Christmas Pre-Reading A. Warm-Up Questions 1. When is Christmas celebrated? 2. Is Christmas a religious holiday? 3. What Christian event does Christmas celebrate? 4. What are some symbols of Christmas? B. Vocabulary Preview Match up as many words and meanings as you can. Check this exercise again after seeing the words in context on page 2. 1. secular a) to trade 2. statutory b) to come before 3. commemorate c) a mode of transportation in snow 4. gathering d) almost the same 5. decoration e) legal, according to the law 6. precede f) a large outdoor fire 7. originate g) hair on the chin (and sometimes also on the jaw) 8. disappear h) to show up, to come 9. bonfire i) cheerful, related to a holiday 10. exchange j) not religious 11. beard k) a get-together 12. sleigh l) to go out of sight, to not be seen 13. similar m) to honor the memory, to remember 14. appear n) an ornament, an object that makes a space look more beautiful 15. festive o) to come from Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (HIGH INT ADV / VERSION 4.0) 1
Reading 1. Christmas, which is celebrated on December 25, is one of the biggest celebrations of the year in many countries around the world. It is both a religious and a secular holiday. In most countries where Christmas is celebrated, it is a legal or statutory holiday. Most workers receive at least one or two days off work, and children often have a two-week vacation at this time. Christmas is a very important day for members of the Christian religion because it commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. At church services everywhere, Christians retell the story of the birth of Jesus in the manger in Bethlehem. 2. Although Christmas is celebrated on the 25th of December, the Christmas season actually lasts for almost a month. In many countries, from mid-november on, it is impossible to forget that Christmas is coming. Streets, homes, and shops are filled with colorful Christmas lights and decorations. Shopping centers are full of people doing their Christmas shopping. In fact, the weeks preceding Christmas are the busiest shopping weeks of the year. In most Western countries, many retailers make up 70% of their annual sales in the month before Christmas. 3. Many of the present-day customs that we associate with Christmas actually originated in pagan festivals long ago. Thousands of years ago, celebrations were often held around the time of the winter solstice. People were often afraid when the sun disappeared during the long, cold nights of winter. When the days finally began to grow longer, they celebrated the return of the sun by making great bonfires, serving large, festive meals, and exchanging gifts. After the birth of Christ, many of these traditions of the old pagan festivals were combined with the celebration of Christmas. 4. Probably the most recognizable non-religious symbol of Christmas is that of Santa Claus. Pictures can be seen everywhere of the jolly old man with the long, white beard, big stomach, and red suit. Children in Canada and the United States believe that Santa Claus lives in the North Pole where he makes toys with his helpful little elves. On Christmas Eve, December 24, he travels through the sky on a sleigh pulled by reindeer. He lands on the roof of people s homes, enters through the chimney, and leaves wonderful gifts for all the good little boys and girls. In some countries, December 6 is known as Saint Nicholas Day and is celebrated in a similar way as Christmas. In the weeks before Christmas, Santa Claus often appears in many stores and shopping centers throughout the cities. Excited children wait in long lines to sit on Santa s lap, have their pictures taken with him, and tell him what presents they are hoping to receive at Christmas. 5. Besides being a religious celebration and a wonderful, exciting time for children, Christmas is also an important time for family gatherings. People travel long distances to spend time with their families at this time of the year. Singing Christmas carols, decorating the family Christmas tree, hanging stockings by the fire, and exchanging cards and gifts are all part of the holiday season. Of course, food is also a very important part of the Christmas celebration. Stuffed turkey with mashed potatoes remains the most traditional meal served at Christmas dinners, but other wonderful Christmas dishes, holiday baking, and special festive treats fill the homes of all who celebrate this season. Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (HIGH INT ADV / VERSION 4.0) 2
Comprehension Practice asking and answering the following questions with your partner. Then write the answers in your notebook or on the back of this sheet. Use full sentences. 1. Do most people in North America work on December 25? Why or why not? 2. What is the significance of Christmas for members of the Christian religion? 3. Why is Christmas such an important time for North American retailers? 4. Where did many of the modern-day customs of Christmas originate? 5. Why were many pagan festivals held during the time of the winter solstice? 6. Describe Santa Claus. 7. Where does Santa live? Who does he live with? 8. When is Saint Nicholas Day celebrated in many countries? 9. What is the traditional meal served at Christmas dinners? 10. List six activities mentioned in the article that are associated with the Christmas season. Vocabulary Review A. Choose the Correct Word Choose the correct words from the vocabulary list on page 2 to complete the following sentences. 1. November 11 is a day to all the people who died in both World Wars. 2. January February on the calendar. 3. She put red and green on the Christmas cake. 4. Many children in elementary schools cards on Valentine s Day. 5. The twin sisters look so. I don t know who is who. 6. When my dad retired, he stopped shaving and grew a big, bushy. 7. We have a big family every Thanksgiving. 8. Santa Claus travels through the sky on a pulled by reindeer. 9. When we went camping last summer, we sat around the every evening and roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. 10. Thanksgiving is a holiday in Canada and the United States. Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (HIGH INT ADV / VERSION 4.0) 3
