The holiday season is a magical time filled with traditions, celebrations, and the spirit of togetherness. At House on the Hill, we believe in fostering a love for different cultures and global understanding. This month, our children are diving into the world of holidays from different countries. Why not continue the learning journey at home? Exploring global festivities with your little one is a wonderful way to inspire empathy, curiosity, and respect for diverse traditions.
In this blog, we’ll guide you through fun, hands-on activities to help your child learn about holiday customs from different countries. Let’s celebrate the spirit of the season while embracing our world’s rich cultural diversity!
1. Create a Holiday World Map
Start by creating a world map together with your child. Use coloured markers, stickers, or pushpins to mark different countries. As you explore various holiday traditions, mark each country on the map to show where the celebration originates.
Activity:
Print out or draw a simple world map. As you learn about a new holiday, let your child colour in the country and add a symbol that represents the celebration (like a Christmas tree for Christmas, a lantern for Lunar New Year, etc.).
2. Celebrate Deepavali (India)
Deepavali, the Festival of Lights, is one of India’s biggest celebrations. Families decorate their homes with beautiful oil lamps (diyas) and colourful rangoli patterns.
DIY Craft:
Create your paper diya lanterns using coloured paper and glitter. You can also draw Kolam patterns on the ground using chalk.
Fun Fact:
Deepavali symbolises the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
3. Celebrate Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)
Chuseok often called the Korean Harvest Festival, is a time to give thanks for the year’s harvest and honour ancestors. It’s a wonderful occasion to learn about Korean culture, family traditions, and gratitude.
Activity
Create a traditional hanbok paper doll which is traditional attire, worn during celebrations. Create a paper doll of a family member wearing a beautiful Hanbok! You will need: paper, markets, crayons or coloured pencils, scissors and glue. Start by drawing a simple paper doll and then use the markers to design colourful Hanbok clothes including intricate patterns. It’s a fun way to explore Chuseok and the beauty of Korean traditions.
Fun Fact:
Chuseok is celebrated with a feast of songpyeon—a traditional Korean rice cake filled with sweet fillings like sesame seeds or red beans. It’s shaped like a half-moon to symbolize the harvest moon and is often enjoyed with family.
4. Celebrate Halloween
Halloween is a spooky, fun time for kids to explore creativity and imagination! Here’s a fun way to celebrate:
Activity Idea: Pumpkin Sensory Play
Create a pumpkin-themed sensory activity by filling a large container with items like dried rice, small plastic spiders, mini pumpkins, and other spooky items. Let your child explore, dig, and feel the different textures while practising sorting, counting, or even pretending to be a pumpkin farmer! It’s a great way to engage their senses and creativity.
Fun Fact:
The tradition of carving pumpkins into Jack-o’-lanterns comes from an Irish myth about a man named “Stingy Jack,” who tricked the devil. People started carving faces into pumpkins to ward off Jack’s wandering spirit. Today, we continue the tradition as part of Halloween fun!
5. Learn About Winter Solstice
Christmas is celebrated in many countries with unique customs, from decorating Christmas trees to exchanging gifts and singing carols.
Activity:
Bake holiday cookies together or create ornaments using salt dough that you can hang on your Christmas tree.
Fun Fact:
You can also send a special Santa Claus Letter from the Santa Claus village in Rovaniemi which is especially sent by Santa in time for Christmas. If you wish to write to Santa, his official hometown address is Tähtikuja 1, 96930 Rovaniemi, Finland. Interestingly, Santa receives over half a million letters from all over the world.
6. Make a "Holidays Around the World" Book
As you learn about each holiday, document it together in a special scrapbook. Include pictures, crafts, and facts about each celebration.
Activity:
Ask your child to draw, write, or paste pictures of the crafts they’ve made. This book can serve as a keepsake and a way to revisit the traditions each year.
The Montessori Approach: Learning Through Exploration
By introducing your child to holidays from around the world, you’re helping them develop a global mindset and respect for cultural diversity. The Montessori approach emphasizes hands-on, sensory-rich learning experiences, and these activities provide just that—engaging your child’s curiosity and creativity.
Learning about different holidays can be a joyful and enriching experience for your child, fostering an appreciation for the world’s many beautiful cultures. So, gather your craft supplies, turn on some festive music, and get ready to explore the world from the comfort of your home.
