Christmas Traditions

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Christmas Traditions
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Around the World
Find out about Christmas traditions, old and new!
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Teacher notes
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In France...
Father Christmas is called Pére Nöel. He
travels with his companion Pre Fouettard who
reminds Pére Nöel how each child has behaved this
year! On Christmas Eve, children leave their
shoes by the fireplace to be filled by Pére Nöel.
In the morning they may also find that sweets,
fruits, nuts and toys have also been hung on
their Christmas tree.
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In Norway...
Some Norwegian children (particularly those that
live in the countryside) remember a little gnome
called Nisse at Christmastime. He guards all the
farm animals, and he plays tricks on the children
if they forget to place a bowl of special
porridge for him.
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In China...
The Christian children of China decorate trees
with colourful ornaments. These ornaments are
made from paper in the shapes of flowers, chains
and lanterns. They also hang muslin
stockings. The Chinese Christmas trees are
called Trees of Light. Santa Claus is called
Dun Che Lao Ren (Christmas Old Man.).
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In the Czech Republic...
Father Christmas is called Svaty Mikalas. It is
thought that he climbs down from heaven on a
golden rope accompanied by an angel and a
devil! Celebrations begin with his visit on 6th
December and ends with the visit of the Three
Kings on 6th January.
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In South Africa...
Christmas in South Africa is a summer holiday! Do
you know why? Homes are decorated with pine
branches and a Christmas tree. At bedtime on
Christmas Eve, children may also hang up their
stockings. Most people spend their Christmas
Day outside or on the beach. Carol singers make
their rounds on Christmas Eve and Church services
are held on Christmas morning. Many South
Africans have their Christmas Turkey dinner in
the open-air or have a barbecue.
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In Austria...
In Austria, baked carp is served for the
traditional Christmas dinner. Do you know what
that is? On 6th December, Heiliger Nikolaus (or
St. Nicholas), is said to reward good children
with sweets, nuts and apples.
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In Canada...
Canada is a HUGE country and has several
different traditions, depending on where you
live! Here are just a couple In Nova Scotia, a
country settled by Scottish highlanders, songs
and carols brought from Britain two centuries ago
are sung each Christmas morning. In an area
called Labrador, turnips are saved from the
summer harvest and are given to children, with a
lighted candle pushed into a hollowed out hole.
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In Brazil...
Papai Noel or Father Noel is the gift-bringer in
Brazil. According to legend, he lives in
Greenland. When he arrives in Brazil, he usually
wears silk clothing due to the summer heat. A
Brazilian Christmas dinner might include turkey,
ham, coloured rice, and wonderful vegetable and
fruit dishes
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In Finland...
Everybody's house is given a very good clean in
readiness for Christmas. The Christmas tree is
set up on Christmas Eve. Apples and other fruits,
candies, paper flags, cotton and tinsel are used
as decorations and candles are used for lighting
it.
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In India...
Christians in India decorate banana or mango
trees. They also light small oil-burning lamps
as Christmas decorations and fill their churches
with red flowers. They give presents to family
members and charity to poorer people. In South
India, Christians put small clay lamps on the
rooftops and walls of their houses at Christmas,
just as the Hindus do during their festival
called Diwali.
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In Venezuela...
On December 16th, families bring out their
pesebres (specially designed models of the
nativity scene). On January 6th when some
children awaken, they discover that the straw
that they had left beside their bed the night
before has gone and they know that the Magi (the
Wise Men) and their camels have been. Gifts are
left in the straws place.
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In Ukraine...
In the Ukraine, Father Frost visits all the
children in a sleigh pulled by only three
reindeer. He brings along a little girl named
Snowflake Girl. She wears a silver blue costume
trimmed with white fur and a crown shaped like a
snowflake.
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In Scotland...
A long time ago there was a superstition that it
was bad luck for the fire to go out on Christmas
Eve, since it is at this time that the elves were
about and only a raging fire would keep them from
coming down the chimney. On Christmas day,
people sometimes make big bonfires and dance
around them to the playing of bagpipes. Bannock
cakes made of oatmeal are traditionally eaten
around this time.
