Christmas Around the World

Click ME! What are Winter Holidays?

Click on a part of the map to learn about that country's winter holiday traditions.

Holidays Around the World

Christmas is a popular holiday in Mexico, Central, and South America. These Spanish speaking countries have many similar traditions to America, with a few special traditions. In Mexico, a large symbol of Christmas is the Poinsettia. Listen to the story "The Legend of the Poinsettia" to learn more about this symbol of winter holidays.

Let's Explore: Mexico- Christmas

In Mexico, many Catholics celebrate Las Posadas. Las Posadas is a Christian based religious festival that lasts for nine days, from December 16 to 24. The holiday commemorates the journey of Mary and Joseph to the inn where baby Jesus was born. Posada means "inn" in Spanish. The holiday is celebrated with a holiday procession, similar to a parade. A house is chosed to be the "posada". Christmas Eve is the last day of the celebration, ending with families placing baby Jesus into a Nativity scene. Fireworks, pinatas, and food are common when celebrating Las Posadas.

Let's Explore: Mexico - Las Posadas

Celebrated from October to Novemeber, Diwali is a Hindu festival that lasts for five days. Known as the "festival of lights", the holiday marks the beginning of the New Year. People will spend time making goals and celebrating new beginnings.

Let's Explore: Indai - Diwali

Father Christmas comes to visit children on December 24th. While he might go by a different name, Santa still brings presents and puts them under the tree. There are many popular traditions used to celebrate Christmas in Germany, that you may be familiar with. Click on each one to explore more!

Let's Explore: Germany

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. This holiday is celebrated by Muslims, worldwide, but is very popular in Iran and Saudi Arabia. This holiday is one of the 5 pillars of the Muslim faith, so it is very important to them! This holiday is celebrated with a month of fasting (sawm), praryer, reflection, and community.

Let's Explore: Iran - Ramadan

Hanukkah is a Jewish celebration during winter. This holiday celebrates joy and pride. This holiday lasts for 8 nights, which is signified by eight lights on the Menorah. The 9th candle is called the "shamash" or "helper candle" and is used to light the other candles. Otherwise known as the "festival of lights" this holiday is a celebration of familiy and a time of prayer.

Let's Explore: Israel - Hanukkah

Egypt celebrates Christmas, though it is a bit different than in America. In Egypt, Christmas is celebrated on January 7th. While Santa still visits children, he does things a bit different here. Santa, called "Baba Noel", will leave presents for children. But, instead of climbing down the chimney, Santa will climb through the window!

Let's Explore: Egypt

In Asian countries, such as China, many families celebrate the Lunar New Year. This holiday celebrates the hard work that people have done in the previous year, and lets families celebrate the year to come. In the Chinese culture, the Lunar New Year is often celebrated with a parade. This parade will often include dragons, fireworks, and red envelopes. The Lunar New Year is celebrated for 15 days and ends with a traditional Lantern Festival.

Let's Explore: China

Australia is on the otherside of the world! So while it is cold in America, it is hot in Australia. This means that Christmas is celebrated during the summer! Instead of taking a sleigh, Santa comes to Australia riding on a surfboard!

Let's Explore: Australia

Celebrated from Decemember 26 to January 1st, Kwanzaa is a 7 day celebration. This holiday focuses on the 7 principals on how to live a good life. Kwanzaa celebrates the African culture. On the 6th night there is a large feast, called Kuumba, to celebrate family and friends.

Let's Explore: The United StatesKwanzaa

There are MANY holiday traditions that are used during winter to celebrate Christmas in America. Click on the pictures to explore each one!

Let's Explore: The United States Christmas

In Sweden Christmas, is also called "Jul", and is celebrated on St. Lucia's Day. Gifts are brought to childen by a young girl named Lucia. She was known to deliver food to people who had been treated badly due to their faith.

Let's Explore: Sweden

Email Katie.Nehring@tylerisd.org if you have questions.

How to Use

Click interactive elements. To return to the main menu you will always click the house in the bottom corner.

• Complete all countries
• Have fun!
• Earn Stamps on your passport to travel around the world.

Many Americans celebrate Christmas by singing Christmas Carols. These songs may be played on the radio, but some people go from house to house singing to bring Christmas joy. (1:10 to 1:30)

Christmas Trees

In Germany, the tree is used to keep presents under. Families come together to make ornaments to hang from the tree's branches. A unique tradition, German families will hide a "pickle" in the tree. The child who finds it the first gets an extra present!

