In this post: A compilation of fun activities and resources to teach your kids thematic Christmas vocabulary. in Spanish. Plus, learn about Hispanic cultural traditions for la Navidad.
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Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the world. Regardless of how you choose to spend the season, we can all agree that it’s usually an exciting time filled with lots of joy, especially for kids. From writing letters to Santa to baking cookies and decorating, there’s no shortage of activity.
In addition to the usual goodies and toys that many also look forward to, one of the greatest intangible gifts you can give your kids this year is a greater appreciation for other cultures.
The way in which Christmas is celebrated varies across different countries. Use this joyous occasion as a great opportunity to teach some Spanish lessons on Navidad.
Soon it will be time to dust off those Christmas pajamas, grab some hot chocolate and put on your festive playlist (for kids, we especially love these 10 Spanish Christmas songs).
Until then, keep reading for all the activities and resources you can use to start planning your Navidad lessons.
Latin American Traditions for Navidad
When it comes to celebrating Navidad in Hispanic cultures, there are many popular traditions. Let’s take a closer look at a few of these.
Las Posadas
This tradition is a nine-day Christmas festival celebrated between December 16th and 24th.
This religious celebration, which is filled with prayers and processions, recounts the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem as they prepared for the birth of Jesus.
Nochebuena (Christmas Eve)
Nochebuena is celebrated on December 24th, the day before Christmas. Many attend Mass and give thanks for the birth of Jesus. It’s also common for families to spend time together, dance and play games as well as enjoy their favorite foods and desserts.
Las Piñatas
Star-shaped piñatas are typical around Christmas time in Spanish culture. Not only are they fun to make and break but they also hold religious significance regarding faith, the grace of God and the destruction of bad.
Los Reyes Magos (The Three Kings)
Though not celebrated much in the USA, the arrival of Los Reyes Magos is given a great deal of recognition in Spanish culture.
The Kings are known for delivering gifts to baby Jesus on the night of his birth. Every year on January 5th, kids write letters asking The Three Kings for gifts based on their good behavior and awake the following morning to discover their surprises. That day, January 6th is celebrated as ‘Three Kings Day’.
Fun Activity Ideas to celebrate Navidad
Navidad is typically a time that many spend with familia. These fun activities will be a great way to bond with your kids and relatives while they also learn a thing or two about Hispanic culture and the Spanish language.
Games for Navidad
- Papá Noel dice (Father Christmas Says): This is a spin on ‘Simon Says’. One person gives instructions to the other players which are to be done once the command starts with the words ‘Papá Noel dice’. If players do the actions unaccompanied by these words, they’re out of the game. Players will get an opportunity to practice their Spanish pronunciation and vocabulary.
- Switch things up and create your own: Just as in the game above, many others that we already know and love can be played with a Christmas theme. Think musical chairs with popular villancicos (Christmas carols) or your own themed Pictionary with Christmas related drawings and guesses being made only in Spanish.
- Árbol ABC: This site features classic favorites such as puzzles, coloring pages and match games with a Christmas twist.
Spanish Christmas Books
- ‘Twas Nochebuena: Read all about one family’s Nochebuena celebration. Written primarily in English, this bilingual book is beautifully illustrated and perfect for kids between ages 3 and 5.
- La Navidad es un regalo de Dios / God Gave Us Christmas: This book is written in Spanish and highlights the true meaning of Christmas. Ideal for those who are between 3 and 7 years old.
- A Piñata in a Pine Tree: A Latino Twelve Days of Christmas: Enjoy this Latino twist on the popular ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ song that we’ve all grown to love. Recommend for ages 4 to 7 years old.
For more Spanish Christmas books for kids, check out our related post: Spanish Christmas Books for Kids.
Arts and Crafts for Navidad
- Make a piñata, fill it with candy and break it on Christmas Day
- Create homemade trinkets to decorate around the house or the Christmas tree
- Write Christmas wish lists as a family with the items listed in Spanish
- Make and label your own nativity scene using toilet paper rolls and other materials you have at home
Add to the Christmas spirit by playing some music while you get creative. Check out our Spanish Christmas Spotify playlist for a fun mix of traditional and contemporary songs for kids.
Popular Christmas Recipes
If you’re feeling up to it, get your family involved in making these famous dishes that are staples in many Spanish cultures during the Christmas season.
Pan de jamón (Ham Bread)
This bread is a Venezuelan favorite filled with ham, olives and raisins. This recipe takes a bit of time but is said to be worth every second. Try it out!
Rosca de Reyes (Kings’ Wreath/Kings’ Bread)
This circular-shaped delight is made in time for Three King’s Day on January 6th in honor of The Three Wise Men. It contains dried fruits and is typically stuffed with a small plastic doll to represent the hiding of baby Jesus from King Herod’s troops. After baking, have fun trying to find ‘baby Jesus’.
Tamales
These are a Mexican staple and must-have food at Christmas time. They consist of cornmeal dough rolled with ground meat or beans which are seasoned and then steamed in corn husks. Discover the many recipe variations and decide which you’d like to make.
Authentic Videos about Navidad
Check out these informative videos on Navidad. Whether it’s a fun fact, word or phrase, you’re sure to learn something new.
Video #1: Narrated in English, this video presents some context on the history of Christmas along with interesting trivia facts. These colorful illustrations are sure to keep younger learners engaged.
Video #2: This informative video is under 5 minutes and narrated in Spanish at a moderate pace. It mentions the spirit of Christmas, doing good deeds and ways to celebrate as a family.
Video #3: Use this Spanish song to teach your kids more about the typical ways that many celebrate Christmas along with related words and phrases to build their vocabulary. The lyrics are in the description box.
Video #4: Enjoy this video clip from Disney Channel España’s series ‘Elena de Ávalor (Elena of Avalor)’ as they sing all about the ways in which different families celebrate Navidad. Best for more advanced learners. If necessary, remember you can always adjust the settings of the video to play it at a slower speed to aid in understanding.
Navidad Thematic Unit for Kids
In addition to all the great resources we mentioned earlier, here at Mama Llama Linguist we have a complete Navidad unit to facilitate teaching. It comes with a digital magazine full of Latin American holiday traditions as well as a Christmas music playlist in Spanish.
You’ll also get an activity pack with Navidad printables including tracing, counting cards, bingo, flashcards and more. For those who thought flashcards were on their way out, quite the contrary. Read about all the ways you can use Spanish flashcards for language learning.
This unit is part of our Spanish seasonal bundle which includes 7 holiday units!
Navidad is fast approaching so make the best use of these resources for an even more enjoyable season.
Kimberly is a freelance writer from Trinidad and Tobago who was always fascinated by language and holds a B.A in Spanish with a minor in Linguistics. She considers herself to be a multipotentialite due to her many interests and a few of her favorite things include coffee, pasta and scented candles.