Fun Facts About Winter Holidays To Celebrate Diversity

For many, wintertime revolves around Christmas. So many children adore this time of year, and with images of Santa Claus and his reindeer peppering almost every public space and carols playing as a constant soundtrack, it can be hard to remember that winter doesn’t necessarily equal Christmas for every student.

In fact, growing diversity in the US means that we are becoming more aware of other winter celebrations besides Christmas. It’s important to recognize these traditions, but even better – it’s tons of fun to learn about winter holiday traditions for kids from around the world! So how do we celebrate diversity during the holidays? If we can teach children from an early age that diversity and inclusion are things to be celebrated, they’re bound to grow up with an appreciation for the ways different people celebrate this time of year, and in line with this, a more open mind when it comes to cultural differences.  

Instead of diving too deep into various winter holidays around the world (there are just too many!), we’re going for a different approach. To make this topic more fun and add a splash of excitement for kids, we’ll be giving you some winter holiday fun facts to share with your children and/or students. Of course, there are so many celebrations across the world that this list is by no means exhaustive – for more fun facts, you can check out this link, or do some further research online. But for now, let’s begin to answer the question: “How do people celebrate the holidays?”, without focusing on Christmas…

Fun Facts About Winter Holidays To Celebrate Diversity

#1: Yule (or the Winter Solstice) is the oldest winter holiday to date!
The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, and for this reason it’s a special day for many. However, Yule is far from a dark day, as you would think – in fact, many people come together to celebrate with a Yule log (cake), lanterns, singing, or sharing a meal together. Yule is not held on the same date each year, but usually happens around the end of December, and it is thought to have been celebrated as far back as the 1400s.

#2: Kwanzaa begins the day after Christmas
Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday, beginning on December 26 and continuing until January 1. This non-religious holiday is full of color and festivity; people decorate their homes with art and candles, and follow seven principles based on African values: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.

#3: Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah in November/December
Hanukkah is a Jewish celebration, which begins on the 25th of Kislev and goes until 2nd of Tevet (eight days). It usually takes place in November/December, and involves a sunset ritual of candle-lighting each evening to celebrate faith. There are also traditional foods eaten this time of year to mark the occasion, the most common being the latke (a type of pancake).

#4: In the Netherlands, Sinterklaas fills up children’s shoes
Not to be mistaken for Santa Claus, Sinterklaas is a Dutch winter celebration. On December 5, children leave their shoes by the front door or the fireplace with a small present and letter for Sinterklaas – and they’re also required to sing very loudly to ensure he hears! When they wake the following morning, the shoe will have been filled with small gifts such as Dutch candy and cookies.

#5: People in some Scandinavian countries wear white dresses and a red sash to celebrate St Lucia’s Day
In Finland, Norway, and Sweden, it’s common to celebrate St. Lucia’s Day on December 13. St. Lucia is the saint of light, and the festivities revolve around this theme, as people light candles or put on electric lights to invite light into the home. People also sing songs and exchange gifts with each other.

#6: 26 December has two different names in Ireland and in the UK (Boxing Day or St. Stephen’s Day)
Traditionally, Boxing Day was celebrated in the UK by giving gifts (or boxes) to those in need. These days, it’s a major shopping day. A short distance away, in Ireland, December 26 is called St. Stephen’s Day, which is a Christian celebration – it also has another name in the Irish language, Lá an Dreoilín (Wren’s Day), based on ancient tales that link Jesus to the wren.

#7: In Spain, people eat 12 grapes on New Year’s Eve
A final fun fact: the NYE snack of choice for those in Spain is a dozen grapes. And that’s a wrap!

How do we celebrate diversity during the holidays?
Aside from increasing awareness of the different types of winter holiday traditions for kids around the world, there are many activities you can do with children and adults alike that are not culturally exclusive, and that promote diversity. We’ll leave you with some inspiration for some festive winter activities that are fun for everybody, no matter their background or beliefs.

• Why not do some festive arts and crafts? Making cards (they don’t need to be Christmas cards – they could be gratitude cards, or even simple letters of appreciation) can get the creative juices flowing! Alternatively, you could make paper snowflakes, or draw/color some of your favorite wintery scenes or symbols – think snowmen, snowy trees, or beautiful lights.
• Get outside and play in the snow, and make the most of the seasonal winter wonderland!
• Play a game together. This doesn’t need to be Christmas-themed – something simple like charades, card games, or even hide and seek is perfect; anything that brings everyone together in a fun and celebratory way, to highlight the togetherness that winter symbolizes for many.

From everyone at Teachers1on1, we wish you a fun winter season, however you decide to celebrate!

Featured image by Ian Schneider on Unsplash