The Englishtown Guide to Christmas

Christmas trivia kit

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Table of Content
Merry Christmas

Christmas Dinner in the USA and the UK

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Christmas Greetings from Around the World Here comes Santa Claus Santa Claus in Different Countries

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Christmas Greetings Cheat List

Essential Christmas Words and Phrases Did you know?

Office Christmas Party Tips 10 Festive Food Favorites 10 Christmas Chart Toppers 10 Christmas Movie Hits Five Christmas Quotes

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Merry Christmas!

We checked with Santa and you're on his list of good children this year! So here's our gift to you - a quick guide to everything you need to impress your English-speaking friends this holiday season. It's filled with Christmas trivia from around the world, office Christmas party tips, and Christmas movie favorites. You'll even learn how our friends from around the world celebrate this festive period.

How-to Series: The Englishtown Guide to Christmas

Christmas Dinner in the USA and the UK

House decorated with "holly" (Holly), "mistletoe" (mistletoe), "electric lights" (Christmas lights), "Candy Cane" (candy canes) and "strings of popcorn" (strands of popcorn) - they are the scenery of the Christmas dinners in the United States and the United Kingdom. The vast majority of people in the U.S. celebrate Christmas in house, with family and exchange gifts. Because of the "snow" (snow), the dinners are indoors and are composed of foods that warm: roast turkey (roasted), duck (duck), sauces (sauces) christmas pudding (Christmas pudding), mince pie (fruit). In the south, its common to have "chicken" (chicken) too. To drink, a lot of "apple cider" (cider litter), "champagne" and "eggnog" (sort of drink made with alcohol). For the children, "hot chocolate" (hot chocolate) to o the cold! ward off In the UK, the main difference is that many families choose to make supper in the evening, to keep up with the "Queen's Speech" (Queen's speech), which is broadcast live. Of course, today, with the variety of ways to watch the speech later, many families abandoned this tradition. On the table, in addition to "Roast Turkey" with "stuffing" (filling) and "gravy" (sauce), we see also "Roast potatoes" (baked potatoes), "brussels sprouts".

How-to Series: The Englishtown Guide to Christmas

Here comes Santa Claus

Helen: Peter: Helen: Peter:
I just cant wait for Christmas Day to open my presents from Father Christmas. Really? Is that when you get your pres- ents? Yes. Father Christmas comes on Christ- mas Eve while were sleeping and leaves presents under the Christmas tree. Thats interesting! In the Netherlands, we get our presents on December 6th. Sinter- klaas sails from Spain and leaves pres- ents in our shoes. rides her broomstick down our chimneys to deliver presents to the good children. I wonder what you get if youre a bad child. I know...you get a bunch of black chalk.

Giorgio: Oh, really? In Italy, La Befana, the kind witch, brings us gifts on January 6th. She Peter:

Giorgio: Thats all I ever get!

Santa Claus in Different Countries

France Pre Nol United States Santa Claus; Kris Kringle; Saint Nicholas; Saint Nick Italy Babbo Natale Japan (santakurosu) South Africa Sinterklaas; Father Christmas; Santa Claus Germany Weihnachtsmann ; Nikolaus

Here comes Santa Claus

How-to Series: The Englishtown Guide to Christmas

Christmas Greetings from around the World

Teacher Jess: Hey, I was wondering if all of you could help me. Im about to teach a Conversation
class and I would like to tell all my students Merry Christmas in their own language. So Miriam, how do you say Merry Christmas in Spanish?

Miriam:

We say "Feliz Navidad". Judith, what do you say in German?

Jerome:

We say "Joyeux Nol". How about you, Fumi?

Fumi:

In Japanese we say, "Meri Kurisumasu"! What do you say in Chinese, Ping?

Ping:

We say "Sheng Dan Kuai Le" What do you say in Polish, Micha?

Micha:

We say, "Wesoych wit Boego Narodzenia".

Teacher Jess:

Wow! That's a tongue Twister!

How-to Series: The Englishtown Guide to Christmas

Christmas Greetings Cheat List

Lost for words while writing your Christmas card? Take your pick from the selection below! Merry Christmas! / Happy Christmas! Merry Christmas and a happy new year! I wish you all the joys of the season! Have a happy Christmas! Here's wishing you a wonderful day filled with joy, hope and lots of toys! May your days be jolly! Best wishes for a very merry Christmas!

