Christmas in the UK Ideas for the Classroom

Christmas celebration in the United Kingdom.

Christmas in the UK poster (KidsSoup members)

Father Christmas

The English gift giver in England, a country that is part of the United Kingdom, is called Father Christmas. He wears a long red or green robe and delivers gifts on Christmas Eve in stockings or pillowcases that children have left at the end of their beds. The presents usually are not opened until Christmas Day.

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Father Christmas (Father Christmas is a 1991 animated short based on two books written by Raymond Briggs: Father Christmas and Father Christmas Goes on Holiday)

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Presents in Sack Addition and Substraction Activity (KidsSoup members)

What is in Father Christmas' sack? Circle Time Activity
Wrap different kinds of objects of varying sizes and shapes in Xmas paper and put in a pillow case or sack. Let children take turns to fish out a wrapped object and encourage them to guess the object. “It could be a doll. . . . It might be a candle, etc.” To help the younger children, ask questions such as “Is it a/an __________?”

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Father Christmas Letters of the Alphabet Hat Matching (KidsSoup members)

Christmas Dinner and Celebration

If you were to sit down at a typical British Chistmas dinner, you would probably start off with prawns or smoked salmon. The main course would most likely be roast turkey or perhaps goose accompanied by roasted, boiled, or mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts, roasted parsnips, stuffing with gravy, and bread sauce (a sauce thickened with bread) followed by fruit cake, mince pie, or a plum pudding (a pudding made with dried fruits, nuts, spices, and sherry or brandy). Some people like to hide a coin or trinket in the Christmas pudding. Whoever gets the treasure in their pudding on Christmas Day is especially lucky and their wish will come true.

Christmas Story and Books

The Polar Express

Carolers and Christmas Songs

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Sing-A-Long Christmas Carols and Lyrics

Many Christmas traditions originated in the United Kingdom, for example, when minstrels would travel from castle to castle in Medieval times singing for money or food. Today this would be called caroling. The word "caroling" means to sing Christmas songs or hymns, especially in a group performing in a public place or going from house to house. Carolers in England often go house to house collecting money for charity.

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Letter J Christmas Carolers Game (KidsSoup members)

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12 Days of Christmas Song and Numbers 1-12 Circle Time Activity (KidsSoup members)

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Twelve Days of Christmas Number Matching Activity (KidsSoup members)

Christmas Carolers Artwork from Janelle over at arteducationblog.com.

Preschool Activities:

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Christmas Crackers

Christmas crackers are another part of the traditional British Christmas. A Christmas cracker is small cardboard tube covered in a twist of brightly colored paper that is placed on Christmas Day by each person's dinner plate. Before eating, the tube is pulled by two people. A small explosive pop occurs. Inside the tube is usually a tissue paper hat, a balloon, a corny joke, and a small trinket.

Bells

Bells are often associated with Christmas, especially in the United Kingdom. In some churches, the largest bell is rung four times in the hour before midnight on Christmas Eve, and then at midnight, all the bells are rung in celebration of Christmas. Carolers often carry handbells to accompany their singing. Sometimes they just ring the bells and don't even sing.

Jingle Bell Craft (KidsSoup members)