Christmas in Europe and the USA
Christmas is a popular holiday in many countries. In Europe, Christmas is often celebrated on December 24th, the evening before Christmas Day. People have a big family dinner. They give gifts and enjoy time together. In some countries, there are Christmas markets, lights, and decorations. Many people go to church. Children enjoy traditions like Saint Nicholas or nativity scenes.
In the USA, Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. People wake up in the morning to open presents from Santa Claus. Families have special meals and spend time together. Houses and streets have many lights and decorations. People also have parties with friends and neighbors. Shopping and gifts are very important.
Even if people are not Christian, they can celebrate Christmas for fun and family time. Christmas brings people together. In Europe, the evening of December 24th is special, while in the USA, December 25th is the main day. Both places celebrate with love, joy, and happiness.
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Vocabulary:
- A country – a place where people live with the same government [the group of people who make rules and take care of a country].
- To celebrate – to do something special because of an event or holiday.
- A gift – something you give to someone to show love or friendship.
- To enjoy time together – to like being with friends or family.
- A Christmas market – a place with shops, food, and lights at Christmas.
- To go to church – to visit a building to pray or for religious events.
- To enjoy traditions – to like doing the same activities every year.
- Nativity scenes – models or pictures of the birth of Jesus.
- To wake up – to stop sleeping and open your eyes in the morning.
- To open presents – to take gifts out of wrapping paper.
- A neighbor – a person who lives near you.
- For fun – to do something to enjoy yourself.
- Family time – time spent with your parents, children, or relatives.
- Joy – a feeling of great happiness.
- Happiness – a feeling of being happy or content.
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Match the word/s with the correct definition:
- A country
- To celebrate
- A gift
- To enjoy time together
- A Christmas market
- To go to church
- To enjoy traditions
- Nativity scenes
- To wake up
- To open presents
- A neighbor
- For fun
- Family time
- Joy
- Happiness
- Government
Definitions:
a. Something you give to someone to show love or friendship
b. A feeling of being happy or content
c. To do something special because of an event or holiday
d. People who live near you
e. Time spent with your parents, children, or relatives
f. To stop sleeping and open your eyes in the morning
g. A place where people live with the same rules and leaders
h. To like being with friends or family
i. A feeling of great happiness
j. To take gifts out of wrapping paper
k. A place with shops, food, and lights at Christmas
l. To visit a building to pray or for religious events
m. To like doing the same activities every year
n. Models or pictures of the birth of Jesus
o. To do something to enjoy yourself
p. The group of people who make rules and take care of a country
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Answers:
1→g, 2→c, 3→a, 4→h, 5→k,
6→l, 7→m, 8→n, 9→f, 10→j, 11→d,
12→o, 13→e, 14→i, 15→b, 16→p
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Correct version:
A country – a place where people live with the same government
To celebrate – to do something special because of an event or holiday
A gift – something you give to someone to show love or friendship
To enjoy time together – to like being with friends or family
A Christmas market – a place with shops, food, and lights at Christmas
To go to church – to visit a building to pray or for religious events
To enjoy traditions – to like doing the same activities every year
Nativity scenes – models or pictures of the birth of Jesus
To wake up – to stop sleeping and open your eyes in the morning
To open presents – to take gifts out of wrapping paper
A neighbor – a person who lives near you
For fun – to do something to enjoy yourself
Family time – time spent with your parents, children, or relatives
Joy – a feeling of great happiness
Happiness – a feeling of being happy or content
Government – the group of people who make rules and take care of a country
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Multiple-choice, one answer correct:
1. A country
a. people who live near you
b. to take gifts out of paper
c. a place with rules
2. To celebrate
a. to like being with friends
b. to do something special
c. to feel happy
3. A gift
a. something you give
b. a place with shops
c. to stop sleeping
4. To enjoy time together
a. to like being with friends
b. to do something fun
c. to visit a building
5. A Christmas market
a. time with your family
b. a place with shops
c. models of Jesus’ birth
6. To go to church
