From New York City to Berlin, and from Bogota to Athens, the final month of the Gregorian year tends to be a time of celebration and excitement for people everywhere. For children especially, the Christmas season is eagerly anticipated, filled with beautiful lights, festive decorations, delicious treats, and of course, colorful presents containing their hearts’ desire. Christmas, it seems, is universally the most wonderful time of the year.

However, even with our increasingly globalized world, nations and cultures around the globe have different methods of celebrating the holiday. Teaching the younger generation about the multifaceted Christmas customs is a great way to broaden their horizons and instill in them an appreciation for the rich cultures that inhabit our world. As such, parents and educators ought to use this chance to foster global and cultural awareness in their kids.

How They Celebrate Christmas in France

Christmas in France is, as many other French experiences are, elegant and incredible. One of the major French Christmas traditions is the Advent calendar. Beginning on the first day of December, each day children will open a small compartment containing a chocolate. The French also decorate their homes with “creches” – the nativity scene. This traditional Christmas scene is a common sight in most French homes.

Another important custom in France is to have the big Christmas dinner on the 24th – Christmas Eve. After finishing supper, families will gather around the Christmas tree to open presents, in contrast to the American practice of opening gifts on Christmas Day. The next day, families gather to feast upon a large lunch, which customarily includes either lamb or poultry in sauce, as well as the traditional “Buche de Noel” – a sponge cake shaped to the form of a Yule log and decorated in butter cream.

In some parts of France, children place their shoes in front of the fireplace (much like stockings in the United States) on the night of December 5th, which is also known as Saint Nicholas’ Day. They sing traditional songs to the Saint before going to bed, hoping to awake to shoes full of treats (as opposed to twigs) brought by Saint Nicholas.

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Christmas in Germany

In Germany, Christmas trees and the Christmas market are the highlights of the season. Nearly every town and city will have a massive, beautifully decorated “Tannenbaum” (Christmas tree) as the centerpiece of their market. The markets themselves are gatherings of small huts, decorated with lights and the manger scene and selling delicious treats or artistic pieces.

Like the French, Germans traditionally have their major Christmas dinner the night of the 24th, which tends to include salmon and goose. After dinner, the children open their presents by the tree. On Christmas Day, Christians will customarily attend church, similar to the American tradition.

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Greek Christmas

In Greece, children, especially boys, often go out singing “kalanda” (carols) on Christmas Eve. They carry drums and triangles, hoping to receive money or sweets in exchange for their efforts. Some groups will also carry model boats decorated with gold-painted nuts. This is a custom dating back to old times, and is still common today. Along with the ever-popular Christmas tree, many homes also have Christmas boat among their decorations.

The Greek are also mindful of the “Killantzaroi”, which are bad spirits that are believed to wreak havoc during the twelve day period from Christmas Day until the Epiphany, which is January 6th. These “killantzaroi” are thought to come from deep within the Earth through the chimneys of houses to play tricks on unsuspecting humans. In an effort to keep the spirits away, most families will keep a fire going constantly for the twelve day period. It is also during this period that Santa Clause brings gifts for the children – on January 1st, as opposed to Christmas Day in the United States.

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 Spanish Christmas

The Spanish, like the French and the Germans, have their main Christmas meal the night of the 24th, after which they attend the midnight “La Misa del Gallo” – the Mass of the Rooster – named such because it is believed that a rooster crowed at midnight on the night that Baby Jesus was born. The traditional Spanish Christmas dinner features “Pavo Trufado de Navidad”, which is turkey stuffed with mushroom truffles. However, in Galicia, a region in northwest Spain that is surrounded by water, Christmas dinners will instead contain various types of seafood, from shellfish to miniature crabs.

In Spain, children customarily open their presents on both Christmas Day and on the Epiphany. The majority are opened on January 6th, and it is thought that the Kings bring the children their gifts on this day.

Christmas in Colombia

Last but not least, the Colombians also have an elaborate Christmas season, marked by fireworks, “Dia de la Velitas” (loosely translated as “The Day of the Little Candle”), the praying of the Novena, and “al borada”. In Colombia, the official Christmas season commences on December 7th, which is “Dia de la Velitas”. On this day, families place candles on the sidewalk and street outside their homes and make wishes, believing that they are lighting a pathway for Mary to bless their families the next day, which is appropriately named Day of the Virgin Mary.

From December 7th to January 6th, which marks the end of the official Christmas season, families will decorate their homes with the nativity scene. Some may even take up an entire room in the house! Children play an active part in setting up the decorations, helping their parents and families install all of the details that make this such a special tradition in Colombia.