How-to Series: The Englishtown Guide to Christmas

Essential Christmas Words and Phrases

- Yuletide - Christmas carols - Carolers - Christmas lights - Christmas decorations

- Mistletoe - Kiss - Gift-giving - Boxing day

- Festive season - Festivities - Santa Claus - Snowman - Tradition - Reindeer

- Goodwill - Celebrate - Jolly - Hope - Joy - Presents

How-to Series: The Englishtown Guide to Christmas

Did You Know?

Mistletoe If you want a kiss this Christmas, stand beneath a mistletoe! The mistletoe has long been considered an aphrodisiac, as well as a giver of life and fertility. It has also been used to decorate homes since pre-Christian times. Why do people kiss when they pass under a mistletoe? It was what couples did as part of primitive marriage rites and quarreling spouses also kiss under a mistletoe to make up. Santa Claus The fat man with a white beard and a jolly laugh is known throughout the world by different names. But most agree that a 4th century Bishop named Saint Nicholas is the inspiration for the man in red you know so well. Saint Nicholas of Myra was famous for his generous gifts to the poor and is still pictured in red robes and a flowing white beard to this day.

The Christmas Tree The origins of erecting a Christmas tree in the home dates back to 16th century Germany, where people would decorate small fir trees with apples, dates, paper flowers and even cheese, for children to collect. Today, the tree safekeeps all the wonderful presents until they can be opened on Christmas morning. The star that sometimes sit at the top of tree is believed to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer reindee Often Rudolph is Santa's lead reindeer. made fun of by the other reindeers because of his glowing red nose, Rudolph soon became Santa's favorite as his glowing red nose would light the way for Santa and the other reindeers as they make their way across the world.

Christmas Cards It was an Englishman, Sir Henry Cole who is credited with introducing the world's first Christmas card. He got too busy to write all his friends a personal message, so he commissioned an artist for a illustration in a three-panel card and in the center panel were the words "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you".

12 Days of Christmas These refer to the 12 festive days of Christmas and is celebrated in varying ways around the world. Some get gifts only on the first day, some get gifts only on the 12th day and some very lucky ones get a gift for each day of Christmas!

How-to Series: The Englishtown Guide to Christmas

Office Christmas Party Tips

Simple reminders for how to behave at the annual Christmas party that could mean the difference between cleaning out your desk the next day or a nice Christmas bonus! Do: Keep all conversation upbeat and positive Don't: Gossip, complain, brag or whine Do: Go easy on the alcohol Don't: forget! GO EASY ON THE ALCOHOL! Do: Try to enjoy yourself Don't: enjoy yourself TOO much - keep those party animal instincts for when you're with your friends Do: Dress appropriately Don't: bring out the flashy nightclub clothes - the only things that should be flashing are the Christmas lights Do: Arrive slightly early - that way you'll get to schmooze with senior executives before things get hectic! Don't: arrive at the party late and already drunk.

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How-to Series: The Englishtown Guide to Christmas

10 Festive Food Favorites

10 Christmas Chart Toppers

What's Christmas without these delectable favorites? Christmas pudding Eggnog Brandy Butter Mince pie Christmas cake Roast turkey Cranberry sauce Goose Roast potatoes Cookies, chocolate and lots of yummy candy

Here are some tunes you'll be hearing throughout this festive holiday. How many do you know the words to? Santa Claus is Coming to Town Frosty the Snowman Deck the Halls Let It Snow Jingle Bells The Twelve Days of Christmas Silent Night We Wish You a Merry Christmas All I Want for Christmas Winter Wonderland

10 Christmas Movie Hits

Essential Christmas movie-watching accessories include a mug of hot chocolate, various members of the family and a warm blanket. The must-see movies this Christmas include the following.

1) Love Actually 2) Home Alone 3) A Christmas Carol 4) Miracle on 34th Street 5) The Santa Clause 6) It's a Wonderful Life 7) The Grinch Who Stole Christmas 8) A Charlie Brown Christmas 9) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Key/Respostas: 1i 2a 3f 4g 5c 6e 7b 8d 9h

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Five Christmas Quotes

In this festive season of bright lights and gifts, what is Christmas to you? Is it a joyous religious celebration, a secular celebration of everything that's good, a little of both, or more?

The only real blind person at Christmas-time is he who has not Christmas in his heart."

"Maybe Christmas", he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more."

"Peace on earth will come to stay, when we live Christmas every Day."

"Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall."

"Heap on more wood! the wind is chill; But let it whistle as it will, We'll keep our Christmas merry still."

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How-to Series: The Englishtown Guide to Christmas

Christmas is almost upon us! And if you haven't gotten your shopping done and your cards sent, it's time you did!

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How-to Series: The Englishtown Guide to Christmas

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How-to Series: The Englishtown Guide to Christmas