IT'S
CHRISTMAS TIME
‘I
will hold Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year’
Charles
Dickens
Before
beginning reading about Christmas, can you do this QUIZ
?
CHRISTMAS
IN GREAT BRITAIN
In
Great Britain the hustle and bustle of the season begins well
before Christmas and there is barely anytime for a break until the Twelfth
night. There is preparation going on of foods, the sending
of Christmas cards, the decorating of houses and churches, and the readying
of gifts keep everyone busy even the youngest family members.
On Christmas Eve youngsters hang up their stockings
on the ends of the beds or by the chimney so that when Father
Christmas comes he can leave them something.
On Christmas morning the family traditionally opens
their presents and prepares for a big feast which typically is served
just after midday. The table gleams with the best china and glassware,
and at every place on the table there is a cracker. The meal begins
with a toast, followed by the popping of the crackers. After the meal
they sit down in front of the Television for the traditional Christmas
speech of the British Monarch.
In the afternoon they exchange visits with neighbours and other family
members.
Some churches in Great Britain have a Christingle service
on the fourth Sunday of Advent. This is a carol service of Scandinavian
origin at which every child received an orange and candle wrapped in
a red ribbon. The candle represents Jesus and the ribbon stands for
the blood of Christ and the love of God embracing the world.
In Britain, children write their letters to Father Christmas
and then throw them into the fireplace so they will float up
the chimney and fly to the North Pole. If the lists catch fire first,
they have to rewrite them.
At Christmas dinner, a plum pudding is served with
little treasures hidden inside that bring their finders good luck. Britain
was the first country to hang up mistletoe.
(taken from http://www.santas.net/britishchristmas.htm)
After
reading this text about Xmas traditions, would you like to try this
VOCABULARY
QUIZ ?