christmas and new year's
CHRISTMAS EVE (DEC 24TH) CHRISTMAS DAY (DEC 25TH)
Watch the following presentations and videos and learn some British traditions about Christmas celebrations.
Watch the following presentations and videos and learn some British traditions about Christmas celebrations.
christmas.ppt | |
File Size: | 3535 kb |
File Type: | ppt |
Christmas Traditions in Britain
Christmas Food
How to make Christmas crackers
Christmas Crackers
Christmas crackers, bon-bons, are part of Christmas celebrations primarily in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Commonwealth countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. A cracker consists of a cardboard tube wrapped in a brightly decorated twist of paper, making it resemble an oversized sweet-wrapper. The cracker is pulled by two people, often with arms crossed, and, much in the manner of a wishbone, the cracker splits unevenly. The split is accompanied by a mild bang or snapping sound produced by the effect of friction on a shock-sensitive, chemically-impregnated card strip (similar to that used in a cap gun). One chemical used for the friction strip is silver fulminate, which is highly unstable.
Assembled crackers are typically sold in boxes of three to twelve. These typically have different designs usually with red, green and gold colours. Making crackers from scratch using tissue paper and the tubes from toilet rolls is a common Commonwealth activity for children.
Tradition:
Crackers are typically pulled at the Christmas dinner table or at parties. In one version of the cracker tradition, the person with the larger portion of cracker empties the contents from the tube and keeps them. In another each person will have their own cracker and will keep its contents regardless of whose end they were in. Typically these contents are a coloured paper hat; a small toy, small plastic model or other trinket and a motto, a joke, a riddle or piece of trivia on a small strip of paper. The paper hats, with the appearance of crowns, are usually worn when eating Christmas dinner. The tradition of wearing festive hats is believed to date back to Roman times, and the Saturnalia celebrations, which also involved decorative headgear.
(Taken from Wikipedia)
Christmas crackers, bon-bons, are part of Christmas celebrations primarily in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Commonwealth countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. A cracker consists of a cardboard tube wrapped in a brightly decorated twist of paper, making it resemble an oversized sweet-wrapper. The cracker is pulled by two people, often with arms crossed, and, much in the manner of a wishbone, the cracker splits unevenly. The split is accompanied by a mild bang or snapping sound produced by the effect of friction on a shock-sensitive, chemically-impregnated card strip (similar to that used in a cap gun). One chemical used for the friction strip is silver fulminate, which is highly unstable.
Assembled crackers are typically sold in boxes of three to twelve. These typically have different designs usually with red, green and gold colours. Making crackers from scratch using tissue paper and the tubes from toilet rolls is a common Commonwealth activity for children.
Tradition:
Crackers are typically pulled at the Christmas dinner table or at parties. In one version of the cracker tradition, the person with the larger portion of cracker empties the contents from the tube and keeps them. In another each person will have their own cracker and will keep its contents regardless of whose end they were in. Typically these contents are a coloured paper hat; a small toy, small plastic model or other trinket and a motto, a joke, a riddle or piece of trivia on a small strip of paper. The paper hats, with the appearance of crowns, are usually worn when eating Christmas dinner. The tradition of wearing festive hats is believed to date back to Roman times, and the Saturnalia celebrations, which also involved decorative headgear.
(Taken from Wikipedia)
christmascloze.doc | |
File Size: | 136 kb |
File Type: | doc |
christmasverbs.doc | |
File Size: | 128 kb |
File Type: | doc |
christmas_text_with_qs.doc | |
File Size: | 255 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Christmas with humour
(INTERMEDIATE LEVEL)
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
I love Christmas. It’s one of the __________ times of the year. It’s such a great time for everyone – kids and adults __________. The thing I like most about it is everyone getting together and eating and giving presents. When I was a __________, Christmas was an amazing occasion. We’d spend weeks at school __________ decorations, singing Christmas carols and practicing to perform in the nativity play. As I got older, I __________ giving presents more than receiving them. Even though Xmas shopping is __________, it can be fun trying to find the perfect present for my children. One thing that has __________ with me since I was a child is my love of Christmas dinner. It has to be my favourite meal ever. Christmas just isn’t Christmas __________ roast turkey.
I’m sure Christmas __________ the same happy feelings wherever it is celebrated. I hope it continues to keep its message of love and __________. The Christmas spirit is very important. Nowadays it seems to get a bit __________. Everyone is so busy buying presents they forget the true meaning of Christmas. I spent __________ a few Christmases in Japan, which was interesting. Everything looked as Christmassy as in England. The stores __________ had Frosty the Snowman playing. People bought presents and had a party, but then they went for a Kentucky Fried Chicken dinner. One __________ I would like to experience is Christmas on the beach in Australia. I can’t __________ Christmas being so hot. But then I __________ it wasn’t that cold in Bethlehem when Jesus was born.
stayed
kid
best
stressful
enjoyed
alike
without
making
even
peace
quite
imagine
brings
thing
suppose
lost
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
I love Christmas. It’s one of the __________ times of the year. It’s such a great time for everyone – kids and adults __________. The thing I like most about it is everyone getting together and eating and giving presents. When I was a __________, Christmas was an amazing occasion. We’d spend weeks at school __________ decorations, singing Christmas carols and practicing to perform in the nativity play. As I got older, I __________ giving presents more than receiving them. Even though Xmas shopping is __________, it can be fun trying to find the perfect present for my children. One thing that has __________ with me since I was a child is my love of Christmas dinner. It has to be my favourite meal ever. Christmas just isn’t Christmas __________ roast turkey.
