Lesson plan for schools. Christmas customs and sayings in many different countries around the world.

1. & the WinterWONDERWoodland campaign
Present…

2. Christmas Around the World!

3. Australia
It is summer in Australia
at Christmas time so it is
very, very hot. Families
often go to the beach on
Christmas Day and
instead of having a hot
roast turkey dinner they
have a barbeque!

4. Australia
Australian children aren’t
looking to the skies for
Santa’s sleigh – they are
watching the waves! In
Australia, Santa arrives on
a surfboard or a sled
pulled by six white
kangaroos.

5. Brazilian children don’t say Merry
Christmas like we do in the UK.
Instead they say…
Feliz Natal!
Brazil

6. Brazilian children call Santa
Claus ‘Papai Noel’ and like in
Australia, they celebrate
Christmas during their summer
time so it is very hot.
In fact, it is so hot that Santa
wears red silk instead of his
usual cosy winter clothes!
Brazil

7. Chinese children don’t say Merry
Christmas like we do in the UK either.
Instead they say…
Shang Dan Jiang!
China

8. Children in China don’t
decorate Christmas trees.
They use bright coloured
paper lanterns with candles
insight to decorate instead.
They hang stockings up for
Santa just like we do in the
UK though!
China

9. Chinese children have a
different name for Santa
than we do – they call him
Sheng Dan Lao Ren which
means “old man
Christmas”!
China

10. In China people still go to
work and children go to
school on Christmas Day.
This is because China is a
Buddhist country.
Don’t worry – they get a
holiday for Chinese New Year
instead!
China

11. French children don’t say Merry
Christmas like we do in the UK.
Instead they say…
Joyeux Noel!
France

12. The Christmas tree isn’t as popular in
France, but many families in the
south of France burn a Yule Log in
their fireplace from Christmas Eve
until New Years Day. A long time
ago, part of the log was used to
make the wedge for the plough as
good luck for the coming harvest.
France

13. le sapin Père Noël un cadeau
une étoile un renne un traîneau
France

14. German children don’t say Merry
Christmas like we do in the UK.
Instead they say…
Fröliche Weihnachten!
Germany

15. German children wait for St.
Nicholas rather than Santa Claus
to deliver their presents.
As well as the presents under the
tree, German children put their
shoes outside their rooms to be
filled with small presents – just like
UK children do with stockings!
Germany

16. Norweigan children don’t say Merry
Christmas like we do in the UK.
Instead they say…
God Jul!
Norway

17. It is traditional in Norway to
‘circle the tree’ before opening
presents. Families stand in a big
circle around the Christmas
Tree, hold hands and walk or
dance around the tree whilst
singing Christmas carols.
Norway

18. Every year the people of Oslo, Norway
give London a huge Christmas tree which
is put up in Trafalgar Square. During the
Second World War King Haakon of
Norway and was thrown off the throne, he
ran away from the fighting and came to
Britain. Since 1947 we have been sent a
giant Norwegian Spruce as a great big
thank you for looking after him so well.
Norway

19. Dutch children don’t say Merry
Christmas like we do in the UK.
Instead they say…
Zalig Kerstfeest!
Netherlands

20. The main Christmas
celebration in the
Netherlands is held on 6th
December, but Dutch
children also celebrate
Sinterklaasavond which is
like our Christmas Eve.
Netherlands

21. The name Santa Claus comes
from the Dutch word Sinterklaas
which means St. Nicholas.
St. Nicholas is who many people
consider to be the first known
Santa Claus.
Netherlands

22. Just like German
children, Dutch children
leave their shoes out in
the hope that Sinterklaas
will leave chocolates and
treats for them. They
also leave a carrot for
Sinterklaas’ reindeer.
Netherlands