Holidays & Events
Christmas
High-Intermediate Level
Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms.
Christmas
Holidays & Events
Vocabulary Preview
Match the words on the left with the correct meanings on the right.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
secular
statutory
commemorate
gathering
decoration
precede
originate
disappear
bonfire
exchange
beard
sled
similar
appear
festive
a) to trade
b) to come before
c) a mode of transportation in snow
d) almost the same
e) legal, according to the law
f) a large outdoor fire
g) hair on the chin (and sometimes also on the jaw)
h) to show up, to come
i) cheerful, related to a holiday
j) not religious
k) a get-together
l) to go out of sight, to not be seen
m) to honor the memory, to remember
n) an ornament, an object that makes a space look more beautiful
o) to come from
Reading
1. C
hristmas, which is celebrated on December 25, is
one of the biggest celebrations of the year in many
countries around the world. It is both a religious
and a secular holiday. In most countries where
Christmas is celebrated, it is a legal or statutory
holiday. Most workers receive at least one or two
days off work, and children often have a two-week
vacation at this time. Christmas is a very important
day for members of the Christian religion because
it commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. At
church services everywhere, Christians retell
the story of the birth of Jesus in the manger in
Bethlehem.
2. A
lthough Christmas is celebrated on the 25th
ofDecember, the Christmas season actually lasts
for almost a month. In many countries, from
mid-November on, it is impossible to forget that
Christmas is coming. Streets, homes, and shops
are filled with colorful Christmas lights and
decorations. Shopping centers are full of people
doing their Christmas shopping. In fact, the weeks
preceding Christmas are the busiest shopping
weeks of the year. In most Western countries,
many retailers make up 70% of their annual
salesin the month before Christmas.
3. M
any of the present-day customs that we
associate with Christmas actually originated
inpagan festivals long ago. Thousands of years
ago,celebrations were often held around the
timeof the winter solstice. People were often
afraid when the sun disappeared during the
long,cold nights of winter. When the days finally
began to grow longer, they celebrated the return
of the sun by making great bonfires, serving
large, festive meals, and exchanging gifts. After
the birthof Christ, many of these traditions of
the old pagan festivals were combined with
thecelebration ofChristmas.
(continued on the next page...)
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Christmas
Holidays & Events
Reading cont.
4. P
robably the most recognizable non-religious
symbol of Christmas is that of Santa Claus.
Pictures can be seen everywhere of the jolly old
man with the long, white beard, big stomach,
and red suit. Children in Canada and the United
States believe that Santa Claus lives in the North
Pole where he makes toys with his helpful little
elves. On Christmas Eve, December 24, he travels
through the sky on a sled pulled by reindeer.
He lands on the roof of peoples homes, enters
through the chimney, and leaves wonderful
gifts for all the good little boys and girls. In
some countries, December 6 is known as Saint
Nicolas Day and is celebrated in a similar way as
Christmas. In the weeks before Christmas, Santa
Claus often appears in many stores and shopping
centers throughout the cities. Excited children
wait in long lines to sit on Santas lap, havetheir
pictures taken with him, and tell him what
presents they are hoping to receive at Christmas.
5. B
esides being a religious celebration and a
wonderful, exciting time for children, Christmas
is also an important time for family gatherings.
People travel long distances to spend time with
their families at this time of the year. Singing
Christmas carols, decorating the family Christmas
tree, hanging stockings by the fire, and exchanging
cards and gifts are all part of the holiday season.
Of course, food is also a very important part of
the Christmas celebration. Stuffed turkey with
mashed potatoes remains the most traditional
meal served at Christmas dinners, but other
wonderful Christmas dishes, holiday baking,
andspecial festive treats fill the homes of
allwhocelebratethis season.
Comprehension
Practice asking and answering the following questions with your partner.
Then write the answers in your notebook or on the back of this sheet.
Use full sentences.
1. D
o most people in North America work
on December 25? Why or why not?
2. W
hat is the significance of Christmas
for members of the Christian religion?
3. W
hy is Christmas such an important
time for North American retailers?
4. W
here did many of the modern-day
customs of Christmas originate?
6. Describe Santa Claus.
7. Where does Santa live? Who does he live with?
8. W
hen is Saint Nicholas Day
celebrated in many countries?
