A fun way to homeschool around the holidays is to take some of the more unusual Christmas traditions and to incorporate them into your day. This is a good way for you to teach your kids about Geography, about cultures other than our own, and about Christmas in general. It’s also a great way to give yourself and your kiddos a break during a busy time of the year.
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Around the world, people celebrate Christmas in very different ways. Like in America, there is often symbolism which points to the coming of Baby Jesus in a Manger. However, there is also a surprising amount of traditions which involve evil spirits, witches, and superstitions. Fortunately, even if you don’t want to mix those dark subjects into your celebration, there are still plenty of other more benign traditions you can explore with your kids.
Here are 16 Unique Christmas Traditions from Around the World:
1 – Brazil
A popular gift-giving tradition in Brazil involves those from an amigo secreto, a secret friend. These admirers give small gifts all through the month of December using a false name, only to reveal their true identify on Christmas Day. Try creating a Secret Santa gift exchange in your family or homeschool group.
2 – Canada
Canadians have many cookie baking parties and cookie swaps. Invite several friends over to bake cookies. Have everyone bring different ingredients. Split up the cookies at the end so that everyone has a generous plateful to take home.
3 – China
Only about 1% of the population are Christian so most people don’t understand the true meaning of the holiday – even though they manufacture the vast majority of Christmas decorations for the rest of the world. One tradition they do observe, however, is to give each other apples on Christmas Eve. This is likely because Christmas Eve in Chinese is Ping An Ye which is similar to the Chinese word for apple, Ping Guo. Have your kids do an apple exchange. You can purchase different types of apples so that they can see which ones are sweeter or more firm than others.
4 – Egypt
Egyptians have a Holy Nativity Fast for the 43 days before Christmas. During this feast, they basically follow a vegan diet which means no meat, eggs, or cheese. On Christmas Eve, they attend a church service that starts at 10am and can last as late as 4am. They then have a huge feast which contains all of the foods that they weren’t allowed to eat during their fast. Try to observe this type of fast at your house – even if it’s only for one day.
5 – England
Santa leaves presents in the children’s stockings on Christmas Eve. However, if they’ve been naughty, they might find a lump of coal instead. Have your children hang stockings and see what Santa brings them. 🙂
6 – Finland
On Christmas Day, the Finnish people light candles on the graves of their loved ones. Visit a cemetery and light a candle on the grave of one of your loved ones.
7 – France
The French have a tradition where they dress up and eat a multi-course meal on Christmas Eve. They often have 13 desserts to represent Jesus and the 12 apostles. They also stay awake all night long to usher in Christmas morning. Try to have a large meal with your family and serve several desserts. See how long your children can stay awake.
8 – Germany
On Christmas Eve, German parents hide a pickle on the Christmas tree. The first one to find it on Christmas morning gets a small gift. Try putting a pickle ornament on your Christmas tree and see who can find it. You can even try hiding it each evening of December and let your kids try to find it when they wake up.
9 – Great Britain
Children in Great Britain write their wish lists to Father Christmas and then instead of mailing the letters, they throw them in the back of the fireplace, hoping the draft will carry them up the chimney and to the North Pole. If the child’s letter catches fire before it flies up the chimney, the child must write a new letter. Have your children write a letter to Father Christmas and mail it in whichever manner you desire. Most post offices have special spots for letters to Santa around this time of year if you choose to go that route.
10 – Iceland
Icelandic children leave a shoe on their window sill during the 12 Days of Christmas. They awake each morning to find a sweet treat or gifts for them to enjoy. Have your children put one of their shoes on a window sill and you can surprise them in the morning!
11 – Ireland
Rather than leaving out cookies and milk for Santa, the Irish leave mince pies and a bottle of Guiness. They also leave a tall, thick candle burning in the window on Christmas Eve as a signal to Mary and Joseph that there is room for them at their house. Have your kids help you make a unique snack for Santa and burn a candle in the window.
12 – Japan
With few Christians in Japan, Christmas is seen more as a time for spreading cheer than as a religious celebration. And the Japanese celebrate Christmas Eve more than Christmas Day. With a focus on couples spending time together, it actually is celebrated more like Valentine’s day. Young couples exchange gifts and enjoy activities like strolling around looking at Christmas lights and eating a romantic meal.
13 – Portugal
The Portuguese have a feast on Christmas morning called Consoda, which is a time for remembering the dead. They set places at the table for their loved ones who have passed away.
14 – Slovakia
A Slovakian tradition is that the oldest man in the house to take a spoonful of pudding and throw it at the ceiling. The more that sticks the better. You may want to adapt this slightly so that you don’t make a giant mess. But any activity you can come up with that involves throwing pudding will probably be a winner with the kids.
15 – Ukraine
Rather than decorating the Christmas tree with tinsel, Ukrainians decorate with an artificial spider and web. Try decorating your tree with something unique such as artificial spider web. See what the kids can come up with!
16 – Venezuela
Venezuelans attend mass on Christmas, which is a tradition around the world. However, some Venezuelans have developed the tradition of going to mass on roller skates. That is anything but typical!
As you can see, there are many unique Christmas traditions which are observed around the world. Pick a few that you think will interest your children. Point out the country that celebrates it on a globe. Look at pictures of the country in Google. Listen to some of their music. Try some of their recipes. And participate in a few of their Christmas traditions. This is a great way to have some fun while learning about different people from around the world!
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Michelle has been married to her best friend for 18 years. She is also a homeschool mom to her two wonderful (and tall) sons. Michelle is a Christian, a fan of simple living, and a lover of chocolate. She loves her spicy chai tea in the morning and she has a hard time staying out of the snacks at night. You can find her blogging at www.homeschool-your-boys.com. Her mission is to encourage and inspire parents as they homeschool their boys.
by Stephanie, The Multi Taskin' Mom
This Post Has 248 Comments
Will G
1 Dec 2016It will help us pay for most of the Christmas gifts we are going to buy.
trevea herron
1 Dec 2016Thank you for sharing the 16 Christmas traditions
Nancy
1 Dec 2016Thank-you for these Christmas resources.
Wendy Clark
1 Dec 2016We are trying to pay cash to put our son through college and this would help sooooo much!
Jennifer Rote
1 Dec 2016Winning this would be a huge blessing for my family. It would help me get my mortgage up to date and leave a little for some gifts for my family.
