Christmas traditions in English. Christmas traditions
Christmas is a favorite time of the year for many Christian people. It is celebrated by many cultures and religions. This is the holiday when families come together and celebrate the birth of Jesus, love, peace and kindness. Catholic Christmas is celebrated in Europe, Australia and America on the 25th of December. However all preparations for this day start long before the date.
Christmas is rich in traditions which make this holiday very special for everyone. One of the most favorite traditions among children is decorating their houses, gardens and Christmas trees with colorful garlands, mistletoe wreaths, ornaments, gingerbread men, dazzling stars and artificial snow. Evergreen trees are symbols of eternal life, and mistletoe traditionally symbolizes love. The next tradition is writing a letter to Santa Claus and waiting for him and his reindeer with a bag full of presents in a sleigh. Children hang up stockings near their beds or by the fire-place hoping that Santa Claus will come at night and fill them with sweets, fruits and nuts.
On Christmas Eve people send holiday cards and visit their friends in order to exchange presents and good wishes. In the center of London, in Trafalgar Square British people gather around the huge Christmas tree. Many of them attend church services on Christmas Eve. Singing Christmas carols to commemorate Christ’s birth is also one of the oldest Catholic traditions. In America the biggest Christmas tree is usually lit up in New York, at Rockefeller Center.
A big festive dinner is the most delicious meal of a year. People enjoy traditional plum puddings, stuffed turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pies.
The warmth and joy of Christmas makes people much better. A lot of people help the poor, they organize festive dinners for the homeless.
Translation
Christmas is the favorite time of year for many Christians. It is celebrated by many cultures and religions. It is a holiday when families come together to celebrate the birth of Christ, love, peace and kindness. Catholic Christmas is celebrated in Europe, Australia and America on December 25th. However, all preparations for this day begin long before this date.
Christmas is rich in traditions that make this holiday special for everyone. One of the most beloved traditions among children is decorating homes, gardens and Christmas trees with colorful garlands, mistletoe wreaths, Christmas tree decorations, gingerbread men, glittering stars and fake snow. Evergreen trees are symbols of eternal life, and mistletoe traditionally symbolizes love. Another tradition was writing letters to Santa Claus and waiting for his arrival on reindeer with a large bag of gifts in a sleigh. Children hang long socks near the bed or by the fireplace in the hope that at night Santa Claus will fill them with sweets, fruits and nuts.
On Christmas Eve, people send greeting cards and visit their friends to exchange gifts and good wishes. In the center of London, in Trafalgar Square, Britons gather around a huge Christmas tree. Many of them attend cathedral services at Christmas. Singing Christmas carols in honor of the birth of Christ is also one of the oldest Catholic traditions. In America, the tallest Christmas tree is usually lit in New York City, at the Rockefeller Center.
A big holiday dinner is the most delicious treat of the whole year. People enjoy traditional plum puddings, stuffed turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pies.
The warmth and joy of Christmas makes people much better people. Many people help the poor and organize holiday dinners for the homeless.
For many British families Christmas is the most important holiday of the year.
It is a combination of the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ, and the traditional winter holidays.
On the Sunday before Christmas many churches hold a carol service where special hymns are sung. Most families decorate their houses with colored paper or holly, and they usually have a Christmas tree in the front room. It is decorated with colored lights and beautiful toys.
The most important and pleasant tradition of Christmas is the giving of presents. People wrap up their gifts and leave them at the bottom of Christmas tree to be found on Christmas morning. Children leave long socks near their bed hoping that Father Christmas will come at night and bring them small presents, fruits and nuts. Children also write to Father Christmas letters and say what presents they want to get.
In the evening the family will sit down to a big turkey dinner followed by Christmas pudding. Then they may watch the Queen on television as she delivers her traditional congratulations to the United Kingdom.
Christmas in the UK
For many British families, Christmas is the most important holiday of the year.
It is a combination of the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ and traditional winter celebrations.
