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Santa Claus Around The World

Those of us who work with children and their families often struggle at this time of the year with our curriculum and activities. Because our children come to us from many different cultures and backgrounds, we worry about including everybody in our classroom celebrations. For this reason, we often omit any mention of Santa Claus, stockings hung by the chimney with care, flying reindeer or gift giving! However, Christmas is a very special time for many children. All around the world, children look forward to this day, and many countries have a magical person who leaves presents. Here are some ways different countries include the spirit of gift giving, through “Santa Claus”, into these special times of the year:

  • In the United States and Canada, his name is Santa Claus. He flies through the sky in a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer.

    Celebrate Santa Claus by reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" or "The Mouse Before Christmas" with the children.

    Developmentally: This is a great poem, filled with wonderful language (which means a good opportunity for you to discuss new words with the children). I’d encouraged the children to listen closely as you read the story, then draw an illustration from the book using their imagination. Be sure to dictate their words on the illustration. You can even put the illustrations together to make your own book.

  • In England his name is Father Christmas. He looks much like Santa Claus, but he has a longer coat and a longer beard.

    One of England's holiday customs is mummering. In the Middle Ages, people called mummers put on masks and acted out Christmas plays. These plays are still performed in towns and villages.

    Developmentally: If you’d like to include “mummering” into your curriculum, masks can be made from paper bags or construction paper. When doing plays with young children, the trick is to keep it simple – no more than 3-5 minutes. Plays can be done on nursery rhymes or a favorite story and you can include additional props from your dramatic play area.

  • In Wales (a principality in the United Kingdom), Santa is called Sion Corn - this translates as "Chimney John" relating to the story that Santa comes down the chimney of each house to bring his gifts to the children within.

    Taffy making is one of the most important of the Welsh Christmas. This involves the making of the special kind of chewy toffee from brown sugar and butter. It is boiled and then pulled so that it becomes lovely and glossy. Here is a simple recipe for taffy that can be done with young children.

    Plain Taffy (Pulled) Recipe

    Combine the ingredients in the order given and bring to a boil in a pan. Taffy is ready when it will form a firm ball in cold water, (about 225 degrees F). Pour onto a platter lightly oiled with Mazola and when cool enough to handle, pull until light colored (the children can help with this part). A few drops of flavoring may be worked in while it is being pulled. Peppermint, vanilla and lemon are all good. Snip into inch lengths with the scissors and wrap in paraffin paper.

  • In Brazil and Peru, he's called Papai Noel. Papai Noel or Father Noel is the gift-bringer in Brazil. According to legend, he lives in Greenland.

    Developmentally: This is interesting because the Brazilian image of Santa Claus is a jolly man wearing lighter clothing because it is summer in Brazil at Christmas time. This is a good example of differences in places and people and would be a great conversation to have with the kids.

    Another fun thing to do with the children would be to play Cold Weather Lotto. Here is what you need:

  • In Germany Knecht Ruprecht and his helpers come on the 6th of December. Krampus brings coal or a wooden stick to the children that have not been good, Knecht Ruprecht brings mostly cookies, nuts and a small toy to the good children. In Germany, Father Christmas can also be called der Weihnachtsmann.

    Germans traditionally make beautiful gingerbread houses and cookies. You can make a simple version of a gingerbread house with kids by using graham cracker square, a can of frosting and candy (sugared gum drops, M & M’s, small candy canes, etc.)

  • In Poland, Santa is "Gwiazdor" ("star man") -- for the North Star. He visits children on Christmas Eve, bringing presents. The Christmas Eve meal begins once the first star is seen. "Swiety Mikolaj" (Saint Nicholas) was a cardinal in the Catholic Church, he visits children on December 6th and he brings presents, mostly sweets, which he leaves in children’s clean (it is very important) shoes.

    The people also bake a special bread called oplatek. They carry the bread from house to house and wish their neighbors a Merry Christmas. Nowadays, the bread is mostly shared with members of the family and immediate neighbors. As each person shares the bread, they would have to do two things: forgive any hurts that have occurred over the past year and to wish the person all the happiness in the coming year.

    I really like this custom because I think it would be a great opportunity to talk about feelings with young children. Oftentimes, children react with undesirable behavior (name calling, hitting, biting or tattling) because they don’t yet have the capability to see things from another person point of view. Making “Forgiveness Bread” with children is a an activity that works well because it is tangible and purposeful. (Remember: children learn through experiences) Here’s a simple bread recipe I got from Mister Roger’s Neighborhood.

    Mrs. McFeely’s Old Fashioned Popovers

  • Jultomten or Tomten Sweden. Jultomten visits in the evening before Christmas day, pulling a big bag of julklappar (Christmas presents) in the deep snow. Christmas trees are usually brought into Swedish homes one or two days before Christmas. Decorations include: candles, apples, Swedish flags, small gnomes and tasseled caps, and straw ornaments. The house may be filled with red tulips and the smell of pepparkakor - a heart-star, or goat-shaped gingerbread biscuits.

    Developmentally: This custom brings to mind the story of The Gingerbread Man, a great fairy tale that works well this time of the year. As a follow up activity, here’s a recipe for gingerbread men to make with the kids:

  • Christians in India decorate banana or mango trees. They also light small oil-burning lamps as Christmas decorations and fill their churches with red flowers. They give presents to family members and baksheesh, or charity, to the poor people. In India, the poinsettia is in flower and so the churches are decorated with this brilliant bloom for the Christmas Midnight Mass.

    Developmentally: In addition to a pine tree, try hanging ornaments from other types of trees as well. A fun activity to do in your yard is to decorate a tree with “edible ornaments” for the birds. Spread peanut butter and bird seed on to toilet paper rolls or pinecones. Tie with pretty yarn for hanging.

    Final bits of trivia….

    Thank you to Lisa Albert from the EPTSS Division for this month's activity!

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