Lori
1 Dec 2016I absolutely love Christmas time . Especially when spent with family. I would also love to win a giveaway sometime. I haven’t even read to see if I qualify. Most times I don’t because Im Canadian. I enjoy signing up for newsletters anyway and hearing from different folks. Have a wonderful Christmas season!!!!
Angela Carden
1 Dec 2016These are great ideas!
Michelle Caskey
1 Dec 2016Thanks! I hope you and your family can enjoy trying an idea or two this year. 🙂
Gabreial Wyatt
1 Dec 2016This would be so wonderful to win!
Nuria
1 Dec 2016Here in Catalonia we have a log or a tree stump called Caga-tió. We set it up on deaember 8th and the kids feed him and pamper him till desember 24th. On Christmas Eve the children atands in fron of him and they take turns singing the tió song while they whip him gently, some more than others… And at the end of the song the Cagatió poos a present!
Michelle Caskey
1 Dec 2016Oh, how cool! Thanks for sharing that idea with us. 🙂
crystal mccord
1 Dec 2016Would be wonderful to use for extra Christmas gifts.
Rebecca Robinson
1 Dec 2016Thanks for all the great ideas!
Michelle Caskey
1 Dec 2016You’re welcome!
Ivy R
1 Dec 2016Any time you receive a financial blessing it helps your family! I would love to invest it in homeschool “extras” – the things you don’t NEED, but your children could definitely benefit from having! 🙂
Kristina
1 Dec 2016This would greatly help to go towards our brand new playset for the kids. Our old one is unsafe and we are going to begin fostering (in hopes to adopt!) so we needed something safe and bigger to accommodate our growing family! 🙂
Sarah
1 Dec 2016Thank you for the oppurtunity!
Crystal Arcand
1 Dec 2016$500 would bless our family by giving us money to buy Christmas gifts since we had to spend our Christmas budget on car repairs. It would even give us some money to put back into the savings account.
Karen King
1 Dec 2016Loved reading through this blog post, making it part of our morning devotions until Christmas, Thank you for sharing
Angi
1 Dec 2016I don’t think I want to see how late my kids can stay awake! We are last minute and end up with things to wrap.
Diane
1 Dec 2016Thanks for your blog and the giveaway!
Sarah
1 Dec 2016The prize would not only buy plenty of presents for our family of 7, and keep us from feeling a pinch financially in January, but we would have enough to get a few important household items we need, that never seem to get to the top of our priority list! Like new dishtowels!
Annette Thompson
1 Dec 2016I would like to print out the Christmas from different Cultures to use in my daughters education. I love what you did with this n would to actual do some of these ideas.
Michelle Caskey
1 Dec 2016Thanks! I’m glad you found it helpful. 🙂
Jill
1 Dec 2016We are currently paying a ton of dental bills. This extra money would help us celebrate our son’s birthdays this month without using a credit card (avoid like plague…)
Sarah Ter Maat
1 Dec 2016This giveaway would bless my family, as my husband is a construction worker and gets laid off in the cold Wisconsin winters.
Christina
1 Dec 2016My family has been having some trouble with finances this past year. It has seemed like this year has been financially, emotionally, and physically horrible! So many things have come crashing down on us and it seems like there is no end to the madness sometimes. I know God has a plan so I am working on remaining grateful for the blessings we do have! We have a roof over our heads, food in the pantry and refrigerator and clothes. That is more than a lot of people can say so I know that we are extremely blessed! Because I am pretty good at discount shopping, an extra $500.00 would really help with Christmas this year. However, there are so many people out there that would really need this money more than my family, so if you find someone, please disregard this Comment!!! Thank you so much for reading this Comment! Please pray for my family and for all of the families that are struggling to get through the holidays! God Bless You!
Jennifer Vasquez
1 Dec 2016Christina, you are in my prayers. I understand what you’re feeling. I have to daily take a breath, remember that God is in control and grab hold of His peace because if not I spin out of control with worry over the finances. But we too have a home and clothes and never go hungry. So I will pray God’s peace covers your home and fills you and your husband up to overflowing!!
Andrea Peters
1 Dec 2016Thank you so much – this was great!
Jenny White
1 Dec 2016WOW! Who wouldn’t want to win $500! I’d definitely use this towards purchasing Christmas gifts and buying some extras for our homeschool.
Kenda Wathen
1 Dec 2016Thank you for sharing these ideas. I was thinking of doing some Christmas Around the World ideas and this gives me many ideas.
Sonja Brow
1 Dec 2016We would be able to pay off some debts we’ve been chipping away at, and be able to up our savings because of that.
Tammy Hinton
1 Dec 2016It is fun learning about traditions from around the world.
Christy Gould
1 Dec 2016Hubby and I are planning our first big vacation next year — partially to celebrate our ten-year anniversary, but mostly to be in Germany for the 500-year anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. We could definitely use the cash towards traveling expenses!!
Ann
1 Dec 2016I love your blog. Thanks for the opportunity to be blessed!
Amanda Jennifer
1 Dec 2016Winning the money woul provide my son and i the funds to visit family and go on more field trips in our homeschool.
Sarah T.
1 Dec 2016This giveaway would help us so much. My husband had back surgery, so since he’s the only one brining in a paycheck, it’s been really tough for us, financially. We’d be able to give our kids a Christmas!
Danielle
1 Dec 2016Thanks for the ideas 🙂
Bart Dixon
1 Dec 2016Thanks for the holiday ideas!
Diana Scholz
1 Dec 2016Winning this would bless my family in so many different ways! I can stretch $500 A LONG WAY! From a bigger and better Christmas tree, to a bigger Christmas breakfast, it would mean SO MUCH.
Kat
1 Dec 2016Thanks so much for the Christmas around the world info! Also excited about the $500 giveaway opportunity!! Meet Christmas!
