Traditions & Celebration Guide

Bringing Salam Day to Life

Whether celebrated at home with family, in schools, or across neighborhoods, here are three joyful traditions and creative activities honoring humanity's shared yearning for peace on December 25th.

Customs & Traditions

Three Joyful Ways to Celebrate

1. Morning Gifts for Children

On December 25th morning, children wake up to wrapped gifts, books, and festive surprises, experiencing the excitement, warmth, and magic of the winter holiday gifting season alongside their peers.

2. The Noon Peace Greeting

At 12:00 PM noon, everyone takes a pause to speak 'Assalamu Alaikum' (Peace be upon you) out loud, whether surrounded by family or alone, uniting people nationwide in a moment of positive intention.

3. The Unity Meal

Gather family, friends, and neighbors for a shared meal on the evening of December 25th. Serve favorite family comfort dishes or potluck favorites that bring people together around the table.

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A Universal Yearning

Humanity's Yearning for Peace: The Paper Peace Bird

Sadako Sasaki Children's Peace Monument with thousands of folded origami peace cranes

Across every culture, era, and continent, humanity shares a deep, instinctive yearning for peace, safety, and mutual understanding. This universal longing was immortalized through the story of Sadako Sasaki, a young Japanese girl affected by the Hiroshima atomic bomb. Through her delicate act of folding paper birds, what began as a personal wish for healing grew into a worldwide movement symbolizing hope, compassion, and our collective hunger for peace.

On Salam Day, we honor this human yearning. When children and families fold paper peace doves and write handwritten notes of friendship on their wings to give to neighbors, they participate in a timeless global tradition - proving that the desire for peace connects all human hearts.

Family & Classroom Activity

How to Fold a Peace Dove: 4 Simple Steps

Craft simple paper doves with family, children, or classrooms to share with neighbors

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Step 1: Diagonal Triangle Fold

1. Diagonal Triangle Fold

Start with a square sheet of white paper oriented like a diamond. Fold the bottom corner straight up to meet the top corner, creasing firmly along the bottom edge to make a crisp triangle.

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Step 2: Fold & Raise the Wings

2. Fold & Raise the Wings

Fold the bottom folded edge upwards about one-third of the way. Then fold the whole model in half vertically, and fold both top wing flaps upward and slightly angled back to form soaring wings.

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Step 3: Shape the Head & Beak

3. Shape Head & Beak

At the front pointed tip of the dove's body, gently push the tip downward between the two layers with your thumb (an inside reverse fold) and pinch firmly to shape the graceful head and beak.

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Step 4: Write Your Peace Note

4. Inscribe Your Peace Note

Write a handwritten greeting of peace, friendship, or warmth (e.g. "Peace to our Neighbors!") on the wing, and deliver your dove to a neighbor, friend, coworker, or teacher.

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Crafter's Peace Tip

Use standard 15×15 cm origami paper or white printer paper cut into a square. For an extra touch of warmth, you can tuck a small sprig of fresh olive leaves into the dove's beak!