Christmas is a special time with unique celebrations around the world. It is a unique opportunity to teach your children geography, history, and cultural traditions. It is also a lot of fun! Here are some resources to get you started on your Christmas journey. For a country by country explaination of traditions in detail please visit Santa net.
Book List
Christmas Around the WorldCelebrate Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World Coloring Book (Dover Holiday Coloring Book)
Christmas Traditions Around the World (Holiday Readers)
Unit Studies
Free Christmas Around the World Unit & LapbookScary and Unusual Christmas Traditions Around the World
Did you know there is a legend that Santa defeated the devil and since
has been shackled and made Santa's slave? This devil character has made
its appearance in many parts of the world and is responsible for
punishing naughty children. The traditions and stories have changed
over the years. It is from this we see the Krampus and Black Pete.
Krampus : On the evening of 5 December, this unusual tradition begins which has Germanic roots, where Krampusnacht Krampus is said to punish naughty children. He is Santa's evil counterpart of sorts who travels with him. He puts naughty children in a sack to take back to his lair. Traditionally in Alpine countries, this scary character still makes appearances in winter celebrations despite some countries discouraging it. The basic concept is that Santa brings gifts to the good children and Krampus takes are of the naughty children.
Zwarte Piet or Black Pete: Originating in the Netherlands, Zwarte Pete, is Santa's evil companion who punishes naughty children. As time and tradition lived on...and controversy...Pete's role became a freed slave that was a helper to Santa. Due to many calling Black Pete's inclusion in Christmas racist controversies have loomed yet in many Dutch communities he is still a part of Christmas.
The Yule Lads: An Icelandic tradition concerning a group of trolls with unusual names such as Meat Snatcher (Kjötkrókur),
Skyr Gobbler (Skyrgámur), Candle Beggar (Kertasníkir),
Sheep-fold Sneaker (Stekkjarstaur), Ladle Licker (Þvörusleikir),
Pot Scraper (Pottaskefill), Bowl Licker (Askasleikir), Door
Slammer (Hurðaskellir), Sausage Snatcher (Bjúgnakrækir),
Window Peeper (Gluggagægir), Doorway Sniffer (Gáttaþefur).
Their brothers Stumpy (Stúfur) and Gully Gawk (Giljagaur). The Yule Lads are said to come with their Yuletide cat and punish bad children. Some say the cat would even eat naughty children. Over the years, the Yule Lads have changed from a scary tradition to mischievous but harmless gift givers.
Tio de Nadal: In many Catalan homes, beginning on December 8th, the Tio is given something to eat and covered with a blanket. The Tio is a log that stands on sticks and has a face at one end. On Christmas day, children beat the log with a stick until it defecates candies and gifts for the while family. The larger personal gifts are given by the Three Wise Men.
KFC Christmas: Far from scary in the traditional sense but many foodies may run for cover when they learn the most popular dish in Japan for Christmas dinner is none other then KFC. It is so popular that reservations have to be made for families to spend Christmas scarfing down fried chicken. Christmas is not a national holiday in Japan and has meaning only in the secular sense. This unusual meal became popular decades ago when travelers to Japan could not find a traditional whole chicken or whole turkey meal for the holidays. It was the closest thing and it caught on like wildfire.
Christmas Trees Around the World
Offbeat Traveler: Unusual Christmas trees around the world - latimes.com
Christmas Tree (and other) Traditions Around the World
Christmas trees around the world
Top 10 Most Unique Christmas Trees Around the World |
Christmas Food Traditions Around the World
Christmas Food Around the World - iVillage
Christmas food traditions from around the world
Christmas Holiday Recipes and Traditions around the World | Whats4Eats
Christmas Recipes at Santa's Net.