9. W
hat is the traditional meal
served at Christmas dinners?
10. List six activities mentioned in the article
that are associated with the Christmas season.
5. W
hy were many pagan festivals held
during the time of the winter solstice?
Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms.
Christmas
Holidays & Events
Vocabulary Review
A. Choose the Correct Word
Choose the correct words from the vocabulary
list on page 2 to complete the following sentences.
1. N
ovember 11 is a day to
all the people who died in both World Wars.
6. W
hen my dad retired, he stopped shaving and
grew a big, bushy
.
2. January
Feburary on the calendar.
7. W
e have a big family
every Thanksgiving.
3. S
he put red and green
on the Christmas cake.
8. Santa Claus travels through the sky on a
pulled by reindeer.
4. Many children in elementary schools
cards on Valentines Day.
9. W
hen we went camping last summer, we sat
around the
every evening
and roasted hot dogs and marshmallows.
5. T
he twin sisters look so
I dont know who is who.
10. Thanksgiving is a
holiday in Canada and the United States.
B. C
hoose the Closest Meaning
Circle the word or phrase with the closest meaning to the bold word.
1. carol
a)
box
b)
tree
c)
song
d)
gift
2. gift
a)
custom
b)
show
c)
cake
d)
present
3. jolly
a)
happy
b)
fat
c)
big
d)
kind
4. retailer
a)
receiver
b)
seller
c)
do again
d)
someone who sews
5. stuffed
a)
always
b)
fat
c)
full
d)
turkey
6. custom
a)
tradition
b)
gift
c)
feast
d)
meal
7. festive
a)
tiring
b)
celebratory
c)
messy
d)
honorable
8. annual
a)
always
b)
daily
c)
apple
d)
yearly
9. merry
a)
girl
b)
happy
c)
a lot
d)
funny
10. pagan
a)
new
b)
paper
c)
festival
d)
non-religious
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Christmas
Holidays & Events
Vocabulary Review cont.
C. Odd One Out
Circle the word or phrase that does not belong.
1.
a)
fear
b)
be afraid
c)
believe
d)
be scared
2.
a)
chimney
b)
basement
c)
roof
d)
fireplace
3.
a)
solstice
b)
December 21
c)
June 21
d)
October 31
4.
a)
Santa Claus
b)
reindeer
c)
South Pole
d)
elves
5.
a)
lap
b)
leg
c)
arm
d)
seat
6.
a)
recognizable
b)
easy to notice
c)
easy to know
d)
believable
Survey
Complete the chart below by asking your partners questions about
their favorite holiday. Why is your favorite holiday your favorite?
Me
Whats your favorite holiday?
What time of year is it?
Is it a statutory holiday?
Is it religious or secular?
What are its symbols,
traditions, and customs?
What is the
traditional clothing?
What are the special foods?
How do you decorate?
What do you give as gifts?
Do you give cards?
Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms.
Christmas
Holidays & Events
Pair Work (Student A)
A. Sharing Information
B. Ask and Answer
You and your partner each have two short readings about some of
the symbols of Christmas. Share your information with your partner.
Practice asking and answering
the following questions with
your partner.
SYMBOLS OF CHRISTMAS
At Christmastime, many people like to decorate their doors with
Christmas wreaths. A wreath is a bunch of flowers or leaves that have
been twisted together to make a circle. The Christmas wreath is a symbol
of everlasting life because the shape is an unbroken circle, and the
branches come from an evergreen tree, which remains green all winter.
Mistletoe is an evergreen plant with small white berries. It has been used
as a decoration for thousands of years. In ancient times, people believed
that the plant had special magical powers, and they often used it in their
special ceremonies. In Scandinavia, mistletoe was associated with their
goddess of love and peace, Frigga. This connection between mistletoe and
love probably explains our custom of kissing whenever we meet someone
under the mistletoe. In the early years of Christianity, the church did not
allow people to use mistletoe because of its pagan origins. Instead, the
church priests suggested the use of holly as a decoration. Holly is also an
evergreen plant. It has sharp, shiny, pointed leaves and red berries. The
pointed leaves represent the thorns in Christs crown and the red berries
represent his drops of blood. Because of this, red and green have become
the traditional colors of Christmas. Holly is used as a common decoration
throughout the Christmas season and remains an important symbol of
Christmas today.
