Christmas in Britain

1
Christmas in Britain

• A Christmas Rhyme
• Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat
• Please put a penny In the old mans hat
• If you havent got a penny, a hapenny will do
• If you havent got a hapenny, God bless you.

2
Christmas Time

• Dear Francesca,
• Thank you for your e-mail. You asked me about how
  we spend Christmas in Britain. Well, were quite
  a traditional family. Christmas is so special
  for us.
• Our Christmas holidays are from 2oth December to
  2nd January. On the last day we always have a
  carol festival when the whole school sings carols
  with our parents. We do this in school so kids of
  all religions can take part.
• My friends and I sometimes go round the houses
  singing carols. I enjoy that people give us
  Christmas pies or a little money.

3
I love Christmas!

• We decorate
• the house with holly and mistletoe and we have a
  tree with lights and a fairy on the top. People
  put Christmas trees in front of their windows so
  you can see them from the street and some people
  decorate their gardens too.

4
Merry Christmas to you all!!

• My little brother Peter still believes in Santa
  Claus and on Christmas Eve he leaves a stocking
  at the end of his bed. He also leaves a snack for
  Santa and a carrot for the reindeer! When hes in
  bed, I help Mum and Dad fill his stocking and I
  eat the snack!!! Some of my friends go to
  Midnight Mass but we dont usually go.
• On Christmas day, Peter wakes us up early and we
  open our presents which are under the tree in the
  living-room.

5
We wish you a Merry Christmas!

• Mum spends all morning in the kitchen, because we
  have an enormous Christmas dinner at about two
  oclock. At the table, we all pull crackers and
  wear paper hats. We eat roast turkey, roast
  potatoes and lots of different vegetables. For
  dessert we have Christmas pudding or mince pies.
• Boxing Day, the next day, is a holiday. My
  uncle, aunt and cousins always visit us. We
  usually eat cold turkey and salad because Mum
  doesnt want to cook again!
• Write soon and tell me about Christmas in Italy.
• Matt

6
Now answer the following questions

• When do Christmas holidays start and finish?
• What do Matt and his mates have on the last day?
• What do Matt and his friends sometimes do?
• Why does he enjoy that?
• What sort of Christmas decorations do they make?
• Where do people usually put their Christmas
  trees?
• What do children do when they still believe in
  Santa Claus?
• What else does Matts little brother usually do?
• Who helps Mum and Dad fill the stocking?
• Does the reindeer really eat the carrot? Who eats
  it?
• Do Matt and his family go to Midnight Mass?
• When do they open there presents?
• What time do they have their Christmas dinner?
  What do they have?
• Is the next day a holiday? What is it called?
• What about you? Write about two/three paragraphs
  on Christmas in Italy.

7
The History of Christmas

• We do not know exactly when Christians first
  celebrated the birth of Christ.
• Historians believe this was in the 4th century
  when Christmas replaced pagan celebrations of the
  winter solstice.
• The Bible does not say when Christ was born. So
  the Roman Catholic Church chose December 25. The
  Church wanted the pagans to become Christians. So
  it decided to give two pagan festivities a
  Christian meaning.
• The Romans honoured Saturn, the ancient god of
  agriculture. On December 17 the festival of
  Saturnalia began. It continued for seven days and
  included the winter solstice. Saturnalia was a
  time of fun and celebration. During Saturnalia
  the Romans had parties and gave presents to their
  family and friends.
• The pagan tribes of Scandinavia also had a
  twelve-day winter festival. It was called Yule.
  They celebrated Yule from the day of the winter
  solstice. This was usually on December 21 or 22.
  The men brought home a big log and burnt it. They
  believed the log helped bring back the sun. The
  family celebrated until the log stopped burning.
  Sometimes this took twelve days! The tradition of
  the Yule log still exists in some countries
  today.
• The traditions of Yule were fir trees, holly,
  mistletoe, cakes and presents. Fir trees and
  holly are still symbols of Christmas. Ancient
  Europeans believed that mistletoes had magic
  powers. Even today when a boy and girl meet under
  the mistletoe they kiss! This brings good luck
  and it is a sign of friendship.

8
Understanding the text

• Say whether the following sentences are TRUE
  (T), FALSE (F) or DOESNT SAY if there is not
  enough information.
• No one knows exactly when Christians started
  celebrating Christmas.
• In the 4th century Christmas replaced pagan
  celebration.
• The Roman festival of Saturnalia began on
  December 25 and continued for seven days.
• The pagan tribes of Scandinavia wore new clothes
  during Yule.
• Holly, mistletoe, cakes and presents were the
  traditions of Yule.