SESSION 10: CHRISTMAS: TEXTS FOR WEDNESDAY 2ND DECEMBER
TEXT 1: CHRISTMAS EVE
Text taken and adapted from:
The text:
Christmas Eve is, of course, the day before Christmas Day. It’s quite a busy day for most people who celebrate Christmas. There are so many things to do – usually last minute things. For example, you have to quickly send a Christmas card to people you forgot, especially when they sent you one. You also have to do last minute Christmas shopping. I always find Christmas Eve afternoon is a good time to shop. Many people think this is a busy time, but the Christmas rush is over and the shops are quite empty. You just have to hope they haven’t run out of wrapping paper and sellotape. Then you have to go home and wrap all of your presents and put them under the Christmas tree in the living room. It’s such a lovely sight seeing a decorated tree with lots of wrapped boxes and parcels under it.
Christmas Eve is not the same in all countries. In Denmark, for example, Christmas Eve is when people have Christmas dinner and open their presents. I think most people go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve. This is a special church service held at midnight to remember the birth of Jesus. I think one of the oldest jokes in the world is: “What time is Midnight Mass?” It’s an easy joke to figure out. Of course, Christmas Eve is the busiest night of the year for Santa Claus. People in England call him Father Christmas. If you look really carefully, you’ll see him flying through the air on his sleigh full of presents. He used to climb down people’s chimneys to deliver his presents. I’m not sure what he does nowadays because people don’t have chimneys.
Christmas Eve is not the same in all countries. In Denmark, for example, Christmas Eve is when people have Christmas dinner and open their presents. I think most people go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve. This is a special church service held at midnight to remember the birth of Jesus. I think one of the oldest jokes in the world is: “What time is Midnight Mass?” It’s an easy joke to figure out. Of course, Christmas Eve is the busiest night of the year for Santa Claus. People in England call him Father Christmas. If you look really carefully, you’ll see him flying through the air on his sleigh full of presents. He used to climb down people’s chimneys to deliver his presents. I’m not sure what he does nowadays because people don’t have chimneys.
TEXT 2: CHRISTMAS EVE
Text taken and adapted from:
The text:
I love Christmas. It’s one of the best times of the year. It’s such a great time for everyone – kids and adults alike. The thing I like most about it is everyone getting together and eating and giving presents. When I was a kid, Christmas was an amazing occasion. We’d spend weeks at school making decorations, singing Christmas carols and practicing to perform in the nativity play. As I got older, I enjoyed giving presents more than receiving them. Even though Xmas shopping is stressful, it can be fun trying to find the perfect present for my children. One thing that has stayed with me since I was a child is my love of Christmas dinner. It has to be my favourite meal ever. Christmas just isn’t Christmas without roast turkey.
I’m sure Christmas brings the same happy feelings wherever it is celebrated. I hope it continues to keep its message of love and peace. The Christmas spirit is very important. Nowadays it seems to get a bit lost. Everyone is so busy buying presents they forget the true meaning of Christmas. I spent quite a few Christmases in Japan, which was interesting. Everything looked as Christmassy as in England. The stores even had Frosty the Snowman playing. People bought presents and had a party, but then they went for a Kentucky Fried Chicken dinner. One thing I would like to experience is Christmas on the beach in Australia. I can’t imagine Christmas being so hot. But then I suppose it wasn’t that cold in Bethlehem when Jesus was born.
I’m sure Christmas brings the same happy feelings wherever it is celebrated. I hope it continues to keep its message of love and peace. The Christmas spirit is very important. Nowadays it seems to get a bit lost. Everyone is so busy buying presents they forget the true meaning of Christmas. I spent quite a few Christmases in Japan, which was interesting. Everything looked as Christmassy as in England. The stores even had Frosty the Snowman playing. People bought presents and had a party, but then they went for a Kentucky Fried Chicken dinner. One thing I would like to experience is Christmas on the beach in Australia. I can’t imagine Christmas being so hot. But then I suppose it wasn’t that cold in Bethlehem when Jesus was born.
TEXT 3: BOXING DAY
Text taken and adapted from:
The text:
I think Boxing Day is confusing for people who don’t know much about Christmas. It is a strange name for a holiday. I bet many people think it is a time when people have a fight and punch each other. Well, it’s quite a bit different than that. Boxing Day started hundreds of years ago as a way of helping poorer people at Christmas. Shopkeepers and craftsmen used to put a special Christmas box in their store or workshop. Customers and visitors would put money into the box. On the day after Christmas Day, which is December 26th, the shopkeeper emptied the box and shared the money with his workers. So that’s how Boxing Day started. This tradition kind of continues today. Many companies give their workers a Christmas bonus.