LJ
1 Dec 2016This will be a blessing to buy Christmas and put on bills!!
Dawn Carmichael
1 Dec 2016Merry Christmas! May God’s blessings be abundant in the coming year!
Mari Benson
1 Dec 2016Thank you so much for your emails. I share them with my daughter who is homeschooling our 2 grandchildren, and they live in Mexico working for The Lord. I home schooled our oldest daughter and didn’t have the support that is offered now. Thank You again! Our youngest daughter is in the Navy, and during this time of year it is hard when the family is not together. We are thankful that The Lord kept my husband while serving over 20yrs. In the Marines. I am Thankful for the small things in life and for each day The Lord gives me. Merry Christmas! Mari Benson
Rebecca Besherse
1 Dec 2016It’s always fun to learn about the traditions of other countries, especially the reasons behind the traditions.
Tammy
1 Dec 2016Each year, on Christmas Eve, we choose a different country to learn about & celebrate their traditions! We have had lots of fun learning about many different places, so far! Thank you for sharing these traditions!
Cindy A.
1 Dec 2016This would be amazing to win! I would use the money towards our living room update. I am painting the ceiling and trim today. Wish me luck! 🙂
Sherry
1 Dec 2016We would probably use it to visit my family. They live so far and my girls don’t get to see them often. It would also help buy homeschool supplies.
Dawn
1 Dec 2016Thank-You for all the great ideas! I would love to win the $500 to put towards homeschooling curriculum since I will be a homeschooling newbie come Dec 16th & we’ve recently had to pay a large sum of money for a dyslexia program for our 10yr old daughter. Seriously I could have paid a full year of college with what it cost us. The $500 would truly be a blessing!
erin
1 Dec 2016Thanks for these great ideas and the opportunity for the giveaway. That would be a huge blessing!
Jenni Lemerand
1 Dec 2016I think it is funny that Ireland leaves mince pies and Guinness for Santa. lol
500 paypal dollars would be amazing to help out my parents, who have become caretakers for my elderly Grandfather. Maybe buy them a weekend out of town!
Karen Fletcher
1 Dec 2016Great ideas! Thanks!
Mellissa
1 Dec 2016We have been working on buying a house for the last 4 months. This blessing would definitely make Christmas a little brighter for our family of 11 (soon to be 12)!
Sally
1 Dec 2016Winning the $500 would pay for all our Christmas presents and some of our house payment.
Denise
1 Dec 2016Great traditions to explore. That pudding on the ceiling is just a bit much although, I do believe my children would love it. The $500 would be an amazing gift and help us tremendously too. Great blog post and giveaway. I hope and pray your holiday season is blessed and wonderful.
christina
1 Dec 2016This is great can”t wait to print and try it with my kids thanks for your time placing it all together.
Elane Holloway
1 Dec 2016It would make it possible for me to travel to see family that is getting up in age and may not be here for many more Christmas ‘ ……
Tracy S
1 Dec 2016I was given a Christmas pickle earlier this year. Now I have to remember where I put it.
Martina
1 Dec 2016This giveaway would probably go towards my medical bills from having my appendix out
Rachael Kuhaneck
1 Dec 2016This will greatly help out at Christmastime this year. Finances are really tight!
Jessica
1 Dec 2016Winning this giveaway would bless my family because I would use a portion of the winnings to pay off a small debt that accrued in November after we paid our property taxes
I would then use the rest of the winnings to give to a charity and to get a gift for my DH and DD.
Teresa Lass
1 Dec 2016I was forced to retire from my teaching position due to my rheumatoid arthritis. My retirement pay is just 60% of what I was making. Mike just started working last month after being unemployed for 4 years, so we’re struggling to keep a roof over our heads right now. Thanks foir hosting this awesome giveaway! Praying & hoping that I win!
Heather L
1 Dec 2016These traditions are so lovely! I hope each family has something special they do for the holidays.
Just being together is the greatest blessing for us!
Beatrice Jensen
1 Dec 2016Winning would allow my family to eat. This time of year is always hard it seems. This would give the opportunity to worry a little less and focus more on my children and family.
Lisa
1 Dec 2016Winning this would be wonderful!
Buffy Quinn
1 Dec 2016We could use this to pay off a bill
Ty
1 Dec 2016This would be a blessing because we would use part of it to sponsor a family’s christmas from dinner, tree and gifts. The rest we would use to get some more baking supplies so we can make more gift baskets to give to neighbors.
Laura Kaczmarek
1 Dec 2016This money will help offset some recent bills due to sewage backing up into our basement…not once but twice in the last two months. Had to have it cleaned up, pipes cleaned and replaced, expense of not being able to stay in our home during this process because of the smell and gases. Anyway, it hasn’t been fun or cheap and we have been really watching our pennies. Thanks for the giveaway! So very nice of you all to do this!
Clarissa West
1 Dec 2016This is a great post! My husband’s family does the pickle thing and they gave us our own pickle ornament to do with our kids, but I haven’t made it part of our traditions… lol. I usually just put it on the tree and tell the kids the original tradition.
Brooke Welch
1 Dec 2016Thank you for Sharing ♡
Tiphany M.
1 Dec 2016Thank you for sharing about the different traditions around the world. My husband is from Mexico and our kids are now getting old enough to understand that in different parts of the world people do things in different ways. Have a Merry Christmas.
Gertrude Ezell
1 Dec 2016This would help me pay off the loan I had to take out to get new tires for my suburban, as I found out yesterday my tires split in half. I already have Christmas figured out for the most part, but tires were an unexpected expense.
Lisa Floyd
1 Dec 2016These are interesting facts. Thank you for sharing. The money would help pay some bills, go to charity, and buy Christmas for my boys.
Renae B
1 Dec 2016Timely post as we will be studying Christmas around the world in the next few weeks as part of our geography studies. Thank you for providing some information all in one spot!
Heather L
1 Dec 2016This would bless us with money for gifts and groceries. We’re having the family at our house this year so I’ll be making a lot more food. Also, I’m trying the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle and would love to have the money to buy some of the special ingredients. Thank you!
Maria Leeker
1 Dec 2016Winning this would help offset costs this Christmas and/or help provide for homeschool and household materials.
Nicole Smith
1 Dec 2016Winning the $500 would help us get more Angels off of the local Angel Tree and buy more clothes for our daughter who keeps growing after I bought her new winter clothes a month ago.
