To celebrate the festive season and support you through the final weeks of term, we’ve created a collection of free festive-themed language resources for you to use in your classroom. These materials are designed to be simple, engaging and ready to use, helping you bring some seasonal fun into your lessons while still supporting meaningful language learning.
Inside, you’ll find a range of activities including vocabulary sheets, cultural comparisons, festive games, reading and listening tasks, writing prompts and ready-made classroom activities. Whether you’re looking for a quick end-of-term task, a full lesson, or something festive to keep your pupils motivated, there’s something here for everyone.
French Primary Resources
Unusual Francophone Traditions
The Provençal “13 Desserts” – More Than Just Sweets
In Provence, Christmas Eve traditionally ends with treize desserts. It’s not a fancy banquet – it’s a symbolic spread representing abundance, community, and local identity.
The “13 Desserts” of Provence (les 13 desserts de Noël) are a traditional part of a Provençal Christmas celebration. They are meant to symbolize Christ and the 12 apostles (hence 13 items) and showcase local seasonal products. The list can vary slightly depending on the family and village, but there are common staples.
Match up the French with the English
Click the below document to download:
Click the below document to download:
Activity 2:
Pupils can draw a small picture of the dessert next to each one, once they have matched them up.
French Secondary Resources
Unusual Francophone Traditions
The Provençal “13 Desserts” – More Than Just Sweets
In Provence, Christmas Eve traditionally ends with treize desserts. It’s not a fancy banquet – it’s a symbolic spread representing abundance, community, and local identity.
The “13 Desserts” of Provence (les 13 desserts de Noël) are a traditional part of a Provençal Christmas celebration. They are meant to symbolize Christ and the 12 apostles (hence 13 items) and showcase local seasonal products. The list can vary slightly depending on the family and village, but there are common staples.
Match up the French with the English.
Click the below document to download:
Click the below document to download:
Interactive Activity: “Create Your Own Regional Christmas Tradition”
- Students work in groups and invent a new Christmas dessert for a fictional Francophone region.
- They name it, describe the flavour, explain the symbolism, and create a mini advertising slogan in French.
- Groups present and vote for the most original “future tradition.”
Spanish Primary Resources
Beyond Turrón: Spain’s Most Surprising Festive Characters for the Classroom
Spanish Christmas culture is wonderfully diverse, with regional characters that go far beyond the Three Kings.
Spotlight: The “Olentzero” – Basque Coal-Carrying Christmas Hero
In the Basque Country, gifts don’t come from Santa, they come from Olentzero, a gentle, soot-faced charcoal maker who brings presents while covered in coal dust.
According to Basque Christmas traditions, Olentzero comes to town late at night on 24th December to drop off presents for children.
Activity 1: “Meet the Christmas Character”
Read the following text and complete the table in English.
- Olentzero es un personaje del País Vasco.
- Es un hombre grande.
- Trabaja con carbón y por eso está un poco sucio.
- Lleva ropa vieja.
- Es muy bueno.
- El 24 de diciembre trae regalos a los niños.
- Es una parte importante de la Navidad para muchas familias.
True or False
Read each statement and circle True (T) or False (F):
- Olentzero trabaja con flores. T / F
- Olentzero trae regalos a los niños. T / F
- Olentzero es del País Vasco. T / F
- Olentzero es malo. T / F
Activity 2: Plan Your Character
Think about your own Spanish Christmas character. Fill in the table:
Click the below document to download:
Click the below document to download:
Draw Your Character
- Use colours and add special features (hat, backpack, magic object…).
- Make your character fun or unusual!
Share Your Character
- Show your drawing to a partner or group.
- Answer 2–3 questions in Spanish:
- ¿Cómo se llama?
- ¿Qué trae a los niños?
- ¿Por qué es importante?
Spanish Secondary Resources
Beyond Turrón: Spain’s Most Surprising Festive Characters for the Classroom
Spanish Christmas culture is wonderfully diverse, with regional characters that go far beyond the Three Kings.
Spotlight: The “Olentzero” – Basque Coal-Carrying Christmas Hero
In the Basque Country, gifts don’t come from Santa, they come from Olentzero, a gentle, soot-faced charcoal maker who brings presents while covered in coal dust.
According to Basque Christmas traditions, Olentzero comes to town late at night on 24th December to drop off presents for children.
RESOURCE: “Meet the Christmas Character”
Read the following text and complete the table in English.
Olentzero es un personaje tradicional del País Vasco. Es un hombre grande que siempre está cubierto de carbón porque trabaja como carbonero en las montañas. Lleva ropa vieja, una boina y una gran mochila. Aunque parece serio, es muy amable y generoso. Cada año, el 24 de diciembre, baja al pueblo para traer regalos a los niños. Para muchas familias, Olentzero simboliza la alegría, el trabajo duro y las tradiciones del invierno.
Click the below document to download:
Click the below document to download:
Roleplay: “Interview a Festive Character”
In pairs:
- One student becomes Olentzero
- The other plays a journalist for a children’s news channel.
Provide prompts:
- ¿Qué regalos traes este año?
- ¿Por qué vienes de noche?
- ¿Qué es lo más difícil de tu trabajo?
- ¿Qué tradición te gusta más?
German Primary Resources
The Curious World of German Christmas Superstitions
German Christmas traditions are often associated with markets, gingerbread, and Advent calendars. But hidden beneath the festive comfort are intriguing beliefs and customs that bring a sense of mystery to the season.
Spotlight: The Rauhnächte – Germany’s “Wild Nights”
Between Christmas and Epiphany lie the Rauhnächte, twelve mystical nights filled with old superstitions, protective rituals, and symbolic cleaning of the house and spirit.
Click the below document to download:
Click the below document to download:
German Secondary Resources
The Curious World of German Christmas Superstitions
German Christmas traditions are often associated with markets, gingerbread, and Advent calendars. But hidden beneath the festive comfort are intriguing beliefs and customs that bring a sense of mystery to the season.
Spotlight: The Rauhnächte – Germany’s “Wild Nights”
Between Christmas and Epiphany lie the Rauhnächte, twelve mystical nights filled with old superstitions, protective rituals, and symbolic cleaning of the house and spirit.
Translate the following German about the “Wild Nights” into English.
Die Rauhnächte
- Dezember: In der ersten Nacht darf man keine Wäsche waschen.
- Dezember: Tiere können in dieser Nacht sprechen.
- Dezember: Man soll die Fenster offen lassen, damit Glück kommt.
- Dezember: Träume in dieser Nacht sagen, was im neuen Jahr passiert.
- Dezember: Niemand darf streiten, sonst gibt es Unglück.
- Dezember: Man darf kein Geld verschenken, sonst verliert man es.
- Dezember: Alles, was kaputt ist, sollte repariert werden.
- Dezember: Blei gießen kann die Zukunft zeigen.
- Januar: Der erste Besucher bringt Glück für das ganze Jahr.
- Januar: Kerzenlicht vertreibt böse Geister.
- Januar: Man soll die Küche sauber halten, damit es Glück gibt.
- Januar: Heute ist Epiphanie; man feiert die Heiligen Drei Könige.
“Create a Modern Rauhnacht Rule”
In groups, invent a new superstition for the modern world.
Examples:
- “Man darf am 28. Dezember keine Selfies machen.”
- “Wenn du dein Handy verlierst, bekommst du Glück im neuen Jahr.”
Each group explains:
- The rule
- Why it exists
- What happens if you break it.