AUSSIE EDUCATOR

Christmas

Christmas [n.]

[the period just before and after] 25 December, a Christian holy day that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Synonyms : Noel, Yule, Yuletide. .
Cambridge Dictionary

Christmas is a mix of the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ, combined with the time of year and concepts from earlier celebrations and beliefs such as the Norse Yule, the honouring of Odin in Germany, worship of Mithra, Saturnalia and even early Mesopotamia that occurred at this time of the year. It was not until the 4th century that the Feast of the Nativity was declared by Pope Julius. This later became known as Christmas and over time developed the present Christmas format.

This page covers Christmas history, the religious meaning, traditions around the world, an Australian Christmas, arts, crafts, cards, games, books, Santa Claus, Christmas foods & cooking, songs & music, making gifts, … .

History, Religion & Tradition

An Australian Christmas

Tradition & History of Christmas

  • All about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
    ‘Did you know your favourite Christmas character, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer almost wound up having neither a red nose nor the iconic name Rudolph ? Here you’ll find everything that’s worth trying out and knowing about this character : Rudolph carols, riddles, stories, printables and crafts to bring him into your own home’.
  • Christmas Around the World
    ‘Christmas Traditions and Celebrations in Different Countries and Cultures’. For example Christmas in China and Christmas in Israel.
  • Christmas around the world : 12 countries of Christmas
    ‘Celebrated around the world, people of all faiths and beliefs have embraced Christmas traditions. Here’s our 12 countries of Christmas’.
  • Christmas Around the World [Primary] - FTfs
    ‘Christmas Day is celebrated all around the world in many different ways. Although traditionally a Christian holiday, people from all cultures now celebrate Christmas. Below you will find lots of information about Christmas and how it is celebrated around the world’.
  • Christmas around the World Primary Resource [National Geographic Kids]
    ‘The teaching resource can be used in study group tasks for discussing different countries, cultures and Christmas traditions around the world; as a printed handout for each pupil to review and annotate, or for display on the interactive whiteboard using the images included in the resource for class discussion’.
  • Christmas Celebrations in Different Countries
    ‘Christmas is usually celebrated among the Christians but since the world is becoming a global village, Christmas is now celebrated in every part of the world. The traditions, the festivity or even the dates might differ’. Includes Animation and Video.
  • Christmas Traditions Around the World
    ‘The information placed on this site may not be the way all people celebrate traditions today. Many are over 100 years old. Many people change to suit their families’. Songs, recipes, toys, gifts, favourites.
  • Christmas Traditions in England, Scotland and Wales [A British Christmas]
    Information and links compiled by Woodlands Primary School in England.
  • Comparing and Contrasting Christmas Around the World
    Education.com. Download the lesson plan from the site.
  • Happy Holidays !! - Christmas
    How Christmas is celebrated in many countries, icons, music, poetry, links to Hannukah, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice.
  • How Christmas Works
    Trivia from the How Stuff Works site on Christmas. Want to know how it came to be ‘X’mas, when the first one was, etc. ?
  • How did we come to celebrate Christmas ?
    ‘Where did Christmas traditions originate ? Where did Santa Claus come from ? Christmas in the modern era’. The Conversation.
  • Observance of Christmas by Country [Wikipedia]
    Covers countries initially by geographical area, then by individual country; References, further reading; links.
  • Saint Nicholas
    ‘Who is Saint Nicholas ?’, St Nicholas traditions in a range of countries, activities, other resources, play games, read stories, more.
  • Star of Bethlehem
    ‘At this time of year it seems almost traditional for stargazers to ponder the age-old question of the origin of the Star of Bethlehem. The Star’s appearance some 2 000 years ago is quite possibly one of the best-known celestial events in all of recorded history’.
  • The Christmas Tradition
    EnhanceTV. Primary level students. Links to related clips on Christmas.
  • The History of Christmas
    Dates back more than 4 000 years [according to the information supplied]. How pagan festivals linked to Christian ones.
  • The History of Christmas [2]
    ‘How much do you really know about this festive holiday ? Explore our site to find the true history !’ Videos, Christmas in Depth sections. Don’t forget to keep clicking “See more” for further clips and information.
  • Welcome to Why Christmas ?
    ‘The Hows, Wheres, but mostly the Whys of Christmas’.
  • What does Christmas mean to you ?
    Western Australian Museum. ‘The notion of “Christmas” means a lot of different things to a lot of different people’.