The poinsettia is a tropical plant with large red leaves. In 1828, Dr. Joel
Poinsett, the first United States ambassador to Mexico, saw the beautiful
Mexican plant and decided to bring it from Mexico to his own country.
Since then, the poinsettia has become a traditional Christmas plant that
can be found in homes, offices, and shops throughout North America
during the Christmas season.
1. W
hy is the Christmas wreath
a symbol of everlasting life?
2. W
hat are the traditional
colors of Christmas?
3. W
here did the custom
of kissing under the
mistletoe come from?
4. W
hy did ancient people
often use mistletoe in
their special celebrations?
5. W
hy is holly used as a
Christmas decoration?
6. W
hy did people long ago
believe that evergreen
trees were magical?
7. W
here did the custom
of decorating Christmas
trees originate?
8. H
ow did the custom
of decorating a tree
spread to England?
9. W
hat does the shape of
a candy cane represent?
10. When were candy
canes first made?
11. When and where did
the custom of sending
Christmas cards originate?
12. List six common
symbols of Christmas.
Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms.
Christmas
Holidays & Events
Pair Work (Student B)
A. Sharing Information
B. Ask and Answer
You and your partner each have two short readings about some of
the symbols of Christmas. Share your information with your partner.
Practice asking and answering
the following questions with
your partner.
SYMBOLS OF CHRISTMAS
Thousands of years ago, people believed that evergreen trees were
magical because they stayed strong and green during the winter
whenother trees became brown and bare. The evergreen tree became
asymbol of life, hope, and joy. The tradition of decorating a Christmas
tree originated in Germany around the 16th century. It became common
for German people to decorate fir trees with candles, fruit, or colored
paper. This custom spread to England in the 19 th century when Queen
Victoria married a German prince named Albert. Albert put up a Christmas
tree in the royal palace to remind him of his homeland. Later the tradition
spread from England to North America. Nowadays, Christmas trees are
decorated with fancy ornaments, colored lights, shiny paper, candy canes,
stars, and angels.
Candy sticks have been around for hundreds of years, but it wasnt until
the late 1800s that they were decorated with red stripes and bent into
the shape of a cane. A candymaker in the United States wanted to make a
candy that would represent Christmas. Candy canes represent the staffs
or sticks used by the shepherds who traveled to Bethlehem to seethe
baby Jesus. If you turn a candy cane upside down, it looks like theletter
J.This shape symbolizes the first letter of Jesuss name. The redin
acandycane represents the blood of Christ.
The custom of sending Christmas cards to family and friends originated
in England. The first Christmas card was made by Sir Henry Cole in 1843.
At about the same time, the public mail delivery system first started. The
original Christmas cards were handmade and very expensive. As printing
methods and mail delivery improved, Christmas cards became more and
more popular. Nowadays, millions of Christmas cards are sent all over the
world each year.
1. W
hy is the Christmas wreath
a symbol of everlasting life?
2. W
hat are the traditional
colors of Christmas?
3. W
here did the custom
of kissing under the
mistletoe come from?
4. W
hy did ancient people
often use mistletoe in
their special celebrations?
5. W
hy is holly used as a
Christmas decoration?
6. W
hy did people long ago
believe that evergreen
trees were magical?
7. W
here did the custom
of decorating Christmas
trees originate?
8. H
ow did the custom
of decorating a tree
spread to England?
9. W
hat does the shape of
a candy cane represent?
10. When were candy
canes first made?
11. When and where did
the custom of sending
Christmas cards originate?
12. List six common
symbols of Christmas.
Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms.
Christmas
Holidays & Events
Pair Work cont.
C. Symbols Review
Read your partners reading on page 6 or 7 on the symbols of Christmas.
Then write the correct symbol that is associated with each of the following.
You will use some of the words more than once.
Symbols:wreath, mistletoe, holly, pointsettia, Christmas tree, candy cane, Christmas card
1. Sir Henry Cole
6. kiss under it
2. Goddess of Love, Frigga
7. place it on your door
3. Prince Albert
8. shepherds staff
4. 1843
9. Germany
5. Mexico
10. red and green
D. Complete the Story
Fill in the blanks with the correct word from the
list below to complete the story of Santa Claus.
