Christmas is the most celebrated holiday in the world. Plan on taking the month of December to relax and enjoy learning about the different and wonderful ways Christmas is celebrated around the world. Every country’s celebrations vary according to the climate, beliefs, traditions, and folklore of that country. Some countries enjoy some of the same practices and symbols.

A fun activity to consider is setting up a small Christmas tree in your school area. When you study a different country add an ornament to remind your children of the way that country celebrates Christmas.

A very brief description of how ten different countries celebrate the holiday season follows. Choose the ones you would like to learn more about, then check out some of the reference books suggested to find recipes, activities, and music from that individual country.

Most Japanese are not Christians; therefore, the majority of the Japanese people do not celebrate the religious aspects of the holiday. The Japanese Christmas greeting is “Meri Kurusumasu.” Japan has adopted many western Christmas traditions such as exchanging gifts, caroling, and decorating store windows and homes with holly and bells. The Japanese use lanterns, fans, flowers, and dolls to decorate their trees. Hoteiosho is the Japanese Santa Claus. He walks around and observes children with “eyes in the back of his head.” If the children are good, he gives them a toy from the bag he carries.

Activity: Make small Japanese fans to decorate your international tree.

The Chinese New Year is the biggest celebration in China. During this time, the people enjoy gift-giving and fireworks for an entire week. Chains, flowers, and paper lanterns are popular Chinese decorations. Special lanterns shaped like pagodas sometimes show the Holy Family inside. A special gift-bearer, Lan Khoong-Khoong or Nice Old Father, fills the children’s stockings with small gifts. Another name for the gift-bearer is Dun Che Lao Ren, the Christmas Old Man.

Activity: Make a paper chain for your international tree.

The Christmas greeting in Russia is “Hristos Razdajetsja.” Dyed Maroz, Grandfather Frost, is the Russian Santa Claus. He dresses in a red suit and has a white beard but delivers gifts on New Year’s Day. One traditional gift is a Matryoshka doll. The outer doll is opened to reveal smaller dolls nested inside. Another gift-bearer famous in Russia is Babouschka. The legend says that she was visited by the Three Kings, but she was too busy to direct them to the Christ child. Because of her error she is doomed to wander forever and deliver gifts to good children. She pays her visit on Epiphany, January 6. Russian families eat Christmas Eve supper together and decorate their tree with candy, oranges, apples, dolls, fabric, and foil ornaments.

Activity: Add oranges or paper dolls to your international tree.

“Happy Christmas” is the English Christmas greeting. Many of the most popular Christmas customs originated in Great Britain. The first Christmas cards were sent in England. Tradition says that boarding school children would send them to their parents. Caroling is another British custom. It is like American caroling, except groups of people sip wassail, a hot punch-like drink, while walking up and down the street. Wassail means “be in good health.” This event takes place throughout the twelve days of Christmas (December 25–January 6). Decorations include holly, ivy, and mistletoe. The British also have Christmas “crackers,” small circular shapes filled with small prizes that make a cracking sound when ends are pulled open. Christmas dinner often includes twelve or more courses. December 26 is Boxing Day. This is when people rewarded good servants with gifts. Today, community workers often receive this special appreciation.

Activity: Add holly, ivy, or mistletoe to your international tree.

In France, the season begins on December 5, St. Nicholas Eve. This is one of several days that children receive gifts. The children leave their shoes by the fireplace in hope of receiving special treats. It is believed that France is the first country to begin leaving gifts in the name of St. Nicholas. This custom is popular in many other countries today. Christmas Eve is when parents leave toys, fruit, and candy for the children to find the next day; usually, these are left on the branches of the Christmas tree. Friends and family members give gifts on New Year’s Day. The French also made the manger scene popular. Christmas trees are decorated with stars of many different colors, and the crèche (manger scene) is the center of the decorations. A few days before Christmas, the family carefully assembles the crèche and decorates it with evergreens and candles. Then they celebrate the birth of Christ by singing carols and rejoicing. Food is very important at the French celebration. Foods like Buche de Noel and Galette des Rois are made this time of year.

Activity: Make paper stars of various colors for the international tree.

Christmas in Italy is a solemn, yet festive, occasion. The first manger scene originated in Italy and was made by St. Francis of Assisi to encourage others to worship Jesus. Italy is credited with the first true Christmas carols. The Italian Christmas begins on the first Sunday of Advent. The nine days before Christmas include bagpipers in the streets, fireworks, bonfires, carols, and lots of lights. The manger scene or presepio is set up in homes without baby Jesus; then on Christmas Eve, the figure is passed around and put in the manger with songs and prayers. At 10 o’clock, Christmas Eve mass begins. January 6 is the traditional gift-giving day; however, some families give gifts on Christmas Day as well. These gifts come from Gesu Bambino or Baby Jesus. Christmas Day is a day of church, family, and feasting. The family eats pasta dishes and turkey. On January 6, children receive gifts from La Befana. Legend describes her as a tiny old woman who is dressed in black and rides on a broomstick. Tradition says the Befana was visited by the Three Kings in search of Jesus. They asked her to come along, but she was too busy working. She went to go with them later, but they were already gone. She still searches for them today. She leaves gifts for the good children and ashes or coal for the naughty ones.

