Christmas customs and traditions
There are а lot of Christmas customs and traditions in Britain.
One of them is to hang stockings on the mantel to be filled with presents.
The next one is the Christmas Tree which is decorated with colored glass balls and toys, sweets, bells. There is usually а bright star or the figure of the Christmas angel at the top of the tree.
Some families open their presents on Christmas Eve, December 24th, sing Christmas carols and songs, and play games. Some people go to their church for Christmas service. Little children go to bed and dream of what presents they'll find under the tree when they wake up. Most children believe that а magical person Santa Claus will visit them. "He is а cheerful old man with а beard that's long and a white, cherry nose, а cap on head and а suit that's red." He comes down the chimney and leaves presents for the family.
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. Nicolas, 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.
Holly and mistletoe are the plants symbolizing Christmas. Red and green are the traditional colours of Christmas. Green represents the continuance of life through the winter. Red symbolizes the blood of Jesus at his Crucifixion. But the main symbol of Christmas is the Christmas Tree. 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.
Carol singing is an essential part of Christmas. Carols were used for the first time during Christmas in the fifteenth century.
Decorating the house with "boughs of holly» is an old British custom. It is а bush with red berries and leaves.
The first weekday after Christmas is a public holiday. In England it is called Boxing Day. In past times it was the traditional day to give presents to servants. This day is called Boxing Day because at one time the presents were put in boxes (Christmas boxes). Usually Boxing Day is December 26, but if Christmas Day falls on a Saturday, Boxing Day is on December 27.
Not all Christmas traditions are old. The first Christmas card was made only in 1842 by an English painter who sent that card to one hundred of his friends. Now millions of Christmas cards are sent and received.
Vocabulary
Christmas Tree – рождественская елка
wassail - святочное хождение из дома в дом с пением рождественских гимнов
eggnog - яичный желток, растертый с сахаром, с добавлением сливок молока или спиртного напитка
branch - ветка
holly – бот. падуб
mistletoe – бот. омела.
Christmas Eve – канун Рождества
the Dutch - датчане
carol – веселая песня; гимн (рождественский)
"boughs of holly" - сук, ветка, падуб
stable – конюшня; устар. загон для скота, хлев
Boxing Day – День сундука
Riddle
We... a Christmas Tree with toys, glass balls, sweets and bells (what is the verb that helps to put everything on the tree?)
The day (or time) when we are not at school and when we get presents and are very happy.
The place where the English children hang their stockings at night waiting for their presents.
We dream about them all night before Christmas.
We usually put them on, but once a year we hang them for the presents.
The unusual entrance through which Santa usually comes in.
A magical person who has "a cherry nose, a cap on head, a suit that's red".
Answer the questions
What is Christmas?
Does Christmas in Britain differ from Christmas in Russia?
When do British people celebrate Christmas?
When do Russians celebrate Christmas?
Who is the most important person for children on Christmas Eve in Britain?
And who is the most important person for children in Russia?
What do English and Russian children like to get on Christmas and New Year?
Where do people put the presents?
What is traditional Christmas food?
What are traditional Christmas colours?
1 515
41 262 