The
of Santa Claus or Father Christmas began
with a real person named Saint Nicolas. He was born in Turkey in
the 4th
. Saint Nicolas was a very
and generous man. He liked to help poor people by giving them money,
but he didnt want them to know about his
. According
to one story, Saint Nicolas once
up on the roof of a
house and dropped a bag of money down the
. The
money landed in a
that a young girl had placed by the
fire to
. The legend of Saint Nicolas
to many countries. For many years after Saint Nicolass death, children in
Holland left out their wooden shoes in the hopes that Saint Nicolas would
fill them with treats. The Dutch called Saint Nicolas Sinterklaas. In English,
the name became Santa Claus. Over the years, the
of
Santa Claus changed, too. In early pictures, he often appeared tall and
thin, dressed in a brown or green suit. In 1822, a man named Clement
Moore wrote a famous poem called The Night Before Christmas. In this
poem, Moore described Santa as a
fat man in a
suit riding in a
pulled by reindeer.
Gradually, this image of Santa became very popular. Nowadays, children
hang stockings by the fire on Christmas Eve and wait for Santa to come
and fill them with treats and toys.
WORD LIST:
jolly
appearance
century
kind
climbed
dry
red
Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms.
spread
tradition
chimney
generosity
stocking
sled
Christmas
Holidays & Events
Vocabulary, Idioms, and Expressions
A. Reference
IDIOM OR EXPRESSION
DEFINITION
EX AMPLE
in the red
losing money,
showing a financial loss
Shes in the red this month because she
spent so much on Christmas presents.
caught red-handed
to be caught while
doing something bad
He was caught red-handed when the
clerk saw him put candy into his pocket.
red tape
difficult government
forms and procedures
There is a lot of red tape when youre
trying to immigrate to a new country.
roll/lay out
the red carpet
give a special welcome and special
treatment to a special person
I felt really special when my friends
rolled out the red carpet for my birthday.
give/get the green light
to give/get the okay or
approval to do something
Her parents gave her the green light
to use their car for the weekend.
have a green thumb
to be good at gardening
The vegetables from your garden are
so tasty! You must have a green thumb.
feel/be stuffed
to feel very full from eating a lot
I cant believe I ate so much. Im stuffed!
quit cold turkey
to quit a habit all at
once, not gradually
They were proud of their son when
he quit smoking cold turkey.
B. Practice
Choose one of the words or expressions above to complete the sentences.
1. I m sick of all the
thats involved with applying for a passport.
5. T
he robber was
with his hand full of money.
2. W
hen the queen comes to our city,
we will
for her.
6. L
ast night she threw her full packageofcigarettesinthe
garbage. She decided to
.
3. I cant eat another thing!
Im
.
7. I think that business will have to close soon. It
has been
for several years.
4. M
arys flowers are beautiful.
She must have a
8. Y
ou shouldnt start the project until the
boss gives you
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Christmas
Holidays & Events
Class Activity
Walk around the classroom and ask your classmates questions.
Write the questions in the spaces provided below, and write
your classmates name on the right if he/she answers yes.
FIND SOMEONE...
1. ...who has a Christmas tree.
2. ...who has sent Christmas cards this year.
3. ...who has rolled out the red carpet for someone.
4. ...who has a green thumb.
5. ...who goes to church on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
6. ...who is planning to have a turkey for Christmas dinner.
7. ...who quit smoking cold turkey.
8. ...who has a lot of Christmas shopping to do.
9. ...whose favorite holiday is Christmas.
10. ...who has decorated his/her house with Christmas lights.
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10
Christmas
Holidays & Events
Answer Key
NOTE:
LESSON DESCRIPTION:
LEVEL: High-Intermediate
These activities are designedfor high-
Students read about the history, symbols,
TIME: 23 hours
intermediate-level adult ESLlearners,
and traditions associated with Christmas.
TAGS: holidays, Christmas, Xmas,
butthey may also be suitableforjunior
This lesson includes a review of vocabulary
December, Santa Claus,
andsenior highschool ESLstudents.
and idioms as well as a class survey.
tradition, culture
Vocabulary Preview
1. j
4. k
2. e
3. m
Vocabulary Review
7. o
10. a
13. d
5. n
8. l
11. g
14. h
6. b
9. f
12. c
15. i
Reading (and/or Listening)
Read individually, in small groups, or as a class. You can also play
the listening as your students read along. A gap-fill version of the
reading is available on page 13. Help your students with vocabulary
and expressions that they are unfamiliar with.
