Celebrating Christmas Around the World: Get Your Students Ready for a Global Holiday Adventure
Celebrating Christmas Around the World: Get Your Students Ready for a Global Holiday Adventure
As the holiday season approaches, what better way to engage your students by taking them on a global Christmas adventure without having to leave your classroom? Use this time of year to help your students learn about Christmas traditions from various cultures. In this post, inspired by the latest episode of Teacher Show Me the World, I will share seven creative and engaging ways to introduce your students to Christmas customs around the world—sure to inspire them to learn and engage.
1. Create a Christmas Traditions Worksheet
A classic and effective approach is to create a worksheet (this is a fun document I made about Christmas traditions in Australia and New Zealand for my travelers) that highlights the Christmas traditions of the country you’ll be visiting. This activity can feature unique customs, such as special meals, decorations, and holiday practices. For example, if you're planning a trip to Germany, include details about their famous Christmas markets , where people gather to buy handcrafted goods, sip mulled wine, and enjoy carolers.
By comparing these German traditions with the more commercialized holiday shopping scene in the United States, you’ll show your students how culture, history, and geography can shape a country’s holiday celebrations. It’s a fun, hands-on way to build excitement for the upcoming trip while deepening cultural understanding.
2. Virtual Travel with Live Christmas Village Cameras
Imagine having your students feel like they’re already experiencing the magic of Christmas in another country—without leaving the classroom! Thanks to live webcams of Christmas villages around the world, you can bring the holiday spirit into your lesson plans.
For instance, if you're headed to the Czech Republic, show your students footage of the Old Town Square Christmas Market in Prague. It’s a beautiful place, with its towering tree and festive wooden stalls. Ask your students to compare the live footage with traditional U.S. Christmas celebrations. In America, lights, trees, and Santa Claus often dominate, but in places like the Czech Republic, nativity scenes and folk traditions play a more central role. It's a great way to encourage cross-cultural comparisons and spark conversation.
3. Share Christmas Dessert Recipes
Who doesn’t love a delicious holiday treat? Food is an excellent way to connect students to culture, and Christmas desserts vary wildly from country to country. Why not introduce a few to your class?
Take Italy, for example, where people often indulge in panettone, a sweet, fluffy bread filled with dried fruit, which is a hallmark of Italian Christmas celebrations. Contrast this with traditional American favorites like sugar cookies or pumpkin pie. Invite your students to research the ingredients in these treats and discuss how they reflect the history and culture of the country. Bonus points if you encourage your students to try making these desserts at home with their families!
4. Christmas Ornaments and Cultural Connections
Let’s get crafty! Hands-on activities are a fantastic way to engage students, and when it comes to Christmas, decorating ornaments from another culture adds an educational twist.
For example, if you’re traveling to Mexico, invite your students to make piñata ornaments, a colorful, festive decoration tied to Las Posadas, a celebration leading up to Christmas. You can even create a classroom tree adorned with ornaments that represent the countries you're visiting. Students can learn about Spanish nativity scenes, Scandinavian paper stars, or German wooden figurines while crafting their unique decorations.
This activity not only gives students an opportunity to connect with different holiday traditions but also fosters creativity and cultural appreciation.
5. Invite a Guest Speaker from the Country
One of the most memorable ways to bring Christmas traditions to life is by inviting a guest speaker who has firsthand knowledge of the culture you're studying. For example, if you're heading to Finland, you could have a guest talk about the Finnish version of Santa Claus, Joulupukki, who hails from Lapland. This Santa isn’t just a jolly man in a red suit—he’s deeply tied to Finnish folklore and mythology.
Hearing stories from someone who has experienced these traditions firsthand can make the customs feel more real and tangible for your students. Plus, it provides an opportunity for your students to ask questions and gain deeper insights into the culture.
6. Research Saint Nicholas Traditions
Saint Nicholas is a beloved figure around the world, but did you know that each country has its own unique way of celebrating him? Take Iceland, for instance, where children eagerly await the arrival of the Yule Lads. These 13 mischievous characters each have their own quirky personalities, from stealing sausages to slamming doors!
Have your students research how different countries celebrate Saint Nicholas, whether it’s the arrival of Sinterklaas by boat in Holland or the festivities in Germany, where he visits children on the night of December 6th. This is a great way to spark curiosity and deepen students' understanding of how global Christmas traditions can differ in fun and fascinating ways.
7. Explore Christmas Music Around the World
Of course, no holiday celebration would be complete without music! Christmas carols vary greatly from country to country, and this is an excellent opportunity for your students to explore different cultural traditions through song.
In Germany, the classic carol O Tannenbaum celebrates the beauty of the Christmas tree, while in Australia, Christmas falls in the summer, so songs like Six White Boomers feature a sun-soaked Christmas at the beach with kangaroos instead of reindeer. Ask your students to listen to music from various countries and compare them to the familiar carols we sing in the U.S. It’s a fun way to experience different cultural expressions of the holiday season!
Get Your Students Excited for a Global Christmas Adventure Before Your Trip!
Exploring Christmas traditions from around the world can be a fantastic way to engage your students while building anticipation for a teacher-led student travel adventure. When preparing your students for their trip abroad, take advantage of these cultural enrichment opportunities that will get your classroom buzzing with excitement.
By integrating hands-on projects, virtual travel, and cultural exploration into your lessons, you’re not only teaching your students about holiday traditions, but also helping them understand the world beyond their own borders.
So, what are you waiting for? Start planning your global holiday adventure today, and give your students the gift of cultural awareness and excitement for the world around them. Happy holidays, and happy teaching!
Are you ready to dive deeper into teacher-led student travel resources? Check out more ways to inspire your students to travel, learn, and explore in future episodes of Teacher Show Me the World! Keep the global holiday spirit alive in your classroom and start planning your next adventure today!