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In Poland...
During Advent and sometimes on Christmas Eve wax
is poured onto water and fortunes are told from
the shapes which emerge. Christmas Eve,
Wigila, is the most important part of the Polish
Christmas. A traditional food found in Poland is
Oplatek which is a piece of bread pressed with a
holy picture on the surface. This bread is
usually shared with family and friends and while
it is eaten the person must do two things
forgive any hurts that have occurred over the
past year and to wish the person all the
happiness in the coming year.
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In Ethiopia ...
The Ethiopian Christmas is called Ganna and takes
place on January 7th. Gift giving is a very
small part of the celebration and children
usually receive very simple presents such as
clothing. A sourdough pancake called injera is
often eaten which serves as both plate and fork.
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In Australia...
Australian families often celebrate Christmas on
the beach with a picnic. Santa Claus often
arrives on a surfboard! Outdoor carol singing is
very popular as the weather is pleasantly warm.
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In Italy...
On January 6th, Italian children receive gifts
from a friendly witch called Le Befana. She
flies around on her broom giving presents to the
good children and coal to the naughty ones!
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In Iraq...
Christian families in Iraq light a bonfire in
their courtyard on Christmas Eve. The fire is
made of dried thorns and the future of the house
for the coming year depends upon the way the fire
burns. While the fire is burning, a psalm is
sung. If the thorns burn to ashes, the family
will have good fortune. When the fire is reduced
to ashes, everyone jumps over the ashes three
times and makes a wish.
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In Greece...
On Christmas Eve small boys go from house to
house to sing carols to the beating of drums and
tinkling of triangles. After 40 days of fasting,
the welcome feast usually includes sweet golden
bread called Christopsomo or Christs bread.
Greeks burn fires to ward away mischievous
goblins called Killantzaroi during the festive
season.
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In Iceland...
Children put their shoes in the window for 13
days before Christmas. Each night a small gift
is left by one of the 13 Yule Lads. They are
sons of nasty trolls with names like Bowl Licker
and Door Slammer!
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In Lebanon...
Seeds are planted a fortnight before so that
there are small green plants on Christmas Day
bringing signs of new life. Children leave water
and grain on their doorsteps for the Christmas
camel who brings the gifts.
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In Greenland...
Christmas celebrations include dancing most of
the night. Women are waited on by the men and
Mattak is eaten. This is whale skin with a strip
of blubber inside which is very tough and tastes
a bit like coconut.
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In Mexico...
In Mexico, Las Posadas starts on the 16th
December with 9 days of candlelit processions and
lively parties. On Christmas day, children are
blindfolded and they have to try to break a
decorated clay piñata which is filled with
sweets. Those children who have been good also on
January 6th receive a gift from the Three Wise
Men.
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In Wales...
Singing is traditionally an important part of
Christmas celebrations often accompanied by a
harp. In some rural areas a villager is chosen to
be the Mari Lwyd (the Grey Mare). This person
travels around the town draped in white and
carrying a horse's skull on a long pole. They
would stop at a house and exchange jokes, songs
and well wishes for a warm welcome, food and
drink. A chewy toffee called Taffy is often eaten
at Christmas.
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Teacher notes...
Please note that the traditions included in this
resource are both old and new. Some of those
mentioned may not be the way many people in that
country celebrate Christmas today and may be very
old. You could discuss old and new traditions in
Wales and the UK with the children so that they
understand this point and avoid any
stereotypical views of other traditions. Many
old traditions, such as the Mari Lwyd in Wales,
are starting to regain popularity. It is also a
good idea to get your children to briefly compare
the traditions each day with our own Christmas
festivities to find differences and
similarities. Lastly, these discussions are
likely to bring up the topic of the existence of
Father Christmas. Think carefully about how you
might answer such questions (to keep the magic
alive!) A World map can be found on each slide so
that children can offer suggestions of where they
think each country can be found before revealing
the answer using the Where in the World? button
on screen. Theres also a hyperlink to Google
maps on each slide so that you can jump out to
that site and search for the country more clearly.
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