December 2019 - Student Ambassador Exchange

Cultural Activities This Season!

Share your holiday traditions and customs with a student from a different country. This is a great way to expand your knowledge and understanding of how other countries celebrate.

On December 25^th, over 2 billion people (over a third of the world’s population) will celebrate Christmas Day! People celebrate Christmas Day in many ways. It is often combined with customs from pre-Christian winter celebrations. Many people decorate their homes, visit family or friends and exchange gifts. In the days or even weeks before Christmas Day, many people decorate their homes and gardens with lights, Christmas trees and much more.

It is common to organize a special meal, often consisting of turkey and a lot of other festive foods, for family or friends and exchange gifts with them. Children, in particular, often receive a lot of gifts from their parents and other relatives and the mythical figure Santa Claus. This has led to Christmas Day becoming an increasingly commercialized holiday, with a lot of families spending a large part of their income on gifts and food.

Many Sunday schools, churches and communities organize special events. These can include decorating the neighborhood or a shopping mall, putting up a Christmas tree and planning a Nativity display, concert or performance. A lot of plays and songs have an aspect of Christmas as a theme. Some groups arrange meals, shelter or charitable projects for people without a home or with very little money.

Things you can do to celebrate the holidays in America and share with an exchange visitor!

Make a holiday decoration: paper snowflakes, green & red paper chain, or garland out of popcorn!
Watch a holiday classic like Elf or How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Send holiday cards to nursing homes or troops overseas to let them know they’re remembered at Christmas
Visit outdoor displays of Christmas lights and decorations with a cup a hot chocolate and marshmallows