Your babys first Christmas around the world
Your babys first Christmas is a milestone you will remember for many years. Whether you are starting your own family traditions or discovering how different cultures celebrate, Christmas is a wonderful chance to share stories, music, colour and warmth with your baby.
In many countries Christmas is a religious festival that marks the birth of Jesus. In other places it is celebrated as a cultural event. In the Western world Christmas Day usually falls on 25 December. Some historians suggest this date was chosen to match the Roman winter solstice or the birthday of the Persian god Mithras, long before Christianity appeared.
Many modern traditions such as the giving of presents are linked to the Nativity story. Others began as older pagan customs like decorating the home with evergreen branches. Later on, non religious traditions such as crackers and cards were added. Together they create the rich mix of Christmas your baby will grow up with.
Christmas in the United Kingdom and United States
In the United Kingdom and United States the Christmas season often begins in early November when city lights are switched on. Children may count down the days with an Advent calendar, opening one door for each day in December until Christmas Eve.
As Christmas approaches, many children write letters to Father Christmas or Santa Claus and take part in Nativity plays. They may see Father Christmas at preschool parties or community events and look forward to his visit on Christmas Eve when stockings are filled with small gifts while they sleep.
Christmas Day is often spent with family. Typical traditions include exchanging presents and sharing a festive meal that might include turkey, Christmas pudding and mince pies. During the meal adults and children pull crackers, read out jokes and wear colourful paper hats. Later in the day families often play party games or watch television together. Evening tea might include Christmas cake and sweet treats that delight young children.
Christmas in Australia and New Zealand
In Australia and New Zealand Christmas falls in the middle of summer. The weather is warm and many families gather outdoors. Snow covered cards, Christmas trees, mince pies, Christmas pudding and crackers still play a part. Father Christmas arrives on Christmas Eve in much the same way as in the United Kingdom, even though the celebrations take place in the sunshine.
Christmas in Denmark
In Denmark Christmas preparations begin in November when decorations appear in the shops. Families often celebrate on Christmas Eve. After the main meal the family may sing and dance around the Christmas tree before giving out presents. Father Christmas sometimes called the Yule Man is said to arrive on a sleigh pulled by reindeer with gifts for the children.
Christmas in France
In France Christmas is a religious festival for many families. Homes are decorated with Nativity scenes and children may attend Midnight Mass with their parents. Father Christmas or Pere Noel may bring gifts and sweets on 6 December which is the feast day of Saint Nicholas. Children sometimes place their shoes by the hearth and find them filled with gifts on Christmas Day.
Christmas in Germany
In Germany Saint Nicholas may visit preschools and schools on 6 December. On Christmas Eve presents are placed under the tree by Saint Nicholas or by a sprite like child called Christkindl. Families often sing carols around the tree before the presents are opened. This is a lovely tradition to adapt at home while your baby enjoys the music and gentle lights.
Christmas in India
In India Christmas Day is a public holiday though not always a religious festival for every family. Nativity plays are common in many schools and Father Christmas sometimes called Christmas Baba in Hindi may arrive on a horse and cart to distribute presents. In the days before the big day shops and markets are decorated with trees, images of Father Christmas and colourful balloons.
Christmas in Italy
In Italy Christmas is similar to other Western European celebrations but with a strong focus on faith. Families place gifts under the tree which may be said to come from Father Christmas or from Baby Jesus. Presents can be opened either on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day depending on family tradition.
Christmas in Japan
In Japan 25 December is not a religious holiday but Christmas is celebrated as a joyful cultural event. Families enjoy parties, Christmas trees and Christmas cake. On Christmas Eve children may find presents left on their pillows and adults often exchange gifts as well.
Christmas in mainland China
In mainland China 25 December is not an official holiday, although some families choose to celebrate privately. Presents, cards and stockings may be exchanged and during December Christmas trees and other Western style decorations can be found in many homes and public places.
Christmas in Poland
In Poland children take part in Nativity plays and religious services. On Christmas Day families share a special wafer of religious significance before eating traditional foods such as beetroot soup, carp and fruit. Children give out the presents and may dress up as Nativity characters and go carol singing.
Christmas in Russia
In Russia Christmas Day is celebrated on 7 January. Families may have a Christmas tree and children often receive presents from Grandfather Frost and his granddaughter the Snow Maiden.
Christmas in South America
In many South American countries Christmas has a strong religious focus. The Nativity story and the family are at the centre of celebrations. Western customs similar to those in the United Kingdom and United States have also been adopted. Christmas Eve is especially important and children may stay up until midnight to open their presents. In Venezuela the Wise Men known as the Magi leave gifts by the childrens beds.
Stories behind popular Christmas traditions
Explaining where Christmas customs come from can be a lovely way to enrich your familys celebrations as your baby grows. Many stories can later be turned into simple activities and discussions for toddlers and older children.
Christmas carols
It is thought that Saint Francis of Assisi brought carols into the church in Italy in the year 1223. Carols gradually developed into Christmas songs and by the nineteenth century people were singing them in the streets during the festive season.