Food Lorists: Around the World in 80 Traditional Christmas Dishes
Santa Claus Around the World
,Santa Claus Around the World
Names for Santa Around the World — FactMonster.com
Top 10 Santa Legends From Around the World | Top 10 Lists | TopTenz.net
Santa around the world
Names for Santa Around the World
- Belgium~Pere Noel
- Brazil~Papai Noel
- Chile~Viejo Pascuero (“Old Man Christmas”)
- China~Dun Che Lao Ren (“Christmas Old Man”)
- Netherlands~Kerstman
- Finland~Joulupukki
- France~Pere Noel
- Germany~Weihnachtsmann (“Christmas Man”)
- Hawaii~Kanakaloka
- Hungary~Mikulas (St. Nicholas)
- Italy~Babbo Natale
- Japan~Hoteiosho (a god or priest who bears gifts)
- Norway~Julenissen (“Christmas gnome”)
- Poland~Swiety Mikolaj (St. Nicholas)
- Russia~Ded Moroz (“Grandfather Frost”)
- Sweden~Jultomten (“Christmas brownie”)
- United Kingdom~Father Christmas
How to say "Merry Christmas" around the World
Antarctica: - Merry Christmas, Felices Pasquas, Hristos RazdajetsjaAustralia: - Happy Christmas
Austria: - Frohe Weihnachten
Azerbaijan: - Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun
Burkina Faso: - Joyeux Noel
Barbados: - Merry Christmas
Bolivia: - Feliz Navidad
Chad: - Joyeux Noel, Mboni Chrismen
Chile: - Feliz Navidad China Sheng Tan Kuai Loh
Christmas Island: - Merry Christmas
Colombia: - Feliz Navidad para todos
Comoros: - Joyeux Noel, Mboni Chrismen
Congo: - Joyeux Noel
Denmark: - Glaedelig Jul
Djibouti: - Joyeux Noel, Mboni Chrismen
Egypt: - Mboni Chrismen
El Salvador: - Feliz Navidad
Equatorial Guinea: - Joyeux Noel, Feliz Navidad
Eritrea: - Melkam Yelidet Beaal, Poket Kristmet
Egypt: - Mboni Chrismen
El Salvador: - Feliz Navidad
Equatorial Guinea: - Joyeux Noel, Feliz Navidad
Eritrea: - Melkam Yelidet Beaal, Poket Kristmet
Guatemala: - Feliz Navidad
Guinea: - Joyeux Noel
Guinea-bissau: - Boas Festas
Guyana: - Merry Christmas
Hong Kong: - Sing dan fiy loc, Merry Christmas
Hungary: - Boldog Karácsonyt
Ireland: - Nollaig Shona dhuit
Israel: - Mo'adim Lesimkha
Italy: - Buon Natale
Jamaica: - Merry Christmas
Japan: - Merii Kurisumasu
Jordan: - Mboni Chrismen, Merry Christmas
Liechtenstein: - Frohliche Weihnachten
Lithuania: - Laimingu Kaledu
Luxembourg: - Schéi Krëschtdeeg
Madagascar: - Joyeux Noel, Arahaba tratry ny Krismasy
Malawi: - Merry Christmas, Moni Wa Chikondwelero Cha X'mas
New zealand: - Happy Christmas
Nicaragua: - Feliz Navidad
Niger: - Joyeux Noel
Nigeria: - Merry Christmas
Philippines: - Maligayang Pasko
Pitcairn: - Merry Christmas
Poland: - Boze Narodzenie
Portugal: - Boas Festas
South Africa: - Geseënde Kersfees, Happy Christmas
South Georgia and The South Sandwich Islands: - Happy Christmas
Spain: - Feliz Navidad
Sri Lanka: - Subha nath thalak Vewa, Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal
St. Helena: - Happy Christmas
St. Pierre and Miquelon: - Joyeux Noel
Thailand: - Ewadee Pe-e Mai
The Democratic Republic of The Congo: - Joyeux Noel
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: - Streken Bozhik
Uganda: - Webale Krismasi
Ukraine: - Veseloho Vam Rizdva
United Arab Emirates: - I'd miilad said oua sana saida
Vanuatu: - Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noel
Venezuela: - Feliz Navidad
Viet Nam: - Chuc mung Giang Sinh
Yemen: - Mboni Chrismen
Yugoslavia: - Cestitamo Bozic
Zambia: - Happy Christmas
Zimbabwe: - Happy Christmas
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