Activity: Put a manger scene under the international tree.

“Merry Christmas” in German is Frohliche Weihnachten. One of our most important traditions, the Christmas tree, originated in Germany. In the sixteenth century, Martin Luther was the first person to bring an evergreen indoors. While he was outside on Christmas Eve, he was so moved by the tree against the starlight that he cut one down and brought it home. He put lighted candles on it to symbolize the stars over Bethlehem. Families would originally light trees only on Christmas Eve. They decorated them with apples, cookies, candies, and candles. The tradition of the Christmas tree spread to France and England, which is credited with adding the angel on top. There are many gift-bearers in Germany, depending on the various regions. Each one is a helper to Kirst Kindl or Christkindl, the Christ Child. These gifts are brought by a young child dressed in white and wearing a crown of candles. In other parts of Germany, Kris Kringle is the giftgiver. He may arrive by mule or white horse. The children leave goodies for him to eat and he, in turn, leaves gifts for the good children. If the children have been bad, then Hans Trapp leaves them switches.

Families in Germany use the advent wreath and light one candle each Sunday. The main celebration is on Christmas Eve, when the Germans decorate the tree, go to church, eat, sing, and give gifts.

Activity: Add dried apples or apple shaped ornaments to the international tree.

Felices Pascuas is “Merry Christmas” from Spain. Religious celebrations are predominant in mostly Catholic Spain. In Spain, Christmas is celebrated from December 24 to January 6. Public areas are decorated with life-size nativity scenes. Plays depicting the shepherds adoring Jesus are popular events. Spain uses many lights in its decorations. Christmas Eve is the “Good Night” and people fast all day, not eating until after midnight. Bells chime loudly at midnight, calling people to midnight mass. After mass the feasting begins. They have paella (a rice and seafood dish), fruits, candy, and chirimoyas (apple custard). Christmas Day is spent with friends and family. The Three Kings deliver gifts on the eve of January 5. The children leave their shoes out with hopes of finding them filled with toys and treats the next morning. On January 6, there is a parade with kings and animals up and down the streets.

Activity: Add bells to your international tree.

Feliz Navidad is the Christmas greeting in Mexico. Like Spain, Mexico is mostly Catholic. The Processions of Las Posadas are very important in Mexico. These processions symbolize the travels of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. People divide into two groups, the innkeepers and the travelers. Stopping places are chosen ahead of time. At each stop, the travelers are denied entry until the last stop, where the group is invited in for eating and celebrating. These processions occur December 16–24. The final celebration includes fried sugar tortillas, hot chocolate, and a piñata for the children to break open. After nine evenings of celebrating, Christmas Day is a quiet family time with feasting and reflection. On January 6, the children receive their gifts from the Three Kings. They leave their shoes out to be filled with gifts and treats. The poinsettia, the traditional Christmas plant, is native to Mexico, where it grows wild in damp areas. In 1829, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico brought the plant home to the U.S.

Activity: Play “innkeepers and travelers” using different rooms of your home. Add silk poinsettias to the international tree, or place a poinsettia plant beside the tree.

Almost half of Nigerians are Christians; therefore, many Christian customs are practiced in Nigeria. Large church pageants are performed and used to spread the gospel to non-believers. Instead of gifts, Nigerians often give food on Christmas Day. They make extra of their favorite dishes and send portions to their friends and neighbors. Christmas afternoon, children go from house to house singing carols and anticipating candy or cookies in return. Music is important in Nigeria, and the drum and other instruments are used extensively in Christmas celebrations.

Activity: Have children create their own Christmas pageant using lots of music.

History of St. Nicholas

For centuries St. Nicholas has been associated with Christmas and gifts. His name, originally from the Latin, Sanctus Nicolaus, has had various forms, including the German Sankt Nikolaus, Dutch Sinter Klaas, finally becoming our modern “Santa Claus.” Although he is regarded as a myth, there actually was a real St. Nicholas, an early Christian who lived during the fourth century.

Nicholas, the only child of wealthy Christian parents, was born at the end of the third century at Patara, a port in the province of Lycia in Asia Minor. From early childhood his mother taught him the Scriptures. When both parents died during an epidemic, they left the young boy in possession of all their wealth.

Young Nicholas dedicated his life to God’s service and moved to Myra, the chief city of his province. One of Nicholas’s best characteristics was his unsurpassed generosity. In his youth he had met many people who were oppressed by poverty. As a result, he often went out in disguise and distributed presents, especially to children. Stories of Nicholas’s kindness and liberality soon spread. As a result, when unexpected gifts were received, he was given credit as the donor.