Tamales are a Christmas tradition here as well as empenadas. The class can research what those are. It is quite a project to make them, but they are delicious. Manger scenes in houses are big - sometimes filling the whole living room. Same as U.S. 8.
Gifts are common - though often more practical in nature.
Christmas vacation in schools takes on new meaning as this is the start of summer here. Schools got out around Dec. 10 and won't start again until March. It's coffee harvesting season here as well and many kids and families will be combing the mountainside fincas harvesting coffee berries by hand - sometimes on almost vertical hillsides. After 4 months of rain almost every day - people are ready to enjoy the outdoors again. Quite a few will also visit relatives in the U.S. or vice versa.