólabókaflóð' which translates as 'Christmas flood of books'! It started during WWII when books weren't rationed and many other things were, so books made really good gifts. On Christmas Eve many people in Iceland will open a new book as a gift, and read it with a cup of hot chocolate. Books and chocolate... what's not to love!
Activity idea: Make everyone a cup of hot chocolate and read Christmas books together on Christmas Eve. Click HERE to see our 25 favorite Christmas books
ITALY | La Befana
According to the Italian legend, La Befana is a witch-like woman who rides on a broom, leaving gifts for children in their shoes or stockings on January 5th, Epiphany Eve. Dating back to the 13th century, it is said that La Befana leaves gifts for children because she was never able to find the baby Jesus after refusing to join the Wise Men on their journey to see him. La Befana's arrival is celebrated with Italian foods like panettone and it marks the end of the long and festive holiday season in Italy.
Watch:
Activity idea: Craft your own broomstick out of different food items! What works the best? What tastes the best? (My fav is mini pretzel sticks stuck into upside down peanut butter cups!)
UNITED KINGDOM | Christmas Pudding
This British tradition, dating back to the Middle Ages, is one of my favorites, mostly because it has changed so much over the years. Despite its "sweet" name, Christmas pudding started out as a meat stew that contained dry fruit. By the Victorian Era, it had evolved into the sweet dessert that we know and love, featured in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. A proper Christmas pudding conceals a silver sixpence (or any coin) for good luck, and is often soaked in brandy, then set alight when serving.
Read: Mr. Darcy and The Christmas Pudding is a fun book all about this special dessert!
Activity idea: Try making your own Christmas Pudding with this quick and easy version from Good Housekeeping UK.
UNITED KINGDOM | Winter Solstice
The ancient tradition of celebrating Winter Solstice — the shortest day of the year — dates back to the Stone Age. England's Stonehenge (pictured in the image at the top of this article) is considered to be one of the earliest epicenters for marking the longest night of the year due to the placement of the stones. Winter Solstice is still celebrated there a few days before Christmas, and anyone can buy tickets to experience the sunrise and Druid and Pagan traditions.
Read: The Shortest Day to learn all about the Winter Solstice, plus find activities and science experiments. Here's a read-aloud video:
Activity idea: Watch a livestream of the Winter Solstice on Thursday, December 21, 2023 location at Stonehenge.
SPAIN | Three Kings' Day
On January 6, three wise men visited the baby Jesus on the twelfth day of Christmas, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. In Spain, Dia de los Reyes celebrates the occasion with huge parades and roscon de reyes, a sweet, ring-shaped pastry that symbolizes a king’s crown. The pastry traditionally contains a small plastic figure, and the finder is granted royal status for the day. Find the bean, and you are burdened with the task of buying next year’s cake.
Read: Check out Veronica's story about her family's customs in Three King's Day: A Celebration at Christmastime.
Activity idea: Bake an authentic roscon de reyes. Don't forget to hide the bean!
Now let's jump over to ...Africa!
AFRICA | Christmas in Summer
Most countries in Africa celebrate Christmas on December 25th, but their Christmas falls during the summertime! Each country boasts its own special Christmas traditions, and unique Christmas greeting, but attending church, singing carols, and gathering for braais (family barbecues) top the Christmas celebration list across the continent.
Watch:
Then it's on to North America:
MEXICO | Las Posadas
Las Posadas (meaning inns) is believed to have originated in Mexico via Spanish missionaries, and are nightly processionals for the nine days before Christmas Eve. These posadas recreate the journey of Jesus and Mary seeking shelter and involve lots of singing and children dressed as angels. Eventually, each posada ends at someone’s home, where, after initially being turned away, they’re welcomed with a feast of tamales and Christmas punch. Smashing a seven-pointed-star candy-filled piñata culminates the party, representing the seven deadly sins that need to be smashed.
Read: The Night of Las Posadas, by Tomie DePaola. Listen to a read-aloud here:
Activity idea: Design and create your own luminaria using a paper lunch bag, scissors, and a battery operated tea light, or use these instructions from Mommy Maestra.
NORTH AMERICAN ZUNI AND HOPI TRIBES | Soyal
Also known as Soyaluna or Soyala, Soyal is a solstice celebration belonging to the native Zuni and Hopi tribes of North America. The celebration focuses on the return of the sun to illuminate the earth after the longest night of the year, and the ceremonies last for 16 days. Traditional dances done in masks and costumes, songs, and prayers are performed to welcome the kachinas (beneficial spirits) that visit people during this time. Gifts, feasts, and traditional cultural stories add to the celebration, and children are taught the pivotal lesson of respecting others. Most members of the Zuni tribe live in western New Mexico, while the Hopi primarily live in northeastern Arizona.
Watch:
Activity idea: Make a list of all of the ways you can show respect to people, your community, animals, and the planet. Take a night walk and share a story of your culture or traditions.
Finally, let's head off to Asia!
PHILIPPINES | Maligayang Pasko
Filipinos celebrate the longest Yuletide season in the world! They start decking the halls and cities with glimmering lights and playing Christmas music even earlier, on September 1! It's a tradition that has been passed down for generations. Filipino culture is very family-centric and has a strong Spanish influence. You will see many commonalities with the Spanish and Filipino language and culture. The core of our holiday celebrations is wrapped in what matters most: Family, faith, food, friends, and fun! Click HERE for more information and some delicious Filipino recipes!
Watch:
Activity idea: Make a paról, a star-shaped lantern which is from the Spanish word farol meaning lantern. This is a symbolic Star of Bethlehem, made from bamboo sticks and decorative paper, which guided the Three Kings to the nativity. See instructions HERE.
CHINA | Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year is celebrated in January, February, March, April, September, or November in countries that follow the lunar calendar. February and April are the most common times. Although they can vary from culture to culture, some examples of Lunar New Year traditions include cleaning the house, exchanging red envelopes or silk pouches containing money, games, fireworks, traditional dishes, and parades full of colorful and creative costumes.
Watch:
Activity idea: Make your own red envelope using instructions from thesprucecrafts.com.
JAPAN | Toji
You might have never heard of yuzu, much less bathed in it. Yuzu is a sour citrus fruit that looks like a lemon, but actually tastes like a lime. People in Japan fill onsens (natural hot springs) with yuzu to welcome the winter solstice after lighting yule log bonfires on Mt. Fuji. This tradition is known as Toji.
Read: Test your skills with Japanese words in this fun book, My First Book of Japanese Words: An ABC Rhyming Book of Japanese Language and Culture.
Activity idea: Make your own yule log out of a recycled paper tube. Decorate with paper, sticks, markers, or glitter to create the look of fire. Set it by the bathtub while you take a warm bath. Squeeze the juice of a lemon or lime in the water for a citrus bonus!
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