Paula
1 Dec 2016We appreciate you all for desiring to be a blessing to others!
Michelle Proper
1 Dec 2016I am a disabled Mom & Grandma with MS and every Christmas is such a struggle. This would sure be a mighty blessing for me and my situation <3
Deanna Harrison
1 Dec 2016In West Africa, we have an all night Christmas Eve service. There are carols and a sermon, but the biggest part is like a talent show. People prepar solos or skits. Some people memorise poems and recite them. There is dancing and lots of joyful praise time. In the wee hours of the morning, we all have a potluck meal together. It is a happy, crazy, tiring, but wonderful tradition.
Naomi Filos
1 Dec 2016We enjoyed reading about different Christmas traditions from around the world. The kids are scheming about how to make them a part of our family.
Lora Goodson
1 Dec 2016My kids and I learned about a Spanish Christmas tradition last year. It’s called Tio de Nadal, I believe. Everyone should look it up — it’s really cute. My sons cracked up over the idea of a log being told to excrete presents and candy (to be polite about the idea). Not everyone will find it appropriate, but I think it’s harmless — definitely not for the more reverent moments of Christmas, though. Christmas should definitely be spent with more of those than the stranger, funnier traditions.
Sharon Frisch
1 Dec 2016It would help us pay off some medical expenses. Thank you for the giveaway!
Sheri Anderson
1 Dec 2016Oh my goodness, this would make such a difference for our family as it’s been a tough year with deaths of precious loved ones and winning would be a joy, thanks!
Amber Terry
1 Dec 2016We have a few bills that are overdue and we could take care of that 🙂 Thanks for the chance to win!!!!
Lora Lee Goodson
1 Dec 2016I only buy presents for my two sons, and that entire budget consists of $400 from my mother. Our circumstances are pretty bad, so a $500 addition to that budget would give my children the Christmas I’d like to give them. It would be a blessing so wonderful.
Ginnie F.
1 Dec 2016My husband and I decided that we would rather I stay with our daughter rather than putting her in school for now. While it was a joint decision, my husband is having to work twice as hard to cover the loss of my income. Additionally, we have had to face a surprise remodel due to water damage. He tells me not to worry, but I feel guilty that I am not bringing in a paycheck. That may sound ridiculous because I know I am working hard, but it is the way I feel. This would take some pressure off my husband and I for the Holidays, and I feel that is the best gift I could give him.
Kara Jones
1 Dec 2016The gift of $500 would richly bless our family. We have endured many hardships this year. This money would allow me to purchase Christmas for my family as well as bless another.
Nicole
1 Dec 2016It would allow us to have a regular chrustmas. We’ve had to cut back this year, and it woukd allow us the money to travel to see relatives, some of whom may no be with us by next christmas.
Barb S.
1 Dec 2016Winning this would help us catch up on some medical bills.
Shelley
1 Dec 2016This would be so amazing and help pay for my children’s new playset for our backyard!
mary wesner
1 Dec 2016my daughter home schools her 3 boys and on occasion helps with others. she lives in an Air Force community where her husband is in the Air Force and where every one helps each other as much as possible. she has her boys enrolled in sorts and music and the home school group go on educational field trips and do lots of Community Service such as help the elderly and several other things. not only is she involved in the goings on of home schooling but her and her husband are deeply involved in their church and the childrens extra curricular activities. such as Trail Life which is like boy scouts.. not only could the money help them enrich the lives of their children but will help their community also
Sheila
1 Dec 2016I would use this money to get a therapeutic swing and pecs system and put it under the Tree for my Son, Kaden! 🙂
Laura Moro
1 Dec 2016This gift would allow my family to pay off one entire debt! It would put us halfway to being debt free!
April D
1 Dec 2016We did Christmas around the world last year, and it really helped the kids learn that there were so many different ways to look at Christmas. I think it is such a wonderful thing for kids to study! Winning this prize would be such a blessing to us for too many reasons to count. I guess the best way to say it would be that it would help us be able to give our kids a really special Christmas. Thank you for holding it!
Cassandra Frost
1 Dec 2016Ever since my daughter was born last January, we have fallen behind on bills. While we hope to reconcile that in January, this would help us pay off a portion of the debt we owe.
Kendra Lund
1 Dec 2016We would be blessed with Having more to give to our church’s building projecr
kim kihega
1 Dec 2016It would help us get the kids a few more items for Christmas this year!
Abbie
1 Dec 2016Oh my, this would be such a blessing for our family!!! I’m an old grandmother who’s raising 3 grandchildren, have a 25 year old vehicle that’s falling apart and desperately needs parts to keep it running, a half-working refrigerator that needs a part we cant’ afford, and 3 grandchildren who would be soooo very blessed with a decent Christmas this year. Might even be able to have a Christmas tree this year too!!
But sadly, I know I’ll never win it, luck is never on our side. lol ;-(
Estella
1 Dec 2016We’d like to save up for a family vacation to Hawaii next year!
heather kaufman
1 Dec 2016$500 would buy my family groceries for 2 months. It would really come in handy right now.
Mita
1 Dec 2016Like the information about traditions from around the world.
Sasha Gilson
1 Dec 2016We would use it towards some unexpected medical bills from my son’s birth and surgery.
Lisa Clark
1 Dec 2016My husband is currently out of work and looking for a job, so money is getting very tight. This would truly be a blessing!
Nickie
1 Dec 2016This would help out a lot during this holiday season
Sarah H
1 Dec 2016It would be the most amazing blessing! We are at the tail end of a very eventful and hard pregnancy. We’ve been spending several hundred dollars a week in pregnancy care. Money that wasn’t expected. Every little bit helps! Thanks for the opportunity!
Jenn Khurshid
1 Dec 2016It would help with our travel expenses to spend Christmas with family! 🙂
Missy
1 Dec 2016The giveaway would bless our family by helping pay for homeschool supplies for next year with have two going to be homeschooled.
Denise M
1 Dec 2016Thank you for the ideas. It is always fun to try new things for Christmas. Thank you for the opportunity for the PayPal cash. I think we would use it for a ski day while visiting my in-laws later in the winter.
Sabrina
1 Dec 2016I’d love to knock off some Christmas gift items along with some homeschooling items from our wishlist.
Cheli Sigler
1 Dec 2016I would love to use the $500 to be able to get my husband a surprise Christmas gift, and take my family on a brief getaway trip.
Shannon
1 Dec 2016Thanks so much for this!
What an incredible way to bless some people!
