As we near the holiday season and winter break, one activity that can put students in the holiday spirit, while still being educational, is teaching about researching and asking students to use credible sources to find out how different parts of the world celebrate whatever holiday they choose, be it Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukah, or something else. Here are some Christmas customs from around the world to get you and your students started.
Greece
Greeting - Eftihismena Christougenna
Food - Special holiday cakes are baked.
Gifts - Most Greek people exchange gifts on Saint Basil's Day, January 1.
Customs - To honor Saint Basil, the holiday cakes have gold coins hidden inside them. The cakes are cut at midnight on New Year's Eve, and whoever has a gold coin in his piece of cake will have good luck the following year.
Japan
Greeting - Kurisumasu Omedeto
Santa's Name - Santa Kurohsu. He does not appear in person but is pictured in advertisements as a kind old man with a round sack on his back.
Food - Depending upon the family's custom, they eat turkey on Christmas Day or on Christmas Eve. Japanese families also eat Christmas cake.
Gifts - Stores sell merchandise for men, women, and children; and on Christmas Day, families exchange gifts.
Decorations - More and more artificial Christmas trees are beginning to appear. They are decorated with small toys, gold paper fans, dolls, lanterns, paper ornaments, and wind chimes. A popular ornament is the origami swan. Other decorations are mistletoe, evergreen, tinsel, and lights. An amulet is put on the front door for good luck, and children exchange "birds of peace," pledging there must not be anymore war.
Customs - The daiku, or Great Nine, refers to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, which is performed at many places.
Mexico
Greeting - Feliz Navidad
Customs - Beginning on December 15 and continuing until Christmas Eve, some families carry colorful lanterns and walk from house to house in their neighborhoods each night. This is called La Posada, which means "the procession." On each of the nights, the families are invited into different houses where they become guests at a party. There is plenty to eat and drink. Children play the pinata game, trying to break open the papier-mache figure with a stick while blindfolded. When it is cracked open, candies and small gifts fall out.