Christmas Around the World
A world of activities and Internet sites focused on the traditions and spirit of Christmas!
On Christmas morning, boys and girls around the world will waken early and run excitedly downstairs to see what Santa Claus has left for them...
Well, that's not exactly how it goes -- for around the world children celebrate the Christmas holidays in many different ways.
In Germany, the 6th of December is a special day:
...
There's a special tradition all over Germany on December 6th. [On] the evening of December 5th you put your cleaned (big) boots outside the house in front of the door (or inside). Some people also put a plate there or on the windowsill. The bread in the plate is for the white horse of Santa Claus ... In the morning you see that Santa Claus really was at your house and put nice things into the boots or plates, e.g., all kinds of nuts, oranges, apples, sweets, chocolate, small presents ... But if you [weren't] well behaved the whole year you only get a switch so that your parents can punish you, but they don't!
Kristine and Wiebke, Germany
And in Italy, January 6th is a day long-awaited by many children:
The 6th of January is the day on which the three Wise Men arrive at the Bethlehem cave in which kid Jesus is and give him gold, incense and myrrh and for this reason in Italy children receive presents traditionally brought by the "Befana," a good old witch who comes into their homes through the chimney. This is the last day to the Christmas holiday in Italy.
Elisbetta, Italy
In Sweden, December 13th is a special day that children look forward to all year long:
Saint Lucia [Day] is celebrated all over Sweden on December 13th. The custom with the girl dressed in white with candles on her head has a complicated background ... In our school we celebrate Saint Lucia Day outside very early in the morning while it's still dark. Our Saint Lucia is coming in a carriage pulled by a very small horse. She is followed by Santa Claus on a big horse and a lot of girls and boys in white gowns and a lot of candles. They all sing traditional Christmas songs and read poems. After the ceremony we all eat ginger cookies and bread with saffron. To celebrate is very important to Swedish people.
You can read all about these Christmas celebrations and others around the world on the Multicultural Calendar a Web site devoted to explanations (most of them kid-written) of holiday celebrations. Kids around the world are invited to post their own messages telling about their special ways of celebrating all year long!
Want to read explanations of a few more December celebrations around the world? Click here to read about Christmas celebrations in Mexico, Denmark, and Australia. Then visit the Multicultural Calendar Web site for many more. On the site you can view holiday entries from around the world organized by month, by holiday, or by country.
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Sandra,
Tim's better half and Mommy to Michael
Join us for the month of December, as we explore a Month of Multicultural Holiday Celebrations including Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa!
Click here for KIDS Holiday Fun
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
CHECK OUT
Michael's webpage
Our NEW Family Webpage!***updated NOVEMBER 20th***
My Parenting Journal
Moderator of
RAINY DAY ACTIVITIES
Co-Moderator of
CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
and RELATIONSHIPS
A world of activities and Internet sites focused on the traditions and spirit of Christmas!
On Christmas morning, boys and girls around the world will waken early and run excitedly downstairs to see what Santa Claus has left for them...
Well, that's not exactly how it goes -- for around the world children celebrate the Christmas holidays in many different ways.
In Germany, the 6th of December is a special day:
...
There's a special tradition all over Germany on December 6th. [On] the evening of December 5th you put your cleaned (big) boots outside the house in front of the door (or inside). Some people also put a plate there or on the windowsill. The bread in the plate is for the white horse of Santa Claus ... In the morning you see that Santa Claus really was at your house and put nice things into the boots or plates, e.g., all kinds of nuts, oranges, apples, sweets, chocolate, small presents ... But if you [weren't] well behaved the whole year you only get a switch so that your parents can punish you, but they don't!
Kristine and Wiebke, Germany
And in Italy, January 6th is a day long-awaited by many children:
The 6th of January is the day on which the three Wise Men arrive at the Bethlehem cave in which kid Jesus is and give him gold, incense and myrrh and for this reason in Italy children receive presents traditionally brought by the "Befana," a good old witch who comes into their homes through the chimney. This is the last day to the Christmas holiday in Italy.
Elisbetta, Italy
In Sweden, December 13th is a special day that children look forward to all year long:
Saint Lucia [Day] is celebrated all over Sweden on December 13th. The custom with the girl dressed in white with candles on her head has a complicated background ... In our school we celebrate Saint Lucia Day outside very early in the morning while it's still dark. Our Saint Lucia is coming in a carriage pulled by a very small horse. She is followed by Santa Claus on a big horse and a lot of girls and boys in white gowns and a lot of candles. They all sing traditional Christmas songs and read poems. After the ceremony we all eat ginger cookies and bread with saffron. To celebrate is very important to Swedish people.
You can read all about these Christmas celebrations and others around the world on the Multicultural Calendar a Web site devoted to explanations (most of them kid-written) of holiday celebrations. Kids around the world are invited to post their own messages telling about their special ways of celebrating all year long!
Want to read explanations of a few more December celebrations around the world? Click here to read about Christmas celebrations in Mexico, Denmark, and Australia. Then visit the Multicultural Calendar Web site for many more. On the site you can view holiday entries from around the world organized by month, by holiday, or by country.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Sandra,
Tim's better half and Mommy to Michael
Join us for the month of December, as we explore a Month of Multicultural Holiday Celebrations including Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa!
Click here for KIDS Holiday Fun
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
CHECK OUT
Michael's webpageOur NEW Family Webpage!***updated NOVEMBER 20th***
My Parenting Journal
Moderator of
RAINY DAY ACTIVITIESCo-Moderator of
CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
and RELATIONSHIPS