On the Sunday before Christmas, many churches hold services where special hymns are sung. Most families decorate their homes with colored paper or holly and usually have a Christmas tree in the living room. It is decorated with colorful lights and beautiful toys.
The most important and enjoyable Christmas tradition is gift giving. People wrap their gifts and leave them at the foot of the tree to be found in the morning. Children leave long socks near their beds hoping that Santa Claus will come at night and bring them small gifts, fruits and nuts. Children also write letters to Santa and tell him what gifts they want to receive.
In the evening, the family gathers for a big turkey dinner, followed by Christmas pudding. Then they can watch the Queen of the United Kingdom's address on television, namely her traditional congratulations.
Christmas Day, December 25, is probably the most popular holiday in Great Britain. It is a family holiday. Traditionally all relatives and friends give each other presents. So, before Christmas all the department stores and shops are crowded, everyone is choosing a present.
In general, people get prepared for this holiday very carefully. They decorate their houses in the traditional way. Christmas trees are set up in houses, in the streets and churches. They are always decorated with fairy lights, angels and small toys. In addition, little packets with nuts, candies and special biscuits are hung on the tree. Presents are put around the tree and artificial “frost” is scattered over the branches.
The Germans are believed to be the first to use the Christmas tree in their celebrations and Martin Luther was the first to place a star on the top of the tree. This star represents the star appeared over the stable in which Christ was born.
In Great Britain, the Christmas tree became popular while Queen Victoria ruled the country.
Besides the Christmas tree, holly and mistletoe are used to decorate the house. Branches of holly are put up behind pictures and mistletoe is hung over doors, so the young people have a chance to kiss the girls under it, plucking each time a red berry from the mistletoe. It is said that the girl who was not kissed under it at Christmas would not get married that year.
On the eve of Christmas children hang their stockings, so that Santa Claus could put presents into them: oranges, sweets, nuts and if the child didn't behave properly Santa Claus can put there a piece of coal as punishment.
Santa Claus got his name from a man known as St. Nicholas, who lived in the fourth century. He gave his wealth to the poor and often to children. After he died, the Dutch brought this legend to colonial America. Soon the Dutch name Sinter Klaus became Santa Claus.
Carol singing is an essential part of Christmas. No church or school is without its carol service. Carols may be traditional or with some variations that express different feelings. Carols were used for the first time during Christmas in the fifteenth century.
Usually children come around in the evening to the front doors and start singing carols and people who live in these houses give children candies, nuts, pies and so on, to thank them for carol singing.
A typical Christmas lunch includes turkey with cranberry sauce and pudding. Every young woman in each household helps to stir the Christmas pudding, if she wishes to be married that year. Usually a coin or two are hidden inside the pudding and part of the fun is to see who finds it.
After the lunch they go to the sitting room to listen to the Christmas speech of the Queen, shown on TV.
So, Christmas is a merry family holiday for all the people of Great Britain. Christmas comes but once a year.
Text translation: Christmas in Great Britain - Christmas in Great Britain (2)
December 25th, Christmas Day, is probably the most popular holiday in the UK. This is a family holiday. Traditionally, all relatives and friends give each other gifts. So, before Christmas, all department stores and shops are crowded, everyone is choosing a gift.
In general, people prepare for this holiday very carefully. They decorate their houses in a traditional way. Christmas trees are placed in buildings, streets and churches. They are always decorated with fairy lights, angels and little toys, as well as little bags of nuts, candies and Christmas biscuits. Gifts are placed around the tree, and artificial snow is scattered along its branches.
The Germans are believed to be the first to use the Christmas tree in their celebrations; Martin Luther was the first to decorate the top of the tree with a star. This star symbolizes the star that appeared over the stable in which Christ was born.
In Great Britain, the Christmas tree became popular during the reign of Queen Victoria.
