Learn About Christmas Around the World

One of the fun things about teaching during the holidays is getting to learn about traditions that come from other parts of the world from where you live. My daughter’s class last year learned about the Feast of St. Nicholas and the fun traditions that go along with that celebration from a classmate whose mother is from the Czech Republic. The school also does a Christmas around the world day, where each classroom represents a different country, which is a lot of fun.

Whether you have a class full of kids or your own children, learning about how other people celebrate Christmas and other holidays can add meaning to your own celebrations.

There’s a great collection of information on celebrating Christmas around the world at 123 Homeschool for Me. This fantastic resource includes a free ebook with coloring sheets and writing prompts, as well as links to information on the holidays in more than 30 countries, from Brazil to Scotland, Kenya to Egypt and many more.

Pick a couple of countries from your heritage or that your kids are particularly interested in to learn about, or tackle as many as you can between now and Christmas.

Does your family have any holiday traditions that have been passed down in your family or home country? I’d love to hear about them!

[Photo via 123 Homeschool for Me.]

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Books about Passover for Kids

The celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe is important throughout Mexico and other parts of the world. Her feast day is Dec. 12, and the celebrations honoring her appearance to Juan Diego in 1531 begin a few days before that.

Whether you celebrate yourself or just want to share about the celebration at home or in your classroom, Las Mañanitas: The Beautiful Celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a good place to start. The book, by Ernesto Joel Vega Rosales and Jeanette Gonzalez Seneviratne, with illustrations by Dana Sanmar, tells the story of a family’s celebration of the feast day in both English and Spanish.

They prepare with a novena, which is nine days of prayers and preparations. The children, Lucia and Pablo, are given special outfits made by their grandmother that look like what Juan Diego might have worn when he saw Our Lady. The book describes the prayers that are made each day, such as a prayer for respect for life, for families and for the indigenous people of the Americas, to name a few.

As told in the book, Juan Diego was a native Mexican born near modern day Mexico City. His given name was Cuaauhtlatoatzin, which means “He who speaks like an eagle.” When he converted to Christianity his name was changed to Juan Diego, and as he walked to church he passed a hill called Tepeyac. One day he heard the birds singing especially beautifully and a voice called him to go to the top of the hill.

There he saw Our Lady of Guadalupe, who asked him to tell the bishop she wanted a chapel built in her name at the foot of the hill. The bishop asked for a sign that Juan Diego really saw her, and later she had him collect flowers that she blessed and take them to the bishop. When Juan Diego dropped the flowers, an image of Our Lady could be seen on his cloak, which is still on display in her basilica to this day.

The feast day is celebrated as mañanitas, which includes singing, indigenous music and dancing, and children presenting flowers to Our Lady. Juan Diego is remembered today as being humble, brave and faithful, and was the first indigenous American made a saint.

The book is colorful and tells the story in a clear way, and it’s fun to have it both in English and Spanish if you teach Spanish or speak Spanish at home or in the classroom. It’s a great way to learn the basics of the celebration and the story of Juan Diego and why he is still remembered today.

About the book: 40 pages, paperback, published 2024 by Loyola Press. Suggested retail price $14.99.

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