Christmas Around the World - Cultural Celebrations

• New lesson editor
• Christmas
• PSHE
• +1
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• BTEC, GCSE

Introduction

'Tis the season to make lessons interactive! Welcome to this lesson about Christmas traditions around the world. There is quite a lot of information packed into these slides it's deceptive! Hope you and your learners enjoy it. There is also a Christmas literature quiz on the English channel.

Instructions

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Ho ho ho! Welcome to this festive lesson!

It's about Christmas traditions around the world. It's intended to be inclusive and slightly deconstruct the typically hegemonic representation perpetuated by American movies!

Which is your favourite aspect of Christmas?

1

Don't really have one!

2

Presents!

3

Food and drink!

4

Spending time with family and friends

5

Giving gifts!

6

Christmas songs!

A very simple starter!

Learning Objectives

1. Identify different cultural Christmas traditions around the world.

2. Explain how historical or environmental factors shape each tradition.

3. Compare and reflect on the similarities and differences among these celebrations.

Learning objectives page

What words or traditions come to mind when you think of Christmas in other parts of the world?

A word cloud to check existing knowledge.

Some Christmas Traditions from Around the World

Mexico

Las Posadas (December 16–24)

Community re-enactment of Mary and Joseph seeking shelter each night in a procession of homes.

Includes songs, prayer, breaking piñatas (often star-shaped), and sharing refreshments.

Catalonia

The “Caga Tió” – a smiling, decorated log that ‘poops’ treats when beaten.

Japan

Christmas Eve is festive but commercial—many families enjoy KFC, thanks to a marketing campaign.

Philippines

Giant Lantern Festival & Simbang Gabi

The Giant Lantern Festival lights up San Fernando with enormous, star-shaped, colourful lanterns.

Simbang Gabi: Nine dawn masses from December 16 to 24, followed by local delicacies.

Iceland

Yule Lads & Jólabókaflóð

Yule Lads: 13 mischievous characters visit on the nights before Christmas, leaving gifts or potatoes in shoes.

Jólabókaflóð: Book-giving on Christmas Eve followed by an evening of reading.

Australia

In Australia Christmas dinner is a beach barbecue.

Kenya

Many Kenyans return to rural hometowns for an extended family reunion lasting until New Year.

Nyama choma (grilled goat or beef) is a festive favourite, often enjoyed with kachumbari (salad) and ugali.

Click on the hotspots to reveal the facts!

Do you have any traditions, either cultural or even particular to your family you observe?

Research and share a global Christmas fact!

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Added a timer here to put a bit of pressure on the research activity. You may allow Internet searches on student devices, completely up to you!

Do you have any traditions, either cultural or even particular to your family you observe?

Do you have any traditions you observe at this time of year? They may be cultural or particular to your family.

This should generate some discussion....it may be something culturl or unique to a family, such as the Christmas Even Pyjama one!

Put these countries in order of when children receive gifts!

1

Christmas Eve - Germany, Poland, parts of Scandinavia

2

Epiphany/Three Kings' Day -Spain/Latin America

3

Sinterklaas - Netherlands

4

Christmas Day - UK, USA, lots of others....

5

Genna/Orthodox Christmas - Ethiopia, Eastern Europe

Sorting activity.

Answers!

1. 5 December – Sinterklaas (Netherlands)

2. 24 December – Christmas Eve (Germany, Poland, Scandinavia)

3. 25 December – Christmas Day (UK, USA, many countries)

4. 6 January – Epiphany / Three Kings’ Day (Spain, Latin America)

5. 7 January – Genna / Orthodox Christmas (Ethiopia, Eastern Europe)

Extra information - you could reorder this slide to quckly show the answers first.

It's not just Santa who delivers gifts!

Western and Northern Europe

aint Nicholas / Sinterklaas (Netherlands, Belgium, parts of Germany, Dec 5–6)

Arrives on a white horse, helped by companions.

Leaves gifts in shoes.

Christkind / Christkindl (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Dec 24)

Angelic child figure, associated with baby Jesus.

Brings gifts secretly on Christmas Eve.

Weihnachtsmann (Germany)

Santa Claus-like figure who delivers presents on Dec 24.

Yule Lads (Iceland, Dec 12–24)

13 mischievous troll brothers who visit children one by one before Christmas.

Leave gifts (or potatoes if children misbehave).

Nordic countries

Joulupukki (Finland, Dec 24)

“Christmas Goat,” later merged with Santa Claus traditions.

Travels with reindeer, knocks on doors, and asks: “Are there any well-behaved children here?”

Tomte / Nisse (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Dec 24)

Gnome-like household spirits who bring small presents.

Expect a bowl of porridge left out as thanks.

Eastern Europe

Ded Moroz (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Jan 1 / New Year’s Eve)

“Grandfather Frost,” often accompanied by his granddaughter Snegurochka.

Brings gifts during New Year celebrations.

St. Basil (Greece, Jan 1)

Associated with New Year’s Day.

Brings gifts in honour of Saint Basil the Great.

Southern Europe and Mediterranean

La Befana (Italy, Jan 6, Epiphany)

Kind old witch who rides a broomstick.

Brings gifts to good children and coal to naughty ones.

Los Reyes Magos / Three Kings (Spain, Latin America, Jan 6)

The Three Wise Men bring gifts during Epiphany celebrations.

Latin America

Niño Dios / El Niño Jesús (Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Dec 24–25)

Baby Jesus himself is considered the gift-bringer.

Three Kings (Jan 6) – Huge parades and celebrations mark their arrival.

Africa

Strongly influenced by British traditions.

Gift-giving often blends with local summer celebrations (braais, beach picnics).

(In many African countries, imported traditions like Santa Claus mix with strong local food, dance, and festival customs instead of unique gift-bringers.)

Australia

Santa swaps out the reindeer for six white kangaroos!

Click on the hotspots to reveal fun facts and images.

Which aspect or value of global Christmas would you like to try and why?

Exit ticket time!

For more topical lessons, visit the LessonUp UK Spotlight channel!

Thank you for using this lesson and I wish you a happy festive time!