In addition to the Christmas tree, holly and mistletoe are used to decorate the home. Holly branches are hung behind pictures and mistletoe is on doors, so that the young man has a chance to kiss the girl every time she plucks a red mistletoe berry. It is believed that a girl who is not kissed under the mistletoe at Christmas will not get married that year.
On Christmas Eve, children hang their stockings so that Santa Claus can put gifts in them: oranges, candies, nuts, and if a child misbehaves, Santa Claus can put a piece of coal in the stocking as punishment.
Santa Claus gets his name from a man known as St. Nicholas, who lived in the fourth century. He often made donations to the poor and very often to children. After he died, this legend was brought by the Danes to colonial America. Soon the Dutch name "Sinter Kluas" became Santa Claus.
Caroling is an important part of Christmas There is not a single church or school that does not sing a Christmas carol. A Christmas carol can be traditional or with some variations to express different feelings. The Christmas song first appeared in the fifteenth century.
According to tradition, in the evening, children come to the front doors and begin to sing; people living in these houses, in order to thank them for singing, give the children lollipops, nuts, pies, and so on.
A typical Christmas dinner includes turkey, cranberry sauce and pudding. Every young woman, if she wishes to get married this year, helps make the Christmas pudding. Usually they hide a couple of coins in the pudding and wait impatiently to see who will find these coins.
After breakfast, everyone goes into the living room to listen to the Queen's Christmas speech on TV.
So Christmas is a fun family holiday for all the people of Great Britain. Christmas only comes once a year.
References:
1. 100 topics of English oral (Kaverina V., Boyko V., Zhidkikh N.) 2002
2. English for schoolchildren and those entering universities. Oral exam. Topics. Texts for reading. Exam questions. (Tsvetkova I.V., Klepalchenko I.A., Myltseva N.A.)
3. English, 120 Topics. English language, 120 conversation topics. (Sergeev S.P.)
Christmas in England: traditions and customs
December has arrived! There is very little time left until the New Year. And in European countries, almost this entire month is filled with magical anticipation of the brightest and kindest family holiday - Christmas Day. In this article I would like to talk about how they celebrate Christmas in England.
First, a little history. Christmas is a Christian holiday. On this day, according to religious beliefs, the baby Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born. The first mention of Christmas dates back to the beginning of the 4th century AD. This is the time of the reign of the Roman Emperor Constantine, who was the first to adopt Christianity as a religion. As you know, the lion's share of the Romans worshiped pagan gods, the main of which was the Sun God. They glorified him on December 25th. This is probably why, with the adoption of Christianity in Rome, Christmas began to be celebrated on this day in order to eradicate the main pagan holiday.
Celebration Christmas in England has a huge number of different customs and traditions. As in Russia, many of them are pagan in nature. For example, our Christmas fortune-telling and carols are not Christian customs. The English traditions in this area originate in the ancient Celtic cultures, as well as the culture of the Vikings and Huns, who celebrated the beginning of the New Year and the Winter Solstice and organized festivals on this occasion, during which they glorified their gods.
Most traditions and customs in the celebration Christmas in England developed in the Victorian era (1837 - 1901). Let's look at everything in order.
Letters to Father Christmas (Letters to Father Christmas)
Long before the beginning of December, namely in the fall, children write letters to Father Christmas with information about the gift they would like to receive. Who is this, Father of Christmas? In each country it has its own name: in Russia - Father Frost, and in England - Santa Claus. Children used to leave letters behind the fireplace, and the fairy gnome would pick them up and give them to Santa. Currently, letters are usually sent by mail or e-mail.
Santa Claus (Santa Claus)
This is a fictional character. He appears in the image of a sweet, gray-as-snow grandfather in a red sheepskin coat and quilted jackets of the same color. He is accompanied by gnomes who help distribute gifts. Santa Claus moves exclusively by air in a team of reindeer, sneaks into the house at night along the chimney in order to leave a gift under the Christmas Tree.