a. to stop sleeping
b. something you give
c. to visit a building to pray
7. To enjoy traditions
a. to feel happy
b. to do the same things every year
c. to open presents
8. Nativity scenes
a. a place with leaders
b. people who make rules
c. models of Jesus’ birth
9. To wake up
a. to start the day
b. to feel happy
c. to open your eyes
10. To open presents
a. to enjoy your gifts
b. to like being with friends
c. to take gifts out of paper
11. A neighbor
a. a person who lives near you
b. to feel happy
c. to visit a building
12. For fun
a. to do something to enjoy yourself
b. something you give
c. to feel happy
13. Family time
a. a place with shops
b. time with your parents or children
c. to spend time together
14. Joy
a. to enjoy life
b. to do something special
c. a feeling of happiness
15. Happiness
a. to like doing the same things every year
b. to feel good
c. a feeling of content [feeling happy and satisfied]
16. Government
a. people who make rules
b. a place with leaders
c. to like being with friends
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Answers:
1c 2b 3a 4a 5b 6c 7b 8c 9c
10c 11a 12a 13b 14c 15c 16a
______________________
Correct version:
A country – a place with rules
To celebrate – to do something special
A gift – something you give
To enjoy time together – to like being with friends
A Christmas market – a place with shops
To go to church – to visit a building to pray
To enjoy traditions – to do the same things every year
Nativity scenes – models of Jesus’ birth
To wake up – to open your eyes
To open presents – to enjoy your gifts
A neighbor – a person who lives near you
For fun – to do something to enjoy yourself
Family time – time with your parents or children
Joy – a feeling of happiness
Happiness – a feeling of content
Government – people who make rules
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Fill in, words below:
market – presents – country – joy –
traditions – gift – nativity – visit –
enjoy – celebrate –
church -wake up
- I live in a __________ with many people.
- Every year we __________ Christmas with my family.
- I have a __________ for my best friend at school.
- I __________ time with my family in the evening.
- We go to the Christmas __________ to see lights and food.
- On Sunday, I go to __________ with my parents.
- I like Christmas __________ like singing and eating together.
- I see __________ scenes in my home and at the market.
- I __________ early on Christmas morning and feel happy.
- I open __________ with my family after breakfast.
- My neighbor comes to __________ us and we talk a lot.
- Family time brings __________ and makes me feel happiness.
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Correct version:
- I live in a country with many people.
- Every year we celebrate Christmas with my family.
- I have a gift for my best friend at school.
- I enjoy time with my family in the evening.
- We go to the Christmas market to see lights and food.
- On Sunday, I go to church with my parents.
- I like Christmas traditions like singing and eating together.
- I see nativity scenes in my home and at the market.
- I wake up early on Christmas morning and feel happy.
- I open presents with my family after breakfast.
- My neighbor comes to visit us and we talk a lot.
- Family time brings joy and makes me feel happiness.
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True or false:
- A neighbor is a person who lives far away.
- To open presents means to take gifts out of paper.
- To wake up means to open your eyes in the morning.
- A Christmas market is a place with shops and food.
- Family time gives joy and happiness.
- A gift is something you give to someone.
- We go to church to eat food.
- To enjoy traditions means to do the same things every year.
- A country is a place where people live.
- We celebrate Christmas by sleeping all day.
- To enjoy time together means to like being with friends or family.
- Nativity scenes are pictures of animals only.
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Answers:
1F 2T 3T 4T 5T 6T 7F
8T 9T 10F 11T 12F
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Correct version:
- A neighbor is a person who lives far away. True is: A neighbor is a person who lives near you.
- To open presents means to take gifts out of paper.
- To wake up means to open your eyes in the morning.
- A Christmas market is a place with shops and food.
- Family time gives joy and happiness.
- A gift is something you give to someone.
- We go to church to eat food. True is: We go to church to pray.
- To enjoy traditions means to do the same things every year.
- A country is a place where people live.
- We celebrate Christmas by sleeping all day. True is: We celebrate Christmas with family and fun.
- To enjoy time together means to like being with friends or family.
- Nativity scenes are pictures of animals only. True is: Nativity scenes are models of the birth of Jesus.
