Christmas will be celebrated early at San Andrea School, in Mġarr, which will be turned into an international village on December 8.

The event follows the success of last year’s International Day, organised by parents and teachers, so that early and middle school pupils could learn about the different countries their classmates come from.

This year, the school grounds will highlight how Christmas is celebrated around the world, with stalls offering “virtual trips” featuring the home countries of students of San Andrea schoolchildren including Canada, England, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Libya, Luxembourg, Russia, Sweden and Malta.

It will be open to the public from 10am to 4pm and is a fundraising activity, with all proceeds going in aid of school projects.

Apart from stalls selling traditional goodies and gifts, there will be fun activities including cooking and cake decorating classes, penalty shoot-outs against a top premier league goalkeeper, games with elves for the family and a track along which people can wander through “a frozen landscape”.

Santa, who will be happy to take photos with children and adults, will oversee the day.