Christmas Traditions Around the World

Name: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________

Instructions:

During our lesson, we learned about some truly unique Christmas traditions from different countries. Think about what we discussed and answer the questions below.

1. Out of all the traditions we explored today, which one did you find the most interesting or surprising?

1. Describe the tradition you chose in detail. Where is it practiced? What happens? Who participates?

1. Why did this particular tradition stand out to you? What makes it unique or special?

1. How is this tradition similar to or different from Christmas traditions you are familiar with?

Script for Christmas Around the World

Warm-Up: What Comes to Mind? (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Let's kick off our lesson today with a quick thought experiment. When you hear the word 'Christmas,' what's the very first thing that pops into your head? Shout it out, or raise your hand!"

(Allow students to share a few ideas – common responses might be Santa, presents, snow, trees, family, etc.)

Teacher: "That's great! It seems like many of us have similar ideas about Christmas. But did you know that what we think of as 'Christmas' isn't the same for everyone around the world? Today, we're going on a quick trip to see how different cultures celebrate this festive time of year."

Explore Global Traditions (Slide Deck & Discussion) (15 minutes)

(Transition to the Christmas Around the World Slide Deck.)

Slide 1: Christmas Around the World?

Teacher: "Here's our big question for today: What does Christmas mean to you? And how does that compare to what it means to others? Let's dive in!"

Slide 2: Beyond the Sleigh & Snow

Teacher: "As you can see, Christmas traditions can be very different. It's not always about Santa and reindeer. Get ready to have your minds opened!"

Slide 3: Sweden: The Yule Goat

Teacher: "First stop, Sweden! Take a look at this. This is the Yule Goat, or 'Julbocken.' It's a huge straw goat that's a major Christmas symbol there. Does anyone know anything about goats in folklore or traditions?"

(Allow for brief discussion.)

Teacher: "This tradition goes back to ancient pagan festivals. Imagine seeing a giant straw goat in your town square during the holidays! How is this different from decorations you might see here?"

Slide 4: Japan: KFC for Christmas?!

Teacher: "Now, this one might surprise you. In Japan, a super popular Christmas Eve tradition is to eat... KFC fried chicken! Yes, you heard that right. It all started with a clever marketing campaign in the 1970s, and now it's a huge custom. What do you usually eat for special holiday meals? How does KFC compare?"

(Encourage surprised reactions and discussion.)

Slide 5: Italy: La Befana

Teacher: "Moving to Italy, children here don't wait for Santa. Instead, they look forward to 'La Befana,' a kind witch who flies on a broomstick! She delivers gifts and candy on Epiphany Eve, which is January 5th. What do you think about a witch bringing gifts instead of Santa Claus?"

(Discuss different gift-givers in folklore.)

Slide 6: The Gävle Goat Incident

Teacher: "Let's go back to Sweden for a moment, to the town of Gävle. This Yule Goat has a bit of a rebellious history. Almost every year, despite all efforts to protect it, someone manages to illegally burn it down before Christmas! It's become a strange sort of annual 'event.' Why do you think people keep trying to burn it? And why do they keep rebuilding it?"

(This slide offers a humorous and intriguing anecdote.)

Slide 7: Catalonia: Caga Tió

Teacher: "Alright, for our last tradition, we're heading to Catalonia, Spain. This is probably the most unique of all. Families here have a log with a painted face called 'Caga Tió,' which translates to 'the pooping log'! Children 'feed' it every night before Christmas, keep it warm with a blanket, and then, on Christmas Eve, they beat it with sticks while singing songs to make it 'poop' presents! What are your initial reactions to this tradition?"

(Allow for laughter and genuine curiosity. This is often a memorable one!)

Slide 8: A World of Christmas!

Teacher: "Wow, from magical logs to fried chicken and friendly witches, we've seen that Christmas is celebrated in countless unique and wonderful ways worldwide! It really shows how rich and diverse our global cultures are."

Worksheet: My Favorite Tradition (7 minutes)

Teacher: "Now it's your turn to reflect. I'm going to hand out a worksheet. On it, I want you to choose one of the traditions we discussed today – whether it was the Yule Goat, KFC, La Befana, Caga Tió, or anything else we mentioned – and describe it in your own words. Then, explain why that particular tradition stood out to you. Take about 7 minutes to work on this independently."

(Distribute Christmas Traditions Worksheet. Circulate around the room, offering help and prompting students who might be stuck.)

Cool-Down: One Word Summary (3 minutes)

Teacher: "Alright, bring your attention back up here for a moment. To wrap up, I want each of you to think of just one word that summarizes what you learned or how you felt about exploring these global Christmas traditions today. We'll go around the room quickly."

(Go around the room, allowing each student to share one word. Collect the Christmas Traditions Worksheet as students finish.)

Teacher: "Excellent job today, everyone! You've shown great curiosity and openness to understanding cultures different from our own. Have a wonderful rest of your day!"