Books for Winter Holidays
It’s the most happiest time of the year! December is packed with tons of celebrations making it the holiday season. No matter how you choose to celebrate the holiday season, the one thing all of these traditions have in common is togetherness. Check out our collection of books to help kids learn about and commemorate these special occasions.
From Hanukkah to Winter Solstice here’s a look a holidays being celebrated this year.
Christmas
For most Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. For most people, it takes place every year on 25 December. However Christmas is celebrated in many different ways around the world! Christmas has also grown to include Santa Claus originally a saint named Saint Nicholas.
Here are some of our favorite Christmas Books
Las Posadas
Las Posadas is a Christmas festival celebrated in Latin America, especially Mexico, and in Hispanic communities in the United States. The name is Spanish for “the Inns.” The festival is celebrated for nine nights, beginning on December 16 and ending on Christmas Eve. Las Posadas recalls the journey Joseph and Mary made to Bethlehem before the birth of Jesus Christ. When they arrived in Bethlehem, they could not find a room at an inn. Mary and Joseph were forced to stay in a stable, where Jesus was born.
Here’s a great Las Posadas story
Kwanzaa:
Kwanzaa is celebrated December 26 through January 1. It is a holiday to commemorate African heritage, during which participants gather with family and friends to exchange gifts and to light a series of black, red, and green candles.
These candles symbolize the seven basic values of African-American family life: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
Other symbols of the holiday, include the mkeka (a special placemat), kinara (candleholder), and kikombe cha umoja (unity cup).
Check out these books to learn more about Kwanzaa and create a Kwanzaa craft!
Hanukkah:
Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah. For eight days and nights, candles are lit on the menorah , songs are sung, and dreidels are spun to celebrate one of the most joyous of Jewish holidays. A Hanukkah menorah has nine candles, a candle for every night, plus a helper candle in the middle. Families play games, sing songs, and exchange gifts.
Here are some fun books and craft for Hanukkah:
Winter Solstice
The Winter Solstice marks the longest night and shortest day of the year, as well as the official beginning of winter. This celebration is one of the oldest recorded winter holidays in history. It’s about welcoming back longer days of sunlight. Historically, The Winter Solstice is called Yule but also referred to as Christmastide or Yuletide.
Here’s a fun book for The Winter Solstice:
The Saskatoon Public Library has a great Storytime and craft perfect for Winter Solstice!
There are many more winter holidays but these are just a few and more well known to list.