Since Christ came to die for all men, it only makes sense that Christmas is celebrated around the world. This year we read some stories that were new to us about Christmas traditions, The Feast of Three Kings and La Nochebuena. My intention was to curate some curiosity about other cultures, traditions and languages. It’s so easy for us to think that the way we do something is the only way it should be done and that’s simply not true. I learned a lot by reading these books, which always happens whenever I pick up a well written children’s book, I hope that list inspires and sparks curiosity for your family this Christmas season.

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 Nine Days to Christmas A Story of Mexico by Marie Hall Ets, Illustrated by Aurora Labastida

Written in 1960, this story about a Kindergarten girl named Ceci reminds of us the cares that children have during the holidays. Ceci is going to have her first “posada” this Christmas season and she desperately wants to have piñata. We get to go to school with Ceci on her last day before Christmas break and spend time with the family maid, Maria, as she does household chores. Ceci gets to go to an old time market and choose a piñata, but what should she do when decides she doesn’t want anyone to break the piñata at her party? Read more to find out.

 We read this story before naptime, and I started to tell the kids that it was too long and I was just going to read half before and the rest when they woke up. However, they were so captivated by the illustrations, and the piñatas that I read the entire story. As I read each page I spent additional time studying  the illustrations, they are so detailed with pops of color against a muted background. Do yourself a favor and get this book, you will enjoy it as much as your children. Also, your children may request piñatas for their birthdays as both my older children did when we finished this story.  

Tree of Cranes written and illustrated by Allen Say

I believe this story is set in Japan, as the author is Japanese.

The scene opens with a curious young boy playing near a pond when he knows he shouldn’t. Assuming he will get in trouble for losing his mitten at the pond he goes home to find his mother folding paper cranes. She’s folding the cranes because she wants to make a secret wish. The young boy is given a hot bath and then eats his meal alone while his mother continues working on her wish. When the little boy sees her digging in the garden while snow is falling, he just can’t figure out what is going on. Why is his mother acting so strange?, is she angry at him for going near the pond? When he questions her she begins to tell him that before he was born she lived in California. In California people decorated a tree and gave gifts on a particular day, that day was called Christmas.

This story introduces Christmas to a child who had not know it to exist until his kind mother told him about her life in far away place called California.

The Legend of Old Befana An Italian Christmas story retold and illustrated by Tomie dePaola

The Story begins with telling the readers that the Feast of Three Kings celebrated on January 6th in Italy is a holiday that children receive candy, cookies and gifts.

Old Befana is not a very friendly lady, she doesn’t have children and she lives all alone. Everyday Old Befana sweeps her house and her steps and the sidewalk, but why is she always sweeping? What night she is awakened by a bright, new star, now she’s even grumpier because she can’t get a goodnight’s rest. The next day a royal procession comes through the town and 3 kings ask Old Befana questions about the Christ child. Old Befana tells them she knows nothing of this new king, but when she hears that he will help the poor and accepts gifts, she decides to find him herself. Old Befana begins her journey but she is too old and tired to travel to Bethlehem and then a miracle takes place and Old Befana runs through the sky. She never does find the Christ child, but she does visit children every Feast of Three Kings and gives them candy, cookies and gifts.  

The Farolitos of Christmas by Rudolfo Anaya and Illustrated by Edward Gonzales

Luz is hoping for snow this Christmas as she walks through her cold New Mexican village. But this Christmas is starting to look dim because her father, a soldier, is in the hospital and her grandfather is sick and cannot light the luminarias for Christmas Eve. The luminarias lead the pastores, villagers dressed like shepherds, through the night to Luz’s home for traditional food. Luz tries to maintain the Christmas spirit by decorating a tree with her friend Reina’s family but it’s just not the same without her father there. When a herbal tea doesn’t help grandfather regain his strength Luz is worried all will be loss and their Christmas traditions will be ruined.

 This story has a happy ending with Luz uses candles, paper bags and sand to create farolitos to light the path to her home and surprise, her father comes home for Christmas.

This story bridges war, illness and disappointment with hope, love and perseverance. Definitely recommend this book this holiday season.

La Noche Buena: A Christmas Story

Set in Miami, Florida, this story is about a traditional Cuban/Cuban-American way of celebrating Christmas Eve or La Noche Buena.

This year Christmas will be in hot Miami and this young girl would rather be with her mom’s side of the family in the cold North. But after a few days of helping in the kitchen with the women and watching the men outside, she learns to enjoy herself in this new environment. Her father told her that La Noche Buena is the best night of the year, and even though he can’t be there to celebrate with her, her abuela makes sure she experience a true Cuban Christmas Eve. There so much food and fun and family, it’s loud and people are telling stories and laughing. She has such a good time that she asks her abuela if she can come back next year, and bring her other family with her.

 * I have seen Nochebuena and Noche Buena, I think both forms are accepted by the Latin community.

Christmas in Lagos by Sharon Abimbola Salu Illustrated by Maria Nikla

Ranti lives in Lagos and before Christmas break many of her classmates talk about where they will go for the holiday. Ranti isn’t going anywhere and she doesn’t think that Christmas in Lagos will be special at all. However, Ranti’s teacher challenges her to keep a journal of all the exciting things that happen to her in Lagos. Ranti discovers that Christmas in Lagos is special, her grandparents come to visit, she saw Father Christmas and volunteers at an orphanage. She even helps take care of her neighbor’s new puppies. At church Ranti hears a sermon about the true gift, Jesus, and later she eats delicious food with her family and friends. Ranti even gets a new puppy for Christmas! Christmas in Lagos is pretty special after all.

An Island Christmas by Lynn Joseph, Illustrated by Catherine Stock

This book may be hard to find, my library system did not carry it at all, so I had to piece together much of the story online, but from what I did read it shared a beautiful window to Christmas on the island of Trinidad.

Written in a gentle island accent, this book will help you read with the islands in mind. After reading the first sentence, I was transported to Jamaica, where I too as a child remember meeting the sugar cane man and experiencing real sugar for the first time. Tantie is ready to enjoy her Christmas holiday at the beach, but her mother reminds her lovingly that they must prepare for Christmas. Tantie picks sorrel for the sorrel drinks and visits with the sugar cane man. She helps prepare black currant cake and joins in making music when she hears the band coming down the street. Rosie and her brother, Ragboy take us on a tropical journey of how Christmas on an island may be very different than what we’ve been exposed too, but it’s just as magical and memorable for the same reason, the birth of Christ.