St. Lucia

Email Katie.Nehring@tylerisd.org if you have questions.

How to Use

Click interactive elements. To return to the main menu you will always click the house in the bottom corner.

• Complete all countries
• Have fun!
• Earn Stamps on your passport to travel around the world.

The Lunar New Year ends with a lantern festivle. Families send their past troubles, and make wishes for the future, away as they begin the new year.

Email Katie.Nehring@tylerisd.org if you have questions.

How to Use

Click interactive elements. To return to the main menu you will always click the house in the bottom corner.

• Complete all countries
• Have fun!
• Earn Stamps on your passport to travel around the world.

Christmas Trees

In Germany, the tree is used to keep presents under. Families come together to make ornaments to hang from the tree's branches. A unique tradition, German families will hide a "pickle" in the tree. The child who finds it the first gets an extra present!

Email Katie.Nehring@tylerisd.org if you have questions.

How to Use

Click interactive elements. To return to the main menu you will always click the house in the bottom corner.

• Complete all countries
• Have fun!
• Earn Stamps on your passport to travel around the world.

Email Katie.Nehring@tylerisd.org if you have questions.

How to Use

Click interactive elements. To return to the main menu you will always click the house in the bottom corner.

• Complete all countries
• Have fun!
• Earn Stamps on your passport to travel around the world.

Email Katie.Nehring@tylerisd.org if you have questions.

How to Use

Click interactive elements. To return to the main menu you will always click the house in the bottom corner.

• Complete all countries
• Have fun!
• Earn Stamps on your passport to travel around the world.

Woven Heart Baskets Kids make woven heart baskets to hang around the house. These baskets will get filled with treats.

Email Katie.Nehring@tylerisd.org if you have questions.

How to Use

Click interactive elements. To return to the main menu you will always click the house in the bottom corner.

• Complete all countries
• Have fun!
• Earn Stamps on your passport to travel around the world.

Christmas Trees

In Germany, the tree is used to keep presents under. Families come together to make ornaments to hang from the tree's branches. A unique tradition, German families will hide a "pickle" in the tree. The child who finds it the first gets an extra present!

Email Katie.Nehring@tylerisd.org if you have questions.

How to Use

Click interactive elements. To return to the main menu you will always click the house in the bottom corner.

• Complete all countries
• Have fun!
• Earn Stamps on your passport to travel around the world.

Email Katie.Nehring@tylerisd.org if you have questions.

How to Use

Click interactive elements. To return to the main menu you will always click the house in the bottom corner.

• Complete all countries
• Have fun!
• Earn Stamps on your passport to travel around the world.

The dragon is an important symbol. The dragon stands for wisdom,power, and wealth. The dragon is used so that it will scare off "evil" as we enter a new year.

Advent Calendar

Similar to Christmas traditions, children will often make advent calendars for Ramadan! These calendars help children, and their families, count down the days of their fasting,

Email Katie.Nehring@tylerisd.org if you have questions.

How to Use

Click interactive elements. To return to the main menu you will always click the house in the bottom corner.

• Complete all countries
• Have fun!
• Earn Stamps on your passport to travel around the world.

Advent Calendar

An Advent calendar is used a popular tradition in Germany. These calendars can look very different, but they all are used to count down the days until Father Christmas comes. Everyday, children can get a sweet treat as they count down to Christmas.

Email Katie.Nehring@tylerisd.org if you have questions.

How to Use

Click interactive elements. To return to the main menu you will always click the house in the bottom corner.

• Complete all countries
• Have fun!
• Earn Stamps on your passport to travel around the world.

What are holidays do you know that happen in December? -Let's watch the video to hear about what winter holidays are in December. Then we will explore how they are celebrated around the world!

Kids leave stocking by the chimney for Santa to leave presents in.

Red Envelopes

It is a tradition that family members will give red envelopes to kids during the Lunar New Year. These envelopes will have money inside, to bring wealth to kids as they start a new year.

Gingerbread Cookies

Many children decorate Gingerbread cookies and houses during the Christmas season.

In America, Christmas lights are a BIG DEAL! Houses will decorate their houses with lights, music, and other interactive holiday pictures. Watch the video to see how cool people make these light shows! This house even used drones!

How to Use

Click interactive elements. To return to the main menu you will always click the house in the top corner.

• Complete all countries
• Red is Christmas, Green are Winter holidays
• Have fun!
• Earn Stamps on your passport to travel around the world.

The "Tomte"

People put a "Tomte" outside their house to protect them