**FINGERS CROSSED**
Cate Moe
1 Dec 2016This money will help us surprise our loved ones with more meaningful and special gifts this year!
Heather Maksimik
1 Dec 2016This would help with gifts for my kids and get something for my fiance. Thank you for the chance to win!!
Jennifer Vasquez
1 Dec 2016We were supposed to set aside all of the small amount of money I make from my very part time job in order to have the funds to pay for our Classical Conversations tuition and fees next year mid summer. Well, sadly, we have not been able to do that due to unexpected circumstances and a surgery we are now receiving bills for as well. I know I am not alone in this and I’m not the only one dealing with hardship but to be honest, it really is draining. Winning this giveaway would be such a blessing to my family!! There are not many ways that I can put into words just how incredible it would be other than it would be a gift of peace.
Stephanie Allen
1 Dec 2016Thanks for this terrific opportunity. This will definitely help with my Christmas shopping.
Colleen Boudreau
1 Dec 2016It would help with all the Christmas expenses.
Lauren Gonzalez
1 Dec 2016Help us get a little ahead so it’s not paycheck to paycheck.
Teresa
1 Dec 2016Winning this would help buy presents for my 6 kids. Christmas has been harder since my heart condition has put me out of work but my kids always have been great. They never complain and are always grateful for what they receive. It would be great to give them a little extra though. Thanks for the opportunity!
Cindy B.
1 Dec 2016Our bathroom needs a new floor and this would be a wonderful way to get that floor. We just had to have a new heat pump put in. Why do things always break down before the holidays?
Kelly D
1 Dec 2016This would help me purchase the items on my kid’s Christmas lists and also go shopping for our holiday dinner.
Rachel
1 Dec 2016Winning this giveaway would bless my family because I didn’t have a job for two months.
September West
1 Dec 2016Our oldest son starts college in January, so this will be a big help towards paying his expenses.
Myra
1 Dec 2016This would help us as my husband hunts for a job in the new year!
Elizabeth Trainer
1 Dec 2016500$ would help pay down debt plus add to my school budget! Thanks for the great Christmas ideas!
Angela Hendricks
1 Dec 2016If I won this giveaway it would be a blessing because I could afford new tires for my car and I could concentrate on getting my kids gifts.
Steve Weber
1 Dec 2016It would not only help us provide gifts for the 6 kids, but it would also put a nice meal on the table for Christmas dinner.
Jeannie
1 Dec 2016Slovakia’s tradition made me giggle. I loved reading about all the different traditions.
Janna Olson
1 Dec 2016The extra money would help me, my husband and our six children get to California for my sister’s wedding.
Kathy M.
1 Dec 2016This would give us enough money to make the 800 mile trip to our family in Texas much more do-able. Right now, I dread shelling out for gas & road trip necessities.
Anastasia B
1 Dec 2016This would be so helpful right now as my husband and I are both self-employed and he wasn’t able to work for over a month, now we are awaiting our 3rd baby due TOMORROW! This would be timely with our savings account dwindling down.
Justine
1 Dec 2016Thanks for participating!
Valarie Hudson
1 Dec 2016Thank you for all you do and for this giveaway. I pray it goes to the most deserving person
Kristyna L Wickline
2 Dec 2016This is a very interesting article we have family in China and Thailand and love to learn about other countries around the world!
Andrea
2 Dec 2016Thanks for some interesting information on traditions from other countries. I think my children will enjoy learning about some of them and even trying some of them too! The cash giveaway is a great idea and will be a tremendous blessing to whomever receives it.
Nikolina
2 Dec 2016If we won this giveaway, we’d have a real Chritmas with a real tree, lots of presents and delicious food! 🙂
Amy
2 Dec 2016When both cars die within 30 minutes and 3 miles of each other, extra cash is mighty helpful. 🙂
Rachel Henneberger
2 Dec 2016Loved reading about all the traditions!
Katrina Morgan
2 Dec 2016Our family is having a different Christmas this year as we are saving to go on a month long camping trip next fall; also my husband and I are forgoing any gifts (birthday or Christmas) as we are redid our kitchen & cabinets ourselves.
Fe M.
2 Dec 2016It would be a great help for us especially now that we’re still in the process of trying to recover from the tragedy that happened to us almost two years ago. We lost our home when it burned down on New Year’s Eve. We haven’t had the chance to celebrate Christmas like we used to; although we don’t really have any elaborate celebrations before. I would like to be able to buy gifts for our kids and maybe prepare a sumptuous Christmas dinner for the whole family.
Sara
2 Dec 2016I would buy gifts for those I am not buying for this year.
Kristen
2 Dec 2016We are remodeling our family room. I’d use it for a new couch!
Dezari
2 Dec 2016$500 would bless our family by giving us the money to pay some of our bills. Thank you for the opportunity!
Susan
2 Dec 2016If our family won $500, it would go toward our adoption fees. We will be traveling to China (hopefully in February!) to bring home our daughter, who is 6 years old. We can”t wait to bring her home!
evelyn
2 Dec 2016Thanks for the Christmas Around the World piece. So helpful to guide my daughter to think outside the box. Winning the giveaway would be an awesome blessing!
Valerie
2 Dec 2016We’ve been working for years to pay off all our debt – and we only have one left! This would be such a huge blessings to help us finally get rid of debt forever! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
Anne H
2 Dec 2016I would use this money to bless two families I know that are struggling to keep their homes. Neither families can afford to give gifts or make the mortgage payment. I would like to relieve them of the stress and burden for the month so they can focus on the joy of the season.
KristenStorey
2 Dec 2016This would help me to spoil my husband who so richly deserves it! He gives so much to us and rarely puts himself first! He has eyes on tools that he refuses to buy because he would rather spend the money on the kids or me.
Alicia LeBlanc
2 Dec 2016Thanks again for another awesome giveaway and blessing another family!
Sabrina K
2 Dec 2016This is fantastic! I am planning on doing the Christmas around the world with my kids for homeschooling, starting next week. Still gathering resources. Thank you for this! And the $500 giveaway is so sweet! God bless!
Lea Anne
2 Dec 2016This would help out tremendously this year!
Sarah
2 Dec 2016The extra money would be helpful to pay off some medical bills. What a blessing!
Mary S.