Christmas pudding
Christmas pudding can be traced back to Roman cooking where it began as a mixture of meat and vegetables. In medieval times the savoury ingredients were replaced by a rich blend of dried fruit, sugar and spices made from thirteen ingredients to represent Jesus and the twelve Apostles. Families stirred the mixture from east to west to honour the Wise Men. The version of Christmas pudding familiar today was popularised in the time of Prince Albert.
Mince pies
Mince pies filled with meat, fruit and spices were brought from the Middle East in the thirteenth century by European crusaders. During the English Civil War they were banned by Cromwell who saw them as indulgent. They returned with the monarchy in 1660 and in the Victorian era became sweeter. They remain a favourite treat at Christmas.
Evergreen decorations
Long before Christianity families decorated their homes with evergreen branches to ward off evil spirits, witches and disease and to encourage the return of the harvest god Saturn. Later the practice of removing greenery on the twelfth night of Christmas on 5 January grew from the belief that tree spirits should be released back to the countryside to renew the land. According to superstition it is unlucky to leave decorations up after this date.
Holly and mistletoe
The Druids believed holly protected the home from evil spirits. In later times holly was placed around beehives to encourage bees to hum in honour of the baby Jesus. It was also thought that decking halls with holly could cure coughs and other ailments. Today holly is a symbol of peace and joy.
Mistletoe was also revered by the Druids who used a gold sickle to cut it from an oak tree. It was hung in homes for protection. Over time the custom of kissing under the mistletoe grew as a sign of friendship and goodwill.
Christmas trees
The Christmas tree originated in Germany and is linked to a legend about a Devon monk named Saint Boniface who used the triangular shape of the fir tree to explain the Holy Trinity. The first decorated tree appeared in Riga in present day Latvia in 1510. It was covered with paper flowers and later burnt on a bonfire as part of a religious ceremony.
In the sixteenth century Martin Luther is said to have decorated a small fir tree with candles to show his children how the stars twinkled in the night sky. In the eighteenth century Christmas trees arrived in England with the Georgian kings but became widely popular only in the Victorian era. After Queen Victorias death the Christmas tree became a familiar feature in homes throughout Britain and North America.
The Christmas star
Astronomers know there was no supernova at the time Jesus is thought to have been born. In the year 6 before the common era however the planets Mars, Jupiter and Saturn came close together in the group of stars known as Pisces. The Wise Men might have seen this rare event as a powerful sign and followed it as a guide.
Christmas cards and crackers
The first Christmas card was produced in 1846 by Sir Henry Cole who later became director of the Victoria and Albert Museum. When the halfpenny post was introduced in 1870 it became possible to send Christmas cards more cheaply and they soon reached a wider audience.
Christmas crackers were created by an enterprising baker in the late nineteenth century. He wrapped sweets in coloured paper containing a tiny explosive charge so that children would pull them apart. Over time small toys, riddles and paper hats were added and crackers became a favourite feature of the Christmas table.
Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas and stockings
Saint Nicholas was a Christian bishop who lived in Myra near present day Anatolia during the fourth century. After his death he became known as a protector of children and many countries now celebrate a Saint Nicholas Day as a special feast for them.
The story of the Christmas stocking also comes from legends about Saint Nicholas. One tale tells of three sisters who were too poor to marry. Saint Nicholas took pity on them and threw gold coins down their chimney. The coins landed in their stockings which had been hung to dry by the fire. Later the poet Clement Moore described stockings hung by the chimney in his story about a visit from Saint Nicholas and the custom spread around the world.
In 1868 the illustrator Thomas Nast combined Saint Nicholas with a jolly medieval figure to create the familiar image of Father Christmas. Although this picture came from America similar images developed in France and Italy. The sleigh and reindeer draw on Scandinavian myths. In many Latin American countries Father Christmas is said to make the toys while Baby Jesus delivers them which helps families connect religious belief with modern customs.
Christmas letters and gifts
Father Christmas was first placed at the North Pole in a sketch for Harpers Weekly in 1886 which showed two children tracking his journey to the United States. In 1952 newspapers suggested that he lived in Finnish Lapland. Today children from all over the world send letters there and receive replies.
The giving of gifts began in ancient Rome and Northern Europe as part of year end celebrations but became firmly linked with Christmas in the later nineteenth century. In many Western countries presents are opened on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day while some cultures exchange gifts on 6 December for Saint Nicholas Day.
Twelve days of Christmas
The twelve days of Christmas go back to the pagan festival of Yuletide which lasted twelve days. In Christian tradition the twelve days end on 5 January when the Wise Men are said to have reached the infant Jesus with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Making Christmas meaningful for your baby
Throughout history celebrating the birth of Jesus has been an important part of Christmas. Today the festival often blends Christian, pagan and cultural elements. Whatever your beliefs, Christmas can be a special time for your baby and your wider family. Your child will meet Christmas at home, at Baby Sensory or Toddler Sense sessions, in preschool and school and in community or church events.
You do not need a perfect celebration for your babys first Christmas. Simple traditions can be just as powerful. You might create a sensory basket with safe shiny objects, read a Christmas story every evening in December, sing carols together near the tree or choose one new tradition from another country to explore each year. Over time these small moments become part of your familys story and help your child learn about their own culture and the wider world.