Christmas tree (Christmas Tree)
On the eve of Christmas, it is customary to decorate the tree. Pagans also believed that this plant was inhabited by evil spirits who could play cruel jokes on people. Therefore, during the celebration of the beginning of the New Year, people decorated the tree to appease these evil spirits. Spruce is also a symbol of evergreen nature.
As you can see, this tradition moved into Christianity. It was customary to decorate the Christmas tree with fruits, sweets, and later with candles. The first to do this were in Germany. In the 19th century, this tradition appeared in England and became widespread. Nowadays, the Christmas tree is decorated with balls, garlands, and tinsel. The star on the top of the head is a symbol of the same star that appeared in the sky over Bethlehem on the night when baby Jesus was born.
Decoration of streets, houses, premises (Decoration)
In European countries, on the eve of Christmas, it is customary to decorate houses and streets. Trees and bushes glow with colorful lights, glass shop windows and signs are also decorated with garlands. On the streets they create small compositions based on biblical scenes. A Christmas tree is installed in the main squares.
It is customary to decorate houses and premises with evergreen vegetation. These are holly and ivy. Holly wreaths symbolize happiness and wealth. They are usually placed on the front door and also in the living room. By the way, decorating houses with holly is also a pagan tradition. Ivy, as you know, is a climbing plant that requires support, which symbolizes our faith in God, who is our main support in life.
Another wonderful tradition is associated with the mistletoe sprig, which also came from the pagan world. Mistletoe is a symbol of love and friendship, so a young man has the right to kiss any girl who happens to be under the branch.
Christmas log or candles (Christmas Candles)
It used to be customary to burn a log in the fireplace on Christmas Day. It is believed that the Vikings brought this tradition. On the day the New Year began, they cut down a tree, which dried until the next beginning. On this day, firewood obtained from this tree was burned in the fireplace and the flames were used to predict what the coming year would be like. During the Victorian era, the log was replaced with a thick candle.
It is also customary to decorate the house with another kind of candles, which are placed on a wreath of holly and symbolize the four Sundays preceding Christmas. Every Sunday one candle is lit.
Christmas songs and cards (Christmas Carols and Cards)
On Christmas Eve and on the day of the holiday itself, people sing special songs (hymns) in which they glorify Jesus Christ and his life. They also sing about happiness, peace and beauty. Pagans also sang hymns of this kind on the winter solstice, but the tradition was also entrenched in Christianity.
In addition, to congratulate each other on this bright holiday, people all over the world send Christmas cards.
Christmas stocking and gifts
This tradition also originated during the Victorian era and gained worldwide recognition and popularity. According to legend, one day Santa Claus was flying over someone's house and dropped some coins. They got through the chimney pipe directly into the sock, which at that time was drying over the fireplace. Since then, it has been customary to hang a special boot or sock over the fireplace. What if something useful gets there?
And the gifts we give each other at Christmas symbolize the gifts that the Magi gave Jesus on his birthday.
There is a special candy in the shape of a cane that is usually given at Christmas. It means the first letter in the Name of Jesus Christ “J” (Jesus).
Christmas Eve Dinner (Christmas Eve)
On Christmas Eve the whole family goes to church and then gathers at the festive table. This is the climax. Before sitting down to the table, family members “clap” a special cracker, inside of which there are congratulations. Eating begins with reading a prayer.
Traditional Christmas dishes include turkey with potatoes and gooseberry sauce, Christmas pudding and Christmas cake, as well as many sweets and fruits.
Boxing Dayor Boxing Day
December 26 is also a special day, a holiday. In the morning, all the children rush to the Christmas tree, under which there are treasured and long-awaited boxes with gifts from Santa Claus. That’s why this day is called Boxing Day, or literally “day of boxes.”
So, as you can see, the celebration Christmas in England This is a whole system filled with a lot of positivity and joy.
Currently, many traditions of Catholics are coming to Orthodoxy. I hope that after reading this article, you will certainly decide to create an unforgettable holiday for your child, combining different traditions.