2 Dec 2016I would love to win this and have some extra cash to spend on Homeschooling supplies! There are so many awesome resources out there, but not much extra cash. Thanks for the chance to win! : )
Jamie
2 Dec 2016We love learning about other cultures. We used to choose a country every year and then we would prepare a Christmas meal based on that country’s traditional foods. It was a lot of fun and a great learning experience!
Cate Hoepner
2 Dec 2016This giveaway would help my family afford Christmas gifts for extended family members and friends!
Danielle Hull
2 Dec 2016The giveaway would bless our family as we go into the new year ready to buy our meat that we process and pay off our daughter’s oral surgery for her wisdom teeth!
Betty
2 Dec 2016Thanks for all the info on the way Christmas is celebrated around the world. Very fun ideas.
Charis
2 Dec 2016I’d love to win to bless a hurting family in need.
Kimberley
2 Dec 2016This would bless my girls with sorely needed new clothes. They grow way too fast! Merry Christmas to everyone.
Becca
2 Dec 2016We could pay off a bill or 2, which would definitely be awesome!
Adriana Gonzalez
2 Dec 2016Winning this giveaway would bless my family by finally buying them Christmas Gifts this year.
Wendy Caddy
2 Dec 2016I would help my children and grandchildren out with groceries. That is what is needed most right now.
Dan Dykstra
2 Dec 2016I am so blessed, I would love to be a bless someone else. My children could use it or someone in need.
Erica
2 Dec 2016WOW! $500 would be a HUGE blessing for our family! We’ve had two sick kids for over a year. We have spent thousands of dollars out of pocket trying to get answers & help for them with specialists, compounded meds (which have been necessary due to anaphylactic dye allergies), natural medicine, a combo of both, etc,
Our insurance only covers sick care, would not cover the compounded meds because they were not on the “approved” list), & only covers those who just want to give our kids drugs, which has done nothing for them other than to make them SICKER and confirm that mainstream medicine does not know how to look outside the box to find answers & healing.
We FINALLY recently found an alternative doctor to help, & she doesn’t charge $400 per hour like one of the specialists we saw (we were beyond desperate when our one child couldn’t hold down any food & was in 24/7 pain for months with no help anywhere we turned; the doctor did help some, but far from enough, which was devastating for our family). Our new doctor found what all of the other scopes, scans, blood tests, ER’s, pediatric ER’s, pediatric specialists, hospitals, children’s hospitals, & specialists all missed.. She even has cash prices & has given us a discount because we have to see her often & we pay out of pocket to see her. She truly is AMAZING!
The $500 would really help to continue to provide ongoing care for our girls w/the new doctor and also allow us to get the supplements that have finally been helping them, like digestive bitters, homeopathic spray for their ileocecal valves, the supplies to make digestive bitters, etc..
Thank you for the opportunity to participate :)!
Jennifer
2 Dec 2016Wow! This is an amazing blessing that you and your fellow blogger friends are going to be giving away this year. If we were to win it would greatly help pay on our medical bills. Thanks for the opportunity!
Adriane
2 Dec 2016I was my mom’s sole (unpaid) caregiver for 10 years. she passed away a few months ago. I’m broken hearted and have no other family here. This $500 would bless me with the ability to do something special on Christmas rather than sit at home alone missing my sweet mom.
Brandi Cotton
2 Dec 2016We had our family vehicle break down on us on November 19th. This $500 would go towards purchasing a new car. Thanks for offering this giveaway! It’s truly in the spirit of the season.
Teresa W
2 Dec 2016There is some homeschool curriculum that would be awesome to purchase with this. Our kids could use some new clothes as well.
BlackAsphodel
3 Dec 2016I could use this to buy Christmas gifts.
Glen Hough
3 Dec 2016I would spend some on gifts for my children and share some for gifts for people who help at work
Glenda B.
3 Dec 2016This would really be a blessing to us. I’m a grandmother raising 3 of my grandchildren. I’m a widow trying to live on a small disability check because of many health problems. But the Lord has blessed us with a roof over our head, clothes, & food. We don’t have much, but we have what we need thanks to the Lords blessings. This would pay a few overdue bills , buy the children a nice Christmas & a food basket & toys for a family less fortunate than us. Thank you for the giveaway. God bless.
Michelle
3 Dec 2016This is a great idea to get away from the normal routine and put some fun in holiday learning but still accomplishing a lot of learning!
Our family is expecting our 6th child January 9th so the cash giveaway would be a blessing for delivery and baby essentials!! Thank you for all you do on your blog to bless all of us!
Amy
3 Dec 2016I cant wait to incorporate the different traditions of different countries in our holiday lessons.
We would use part of the financial blessings on clothes cause my 12 year old girl is growing like a weed
Theresa A.
3 Dec 2016$500 would help so much with gas for the car and Christmas groceries. Happy Holidays!
Stephanie H.
3 Dec 2016This money would help us greatly with buying groceries, clothing, and other every day essentials.
Michelle B
3 Dec 2016Winning this would allow me to fly down and see my husband for the holidays. Which would be amazing!!
Nicole M
3 Dec 2016This blessing would go towards Christmas gifts for a family in need and a family gift for my family. Thank you!
Leanne
3 Dec 2016This would be a blessing since our income was less than usual this year. It would also help us to bless others.
Thanks for the interesting Christmas traditions. Even though I lived in Germany for 4 years, I never heard of the pickle tradition. I’ll have to ask my host family about that! 🙂
Laurie Damrose
3 Dec 2016If i win a new microwave will be in our home!
Crystal S
3 Dec 2016It would help be able to buy some gifts. We haven’t been able to start yet since it’s been a bad year!
Kathy Gossen
3 Dec 2016Wow! This list is fantastic. We are planning on doing a Christmas geography unit next year and this list will help soooooo much! Thank you!
Mistie
3 Dec 2016I would definitely like to use part of it to bless someone else. When money is tight – even though we still give to others – I miss being able to give monetarily in a bigger amount, as my heart desires. The rest we would put toward recovering what we have had to spend in the last month. It has not been a great financial month for us this month. But God has provided and blessed us – so no fussing here 🙂 – (Not that others are fussing, my heart goes out to all who are hurting!)
Kim F.
3 Dec 2016There are so many things that $500 would help go towards- probably would help off set homeschool expenses and give opportunities for things like music lessons.