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In addition to these customs, Colombians also like to celebrate Christmas with parties and fireworks! One major tradition is “al borada”, which is an all-day party that may take place any time before the end of Novena de Aguinaldos. The Novena, in turn, is nine day period from the 19th of December to Christmas Eve. During this time, families and friends gather together to sing and pray every day before feasting together on traditional Colombian Christmas foods, such as “natilla”, made from milk, cinnamon, and occasionally raisins and alcohol, and “buñuelos”, which are made from cheese and flour. The last day of the Novena is exceptionally festive, and after eating dinner, gifts are opened at midnight. Even after Christmas Day, the celebrations continue, until the Epiphany, which concludes the Christmas season.

Around the world, families and friends gather to celebrate Christmas in unique and fascinating ways. From eating traditional celebratory foods that are rooted in their culture, to decorating homes and taking part in various seasonal rituals, the Christmas season is a special time of year for Christians everywhere. These differences may seem to separate us, but the holiday unites us, and we must seize the opportunity to make the world a little smaller, and horizons a little bigger, for all our children. Christmas is the perfect chance to introduce the cultures of the world to kids, and it is our responsibility to do so, instilling in them an appreciation for differences while also highlighting similarities between peoples.

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Christmas is just around the corner, and kids have already sent their wish lists to North Pole. Every year they enjoy reading and listening the stories about Santa who brings presents and drops them in Christmas stockings, or under the Christmas tree. In the same time, their parents are facing a tough task to successfully play the role of Santa. Buying Christmas presents for kids has never been easy, having in mind so many things to think of: providing sufficient budget for Christmas shopping, taking care of toy quality and their safety, buying age-appropriate toys, trying to teach the little ones to be modest and grateful for what they get, and wishing that children have that look of sheer joy and excitement every time they open their Christmas toys. List of demands is pretty long, and the time is running out. Right?

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Here are some tips to help parents feel less anxious at this time of the year:

1. First and foremost, you don’t have to buy expensive toys to your children.

Kids may not fully understand the value of these toys, and may crave for bigger, better and more expensive things every year. Instead, teach them to treasure every single toy they receive, regardless how much they cost. Keep in mind that some of the best toys are not necessarily the most expensive ones. Therefore, the parent shouldn’t spend a small fortune on the toy, only to watch the child discard the “must-have” after five minutes of play. Simple and high-quality engaging toys that truly celebrate the power of learning through play are ideal. In addition, their expectations are also essential. If you always give expensive gifts, they come to expect that, and will be dissatisfied with anything less. Thus, try to wrap some trendy gloves and a hat and give them these as a present. Teach them to be more grateful and happy with what they have.

2. Try not to overbuy.

As holidays are approaching, toy stores are full of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and other relatives searching for dolls, balls and similar stuff they think the kids will love. As a result, it often happens that there are too many presents for little ones under the Christmas tree. They are definitely more than happy and excited to see these tons of toys just for them. However, when there is more than one present, when there is a pile of presents, the kids don’t focus on the present they just opened. Instead, they just zoom right on to the next present, and the next, without appreciating what they got. Surely you don’t want this to happen. Therefore, try not to give them more than two presents in one day, even if they do get a bunch from different people. Spread out the opening of the presents over a few days.

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3. Choose age-appropriate toys.

Children enjoy toys they can master and which are right for their particular stage of development. Here are some suggestions for the types of toys kids benefit from most, as they go through different stages:

• 0-6 months –  Rattles, brightly coloured toys attached to the crib that rotate above the baby as soft lullaby music plays, or interactive play rugs.
• 6-12 months –  Mobiles, brightly illustrated books made of cloth or stiff, floating toys for the bath tub, small train, toy cars for boys, soft dolls, or stuffed toys for girls.
• 1-2 years –  Push/pull toys, blocks, ball, sandbox toys, puzzles, musical instruments, illustrated books, kitchen sets etc.
• 2-3 years –  Chalk, ball, large Legos or wooden blocks, puzzles, tricycle, books, kitchen playsets and other housekeeping toys, xylophone etc.
• 3-5 years –  Books, crayons, colouring books, play dough, bike, drawing and painting sets, or board games.

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4. Choosing a toy that will brighten your child’s face can be so much fun, but it’s essential to keep safety in mind.

