Christmas Holiday Index

Vintage Christmas bulletin board.

    Christmas, the most important festival of the Christian Church, observed annually on December 25, in memory of the birth of Christ. The time when the festival was first observed is not known with certainty; but it is spoken of in the beginning of the third century by Clement of Alexandria, and in the latter part of the fourth century Chrysostom speaks of it as of great antiquity. As to the day on which it was celebrated, there was long considerable diversity, but by the time of Chrysostom the "Western Church had fixed on December 25, though no certain knowledge of the day of Christ's birth existed; and the Eastern Church, which had favored January 6, gradually adopted the same date. The existence of heathen festivals celebrated on or about this day doubtless accounted in large measure for its selection; and Brumalia, a Roman festival held at the winter solstice, when the sun is, as it were, born anew, has often been mentioned as having a strong bearing on the question.
       In the Roman Catholic, Greek, Anglican and Lutheran churches, there has long since been a special religious service for Christmas day; and, contrary to the general rule, a Roman Catholic priest can celebrate three masses on this day. In homes in all Christian countries, Christmas is a day of household festivities, family reunions and joy for the children. The widespread practice of presenting gifts at Christmas time has probably some connection with the gifts presented to the Child Jesus by the three Wise Men. Today many towns and cities have adopted the custom of setting up community Christmas trees in centrally located places, and decorating central business areas with additional festive decorations.

 

Christmas Crafts and Fun Activities: (plus grade level suggestions)

1. Star Templates for Your Classroom
2. Paper Chain Wreath Craft - 4th grade and up
   
3. Cut Simple 3-D Christmas Trees  - 4th grade and up
   
4. Snow Baby Gift Tags - for coloring
   
5. Craft a Paper Snowman Wreath  - 3rd and 4th grade
   
6. Christmas Tree Border or Chain
   
7. An easy paper Christmas light garland craft...  - 2nd and 3rd grade
   
8. Color a Christmas Poem Book
   
9. A Peppermint Christmas Tree Tutorial - 5th grade and up...
   
10. Patterns for Penguins - kindergarten, 1rst, 2nd and 3rd grade
    
11. Craft Santa's Workshop Game
12. A "Hands On" Christmas Wreath Craft - kindergarten, 1rst, 2nd and 3rd grade
    
13. Draw Christmas things using a grid... - 5th grade and up
    
14. DIY a Christmas Toy Soldier Candy Container - 4th grade and up
    
15. Draw Santa Step-by-Step  - 1rst, 2nd and 3rd 
    
16. Make a Christmas Card Window to Hang - 3rd grade and up
    
17. Make a Frosty Ice Skate Paper Wreath  - 1rst, 2nd, and 3rd and up 

Short Stories, Poems Etc...

• The Christmas Dog
• The Story of the Fireplace
• The Toy Shop
• The Snow House
  
• Christmas With the Squirrels
• The Pride of Toys

Christmas School Performances/Pageants: Approximately 100 years ago, Christmas plays and performances in American schools were quite common. Today these are rare, although sometimes still practiced in community theater, private schools and early learning centers. The performances were intended to be short and easily memorized by young students and every grade level was expected to participate.(Approx. 10 to 15 minutes long for older students, 5 minutes for early grades) It was very common also for the stage settings to be elaborately decorated and for mothers and grandmothers to spend hour after hour sewing extravagant costumes for their little performers. As you can imagine, such occasions did provide perfect photo and video opportunities for parents!

       I will include some historic records of these little shows under this category. Much of the staging, I'm afraid, must be reinvented by enthusiastic drama/music teachers in order to perform them now. All of these five to fifteen minute performances are in the public domain and so they may be used freely by teachers everywhere if they should so choose. I think that dance instructors and children's community theater instructors might find them useful in designing some delightful modern interpretations.