I’ve always liked Boxing Day. It’s kind of the same as Christmas Day. It has a nice feel about it and we get to eat Christmas dinner all over again. There are also lots of good programmes and movies on TV. For children, it’s another day to play with all their new toys; and for adults, it’s another day off work – at least in countries where Boxing Day is a national holiday. The biggest difference for me between the two days is that there are no more presents to open on Boxing Day. There is a lot of sport on Boxing Day so many people go to watch a football match or game of rugby. And if you don’t like sport, there are always the Boxing Day sales. You can go shopping and buy all of the things you wanted for Christmas but didn’t get!
I’ve always liked Boxing Day. It’s kind of the same as Christmas Day. It has a nice feel about it and we get to eat Christmas dinner all over again. There are also lots of good programmes and movies on TV. For children, it’s another day to play with all their new toys; and for adults, it’s another day off work – at least in countries where Boxing Day is a national holiday. The biggest difference for me between the two days is that there are no more presents to open on Boxing Day. There is a lot of sport on Boxing Day so many people go to watch a football match or game of rugby. And if you don’t like sport, there are always the Boxing Day sales. You can go shopping and buy all of the things you wanted for Christmas but didn’t get!
TEXT 4:KWANZAA
Text taken and adapted from:
The Text:
Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday that is celebrated around the world. It takes place between December the 26th and January the 1st every year. The holiday celebrates African culture and history. Kwanzaa started in 1966 in the U.S.A. It was the first holiday just for African Americans. Ron Karenga, an African-American civil rights campaigner, created the seven-day holiday. He said it was to give Americans of African descent an opportunity to celebrate their unique heritage. He wanted a holiday that did not “simply imitate the practice of the dominant [white] society”. The name Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili language and means “first fruits”. Many Americans celebrate Kwanzaa alongside other holidays that take place at the same time. Ron Karenga said: “All people can share in the celebration of our common humanity.”
Kwanzaa celebrates Nguzu Saba, which means "The Seven Principles of Blackness". Each of the seven days represents a different principle. The principles are unity, self-determination, working together, cooperating in business, building the nation, creativity, and faith. People who celebrate Kwanzaa light candles in a special candle holder called a kinara. People decorate their homes in African colours and put up pieces of African art. Some people attend a Kwanzaa ceremony that has African drumming and music. One of the most important parts of Kwanzaa is a special feast called a karamu. Family and friends get together and celebrate who they are. If you go to a karamu, you should say “Habari gani,” which is Swahili for “What’s news?”
Kwanzaa celebrates Nguzu Saba, which means "The Seven Principles of Blackness". Each of the seven days represents a different principle. The principles are unity, self-determination, working together, cooperating in business, building the nation, creativity, and faith. People who celebrate Kwanzaa light candles in a special candle holder called a kinara. People decorate their homes in African colours and put up pieces of African art. Some people attend a Kwanzaa ceremony that has African drumming and music. One of the most important parts of Kwanzaa is a special feast called a karamu. Family and friends get together and celebrate who they are. If you go to a karamu, you should say “Habari gani,” which is Swahili for “What’s news?”
TEXT 5: NEW YEAR´S EVE
Text taken and adapted from:
The text:
New Year’s Eve is the last day of the year. It is always an exciting time because people look forward to welcoming a new year. It is also a good time to think back and say goodbye to the old year. New Year’s Eve is a national holiday for many people around the world. In a lot of countries, people go back to their hometown for the New Year, so the roads, trains and buses are packed. In England, there is always a New Year’s Eve party you can go to. The party is usually in someone’s home and the host invites friends, families and neighbours. The living room becomes a mini disco as everyone dances to loud music. Everyone then waits until midnight to hear Big Ben chime twelve times. That’s the signal a new year has arrived.
I have lots of good memories of New Year’s Eve. When I was very young, my parents let me stay up until midnight. This was very exciting and a special treat. When I became a teenager, I really looked forward to going to parties. I spent one freezing New Year’s Eve in Trafalgar Square in the centre of London. There were no trains to go home so I waited until morning outside the train station. It snowed. It was really cold. I also spent many wonderful New Year’s Eves in Japan. There, it is traditional to visit a shrine and pray for good things to happen. I think wherever you are, New Year’s Eve is always fun. Maybe the best way to welcome the New Year is by watching one of the many amazing fireworks displays in the world’s capital cities.
I have lots of good memories of New Year’s Eve. When I was very young, my parents let me stay up until midnight. This was very exciting and a special treat. When I became a teenager, I really looked forward to going to parties. I spent one freezing New Year’s Eve in Trafalgar Square in the centre of London. There were no trains to go home so I waited until morning outside the train station. It snowed. It was really cold. I also spent many wonderful New Year’s Eves in Japan. There, it is traditional to visit a shrine and pray for good things to happen. I think wherever you are, New Year’s Eve is always fun. Maybe the best way to welcome the New Year is by watching one of the many amazing fireworks displays in the world’s capital cities.
No comments:
Post a Comment