KS2 Winter Holiday Pack - Week 2

It's almost Christmas!

Sparkling lights, Christmas trees and presents are all things we might picture when we think about Christmas.

It is one of the biggest celebrations in the Christian calendar, marking the day Jesus was born.

And in the UK many people celebrate with the same traditions each year.

You might choose to wear a fun or colourful jumper.

(Child) ‘It says "Ho-ho-ho" here and here’.

(Child) ‘It's a reindeer and it's got a red nose’.

(Child) ‘And I'm wearing reindeer leggings’.

Family and friends come together on Christmas day to give presents and have a big meal together.

People put Christmas trees up in their homes covered in shiny decorations and twinkling lights too.

This tradition of bringing a tree into the home for Christmas is a very old one. It started in the UK in the late eighteenth century and became popular during the reign of Queen Victoria.

These children have helped to pick out a very special tree…

Every year since 1947, Norway has given a tree to the people of this country to say thank you for helping during World War II.

The tree is displayed in Trafalgar Square in London.

Today people celebrate Christmas like this all over the world, but there are also lots of other different traditions too!

In Mexico, in the lead up to Christmas Day, people take part in special processions.

This represents the journey Joseph and Mary made in search for a place to stay in Bethlehem. Jesus is represented by a wooden doll.

The procession visits friends’ and neighbours’ houses and everyone sings carols.

At the end, a few houses host a party. Pinata is a popular game that is played!

Then, on 24 December, Mexicans celebrate with a festival called the Night of the Radish. People carve these little vegetables into religious scenes.

In Mexico, the main festivities are celebrated on the 6th of January, also known as Three Kings Day.

On the evening of the 5 January, it is a tradition for children to leave their shoes out with a letter asking for the gifts they would like to receive.

And then everyone looks forward to eating a special cake called the Three Kings cake.

It’s made with fruit and nuts that represent the jewels of the Three Kings, and there is a small clay doll inside, representing Jesus.

In Japan, Christmas isn't a religious holiday, but it's still celebrated by many people.

There are lots of impressive light displays.

Like Mexicans, the Japanese have a favourite cake too, with red strawberries and white cream that represent the colours of Christmas.

And it is a tradition to eat fried chicken on Christmas day!

In Iceland, folklore tells of the Yule Troll Family.

The story goes that in the 13 days before Christmas, 13 trolls - known as the Yule Lads - come down from the mountains.

You might not see them, but they like to play tricks on people!

They leave presents for children who have been good, or a gift of a potato for children who have been naughty.

So, Christmas is celebrated in many different ways all around the world, by Christians and non-Christians alike.

What is your favourite Christmas tradition?

(Children) 'Happy Christmas!'