CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS

Mistletoe:Mistletoe:his is a plant that looks like this . There’s his is a plant that looks like this . There’s a fun tradition that Northa fun tradition that NorthAmericans follow during Christmas. Americans follow during Christmas. Mistletoe is often hung from a doorway Mistletoe is often hung from a doorway betweenbetweentwo rooms. If someone stands under the two rooms. If someone stands under the mistletoe, it is customary for someone mistletoe, it is customary for someone elseelse(usually a member of the opposite sex) (usually a member of the opposite sex) to kiss him/her. It can be quite a surprise to kiss him/her. It can be quite a surprise to beto besuddenly kissed, but the person who is suddenly kissed, but the person who is kissed usually quickly realizes they must kissed usually quickly realizes they must bebestanding under mistletoe.standing under mistletoe.

Christmas tree:Christmas tree:This is a decorated tree. This is a decorated tree. Presents are placed under the Presents are placed under the tree. Ontree. OnChristmas morning, families Christmas morning, families and friends open their presents and friends open their presents together.together.

Trimming the treeTrimming the tree::decorating the tree is called decorating the tree is called ‘trimming the tree’.‘trimming the tree’.

Christmas ornamentsChristmas ornaments:: are ornaments used to are ornaments used to decorate the tree and decorate the tree and placed around theplaced around thehouse.house.

Christmas lightsChristmas lights:: strings of lights used to decorate strings of lights used to decorate the Christmas tree. Many peoplethe Christmas tree. Many peoplealso put up Christmas lights on also put up Christmas lights on houses and decorate their trees houses and decorate their trees outside with lights, too.outside with lights, too.It’s quite a sight to drive around It’s quite a sight to drive around town looking at the Christmas town looking at the Christmas displays different peopledisplays different peoplehave put uphave put up..

Nativity sceneNativity scene:: is a scene depicting Jesus’ birth. is a scene depicting Jesus’ birth. Usually Joseph and Mary are in aUsually Joseph and Mary are in astable with shepherds and magi or stable with shepherds and magi or wise men with gifts gathered wise men with gifts gathered around, angels on thearound, angels on theroof and a star above the whole roof and a star above the whole scene. Some nativity scenes are scene. Some nativity scenes are quite small and may sitquite small and may siton people’s furniture. Other scenes on people’s furniture. Other scenes are life size or biggerare life size or bigger

White ChristmasWhite Christmas::a Christmas with snow.a Christmas with snow.

StockingsStockings::literally, ‘socks.’ Nowadays, they literally, ‘socks.’ Nowadays, they are quite big-you would have to be are quite big-you would have to be aboutabout10 feet tall to fit into the stockings 10 feet tall to fit into the stockings most children hang. People hang most children hang. People hang stockings in front ofstockings in front ofa fireplace. Small presents are a fireplace. Small presents are placed in stockings and usually placed in stockings and usually opened on Christmasopened on Christmasmorning.morning.

Santa ClausSanta Claus::a large, plump man dressed in a a large, plump man dressed in a big red suit, big black belt and big red suit, big black belt and carrying acarrying asack full of gifts which he sack full of gifts which he distributes to children all around distributes to children all around the world on Christmas Eve.the world on Christmas Eve.Santa Claus is also called Santa Santa Claus is also called Santa and St. Nicholas or just St. Nick. and St. Nicholas or just St. Nick. Santa Claus is aSanta Claus is a derivation of St. derivation of St. Nicholas, the original ‘Santa ClausNicholas, the original ‘Santa Claus’.’.

ReindeerReindeer::Santa rides in a sleigh Santa rides in a sleigh that is pulled by reindeer. that is pulled by reindeer. The most famous The most famous reindeer isreindeer isRudolph, the red-nose Rudolph, the red-nose reindeer.reindeer.

SleighSleigh::a ‘carriage’ that rides on a ‘carriage’ that rides on snow. Santa's Sleighsnow. Santa's Sleigh

Gift wrappedGift wrapped::when you’re shopping, when you’re shopping, you can often ask the you can often ask the salesclerk if they have asalesclerk if they have agift-wrapping service.gift-wrapping service.

Christmas carolsChristmas carols::songs that are sung at songs that are sung at Christmas.Christmas.

Christmas GreetingsChristmas Greetings::there are many greetings that there are many greetings that people use at Christmas, but thepeople use at Christmas, but themost common are “Merry most common are “Merry Christmas,” “Season’s Greetings,” Christmas,” “Season’s Greetings,” and “Happy New Year,”and “Happy New Year,” although although some people say “Happy New some people say “Happy New Year’s” which is a shortened form Year’s” which is a shortened form of “Happyof “Happy New Year’s Eve.” New Year’s Eve.”

Christmas shoppingChristmas shopping::there is so much shopping there is so much shopping to be done at Christmas to be done at Christmas that peoplethat peoplerefer to it as their refer to it as their “Christmas shopping.” You “Christmas shopping.” You might hear someone say, might hear someone say, “Have you“Have youfinished your Christmas finished your Christmas shopping?”shopping?”

Write a letter to Santa Write a letter to Santa ClausClaus::many children write many children write letters to Santa Claus letters to Santa Claus telling himtelling himwhat they would like to what they would like to get for Christmas.get for Christmas.

Christmas Wish listChristmas Wish list::a list of things that a list of things that someone wants for someone wants for Christmas. UsuallyChristmas. Usuallychildren make a wish list. children make a wish list. Some give it to Santa Some give it to Santa when they sit on his when they sit on his knee.knee.

Sit on Santa Claus’s Sit on Santa Claus’s kneeknee::it is a common tradition it is a common tradition to go to a person dressed to go to a person dressed up asup asSanta Claus and tell him Santa Claus and tell him what you would like to what you would like to get for Christmas.get for Christmas.

Santa’s helpersSanta’s helpers::elves, usually dressed in elves, usually dressed in red or green.red or green.

Christmas eveChristmas eve::the evening of December the evening of December 24, also called “The night 24, also called “The night before Christmas.”before Christmas.”

Christmas dinnerChristmas dinner::a big dinner on Christmas a big dinner on Christmas day. Usually families day. Usually families gather together forgather together for Christmas dinner.Christmas dinner.

HOMEWORK:HOMEWORK:Make a list of as many Make a list of as many Christmas customs and Christmas customs and traditions that you can think of. traditions that you can think of. Where didWhere did each of these each of these traditions come from? The traditions come from? The internet lists a lot of different internet lists a lot of different origins for manyorigins for many of the of the traditions. Which explanations traditions. Which explanations do you believe? Which do you believe? Which explanations do you doubt?explanations do you doubt?

How long does it take you to do all of How long does it take you to do all of your Christmas shopping?your Christmas shopping?How much do you usually spend on your How much do you usually spend on your Christmas shopping? Do you go into Christmas shopping? Do you go into debt?debt?Many people go into debt at Christmas. Many people go into debt at Christmas. Do you think people should go into debt Do you think people should go into debt atatChristmas?Christmas?What does Christmas mean to you?What does Christmas mean to you?Are there any traditions you celebrate Are there any traditions you celebrate that it doesn’t feel like it’s Christmas if that it doesn’t feel like it’s Christmas if they’rethey’remissing?missing?