Samantha F.
4 Dec 2016It would help us buy a new door!
judy sizemore
4 Dec 2016I would spend it on my 3 grand kids who are living with me now
Shannon
4 Dec 2016We appreciate your Catechism Bible studies for the kids. Looking forward to using many more of your resources.
Valerie k
4 Dec 2016My daughter just wrote her Christmas wish note to Santa…. it read “dear Santa, please, let me stay home from school forever. There are mean girls there and I feel scared and sad all day. I want to learn at home where I feel safe and free to be me. Thank you Santa! Please bring love to the mean girls so they can be kind”. So, as you can see, if I won the $500, I would be purchasing a complete homeschool curriculum and pulling my daughter from public school. She is in her first year of traditional
Schooling. It’s not going well.
Samantha Shank
4 Dec 2016Winning this would help me pay off some of my college tuition!
Apolonia Sanchez
4 Dec 2016I would take the money, and buy stuff to give to the needy. My husband was laid off the entirer summer, and it still hard with 7 children. Dont matter what my situation is we have a van, house, and food. My kids dont have gifts, and its 7 of them. We are bless to be alive, and have all the blessings we have. God is awesome, and I will never forget my struggles, but know God is there.
AshleyT
4 Dec 2016I love these different ideas. We are going to try to do the French tradition on a smaller scale this year If I were to win the $500, I would pay off a bill and I would get my husband Christmas presents. As of right now my husband and I don’t have the money for presents for each other – just a couple for our kids.
Danielle
4 Dec 2016Thank You for sharing all the holiday traditions from around the globe!! It is always fun to talk about such differences.
The most interesting of all is that same message is found almost everywhere…Through giving we receive the most.. Love, caring, compassion for our loved ones and complete strangers is our true purpose.
Not only during these holidays, but throughout the entire year.
So many families are finding just simply surviving difficult these days, Whether from lost jobs, falling ill or any other happen stance, there is much uncertainty. Thank you for joining your fellow bloggers and deciding to shed a bit more hope and light, into someones holiday.
We can not all receive this great gift, but I am certain we all wish one another a wonderful and safe holiday and the most happiest of new years!!
Sincerely,
Danielle
Rust
4 Dec 2016If I won I would buy my daughter something nice for Christmas and put some towards bills.
michelle houchlei
4 Dec 2016Winning this would be a great blessing for us to help with travel to our families for Christmas. Thank you for the chance!
Elizabeth
5 Dec 2016So fun to learn about how other countries celebrate Christmas!
Dani
5 Dec 2016We practice Second Christmas at our house. Christmas day is the day we celebrate Christ’s birth, and focus on what Christmas is all about. We celebrate the day after Christmas with gifts and family.
Dani
5 Dec 2016Oh, and the 500 would go toward paying bills….
Michelle J.
5 Dec 2016It will help us take a family trip and spend quality time together!
Liz Thomas
5 Dec 2016Great giveaway! Bills & some gifts.
Jessica Brammer
5 Dec 2016What a blessing this could be. We have been starting our own business for the last 7 months (www.storymoment.com) and are financially in the negatives, barely scraping up enough for a mortgage payment. But God has been so faithful and we have been humbled by the love and help we have received.
Laura A.
5 Dec 2016Money is very tight for us right now. Winning this would allow us to pay off our unexpected transmission bill faster.
Teresa Myers
5 Dec 2016Thank-you for helping me live within our budget. I could use the extra for therapy for my special needs children.
Teresa Myers
5 Dec 2016Thank-you for all you do.
Deanna
5 Dec 2016This would help us get gifts for all the kids and grandkids.
Emily
5 Dec 2016This would help me to get a water filter to make the water safer for our family. 🙂
Holly
5 Dec 2016We would use the money to travel to see family in another state.
Suzanne Moheng
5 Dec 2016This is such an awesome site! So helpful with teaching! Thank you
DJ
5 Dec 2016It will help me be able to have a great Christmas dinner with my whole family.
Lisa Williams
5 Dec 2016As a single mom, it would help me give the girls a good christmas, not just gifts, but meals as well and baking supplies.
Stephanie
5 Dec 2016We have been hit by a lot of financial needs this year. My daughter needs a BAHA hearing aid, and the out of pocket expenses will exceed our flex spending account a by around $1500, I have some health concerns that have recently developed, both cars need repairs, and we are trying to get out of debt. We could definitely use an extra $500!
Erica Coutu
5 Dec 2016Thank you for sharing the different Christmas traditions! I am starting a Christmas lesson next week with my kiddos about the countries they have chosen to learn about, Puerto Rico, Italy and Mexico!
The money would help my family through birthdays and Christmas and help “my boys” in their education journey 🙂
Jeni
5 Dec 2016Thank you for the Holiday Traditions post. We have an advent calendar that visits a different country each day. This post compliments it beautifully. Thanks for the drawing, as well.
Kristi
6 Dec 2016Thank you for the article ! It was fun to read about traditions around the world!
Heather S
6 Dec 2016What a generous, wonderful giveaway! Thank you for blessing someone in a very special way this Christmas. God bless you!
ChrisB
6 Dec 2016Winning this prize would allow me to catch up on our electric bill.
Elena Marshall
6 Dec 2016Winning would bless our family because we are very committed to making it a debt free holiday; with one income and 8 children, it’s not easy.
Ana Willis at They Call Me Blessed
6 Dec 2016This is awesome!!! I love all the insights about Christmas in different countries!!
Just for clarification, in Brazil for the Amigo Secreto (secret friend) we don’t use fake names.
Here is how it goes:
On the day of the Amigo Secreto party, each one brings their gift and one by one a person stands in front of everybody and gives clues about who their secret friend is. We do the draw a few weeks before and we put a limit on how much the gift should be we also don’t tell anyone who our secret friend is – it’s a secret!
So for example: Let’s say I drew Tauna’s name and she is now my secret friend. When my turn comes I would stand and say: “Meu amigo secreto ‘e… My secret friend is… very caring, she has a heart to minister to moms, she is a mother of 5 and it is always encouraging others to be… she is also known as the Proverbial Homemaker.” As you describe the person, others will shout out who they think the person is. The first one to get it right will be next!
