Teaching Your Little Ones About Other Cultures’ Traditions
As a parent, one of the best gifts you can give your child is an understanding and appreciation of the world around them. While Christmas is celebrated in many countries, there are countless other holidays around the world, each with their own traditions, customs and stories. Teaching children about other cultures’ holiday traditions can be fun. Not only does it broaden their minds, but it also encourages empathy, respect and open-mindedness.
In this post we’ll look at how to teach your little ones about Boxing Day, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Lunar New Year. We’ll also give you tips on how to celebrate these in a fun and educational way and make sure the spirit of inclusivity and diversity is at the heart of it.
1. Begin with the Basics: What is a Holiday?
Before you get into specific holiday traditions, take some time to explain what a holiday is. Holidays are celebrations, reflections, & togetherness. They often commemorate historical events, religious milestones or cultural values. For kids, focusing on the idea of holidays being times to connect with family, share traditions, and show kindness can help them understand the bigger picture before we get into the nitty gritty of different cultural celebrations.
As a parent you can introduce the idea of holidays in a fun and interactive way through books, songs and simple crafts. There are many children’s books that explore different holidays, including ones outside of Christmas. These can be great resources to spark curiosity and conversation
2. Boxing Day: A Day of Giving and Being Together
Boxing Day is celebrated in countries like the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand on December 26th. It was originally a day when the wealthy would give gifts (often in boxes) to the poor. While Christmas is a time for family and gift giving, Boxing Day is about charitable acts and spending time with extended family.
To teach your kids about Boxing Day, start by explaining its roots in kindness and generosity. Since the day is all about giving, one great way to celebrate Boxing Day with your kids is to volunteer or donate toys and clothes to those in need. This act of kindness will help your kids understand the spirit of Boxing Day and the value of giving back. Encourage them to make handmade cards or simple gifts to give to someone in their community.
3. Kwanzaa: Celebrating African American Culture and Heritage
Kwanzaa is a 7 day celebration that starts December 26th and goes through January 1st. It was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga to celebrate African American culture, history, & heritage. The holiday is based on 7 principles known as the Nguzo Saba which are; unity, self determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, & faith.
As a parent you can teach your children about Kwanzaa by focusing on the 7 principles and what they mean. There are many activities you can do with your children to reflect these principles such as creating art, singing songs or making a “Kwanzaa table” with symbols like fruits, candles, & meaningful objects. Reading books about the history of Kwanzaa or attending local Kwanzaa events is a great way to celebrate other cultures and record memories as a family.
4. Teach About Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday in December. It’s about the miracle of the oil that lasted 8 days in the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Hanukkah traditions include lighting the menorah, playing the dreidel game and eating special foods like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts).
To celebrate Hanukkah with your kids, focus on the symbolism of light, family, & miracles in our everyday lives. Engage your kids with fun activities like making paper dreidels or learning the rules of the dreidel game. Hanukkah is also a time of giving so you can encourage your kids to do small acts of kindness like donating toys or making a care package for someone in need.
Meals are also a good way to introduce your kids to Hanukkah. Make latkes together and talk about how food brings families together during the holiday.
5. Lunar New Year: A Celebration of New Beginnings
Lunar New Year falls between January 21st and February 20th and is the new year in many East Asian cultures including China, Korea, Vietnam and Taiwan. Each year is represented by one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac and celebrations involve family reunions, feasting and various traditions to bring good luck for the coming year.
To introduce Lunar New Year traditions to your kids, you can teach them about the Chinese zodiac and the animal of the year. Create red envelopes (known as “hongbao” in China or “li xi” in Vietnam) to give to family members, it’s a custom to wish prosperity and good health. You can also decorate your home with red and gold, the colors of good luck, and make paper lanterns or dragon masks together.
Make it real by cooking traditional dishes like dumplings, noodles or rice cakes. Get your kids to try new foods and tell them about the meaning behind them.
Conclusion: Celebrating the World, One Holiday at a Time
As a parent, you have the opportunity to model inclusivity & respect for different cultures & traditions. By celebrating other cultures, you show your child that diversity is something to be celebrated and not feared. Encourage questions, discussions, & curiosity to explain that while your family may not celebrate every holiday, it’s important to respect the holidays of others. By teaching your kids about different holidays and traditions from around the world, you’re giving them a broader view of the world and an appreciation for diversity.
As you teach your kids about Boxing Day, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Lunar New Year you’re not only sharing stories and traditions but you’re also raising a future generation of global citizens. Through these holidays you can celebrate kindness, generosity, family and new beginnings – values that transcend cultures and bring us all together.
So this year why not go global and introduce your family to all the amazing holiday traditions out there? Celebrate and record your memories, all while teaching your kids to celebrate the diversity of our world.
Visit the Babypage Blog for more holiday tips for parents.