Don’t rely on expensive and well-known toy brands as there is still no guarantee that the toy you buy will be safe. If your child is at the stage of putting everything in mouth, the toys must not contain small parts that are a choking hazard. Smaller parts like eyes and buttons must be firmly attached to the toy. When a toy is attached to a string, the free length of the string should be shorter than 300 mm, so that the string is not a strangulation hazard. Check for sharp edges or points that could injure your child. In addition, toys should be made of sturdy nontoxic materials that will not break easily. The filling of stuffed toys should be clean and free of objects or substances that may be harmful to a child. The safest toys are those made of natural materials, such as increasingly popular wooden toys, especially suitable for smaller children.

5. Expensive, big or not, it is not about the gift, but it’s the thought that counts, says the old Chinese proverb.

Gift is a sign of affection and love, something to be appreciated. Furthermore, in most cases, it is more about the unwrapping than the actual gifts. Therefore, make your gifts memorable with special wrapping paper and ribbons. And don’t forget personalized Christmas cards. More importantly, help your children discover the true joy of giving. Finally, make sure the presents are not the only things that define Christmas for your kids. It is very difficult to keep the focus away from the consumer element when we are so surrounded by it. Families can still stick to their own values, as well as cherish and celebrate this holiday as a time to spend together with their children.

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We recently told you the best toys to give your little one (that are safe and will stimulate your child’s development). Now it is time to make yourself aware of the worst toys for your children.

The worst gift you can give

A toy can be bad in a number of ways. It could be inappropriate for the age of the child (for example, small parts on a toy would not be safe for an infant, who could choke) or it could be inappropriate no matter the age of the child (for example, a toy gun). Here are some of the worst types of toys you could give your child:

• Toys that do it all… already: Imagination is key for a child’s creative development. Dolls or stuffed animals that talk or sing when a child presses a button take the imagination out of the play situation and are especially unsuitable for children over the age of 18 months. “When a toy is too specific, it’s limiting and it denies the child the ability to use her imagination,” says Vicki Panaccione, PhD, a child psychologist and founder of the Better Parenting Institute.¹
• Video games: We live in an electronic age and are lucky enough that some manufacturers have been able to come up with video games that are suitable for a child’s development. But this is not the case for most. Research has suggested that electronic toys pose several possible dangers for a child’s health and development, including hearing loss (from loud games), weight gain (from being inactive), and language and developmental delays.² A study from Temple University showed that toys that do not require a child to take any action except watch promote a passive learning style, which can interfere with learning to think independently. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, kids under age 2 should not watch TV or play computer games at all and kids over age 2 should have their “screen time” limited to 1-2 hours per day. So if you want your gift to go a long way, a video game is not the gift for your child.

• Toy Guns: The most inappropriate gift for a child is a toy gun. With the school shootings and gun violence in our society, the worst idea is for a child to receive a gun as a gift and think it is acceptable. It is important children can recognize the violence with guns in television shows and movies is fake and not imagine themselves doing the same actions with a toy gun.

How to recognize a toy is unsuitable for children

When you are shopping for a toy for your child, unsafe or unsuitable toys often have the following characteristics:³

• Do not meet basic safety checks (toys should not chip or emit colors) and do not indicate “suitable for children.”
• Promote violence, the practice of unhealthy habits, and discrimination of because of race, culture, gender, etc.
• Are impractical and useless.
• Are inadequate for the intended child and do not respond to their interests, age or tastes.

Be aware of dangerous toys

In 2010, an estimated 181,500 children were treated in an emergency room for a toy-related injury. Almost half of those injured were children age 4 and under.⁴

Some toys can be a choking hazard or can cause serious eye injuries and vision loss. Dr. Maurice Zadeh, president of the Georgia Optometric Association, says parents should be aware of these warnings:⁵

• Avoid toys with sharp or rigid points.
• Keep toys meant for older children away from younger children.
• Avoid flying toys and projectile-firing toys

Your children will likely be gifted numerous toys this time of year. If they are lucky enough to receive ones that are good for their development, it is still important to only keep a few out at one time. Children given too many toys at one time have a hard time focusing on any one of them completely. Rotate the toys in and out of a toy box or your child’s room and let them fully explore one toy before introducing another.

Staying away from unsafe and inappropriate toys will help your child have a merrier Christmas (and a better future!).

References:

• 1 http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/choosing-right-toys-for-right-age
• 2 http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/choosing-right-toys-for-right-age
• 3 http://earlychildhoodeducationwebsites.blogspot.com/2012/08/toys-and-development-of-children.html
• 4 http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20131217/LIVING/312170027/Guest-column-Buying-safe-fun-toys-gifts
• 5 http://www.wrdw.com/news/homeandfamily/headlines/4656771.html

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