Christmas Around the World KS2

Aim:
• To understand that Christmas traditions vary around the world.

Twinkl resources
Christmas Topic Teaching Facts
The Nativity Christmas Story PowerPoint
Christmas around the World PowerPoint

Physical resources
Print out a handout copy of the PowerPoint slides, so you have the notes for each picture.
If your risk assessment allows, have a group of candles positioned on a table where the whole room can see.

Music
A series of traditional carols at several points during the assembly would be very appropriate, even if
not everyone knows the words. You could have the lyrics up on screen, or just let the children listen to a
performance on CD.

Introduction
Tell the children that today we’re going to be talking about Christmas traditions. Give them a moment to think
of what Christmas is like for them, and then collect a few ideas from around the room. Depending on how
multi-cultural your school is, you will already have a range of ideas.

Main assembly
Follow through our PowerPoint presentation, explaining what can be seen on each slide. Allow a little extra
time for any children of that particular background to share their own experience if possible. Finally, light
the candles (if you’re allowed!) and turn out the lights, or ask the children to imagine the hall lit only by
candlelight.

Conclusion
Talk about how our traditions and activities around Christmas have developed over the centuries, and that we
borrow from other cultures. Encourage the children to appreciate that other cultures’ ideas about Christmas
are just as fun and exciting as ours, even if they seem totally different.

Possible follow-on work

Make a Christingle
Paint or construct a crèche/nativity scene for your classroom.

Slide 1:
Christmas Around the World

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Christmas Around the World

Aim
• To understand that Christmas traditions vary around the world.

Slide 2:
LO: To understand that Christmas traditions vary around the world.

What Happens at Christmas?

Slide 3:
Do you have any Christmas traditions in your Family?
What do you do?

Do you have any Christmas traditions in your Family?

What do you do?

Slide 4: What Happens in Other Places

What do you think Christmas celebrations involve in different countries? What do you think Christmas celebrations
involve in different countries?
Let’s find out...

Traditionally in India, houses and streets are decorated with elaborate folded
paper stars.
Some traditions around the world are
very similar to ours, but others are
totally different.

Let’s find out...

Austria

Slide 5:
This traditional carol comes from Austria. Legend has it that it was composed
to be played on a rather battered organ, with not very many notes. Perhaps
the church mice had got so hungry they nibbled at the organ bellows!

India

Slide 6:
Traditionally in India, houses and streets are decorated with elaborate folded
paper stars.

India

Slide 7:
Also in India, sometimes people create nativity scenes in gardens and parks,
using mango trees and palms instead of fir trees.
Photo courtesy of innacoz (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution

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Christmas Around the World

Ireland

Slide 8:
Traditionally in Ireland, candles are lit in the windows to guide Mary and
Joseph to a safe resting place. They are often red, and decorated with
sprigs of holly.
Photo courtesy of Timo Newton-Syms (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution

West Indies

Slide 9:
In the West Indies, many homes are given a thorough cleaning before
decorating for Christmas. Sometimes, people even repaint whole rooms if
they think they do not look good enough!
Photo courtesy of Timo Newton-Syms (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution

Poland

Slide 10:
In Poland, some families hold a big Christmas feast on Christmas Eve. There
are usually at least 12 dishes served, often including a whole carp!
Photo courtesy of Suzette` Franck (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution

Sweden
Slide 11:
In some places in Sweden, on the feast of Saint Lucia (13th December),
the eldest daughter of each family dresses up with a wreath on her head
which holds lit candles. Traditionally, she serves coffee and special buns to
her family. Photo courtesy of Suzette` Franck (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution

Slide 12: Russia

Most countries with a Christmas tradition give presents. In Russia, they have
the story of Babouschka, and old lady who was too busy to help the wise
men look for the baby Jesus or give them food and shelter. Every Christmas,
she roams the countryside looking for the Christ Child, giving out presents to
children to make up for her mistakes. Photo courtesy of Sergey Norin (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution

South America

Slide 13:
In many south American countries, the creche or elaborate nativity scene
takes pride of place among the Christmas decorations in everyone’s home.

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Christmas Around the World

Spain
Slide 14:
Traditionally in Spain, the feast of Epiphany on 6th January is when children
leave ot their shoes or boots with hay and carrots for the horses of the Wise
Men. In the morning, children find their gifts have been replaced with little
presents, chocolate or money.

Slide 15: France

Traditionally the French celebrate the feast of Saint Nicholas – patron saint
of children - on 6th December, when children are given small presents and
sweets. St Nicholas rides around town in his sleigh. The festival celebrates
the story of St Nicholas rescuing 3 poor children from being eaten by a
wicked butcher!

Germany

Slide 16:
Decorating a fir tree at Christmas was introduced from Germany. Traditionally
in Germany, Christmas trees are not put up and decorated until Christmas
Eve, after which the family would go to church.

Slide 17: Germany

Many festivals celebrate with lights, and Christmas is no exception. The
Christingle tradition also came from Germany. The orange represents the
world and the candle Jesus, the light of the world. The red ribbon represents
the blood of Jesus, and goes all round the ‘world’ reminding Christians that
Jesus died for everyone. The four cocktail sticks are the four corners of the
world: and the sweets and dried fruit remind the faithful of God’s good gifts.
Photo courtesy of The Firs School (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution

Slide 18: Ethiopia

Christmas is celebrated on 7th January in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. It
is called Ganna or Genna.
Many Christians fast for up to 44 days before Christmas. During this time,
they don’t eat meat, fat, eggs and dairy products and they pray and try to do
good things. They break their fast with the Christmas feast. Photo courtesy of Peter Haden (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution

Slide 19: Botswana

Many people in Botswana travel to spend Christmas with their families. They
sometimes spend this time in their ancestral homelands, away from the cities.
Seswaa is a stew made with beef or goat meat that is very traditional at
Christmas. Barbecues or braai are also becoming more popular. People share
their feasts with the whole family or sometimes even the whole village.

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Slide 20:
Christmas is a very important religious festival for Christians in the Democratic
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo. It is traditional to have a Christmas feast with meat
(often chicken or goat) and to wear new clothes. Many people save up or buy
in advance as these things can become expensive at Christmas when lots of
people want them.
Many people attend church services on Christmas Eve. These can last into
the early hours of Christmas Day and feature choirs and nativity plays telling
the story of the Bible from the creation to after the birth of Jesus.

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