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Other Information

Arts & Crafts

Art & Images

Craft Activities

  • 25 Cute and Simple Christmas Crafts for Everyone
    ‘Looking for some simple Christmas crafts for kids or for yourself ? Here are 25 ideas for all ages that will put you in the holiday spirit !’
  • 25 Fabulous Christmas Crafts for the Festive Season [Mum’s Grapevine]
    ‘We’ve found 25 of the best and easiest !] Chrissy crafts for you to try your hand at. Happy crafting !’
  • 25 homemade Christmas Gifts
    ‘There’s nothing quite like receiving a homemade Christmas gift. The thought that goes into one makes it seem just that little bit more special than something bought off the shelf’.
  • 50+ Christmas Crafts for Kids
    ‘With Christmas just around the corner, what better way to get into the Christmas spirit than to do some fun Christmas Crafts for Kids ?’.
  • AllFreeChristmasCrafts.com
    ‘Offers 1 000s of free craft projects, home decor ideas and DIY tips. Some of our reader’s favourites include Ornament Crafts, Christmas Crafts for Kids, DIY Christmas Gifts and DIY Christmas Decorations’.
  • Christmas Crafts
    Using common items found around virtually every home. Suited to K-3 students.
  • Christmas Decorations
    Napkin rings to candles and miniature Christmas trees. Disney Family.
  • Christmas DIY Projects [To Spread The Holiday Spirit]
    ‘There’s no better way to celebrate Xmas than to get together with your loved ones and craft away to the sound of your favourite Christmas carols. We’ve decided to help you make this holiday season merry and bright with these DIY projects. Happy crafting !’. 6 sections -Decoration; Card; Ornament; Gift; Wreath; Garland.
  • Christmas Gifting - DIY Crafts
    ‘There are many things you can make for Christmas which would be great gifts. Let the following links guide you with great ideas and directions for Christmas do-it-yourself crafts’.
  • Danielle’s Place
    ‘Christmas crafts for kids’. Activities for all ages.
  • Fun Australian Christmas activities for kids [NITV]
    ‘To make your holiday decorations a little more local and a little less northern hemisphere, use things found in your own backyard’.

Books, Poems & Other Stories

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Cards & eCards

  • 123 Greetings - Christmas
    ‘Beautiful Merry Christmas wishes, Christmas cards and ecards to share the spirit of peace and joy with your friends and family and make their Christmas a memorable one. Browse about 700 cards’.
  • Christmas 2017-2018 Greeting Cards, Season Greetings, Animated eCards
    ‘Our free Christmas greeting cards are full of snow, Angels, Christmas trees, candles, magic and love everywhere. Even Santa is coming to celebrate with us’.
  • Christmas Cards
    ‘Every year, we add at least 100 new Christmas Cards while continuing to offer our popular Christmas cards from previous years’.
  • Christmas cards - Greetings Island
    ‘Sleigh bells ringing, reindeer prancing, and cards for giving this Christmas ! Design with our card maker, print or send online for free !’ They also provide access to a free Online Card Maker.
  • Christmas Cards and Greetings
    ‘Offers its collection of free, beautiful Victorian Christmas cards in PDF format for you to print from your computer’.
  • Christmas E-Cards
    ‘Click the Christmas image that you would like to send as an E-Card !’
  • Create Christmas Cards for Free in Minutes
    ‘Make unique and custom Christmas cards in minutes. No design skills needed’ with Adobe Spark. Multiple options to login to access the program
  • Koala’s Free Christmas Email Cards
    ‘I have had lots of people ask for more Australian content in the cards. With this request in mind I have taken some of my photos of Australian animals and scenery and replaced some of the more traditional cards with these’.
  • Kudoboard Christmas Cards
    Online, Personalised and Fun. A different approach to creating a Christmas greeting. Free and fee-based sections available.
  • Personalised Christmas Cards - Canva
    ‘Spread the festive cheer with custom Christmas cards. Upload your own holiday snaps to create a photo Christmas card, or explore hundreds of seasonal card templates. Best of all, it’s free !’
  • Printable Christmas Card Templates
    ‘Matching envelopes, labels, writing paper’.
  • Virtual Free Christmas eCards
    A range of types with musical accompaniment.

Christmas Recipes & Cooking

  • 50 Favourite Christmas Recipes
    ‘Planning your Christmas menu can be stressful, so we’ve tried to make it easier. Whether you prefer to go traditional or a little bit fancy this year, we have the recipes for you’.
  • Australian Christmas Recipes & Ideas
    Get a wide range of recipes, many which you may not have thought of or considered before.
  • Christmas ‘Cookies’
    Cookies and other christmas fare from around the world. A second cookies site is found at this link.
  • Christmas Cooking with Children
    ‘A collection of Christmas recipes - family favourites. Kids love teat them ! They like to help too !’ Recipes are grouped in collections e.g. bread, breakfast, cakes, snacks.
  • Christmas Recipes
    Extensive [1 000+] and sometimes unusual listing broken into multiple sections and more.
  • Christmas Recipes [AllRecipes]
    ‘Cookies to decorate. Christmas dinner ideas. Party traditions like pudding and cake. See top recipes, plus videos and tips from home cooks like you’.
  • Christmas Recipes and Menus
    ‘Look no further for Christmas recipes and dinner ideas. Get into the spirit with Christmas food like mulled wine and mince pies, make homemade presents, and create the perfect Christmas menu’. BBC.
  • Christmas Recipes and Tips
    ‘Over 1 000 delicious Christmas inspired recipes, plus loads of decorating and gift ideas’. Many recipes are found in specific collections, e.g. Alternate Christmas Desserts, Christmas Leftover Recipes.
  • Healthy Christmas Holiday Recipes
    ‘It’s the best time of year, and we’re here to help your celebrate with all of our healthy Christmas recipes’.
  • Kid’s Christmas Recipes
    ‘Try out some of the mouthwatering kid’s Christmas recipes and spice up your yuletide days with the dipped chocolate treats’.
  • Vegetarian Christmas Recipes [BBC Good Food]
    ‘Ideas for a sensational spread on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and throughout the festive season, including a stunning centre-piece - Layered squash, barley & spinach pie’.
  • Vegetarian Recipe Search
    Search for specific recipes using the range of filters.

