How to Celebrate Christmas Around the World for Preschool
In the United States and many other countries, Christmas is traditionally held as the celebration of the birthday of Jesus Christ. Observed on Dec. 25 by Christians around the world, Christmas is commemorated differently in various cultures. Teaching preschool children how Christmas is celebrated around the world exposes them to how different cultures view similar ideologies.
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Crafts
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Create a craft project for children to execute, recognizing how people in other countries celebrate the holiday. For example, in Germany people decorate their windows with an “Adventskranz,” a wreath made of leaves holding four candles signifying the four-week period leading up to Christmas. Have the children recreate the wreaths and candles with construction paper and glue, adding a new candle at the beginning of each week.
Play Acting
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Have children act out traditions from other countries. As examples, Mexican children believe the three wise men, not Santa Claus, bring gifts to children. Canadians visit the homes of friends while wearing masks and the hosts must guess the identity of their visitors before the masks can be removed.
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Food
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Explore the holiday fests served in different countries. For example, in Finland a traditional holiday food, served on Christmas Eve, is a soup made from apples, apricots, figs, pears, plums and raisins. Have the children create the holiday treat by mixing the fruit with yogurt or rice pudding.
Gifts
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Most people around the world celebrate Christmas with the exchange of gifts, however, exchange customs often vary between countries. As examples, in some countries, such as Mexico and Romania, it is customary to place the gifts in shoes, instead of stockings as in the United States. Have the children remove their shoes at nap time. While they are sleeping, place small trinkets in their shoes without them knowing it and explain the significance when the gifts are discovered.
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