Sharing Holiday Traditions of Other Cultures in the Classroom

How do we explore holiday traditions while creating a classroom that is inclusive and respectful? In every culture, people engage in holidays traditions and celebrations. The celebrations are great way to create life-long memories. There are different ways to celebrate a holiday, and holiday celebrations often honor the history and past of a culture. Sharing information about traditions can help kids to discover and respect sacrifices made by people.

Learning about holiday traditions means exploring what the holiday means to different people. Teaching kids about the holidays of other cultures help them to understand that although there might be differences, we all have many things in common such as family gathering to enjoy special food and enjoyable activities.

By being inclusive and eager to learn about different holiday traditions you set an example for the kids. Explore a variety of holiday traditions and do not push or emphasize a holiday tradition over another. Teaching about a holiday requires that you make clear that the class can enjoy learning about each other’s holidays while holding to their own family’s beliefs and traditions.

Make sure that you do your research carefully since you will be teaching about traditions you do not celebrate. Check multiple sources and ask colleagues who might be give you first-hand accounts of the holiday. Carefully select teaching materials and books that are designed to teach kids about diversity and multicultural beauty.

Some people believe that learning about other holidays and celebrations can do more harm than good, for example, proving stereotypical ways of celebrating a holiday. Yet, you can with good planning and by using suitable resources support kids to learn about holiday traditions of a country. The activities should be a way to build awareness of others.

It is vital that kids understand and are given a chance to express their own family traditions but learning about other holidays helps kids expand their cultural world. The Festive Season can be a great time to support kids to explore other cultural traditions. Understanding reduces fear and increases empathy. Learning about different holiday traditions also creates a platform where kids can ask questions about their own traditions and help down stereotypes. December is a wonderful time of year to learn together and discover traditions around the world.