It’s so much fun!!! Even not leaving in Brazil anymore for 20+ years, we still do “Amigo Secretos” every Christmas season! 🙂
mary
7 Dec 2016I would be very appreciative to win. There are so many “things” that keep popping up, and some extra money would be very helpful, and Id like to get a little something special for each one of us.
Julie
7 Dec 2016I would use it to buy presents, pay off bills, and homeschooling supplies.
Chelsea C
7 Dec 2016$500 would be a blessing! We would take a half and use it to creatively bless others in our community and the other half would go to have a little savings.
Cheryl Rahkonen
7 Dec 2016If I won, I would give it to my daughter and her family. They are struggling right now and this would definitely help them with their bills.
Brandy A
7 Dec 2016This would be a huge blessing. I would use part of it on my family and part of it to help someone in need. Maybe have my girls hand pout supplies to the homeless.
Melanie Lynn
7 Dec 2016It would help us with our Christmas gifts but it would also help us with some extra needs that we have. What a generous giveaway! Thank you!
Dixie Stone
7 Dec 2016$500 would provide my family with a good Christmas to remember. I want this Christmas to be special for ny family. We found out my dad has Lou Gehrig’s disease in August. He is the glue that holds my family together. It would be nice to have one last good Christmas with happy memories before he gets to the point where he cannot enjoy Christmas with us.
Suzi
7 Dec 2016I would use this money to buy gifts for our amazing family members who helped take care of us after my husband and I were hit head on by a young drink driver this past Aug. My husband was out of work for three months…so money is tight. This blog post was very interesting…the pickle on the tree was strange.
Laura Hathaway
7 Dec 2016This was a very interesting post. Such a fun way to teach kids about other cultures.
Anna
7 Dec 2016Thank you for offering this giveaway. Winning it would help our family with some home repair projects or with curriculum materials for next school year.
Anna
7 Dec 2016Thanks for offering this giveaway. Winning this would help us cover some home repair or curriculum for next school year.
Bonnie Barga
8 Dec 2016It would be a blessing because of less work where I work.
Elizabeth
8 Dec 2016I really like all the Traditions that you showed. I’ve always wanted to go through the different countries Christmas celebrations but never have had the time yet. $500 would really bless my family because my husband just is doing side jobs which are now his main jobs. His company doesn’t have work until April. We’ve been kind of struggling really badly but I know that God is faithful with all this and it’s making us look at what’s most important. Almost becoming minimalists 🙂 but at the same time there are so many needs and $500 would just bless us as far as food, clothing for winter, and everything else in between. Out water pipes randomly were spraying water this week and my husband was up real late trying to patch them. As far as gifts, maybe even new blankets and sheets for the kids. They do want certain things for Christmas and I don’t think I would be able to actually purchase them but my heart is to do just that. Thank you so much for all the many posts that you do I love all of them so far! Thanks for the opportunity to try to win. 🙂 Have a blessed week!
Lisa Patty
8 Dec 2016I think I may buy a pickle ornament and try hiding it on our tree. I’ve seen those before but didn’t know that that is what they were for. Also, I laughed at the Irish tradition of leaving a Guinness for Santa. The Irish crack me up! (No offense meant to readers of Irish descent who do not drink alcoholic beverages.)
Kandi C.
8 Dec 2016It would help us make it through December…
amber george
8 Dec 2016I would love to win this. It would, definitely, help this time of year.
Hannah
8 Dec 2016Wow! What a wonderful post and a wonderful prize. it would bless our family significantly – either we’d put it towards the costs of moving somewhere a little bigger than our beautiful but tiny home, or on curriculum as we move from primary to high school. Thanks for the opportunity and Happy Christmas!
Erin
8 Dec 2016This would be amazing – we’ve had lots of unexpected house expenses (like taking down a gigantic dangerous maple tree!). This would really help make our holiday great!
Tonya Nickell
9 Dec 2016I am loving the Christmas Around the World!!!!! What a great way to learn geography and culture! Thank you for all of the giveaways too! I’m sure it will be a huge blessing to anyone who receives these gifts!!
Anna
9 Dec 2016Winning would definitely be a blessing to our family, it would allow us to pay for Christmas gifts without having to dip into our savings! Thank you for participating in this giveaway, and thank you for all the fun Christmas ideas from around the world!
Lindsey Wilcox
9 Dec 2016Thank you for the Christmas Tradition blog post. We have been looking for some new traditions since our Family Christmas Eve Party only has 2 small children. Also thank you for the the chance at the giveaway. Good luck everyone.
Jenesa Niswonger
10 Dec 2016What an awesome giveaway! We would give half the money to a family in need, and use the other half to help us pay off our debt. Thank you!!
Colleen Ladd
10 Dec 2016Oh my, the possibilities are pretty much endless. As a single income family, we could certainly use it to help with Christmas. My daughter is in need of braces that our insurance wont cover, so that is another possibility, as well as any of our other bills. It’s always such a joy to bless others at this time of year, so i’m sure we’d find some ways to do that as well. 😀
Marci
10 Dec 2016Winning this would bless our family by being able to have a nice Christmas and also help to get school clothes and shoes.
Rebecca
10 Dec 2016I would love to buy a recliner for my husband to replace the one we just threw out!
sarah mayer
10 Dec 2016$500 would be amazing!
we could get a real tree, lights, decorations, a nice holiday feast and presents for everyone.
Ashley
10 Dec 2016Nice resource, thanks for sharing!!!
Rachael
10 Dec 2016Excellent resources for my daughter. Ty for sharing
april
10 Dec 2016I t would bless us by helping us accelerate our debt repayment. We are working our way towards financial freedom!
Autumn Jones
10 Dec 2016We have had multiple plumbing emergencies crop up unexpectedly, and are still working through those problems. We are also planning to travel to visit my dad for Christmas to be with him after my stepmom passed away this summer. So $500 would be a real blessing right now. 🙂 Thank you so much for hosting the giveaway. Merry Christmas!
amanda whitley
10 Dec 2016this would help me buy my kids Christmas gifts which i am struggling with
Kristin
10 Dec 2016Wow, $500! There are so many ways we could use this but I think we’d probably give part towatd our churches Christmas gift for the unpaid staff members and then use the rest toward work we need done on our vehicle. Thanks for this opportunity!