Looking for christmas around the world activities with plenty to make, decorate and explore? A pretend passport is a cute place to start.
Then there are star lanterns, woven hearts and festive treats to inspire your next stop.
You can keep things simple with a small craft or plan a few different activity stations. These ideas mix country-linked traditions with Christmas crafts you can pair with stories.
Christmas Crafts and Activities Worth Trying
a colorful holiday passport
We’re starting off strong with this cute passport stamp collection. I love the red cover and the colorful country stamps beside it.
Give everyone a pretend passport for your holiday activities. You could add a stamp or drawing after each country you explore, then write one thing you learned beside it.
red star parol
How pretty is this parol? The red star has white trim, green accents and long white tails hanging underneath.
There’s so much to love without needing lots of different colors.
Pair a star-lantern activity with learning about the Filipino Christmas tradition of parols. I’d keep that bright red center for your own version.
Read also: 20+ Classy Holiday Nails You Need to Try This Winter
a leafy candle crown
This candle crown is such a lovely idea for a Saint Lucia activity. White candle shapes rise above layers of green leaves, with little red berries tucked between them.
Read also: 20 Fall Activities for Kids With Leaves, Pumpkins and Apples
Try a paper version while learning about Saint Lucia celebrations in Sweden. Keep the yellow flames pretend, just like the ones here.
green wreath with gold stars
I love this green wreath with its gold stars and red bow. The alternating light and dark strips are so pretty, plus there’s a little pretend candle at the bottom.
Use it as a wreath-making activity alongside a discussion of Advent traditions. Your version could include a small card explaining the tradition you’ve been exploring.
a giant red poinsettia
If you’re looking for a big, bright flower craft, this one is for you. The red poinsettia shape has pointed green leaves behind it and a sparkling gold-colored center.
Poinsettias are native to Mexico, making this a fitting craft to pair with learning about Mexican Christmas traditions. I’d leave the petals oversized like these.
a decorated yule log
How cute is this little Christmas log cake? The spiral at the end and dark wavy stripes are my favorite details.
There are even tiny trees and a Santa decoration on top.
Explore the French bûche de Noël tradition with a cake-decorating activity using a tested recipe. Keep non-edible decorations separate when it’s time to serve.
bright yellow paper shoes
These yellow shoe shapes are so cute! I especially love the red spirals and little black marks across the pointed fronts.
Pair a paper-shoe craft with learning about the Dutch Sinterklaas shoe-setting tradition. Explain that Sinterklaas is a distinct celebration earlier in December rather than another name for Christmas Day.
a sparkling spiderweb
Don’t want to make another star or bauble? Try a spiderweb ornament instead.
This one has a glittery web with a little spider near the bottom.
You could pair your ornament activity with the Ukrainian Christmas spider folktale. The colorful tree lights look so pretty behind this version.
little nativity ornaments
These little nativity scenes are adorable. The round faces, white dotted backgrounds and yellow stars keep each ornament simple.
Use this as inspiration for a nativity craft while exploring Christmas celebrations that include the scene. I’d keep the figures in bright blue, yellow and white so they stand out against the dark background.
woven red and white hearts
This may just be one of my favorite crafts here. The red and white hearts have different woven patterns, so they don’t all look exactly alike.
Explore Danish woven Christmas hearts, then choose a beginner-friendly pattern for your own. Keep the little hanging loop if you want to add yours to a tree.
a tiny red-hat gnome
How cute is that tall red hat? The little gnome has a round nose peeking out beneath it and a white pom-pom at the tip.
You could use this modern gnome craft as a starting point for learning about Scandinavian nisse and tomte figures. Pair it with a story rather than treating every gnome decoration as the same tradition.
a berry-covered dessert tree
If you are looking for a true eye-catcher, then this one is for you. The pale dessert tiers are piled with red and blue berries, with a yellow star sitting right on top.
For an Australia and New Zealand holiday-food activity, explore pavlova. Use a tested recipe for your own version, or borrow the berry-and-star decoration idea for a smaller dessert.
a Christmas boat display
Who says your Christmas craft has to be a tree? This boat has colorful pretend lights, red pennants and a Greek flag at the top.
I love the bright blue stripe with white portholes.
Learn about the Greek Christmas boat tradition, then make your own boat picture. Let everyone choose the colors of their little light cutouts.
Christmas character crackers
These cracker-shaped characters are just too cute. There’s a Santa, a snowman, a reindeer and a little soldier, each finished with ribbon ties.
Try a snap-free version while exploring Christmas crackers in the UK. You could tuck a handwritten joke inside each one.
The snowman’s orange nose is a detail I’d definitely keep.
three kings with gold crowns
I love these three kings with their tall gold-colored crowns. The pink noses and curled white beard strips make each little face so sweet.
Pair a Three Kings craft with learning about Día de Reyes in Spain or Mexico. Invite everyone to choose a different robe pattern, like the stars shown here.
a gingerbread decorating table
There’s so much gingerbread inspiration on this table! I love the white lattice patterns on the roof pieces and the little swirls around the windows.
Set up a decorating activity while exploring Germany’s gingerbread-house tradition. Put decorations within reach and use battery-operated candles instead of open flames around your work area.
gingerbread house pieces
Don’t want to start with a whole decorating table? No problem!
These plain house pieces give you a smaller starting point, with window outlines and a crisscross roof pattern already visible.
Before decorating, invite everyone to match the walls and roof sections. You could also sketch a design first if you’re still deciding where the icing should go.
a holiday world display
Last but definitely not least, we have this colorful Christmas display. I love the globe inside the green heart!
Country cards surround it, with red lines connecting them to the map.
Read also: Minimal but Festive - 15+ Simple Holiday Nails Worth Trying
Make a shared display as you work through your activities. Add a drawing or a short fact from each stop, then finish the border with your favorite holiday decorations.
Just a little note - some of the links on here may be affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you decide to shop through them (at no extra cost to you!). I only post content which I'm truly enthusiastic about and would suggest to others.
And as you know, I seriously love seeing your takes on the looks and ideas on here - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, please share it here in the comments or feel free to send me a pic. I'm always excited to meet y'all! ✨🤍
Xoxo Emily
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