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A Note for Teachers

Facing History and Ourselves is an educational charity providing teaching resources to help young people develop as empathetic, critical thinkers, who understand the role they can play in shaping society for the better. We believe that civic agency is developed through intellectual rigour, emotional engagement and ethical reflection. Learn more about us on our website.

This PowerPoint presentation has been created to be used in a S1-4 and KS3-4 assembly on The Spirit of Christmas.

While you may need to modify this presentation to meet the needs of your students, please note that Facing History and Ourselves does not endorse your changes that alter the presentation's content or original layout.

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The Spirit of Christmas

Assembly

Facing History UK Assemblies

#ChangeStartsWithMe

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What is Christmas?

What is

Christmas and how can we honour the spirit of Christmas?

Kristina Paukshtite

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Word Associations

What words, phrases or emotions come to mind when you hear the following word:

Christmas

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The History of Christmas

In order to understand where Christmas comes from, we have to go back thousands of years and to prehistoric celebrations.
During this period, the midwinter solstice was celebrated.
Winter solstice honoured fire, light and the lengthening of daylight hours.
Today, Christmas is celebrated on 25th December and is both a Christian festival and a secular holiday.

@Pixabay

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A Victorian Christmas

The Christmas we know and recognise today originates from the Victorians.
Many attribute the change to Queen Victoria. It was her marriage to the German-born Prince Albert that introduced some of the most prominent aspects of Christmas.
In 1848, the Illustrated London News published a drawing of the royal family celebrating around a decorated Christmas tree, a tradition that was reminiscent of Prince Albert's childhood in Germany.
Soon every home in Britain had a tree decked with candles, sweets, fruit, homemade decorations and small gifts.

History of Christmas, BBC, 6 November 2014

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A Victorian Christmas

Christmas trees
Christmas cards
Christmas crackers

History of Christmas, BBC, 6 November 2014

During the Victorian era, gift giving became a more central part of Christmas. The Victorians also transformed the idea that Christmas was a time for family.

We can thank the Victorians for the following Christmas traditions:

Elaborate Christmas decorations
Christmas gifts
Roast turkey

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I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.

- Charles Dickens

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Think, Pair, Share

What does the spirit of Christmas mean to you?

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Video: The Christmas Truce

Play video from Imperial War Museum

Isabelle Bruneel

Watch the video called ‘The Christmas Truce’ by the Imperial War Museum.

As you watch, think about the following questions:

What do you learn about the Christmas truce in the trenches?
What does the truce suggest about the power of Christmas spirit?

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No one has ever become poor by giving.

- Anne Frank

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Discussion Prompts

Christmas is a time of giving (you don’t need money to be able to give).
What can you give to the following people, without spending any money?
A friend? A teacher? A family member?
Christmas is a time of kindness. How can you share or spread kindness?
At school? At home? In your local community?
Christmas is a time when many people think about charity and helping others.
How can you contribute to a charitable event between now and the end of the festive period?

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Exit Ticket

Take a moment to think about the following:

The spirit of Christmas means __________

__________________________________________.

Spreading Christmas spirit can make people feel ______________________________.

I can share Christmas spirit by __________

__________________________________________.�

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