Comprehension
A. CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
1. commemorate
5. similar
9. bonfire
2. precedes
6. beard
10. statutory
3. decorations
7. gathering
4. exchange
8. sled
B. CHOOSE THE CLOSEST MEANING
1. c
3. a
5. c
7. b
9. b
2. d
4. b
6. a
8. d
10. d
C. ODD ONE OUT
1. c
2. b
3. d
4. c
5. c
6. d
After reading the passage, break the students into pairs and have
them practice asking and answering the comprehension questions.
At the end of the oral practice, have the students write out the
answers. Review again orally with the whole class.
Survey
Break the class into groups of three and have the students
Most people do not work on this day as it is a statutory holiday.
interview each other. Alternatively or as a follow-up, have each
2.
This day commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.
student do a mini-presentation on his/her favorite holiday.
3.
T he weeks preceding Christmas are
4.
Many of the customs originated in pagan festivals long ago.
5.
T he solstice marked the end of the long, dark nights of winter
1.
the busiest shopping weeks of the year.
and many people celebrated the return of the sun by having
bonfires, eating festive meals, and exchanging gifts.
6.
S anta Claus is a jolly old man with a long,
white beard, a big stomach, and a red suit.
7.
Santa Claus lives in the North Pole with many elves and reindeer.
8.
S aint Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 6.
9.
Stuffed turkey with mashed potatoes is the traditional meal.
10. E xchanging gifts, singing carols, getting together with friends
and family, hanging stockings by the fire, decorating a
Christmas tree, and eating a festive meal are mentioned.
Pair Work
A. SHARING INFORMATION
Break the class into pairs. Each student has a different reading
about the symbols of Christmas. Have the students read their
articles silently and then share the information with their partner
by completing the comprehension questions together. Review
together with the whole class. After the students complete their
oral work, have them exchange readings and then complete
Exercise B, C, and D on pages 68 together. Have a few students
retell the story of Santa.
(continued on the next page...)
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11
Christmas
Holidays & Events
Answer Key cont.
Pair Work cont.
Vocabulary, Idioms, and Expressions
B. ASK AND ANSWER
The idioms given include words related to Christmas (e.g., idioms
1.
The Christmas wreath is a symbol of everlasting life
because the shape is an unbroken circle, and the branches
come from an evergreen tree, which remains green all winter.
2.
Red and green are the traditional colors of Christmas.
3.
It came from Scandinavia where mistletoe was
using the colors red and green, the word turkey, etc). Explain the
meanings, go over the examples, then have the students complete
the sentences.
B. PR ACTICE
associated with their goddess of love and peace, Frigga.
1.
4.
They believed it had special powers.
2.
5.
Holly is used as a Christmas decoration because of its religious
3.
significance: its pointed leaves represent the thorns in Christs
4.
green thumb
red tape
5.
caught red-handed
roll out the red carpet
6.
quit cold turkey
stuffed
7.
in the red
8.
the green light
crown and the red berries represent his drops of blood.
6.
Thousands of years ago, people believed that evergreen trees
were magical because they stayed strong and green during the
winter when other trees became brown and bare.
7.
The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree
originated in Germany around the 16th century.
8.
This custom spread to England in the 19 th century when
Queen Victoria married a German prince named Albert
who put up a Christmas tree in the royal palace to
remind him of his homeland.
9.
The shape represents the staffs or sticks used by the
shepherds who traveled to Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus.
10. Candy canes were first made in the late 1800s.
11. The custom of sending Christmas
cards originated in England in 1843.
12. Symbols include wreaths, mistletoe, holly, candy canes,
cards, Christmas trees, and/or poinsettias.
Class Activity
First, have the students write out the questions they will be asking
their classmates. Then have the students circulate around the
class, asking the questions on the sheet. When a student finds a
classmate who can answer the question, he/she will then write
the students name on the line and follow up with one more
question of his/her own. E.g., Do you have a Christmas tree? If the
student answers yes, the second question might be: Is it real?
or Where did you get it? Try to encourage students to engage
in real conversation during this activity. Follow up by sharing the
information with the whole class.