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Fill in:
- I like to _________ time with my family.
a. enjoy
b. wake up
c. give - Every year we _________ Christmas with friends and family.
a. gift
b. celebrate
c. neighbor - I have a _________ for my friend.
a. country
b. joy
c. gift - We go to the _________ to pray on Sunday.
a. market
b. neighbor
c. church - A _________ is a person who lives near you.
a. neighbor
b. government
c. happiness - I wake up early on Christmas morning to _________ my presents.
a. enjoy
b. open
c. celebrate - Nativity scenes are _________ of the birth of Jesus.
a. neighbors
b. gifts
c. models - We like to go to the Christmas _________ to see lights and food.
a. family time
b. happiness
c. market - _________ is a feeling of great happiness.
a. gift
b. joy
c. country - The _________ makes rules for the country.
a. neighbor
b. government
c. Christmas
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Correct version:
- I like to enjoy time with my family.
- Every year we celebrate Christmas with friends and family.
- I have a gift for my friend.
- We go to the church to pray on Sunday.
- A neighbor is a person who lives near you.
- I wake up early on Christmas morning to open my presents.
- Nativity scenes are models of the birth of Jesus.
- We like to go to the Christmas market to see lights and food.
- Joy is a feeling of great happiness.
- The government makes rules for the country.
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Unscramble the words – which phrase are we looking for?
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Fill in, words below:
feel – church – celebrate – family –
presents – market –
nativity – brothers
I __________ Christmas with my family every year. I wake up early on Christmas morning and open my __________. I enjoy time together with my parents and _________. We eat a big meal and sometimes go to __________ to pray. I like Christmas traditions and look at __________ scenes. We sometimes go to the Christmas __________ and see lights and food. I give gifts to my friends and neighbors. Christmas makes me __________ joy and happiness. It is a very special day for my __________ and me.
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Correct version:
I celebrate Christmas with my family every year. I wake up early on Christmas morning and open my presents. I enjoy time together with my parents and brothers. We eat a big meal and sometimes go to church to pray. I like Christmas traditions and look at nativity scenes. We sometimes go to the Christmas market and see lights and food. I give gifts to my friends and neighbors. Christmas makes me feel joy and happiness. It is a very special day for my family and me.
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Now tell about Akaiko, and how she celebrates Christmas.
Start with
>>>>>>>>Akaiko celebrates Christmas with her family………
make all changes necessary!
I celebrate Christmas with my family every year. I wake up early on Christmas morning and open my presents. I enjoy time together with my parents and brothers. We eat a big meal and sometimes go to church to pray. I like Christmas traditions and look at nativity scenes. We sometimes go to the Christmas market and see lights and food. I give gifts to my friends and neighbors. Christmas makes me feel joy and happiness. It is a very special day for my family and me.
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Correct version:
Akaiko celebrates Christmas with her family every year. She wakes up early on Christmas morning and opens her presents. She enjoys time together with her parents and brothers. They eat a big meal and sometimes go to church to pray. Akaiko likes Christmas traditions and looks at nativity scenes. They sometimes go to the Christmas market and see lights and food. She gives gifts to her friends and neighbors. Christmas makes her feel joy and happiness. It is a very special day for her family and Akaiko.
Bonustext (A2)
Christmas was not always celebrated with a tree and presents. These traditions started slowly over many years.
The Christmas tree began in Germany in the late 1400s and 1500s. People used evergreen trees because they stayed green in winter. At first, trees were decorated with apples, nuts, and candles. In 1605, there is a written record of a Christmas tree in a home in Strasbourg. During the 1800s, the tradition spread to other countries in Europe. It became very popular in Britain after Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert showed a Christmas tree in the royal family. Later, the tradition spread to North America.
The tradition of giving presents is older. It comes from the story of the Wise Men, who gave gifts to baby Jesus. In the Middle Ages, people often gave gifts on St. Nicholas’ Day in early December, not on Christmas Day. Over time, gift-giving moved to Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
By the 19th century, families began to celebrate Christmas with both a tree and presents together. This is when Christmas started to look like it does today.
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