President Hoover spent much of his life traveling, promoting peace and realizing how all cultures contribute to the holiday so many diverse people share. Explain to children that many of our Christmas traditions came from other countries. In the weeks leading up to the holiday school break, have children learn about the history of some of our most popular traditions.

England
Many of our holiday traditions began in England where Christmas celebrations began over a thousand years ago. Christmas cards began in Victorian England in the 1840s. The American version of Santa with his red suit and jolly appearance has origins in England's Father Christmas who wears a red, green or brown long robe. The Dutch Sinter Klaas and German Saint Nicholas also had influence in the formation of the American Santa Claus persona.

Have children create Christmas cards that include their interpretation of Santa on the outside of the card. Decorate the cards ornately as the Victorians did with bits of fabric, glitter or small sequins. On the inside, children use their creative writing skills to write a poem about Christmas or Santa. The story or movie "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens provides interesting examples of the origins of these traditions for children. While watching or listening to it, children list how many of today's traditions they recognize in this story from long ago.

Germany
American Christmas trees date back to Germany in the 1500s. During the 1800s, both England and America began to adopt the use of decorated Christmas trees. Gingerbread houses, wreaths and stockings originate from Germany as well. Read the children's book "Christmas Tree" by Florence and Wendell Minor aloud to children to teach more about Christmas tree traditions.

Have children create gingerbread houses by keeping their milk cartons at lunch. Rinse and dry them. Decorate them with paper, glitter and markers to create a gingerbread house decoration. Purchase fabric paint markers, then either have children bring a large white sock from home or provide them with one white sock each. Explain that early Christmas stockings actually were stockings people wore. Decorate the socks with fabric marker then hang in the classroom for decoration or filling with treats.

Mexico
In the United States, particularly in the southwest, many people light luminaries during Christmas. Luminaries originate from the Mexican holiday of Las Posadas during which they are used to create a lighted path for processions that honors the night Mary and Joseph searched for a place to rest for the night in Bethlehem. Read the Tomie dePaola book titled "The Night of Las Posadas" aloud to children to help them understand this holiday.

Have students create pretend luminaries that can be used as holiday treat bags. Cut stars or other holiday shapes out of both sides of a paper lunch bag. On the inside of the bag, tape or glue a small piece of gold or yellow paper. This makes it appear the luminaries are lit. Metallic paper achieves the best results if available.