Early Childhood Professionals

Multicultural winter holiday celebrations, by Jenn Savedge of Mother Nature Network (www.mnn.com)

Teach your child to respect other people's traditions and cherish her own with this guide to multicultural winter celebrations.

Wed, Dec 09 2009 at 9:00 AM EST

This past weekend, as my family was trimming the Christmas tree, neighbors down the street were getting ready for Hanukkah while friends across town were fasting for Ramadan. It's winter holiday time, a time when many Americans end the year gathering with relatives, enjoying great food and giving gifts. It's also a great time of year to teach kids about the importance of having an open mind about different cultures and traditions. So in our house, even though we only celebrate Christmas, we also acknowledge the other winter holidays with books, crafts and activities.  
 
Here is a list of some of the greatest winter holiday information and activities for children.  I tried to cover all of the biggies. Did I miss any? How do you and your family celebrate the winter holidays? Leave a note in the comments section below.
 

Diwali

 
Hanukkah
 
Ramadan
 
Christmas
 
Kwanzaa
 
Chinese New Year
 
Other winter holiday celebrations
Hanukkah, Ramadan, Christmas and Kwanzaa are the most well-known winter holidays celebrated in this country, but that doesn't mean they are the only holidays. Other popular winter holidays include: 
  • Santa Lucia Day, an ancient Swedish festival during which blond-haired girls wear crowns of green leaves studded with lighted candles.
  • Winter Solstice, the first day of winter and the longest night of the year, is also celebrated with festivals, decorations and ancient ceremonies that honor nature.
  • Three Kings Day, also known as Epiphany, marks the day the three kings arrived to visit the newborn Christ child. This day is most commonly marked with festivities in Hispanic countries and cultures. 
 
Peace Tree Picture courtesy of PeaceTreeDay.com

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