I’m sure Christmas __________ the same happy feelings wherever it is celebrated. I hope it continues to keep its message of love and __________. The Christmas spirit is very important. Nowadays it seems to get a bit __________. Everyone is so busy buying presents they forget the true meaning of Christmas. I spent __________ a few Christmases in Japan, which was interesting. Everything looked as Christmassy as in England. The stores __________ had Frosty the Snowman playing. People bought presents and had a party, but then they went for a Kentucky Fried Chicken dinner. One __________ I would like to experience is Christmas on the beach in Australia. I can’t __________ Christmas being so hot. But then I __________ it wasn’t that cold in Bethlehem when Jesus was born.
stayed
kid
best
stressful
enjoyed
alike
without
making
even
peace
quite
imagine
brings
thing
suppose
lost
- Now check your answers with the audio that you'll see below!
CHRISTMAS CONVERSATION QUESTIONS
- Did you enjoy last Christmas?
- What did you do last year on Christmas Day?
- Do people behave differently during Christmas?
- Do they try to be better?
- Do you donate something (money, clothes...) to charities?
- Do you give something to homeless people?
- Do you celebrate Christmas in a traditional way?
- Do you exchange presents with your friends at school?
- Do you have a Christmas party at school?
- How do you usually spend New Year's Eve? How about New Year's Day?
- If you could go anywhere during Christmas vacation, where would you go?
- How did you celebrate Christmas last year?
- What do you eat on Christmas Day?
- What do you usually do for Christmas?
- What does your family eat for Christmas dinner?
- What is Christmas like in your hometown?
- What is the best Christmas present you have ever got?
- What is the most expensive Christmas present you plan to buy?
- What is the typical menu for a Christmas meal in your family? (... in your country?)
- What is the weather like in your country around Christmas time?
- What is your favorite Christmas song?
- What traditions do you have during the Christmas season?
- What was the best present your received last Christmas?
- What will you buy your parents?
- What will you do on Christmas day?
- What will you eat on Christmas Day?
- When do you do your Christmas shopping?
- Do you remember Christmas celebrations you had as a child?
- Was this year better or worse than last year? How come?
- What was the happiest thing for you this year?
- What was the toughest thing for you this year?
- What was the best movie for you this year?
- What was the best music for you this year?
- What was the best place you visited this year?
- What was the best food you had this year?
- What was the best restaurant you went to this year?
- What was the most useful thing you bought this year?
- Did you make a New Year's Resolution this year?
- Do people in your country usually make New Year's Resolutions?
SPEAKING COURSE
christmas_in_england.pptx | |
File Size: | 2249 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
DEBATE TIME!!
In groups of four, your teacher will tell you if you are FOR or AGAINST the topics given.
Spend some time thinking about your ideas that will support your arguments.
Also try to guess what your opponent might say and prepare a counter argument.
Debate Topics:
●Christmas has become too commercial.
●We should only give presents on the 6th of January not on the 25th, too.
●Christmas is just about shopping and money and not about family and friends.
●Children should get only one or two presents so they'll value them more.
●It is better to be naughty than nice.
●We should greet each other with “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”
●Christmas of the past was better than the Christmas of modern time
Spend some time thinking about your ideas that will support your arguments.
Also try to guess what your opponent might say and prepare a counter argument.
Debate Topics:
●Christmas has become too commercial.
●We should only give presents on the 6th of January not on the 25th, too.
●Christmas is just about shopping and money and not about family and friends.
●Children should get only one or two presents so they'll value them more.
●It is better to be naughty than nice.
●We should greet each other with “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”
●Christmas of the past was better than the Christmas of modern time
ELEMENTARY LEVEL
Learn some vocabulary about Christmas and its symbols.
christmas2.ppt | |
File Size: | 2573 kb |
File Type: | ppt |
Let's sing!!
All I want for Christmas is You- Mariah Carey
All I want for Christmas is You- Mariah Carey
all_i_want_for_xmas_is_you.doc | |
File Size: | 185 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Let It Snow
frightful = aterrador, horroroso
turn the light down low = bajar la intensidad de la luz
delightful = encantador, precioso
so = tanto, así
popping = estallar
turn the light down low = bajar la intensidad de la luz
delightful = encantador, precioso
so = tanto, así
popping = estallar
Last Christmas
Jingle Bells
jinglebells.doc | |
File Size: | 199 kb |
File Type: | doc |
We wish you a Merry Christmas
BOXING DAY (DEC 26TH)
What's Boxing Day? How do people celebrate it?
Listen to the following podcast to learn about this British tradition and answer the questions.
What's Boxing Day? How do people celebrate it?
Listen to the following podcast to learn about this British tradition and answer the questions.
When is Boxing day?
a) Day before Christmas
b) Day after Christmas
c) Two days after Christmas
Who were the boxes for?
a) Rich people
b) Servants
c) Friends
What was in the boxes?
a) Food
b) Money
c) Both
What meat does she usually eat on Boxing day?
a) Turkey
b) Ham
c) Chicken
What kind of races does she watch?
a) Horse
b) Car
c) Dog
a) Day before Christmas
b) Day after Christmas
c) Two days after Christmas
Who were the boxes for?
a) Rich people
b) Servants
c) Friends
What was in the boxes?
a) Food
b) Money
c) Both
What meat does she usually eat on Boxing day?
a) Turkey
b) Ham
c) Chicken
What kind of races does she watch?
a) Horse
b) Car
c) Dog
Watch and listen to the video about Boxing Day and answer the following questions.
Why is Boxing Day celebrated?
What do people do on Boxing Day?
In England? Scotland? Ireland?
Why is Boxing Day celebrated?
What do people do on Boxing Day?
In England? Scotland? Ireland?
NEW YEAR'S EVE (DEC 31ST) NEW YEAR'S DAY (JANUARY 1ST)
New Year's traditions in the United States
New Year's traditions in the United States
So, now, write your own list of new year's resolutions. Are you going to keep or break them??