Vocabulary Review cont. B. Choose the Closest Meaning Circle the word or phrase with the closest meaning to the underlined word. 1. carol 4. retailer 7. festive 10. pagan a) box b) tree c) song d) gift a) receiver b) seller c) do again d) someone who sews a) tiring b) celebratory c) messy d) honorable a) new b) paper c) festival d) non-religious 2. gift 5. stuffed 8. annual a) custom b) show c) cake d) present a) always b) fat c) full d) turkey a) always b) daily c) apple d) yearly 3. jolly 6. custom 9. merry a) happy b) fat c) big d) kind a) tradition b) gift c) feast d) meal a) girl b) happy c) a lot d) funny C. Odd One Out Circle the word or phrase that does not belong. 1. a) fear b) be afraid c) believe d) be scared 3. a) solstice b) December 21 c) June 21 d) October 31 5. a) lap b) leg c) arm d) seat 2. a) chimney b) basement c) roof d) fireplace 4. a) Santa Claus b) reindeer c) South Pole d) elves 6. a) recognizable b) easy to notice c) easy to know d) believable Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (HIGH INT ADV / VERSION 4.0) 4
Survey Complete the chart below by asking your partners questions about their favorite holiday. Why is your favorite holiday your favorite? Me What s your favorite holiday? What time of year is it? Is it a statutory holiday? Is it religious or secular? What are its symbols, traditions, and customs? What is the traditional clothing? What are the special foods? How do you decorate? What do you give as gifts? Do you give cards? Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (HIGH INT ADV / VERSION 4.0) 5
Pair Work (Student A) A. Sharing Information You and your partner each have two short readings about some of the symbols of Christmas. Share your information with your partner. Symbols of Christmas At Christmastime, many people like to decorate their doors with Christmas wreaths. A wreath is a bunch of flowers or leaves that have been twisted together to make a circle. The Christmas wreath is a symbol of everlasting life because the shape is an unbroken circle, and the branches come from an evergreen tree, which remains green all winter. Mistletoe is an evergreen plant with small white berries. It has been used as a decoration for thousands of years. In ancient times, people believed that the plant had special magical powers, and they often used it in their special ceremonies. In Scandinavia, mistletoe was associated with their goddess of love and peace, Frigga. This connection between mistletoe and love probably explains our custom of kissing whenever we meet someone under the mistletoe. In the early years of Christianity, the church did not allow people to use mistletoe because of its pagan origins. Instead, the church priests suggested the use of holly as a decoration. Holly is also an evergreen plant. It has sharp, shiny, pointed leaves and red berries. The pointed leaves represent the thorns in Christ s crown and the red berries represent his drops of blood. Because of this, red and green have become the traditional colors of Christmas. Holly is used as a common decoration throughout the Christmas season and remains an important symbol of Christmas today. The poinsettia is a tropical plant with large red leaves. In 1828, Dr. Joel Poinsett, the first United States ambassador to Mexico, saw the beautiful Mexican plant and decided to bring it from Mexico to his own country. Since then, the poinsettia has become a traditional Christmas plant that can be found in homes, offices, and shops throughout North America during the Christmas season. Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (HIGH INT ADV / VERSION 4.0) 6
Pair Work (Student B) A. Sharing Information You and your partner each have two short readings about some of the symbols of Christmas. Share your information with your partner. Symbols of Christmas Thousands of years ago, people believed that evergreen trees were magical because they stayed strong and green during the winter when other trees became brown and bare. The evergreen tree became a symbol of life, hope, and joy. The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree originated in Germany around the 16th century. It became common for German people to decorate fir trees with candles, fruit, or colored paper. This custom spread to England in the 19th century when Queen Victoria married a German prince named Albert. Albert put up a Christmas tree in the royal palace to remind him of his homeland. Later the tradition spread from England to North America. Nowadays, Christmas trees are decorated with fancy ornaments, colored lights, shiny paper, candy canes, stars, and angels. Candy sticks have been around for hundreds of years, but it wasn t until the late 1800s that they were decorated with red stripes and bent into the shape of a cane. A candymaker in the United States wanted to make a candy that would represent Christmas. Candy canes represent the staffs or sticks used by the shepherds who traveled to Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus. If you turn a candy cane upside down, it looks like the letter J. This shape symbolizes the first letter of Jesus s name. The red in a candy cane represents the blood of Christ. The custom of sending Christmas cards to family and friends originated in England. The first Christmas card was made by Sir Henry Cole in 1843. At about the same time, the public mail delivery system first started. The original Christmas cards were handmade and very expensive. As printing methods and mail delivery improved, Christmas cards became more and more popular. Nowadays, millions of Christmas cards are sent all over the world each year. Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (HIGH INT ADV / VERSION 4.0) 7