If you have any questions, you can ask them in the comments. I will be happy to try to answer them.
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Christmas - Christmas
Christmas
Christmas is Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. For millions of Christians throughout the world it is the happiest and the busiest time of the year. No one knows the exact date of Christ's birth but most Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25. The word Christmas comes from Christes masse, an early English phrase that means Mass of Christ.
People of different countries celebrate Christmas in various ways. People in the United States and Canada decorate their homes with Christmas trees, wreaths and ornaments. City streets are filled with colored lights; the sound of bells and Christmas carols can be heard everywhere.
Children write letters to Santa Claus and tell him what presents they would like to get. Many department stores hire people to wear a Santa Claus costume and listen to children's requests. People send Christmas cards to relatives and friends. Many companies give presents to their employees.
A Christmas tree is one of the main symbols of Christmas in most homes. Relatives and friends may join in trimming the tree with lights, tinsel, and colorful ornaments. Presents are placed under the tree. On Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, families open their presents.
Many children believe that Santa Claus arrives on Christmas Eve in a sleigh pulled by a reindeer and brings presents. Some children hang up stockings so Santa Claus can fill them with candy, fruit and other small gifts.
In many parts of the United States and Canada groups of people walk from house to house and sing Christmas carols. Some people give singers money or small gifts or invite them for a warm drink.
Many people attend church services on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. They listen to readings from the Bible and singing Christmas carols.
A traditional Christmas dinner consists of stuffed turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and a variety of other dishes. Some families have ham or roast goose instead of turkey. Pumpkin pie, plum pudding, and fruitcake are favorite desserts.
Christmas
Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. For millions of Christians around the world, this is the happiest and most troublesome time of the year. No one knows the exact date of Christ's birth, but most Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25th. The word "Christmas" comes from "Christes masse", an Old English expression that means "Mass of Christ".
People in different countries celebrate Christmas in different ways. People in the United States and Canada decorate their homes with Christmas trees, wreaths, and various decorations. The city streets are full of colorful lights, bells and Christmas carols can be heard everywhere.
Children write letters to Santa Claus and tell him what gifts they would like to receive. Many department stores hire people to wear Santa Claus costumes and listen to children's requests. People send Christmas cards to relatives and friends. Many companies give gifts to their employees.
The Christmas tree is one of the main symbols of Christmas in most homes. Relatives and friends can gather to decorate the Christmas tree with lights, tinsel, and colorful decorations. Gifts are placed under the tree. On Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, families open gifts.
Many children believe that Santa Claus arrives on Christmas Eve in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. Some children hang out stockings for Santa Claus to fill with candy, fruit, and other small gifts.
In many areas of the United States and Canada, groups of people go from house to house singing Christmas carols. Some give the singers money or small gifts, or invite them inside for hot drinks.
Many people attend church services on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. They listen to passages from the Bible and sing Christmas carols.
A traditional Christmas dinner consists of stuffed turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and a variety of other items. Some families eat ham or roast goose instead of turkey. Favorite desserts are pumpkin pie, plum pudding and fruit cake.
Questions:
1. What does Christmas celebrate?
2. Where does the name “Christmas” come from?
3. How do people in the US and Canada celebrate Christmas?
4. What do the children do on Christmas?
5. What is the main symbol of Christmas?
6. What does a traditional Christmas dinner consist of?
Vocabulary:
Christmas - Christmas
Christian - Christian
exact - exact
mass - mass
Christmas tree - Christmas tree
wreath - wreath
ornament - decoration
bell - bell
carol - christmas carol
request - request
employee - employee
to trim - decorate
tinsel - tinsel
Christmas Eve - Christmas Eve
sleigh - sleigh
reindeer - reindeer
stockings - stockings
gift - gift
church service - church service
stuffed turkey - stuffed turkey
mashed potatoes - mashed potatoes
cranberry sauce - cranberry sauce
ham - ham
raust goose - fried goose
pumpkin pie - pumpkin pie
plum - plum