Games

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General Sites

  • All About Christmas
    ‘There’ s much more to the fascinating history of Christmas ! Where did the Christmas tree originate, why are Christmas candles important, etc. ? The answers are all here’.
  • All Things Christmas
    Use multiple menus to find All things Christmas.
  • Amazing Christmas Ideas
    ‘Providing you with a resource to help you with all your Christmas planning, shopping and decorating’. Use the Main Menu for book reviews, decorating, tips, even Christmas stockings.
  • A Victorian Christmas
    Decorating, entertaining, toys, dolls, gifts, crafts, a Child’s Christmas, links. All based on Christmas as it was during the Victorian period.
  • Christmas
    Etymology, history, traditions, date, economy, controversies, further reading, links, more. Wikipedia.
  • Christmas 2019 - All about Christmas
    Good overview. History and a large number of other categories are covered.
  • Christmas Activities
    DLTK’s Holiday Activities for Kids. Activities from colouring pages, to games and puzzles, a variety of other activities. Mostly for younger children.
  • Christmas.com
    Claimed to be the internet’s largest Christmas portal, for everything you did or didn’t, want to know.
  • Christmas Countdown 2020
    ‘How Many days until Christmas 2020 ?’
  • Christmas Fonts
    This site provides you with a wide range of fonts suitable for use in many ways at Christmas.
  • Christmas For Kids !
    ‘One of the most special times of the year, and we know it ! We have hundreds of Christmas activities for kids at Activity Village. Have a look around, find inspiration and ideas, enjoy yourselves !’
  • Christmas Theme Unit
    Includes all you want in a Christmas unit. Suited to younger children.
  • Christmas Tree Activities for Early Learning
    Lesson plans, things to print, things to make, Crafts, Online Activities, media.
  • History of Christmas
    All things Christmas from history, to Santa Claus, gifts related to the Christmas season. History Channel.
  • Merry -Christmas.com
    ‘Merry-Christmas.com is your total Christmas destination ! From Christmas Games, Letters to Santa and Christmas gifts to Christmas Stories, Jokes and Recipes’.
  • My Merry Christmas
    Christmas online, music, movies, stories, clipart, downloads, for parents, memories, world Christmas, more.
  • Santa Letter
    ‘Your place for family friendly Christmas fun. Browse our sections [to the left in the Candy Cane signs area], or check some of our favourite recommendations. We have lots of fun activities to do, one of our top things to do is send a letter to Santa Claus !’
  • Santa’s Naughty or Nice List
    Check the quiz to see which you are.
  • Welcome to Santaland
    ‘Old fashioned Christmas Traditions’. Arts & crafts, gifts, carols, recipes, stories, books, cards, stamps, more.

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Making Gifts

Santa Claus, His Life & Home

  • Christmas at the North Pole
    Tour the village where Santa lives, sing along [karaoke] to carols, more.
  • Google Santa Tracker
    ‘Explore, play and learn with Santa’s elves all December long’.
  • Santa Claus
    ‘History, Legend and Facts. Britannica Encyclopaedia’.
  • Santa Claus : Real Origins & Legend [History.com]
    ‘Santa Claus - otherwise known as Saint Nicholas or Kris Kringle - has a long history steeped in Christmas traditions. Today, he is thought of mainly as the jolly man in red who brings toys to good girls and boys on Christmas Eve, but his story stretches all the way back to the 3rd century’.
  • Santa Television
    Christmas traditions from around the world, visit Santa, watch presentations.
  • The North Pole Times
    ‘Santa’s Official Newsletter’. Read stories, visit the workshop, visit the kitchen, check the wish list.
  • Track Santa
    Track Santa Claus on his travels around the world. Begins 1 December.

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Songs & Music

Write or Email to Santa

  • eMail Santa
    Email him. There are also other activities in which to be involved.
  • How to Write a Letter to Santa Claus [with Pictures] - WikiHow
    ‘Sample letters; Preparing to Write; Writing your letter; Decorating and sending your letter; Q & As; Tips; Warnings; Things you’ll need; Related things to do’.
  • Let’s write to Santa
    ‘Australia Post Santa Mail. The Santa Mail Tracker returned in November 2020’.
  • Letters to Santa
    ‘Send a letter to Santa and get an instant reply ! NO email or home address is required’.
  • Send a Letter to Santa
    ‘Once you have sent a letter to Santa, come back and check your mailbox by clicking Santa Letter Pick-Up. Santa answers every letter that is sent to him, but he has so much mail it usually takes him about three days to write back to you. Have you sent a letter to Santa on this site previously? You can view it here’. You need to set up a free account.

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Last updated - 10 October 2020.

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