SPELLING NOTE:
This lesson shows the American spelling of the words Colorful,
Centers, Honor, Honorable, Favorite, Colors, Colored, Traveled,
Neighbor, and Practice. Mostother English-speaking countries
C. SYMBOLS REVIEW
spell thesewords this way: Colourful, Centres, Honour, Honourable,
1.
Christmas card
6.
mistletoe
Favourite, Colours, Coloured, Travelled, Neighbour, andPractise
2.
mistletoe
7.
wreath
(when used as a verb; Practice when used as a noun). Make ita
3.
Christmas tree
8.
candy cane
challengefor your students to find these words in thetextand
4.
Christmas card
9.
Christmas tree
see if theyknowthealternatespellings.
5.
poinsettia
10. holly
PRONUNCIATION NOTE:
D. COMPLETE THE STORY
tradition, century, kind, generosity, climbed, chimney,
stocking, dry, spread, appearance, jolly, red, sled
The word poinsettia has three syllables in North American
pronunciation (poin-SE-ta) and four syllables in most other
English-speaking countries (poin-SE-ti-a).
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12
Christmas
Holidays & Events
Listening Gap Fill
Fill in the blanks as you listen to the recording.
(Audio: http://esl-library.com/podcastchristmas)
1.
Christmas, which is celebrated on December 25, is
4. Probably the most recognizable non-religious symbol
one of the biggest celebrations of the year in many
of Christmas is that of Santa Claus. Pictures can be seen
countries around the world. It is both a religious and
everywhere of the jolly old man with the long, white
a secular holiday. In most countries where Christmas
beard, big stomach, and red suit. Children in Canada
is celebrated, it is a legal or statutory holiday. Most
and the United States believe that Santa Claus lives in
workers receive at least one or two days off work, and
the North Pole where he makes toys with his helpful
children often have a two-week
little elves. On Christmas Eve, December 24, he travels
at this time. Christmas is a very important day
through the sky on a sled pulled by reindeer. He lands
of peoples homes, enters through
for members of the Christian religion because it
commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. At church
the chimney, and leaves wonderful gifts for all the
services everywhere, Christians retell the story of
good little boys and girls. In some countries, December
the birth of Jesus in the manger in Bethlehem.
6 is known as Saint Nicolas Day and is celebrated
2. Although Christmas is celebrated on the 25th
ofDecember, the Christmas season actually lasts
for almost a month. In many countries, from midNovember on, it is
to forget that
Christmas is coming. Streets, homes, and shops are
filled with colorful Christmas lights and decorations.
Shopping centers are full of people doing their
in a similar way as Christmas. In the weeks before
Christmas, Santa Claus often appears in many stores
and shopping centers throughout the cities. Excited
children wait in
to sit on Santas lap,
havetheir pictures taken with him, and tell him what
presents they are hoping to receive at Christmas.
5. Besides being a religious celebration and a wonderful,
Christmas shopping. In fact, the weeks preceding
exciting time for children, Christmas is also an important
Christmas are the busiest shopping weeks of the year.
time for family gatherings. People travel long distances
In most Western countries, many retailers make up
to spend time with their families at this time of the
of their annual salesin the month
3. Many of the present-day customs that we associate
with Christmas actually originated inpagan festivals
long ago. Thousands of years ago,celebrations were
often held around the timeof the winter solstice. People
were often afraid when the sun disappeared during the
long,cold nights of winter. When the days finally began
to
year. Singing Christmas carols, decorating the family
Christmas tree,
before Christmas.
, they celebrated the return of
stockings by the
fire, and exchanging cards and gifts are all part of the
holiday season. Of course, food is also a very important
part of the Christmas celebration. Stuffed turkey with
mashed potatoes remains the most traditional meal
served at Christmas dinners, but other wonderful
Christmas dishes, holiday baking, andspecial festive
treats fill the homes ofallwhocelebratethisseason.
the sun by making great bonfires, serving large, festive
meals, and exchanging gifts. After the birthof Christ,
many of these traditions of the old pagan festivals were
combined with thecelebration ofChristmas.
4. on the roof,
2. impossible, 70%
3. grow longer
1. vacation
5. hanging
long lines
ANSWERS
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