Homeschoolers can incorporate lots of fun and interesting activities into their family's holiday traditions. You may talk of Santa Claus or of various cultural or religious traditions. In any case, most people agree that there's something magical about this time of year when it's cold and dark yet sprinkled all around by tiny warm and colorful lights (at least in the Northern Hemisphere).
Santa Claus: Magic, Myth, Legend, and Origin
If you have younger children, you may encounter the question: Is Santa Claus real? Beyond giving a simple yes or no answer, I like to begin with Virginia's historic letter and The New York Sun's famous editorial answer:
"Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy."--Francis P. Church, New York Sun, 1897
Some parents, however, feel that giving an affirmative answer to the Santa question endangers trust between parent and child. You can read more about these considerations in "Is Santa Claus Real?"
Many believe that Santa Claus has his origins in Norse mythology's Odin. You may also have heard about Father Christmas, the Yule Elf, and other similar characters in lore around the world.
Christmas and Wintertime Activities
Indoor Activities. One of my family's favorite Christmas crafts is 3D gift wrap snowflakes. Using recycled or new holiday gift wrap, you can cut, twist, and paste together beautiful 3-dimensional star-shaped snowflakes to use for decoration.
Coloring pages are a quick and easy pastime to entertain children indoors.
Besides the obvious holiday activities, December is also host to Bill of Rights Day, a historic day for citizens of the United States of America. How well do you and your children know your rights and responsibilities as citizens?
Outdoor Activities. How well do you know your winter habitat? If you love the outdoors as much as my family, yours may enjoy some winter nature study. Do you know which birds stay around through winter and which ones leave, which trees remain green and which lose their color and leaves? Winter is a great time to head outdoors and find out what's going on in your local habitats.
You can make your holiday traditions even more fun by taking advantage of the history, mythology, and natural science of the season.
You might also enjoy:
- Coming Up: Valentines Day Printable Activities
- Roasted Pumpkin Seeds, Math, Crafts, & Games
- Constitution Day for Kids
Sara McGrath - Sara is a veteran homeschool mom of three, Usborne consultant, and the author of Unschooling: A Lifestyle of Learning.
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