We are doing a Christmas around the world activity for our ward Christmas party. Here is what my committee (with help from others on this site) came up with.

DECORATIONS

We plan to have stations/activities set up in 1/2 of our gym representing different countries and the other 1/2 of the gym will be where dinner is to be served.

We are doing activities first and dinner last. This worked out well for us last year. For each country represented we are setting up canopies. Decorations can be hung inside, outside etc. on the canopies.

We are going to stress to the ward that this is a FAMILY event and that they should move freely between the stations TOGETHER. Last year we emphasized this when we did Christmas in Nauvoo and made this clear to our ward that they were to do things together. For the most part they moved together but you always have some that really don't care if their children are running wild. All you can do is grin and bear it,
right?!!

1-Germany

-They were the first to have Christmas trees and wreaths

-Germany, of all the other European countries, has the longest tradition of flat shaped gingerbread. Their practice of making lebkuchen houses never caught on in Britain as much as it did in North America. The settlers from Northern Europe brought it along with their customs and family recipes. By the nineteenth century, America had been baking gingerbread for decades.

-We are doing mini graham cracker houses. We found a simple pattern of a gingerbread house on the internet. We decided to assemble the houses beforehand and have the families work together to decorate their house.

2- England

-They were the first to have Christmas cards, Yule logs and Fruitcake

-We are making cards here with stamps and old Christmas cards for the missionaries

-We also thought we would let them cut out snowflakes here to use with or without their cards

-We are also going to have little samples of fruitcake here.

3-Mexico

-Las Posadas begins 9 days before Christmas. They have 3 kings instead of Santa - children leave out shoes instead of stockings. Children receive candy and trinkets on Christmas Eve and on January 6th the children receive gifts.

-We are setting out shoes here with Mexican wrapped candy for people to sample. (We are not using our shoes, but some that my mother-in-law got as decorations when they lived in Mexico!)

-We are also making paper plate maracas (click here for more information on this craft)

4-United States

-Last year we had people sign up for a short (5 to 10 min.) hayride where they caroled around the streets of our towns. I wasn't sure how popular this would be but each ride was maxed out with people. They loved it. So we are doing this again for the USA

-Also last year we had Santa in his own separate room where those who wanted to see him went to see him and those who didn't want to didn't have to. It was very well received and we plan to do it again this year. It also let us end the evening with a program focusing on Christ instead of caroling in Santa.

5-Japan

-Christmas in Japan became popular at the beginning of the 20th century and is mainly celebrated in cities. They celebrate it as a purely secular holiday devoted to the love of their children. The Japanese become acquainted with the holiday because of the Christmas products they made for other countries.  Christmas decorations are a popular sight. Tinsel and lights are hung in dance halls, cafes and pin ball parlors. Trees are decorated with small toys, dolls, paper ornaments, gold paper fans and lanterns, wind chimes and small candles. One of the most popular ornaments is the origami swan.  Children have traded thousands of paper birds of peace with young people to show that war will not happen. Many of the people take time to do special things for others. Hospitals are decorated with trees to lift the spirits of the sick. Children sing carols or put on plays about the birth of Jesus for the sick.

-We are making simple origami swans out of paper here, along with paper fans. (something for the older people and something for the little ones.)

-We are also going to have some chopsticks available for them to try and pick up beans with.

PROGRAM

For the program part of the evening we are going to have a few Christmas numbers from our own ward's family band and then have the children get up and sing "Holding Hands Around the World". (They know
this well because it is part of their program this year) I have also prepared a short power point on the Savior that I want to end with. It ends with the ward singing Silent Night with the Tabernacle Choir. (Click here for the power point presentation on the Savior)

You could have international dancers or singers here. We tried to do too much in the program part last year and we lost the attention of the children (and some adults!). So we are keeping it simple this year.

CHRISTMAS TREE IN FOYER

-Another idea we thought that would be fun is to set up a Christmas tree in the foyer each Sunday with tags for gifts that people could bring. Ex. Girl, Age 8 etc. They could then bring their wrapped gift with the tag to the party and then as a committee we would deliver the gifts closer to Christmas. We would need to set the tree out the whole month of November since our party is on the 2nd of Dec. Who knows, we might start a tradition.

FOOD

We are serving Turkey, potatoes & gravy, corn, rolls, salad, water and pies. We are asking the ward members to bring the pies. We are planning on around 200 people.