1. Time for Santa Claus by M. Nora Boylan
2. Santa Claus is Coming By Maud L. Betts
3. Old Santa Claus By M. Nora Boylan
4. A Christmas-bell Drill by Ella M. Powers
5. The Snow Brigade by Marian Loder
6. Christmas Stockings by A. S. Webber
7. Christmas Children by M. Nora Boylan
8. Santa Claus by W. S. C.
9. Charity by Jay Bee
10. Merry Christmas by M. D. Sterling
11. A Christmas Lullaby
12. Dance of the Snowflakes by Alice E. Allen
13. Little Snowflakes by Ella M. Powers
14. Christmas Stories By Lettie Sterling
15. The Brownie Men by M. Nora Boylan
16. Winter's Children By J. D. Moore
17. Santa Claus
18. Mr. St. Nicholas
19. A Christmas Reunion by M. D. Sterling
20. Christmas Waits by Katherine West
21. A Christmas Party by Lizzie M. Hadley

Christmas Recitations for The Primary/Grammar Grades: A recitation in a general sense is the act of reciting from memory, or a formal reading of verse or other writing before an audience. In academia, recitation is a presentation made by a student to demonstrate knowledge of a subject or to provide instruction to others. In earlier scholastic history, American students were often expected to participate in some form of recitation for a grade, often this took place during some holiday performance. The most common time of year for a recitation was during a patriotic holiday, like Washington's birthday. However, I will include some popular winter holiday selections for recitation below.

1. Father Christmas's Message by J. A. Atkinson
2. When Santa Claus Comes 
   
3. Christmas Eve by Eugene Field
4. How Santa Claus Looks
   
5. Santa's Helpers by M. Nora Boylan
6. The Eyes of the Christmas Tree
7. Santa Claus's Visit by Susie M. Best
8. A Christmas Stocking
9. To Santa Claus by Jennie D. Moore 
10. A Christmas Quiz
11. What I Should Like by Jennie D. Moore 
12. Christmas Greeting
13. A Gentle Reminder by Alice W. Rollins 
14. A Christmas Sound
15. Christmas Time by M. N. B.
16. What Santa Calls Him...
17. Christmas Wishes by C. Phillips
18. A Christmas Telephone
19. Christmas Morn by M. N. B. 
20. A Touch of Christmas
21. My Christmas Secrets by S. C. Peabody
22. A Christmas Sleepy-Head
23. Kriss Kringle by Susie M. Best
24. Stitch in Time
25. A Message by Ella M. Powers
26. My Christmas Wish
27. The Mousie by M. N. B. 
28. A Christmas Wish
29. A Letter from Santa Claus by William Howard
30. Best of All
31. The Christmas We Like by Ella M. Powers 
32. The Christmas Pines
33. Saint Nick by M. N. B. 
34. A Christmas Song
35. Merry, Merry Christmas by Carine L. Rose
36. A Christmas Jingle
37. Christmas Questions by Wolstan Dixey
38. Jimmie's Letter To Santa
39. A Catastrophe by Susie M. Best
40. His Letter
41. A Christmas Gift by Mabel L. Pray
42. A Christmas Secret
43. A Christmas Thought by Lucy Larcom
44. Christmas In The Heart
45. The Merry Christmas Eve by Charles Kingsley
46. The Toys He Doesn't Like
47. The Christmas Stocking by Charles H. Pearson
48. The Turkey's Lament
49. Christmas Hymn by Eugene Field
50. Around The Christmas Lamp
    
51. Bells Across The Snow by F. R. Havergal
52.  A Christmas Gift
    
53. Christmas Eve by Frank E. Brown
54.  If You're Good
    
55. The Little Christmas Tree by Susan Coolidge
56.  Shoe Or Stocking?
    
57. Sing A Song of Christmas by Edith Virginia Bradt 
58. A Christmas Wish!
    
59. The Russian Santa Claus Lizzie M. Hadley
60. A Christmas Garden
61. A Christmas Carol by J. R. Lowell
62. The Power of Christmas
63. Peace on Earth S. T. Coleridge
64. The Christmas Tree
65. The Christmas Peace
    
66. A Christmas Wish for Children Everywhere
    
67. Old English Christmases
68. Gifts For The King
    
69. Santa Claus's Scout by Eunice Ward 
70. On Christmas Day by Dickens 
71. 3 Good Cheers for December!