Pair Work cont. B. Ask & Answer Practice asking and answering the following questions with your partner. 1. Why is the Christmas wreath a symbol of everlasting life? 2. What are the traditional colors of Christmas? 3. Where did the custom of kissing under the mistletoe come from? 4. Why did ancient people often use mistletoe in their special celebrations? 5. Why is holly used as a Christmas decoration? 6. Why did people long ago believe that evergreen trees were magical? 7. Where did the custom of decorating Christmas trees originate? 8. How did the custom of decorating a tree spread to England? 9. What does the shape of a candy cane represent? 10. When were candy canes first made? 11. When and where did the custom of sending Christmas cards originate? 12. List six common symbols of Christmas. C. Symbols Review Read your partner s reading on page 6 or 7 on the symbols of Christmas. Then write the correct symbol that is associated with each of the following. You will use some of the words more than once. 1. Sir Henry Cole 2. Goddess of Love, Frigga 3. Prince Albert 4. 1843 Symbols: wreath mistletoe poinsettia Christmas card Christmas tree holly candy cane 5. Mexico 6. kiss under it 7. place it on your door 8. shepherd s staff 9. Germany 10. red and green Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (HIGH INT ADV / VERSION 4.0) 8
Pair Work cont. D. Complete the Story Fill in the blanks with the correct word from the list below to complete the story of Santa Claus. The of Santa Claus or Father Christmas began 1. with a real person named Saint Nicholas. He was born in Turkey in the 4th. Saint Nicholas was a very 2. 3. and generous man. He liked to help poor people by giving them money, but he didn t want them to know about his. 4. According to one story, Saint Nicholas once 5. up on the roof of a house and dropped a bag of money down the. The money landed in a 6. 7. that a young girl had placed by the fire to. 8. The legend of Saint Nicholas to many countries. 9. For many years after Saint Nicholas s death, children in Holland left out Word List: jolly appearance century kind climbed dry red spread tradition chimney generosity stocking sleigh their wooden shoes in the hopes that Saint Nicholas would fill them with treats. The Dutch called Saint Nicholas Sinterklaas. In English, the name became Santa Claus. Over the years, the of 10. Santa Claus changed, too. In early pictures, he often appeared tall and thin, dressed in a brown or green suit. In 1822, a man named Clement Moore wrote a famous poem called The Night Before Christmas. In this poem, Moore described Santa as a old man 11. in a suit riding in a 12. 13. pulled by reindeer. Gradually, this image of Santa became very popular. Nowadays, children hang stockings by the fire on Christmas Eve and wait for Santa to come and fill them with treats and toys. Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (HIGH INT ADV / VERSION 4.0) 9
Vocabulary, Idioms & Expressions A. Reference IDIOM OR EXPRESSION DEFINITION EXAMPLE in the red caught red-handed red tape roll/lay out the red carpet give/get the green light have a green thumb losing money, showing a financial loss to be caught while doing something bad difficult government forms and procedures give a special welcome and special treatment to a special person to give/get the okay or approval to do something to be good at gardening She s in the red this month because she spent so much on Christmas presents. He was caught red-handed when the clerk saw him put candy into his pocket. There is a lot of red tape when you re trying to immigrate to a new country. I felt really special when my friends rolled out the red carpet for my birthday. Her parents gave her the green light to use their car for the weekend. The vegetables from your garden are so tasty! You must have a green thumb. feel/be stuffed to feel very full from eating a lot I can t believe I ate so much. I m stuffed! quit cold turkey to quit a habit all at once, not gradually They were proud of their son when he quit smoking cold turkey. B. Practice Choose one of the words or expressions above to complete the sentences. 1. I m sick of all the that s involved with applying for a passport. 2. When the queen comes to our city, we will for her. 3. I can t eat another thing! I m. 4. Mary s flowers are beautiful. She must have a. 5. The robber was with his hand full of money. 6. Last night she threw her full package of cigarettes in the garbage. She decided to. 7. I think that business will have to close soon. It has been for several years. 8. You shouldn t start the project until the boss gives you. Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (HIGH INT ADV / VERSION 4.0) 10
Class Activity Walk around the classroom and ask your classmates questions. Write the questions in the spaces provided below, and write your classmate s name on the right if he/she answers yes. # Find someone... Question Classmate 1 who has a Christmas tree. 2 who has sent Christmas cards this year. 3 who has rolled out the red carpet for someone. 4 who has a green thumb. 5 who goes to church on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. 6 who is planning to have a turkey for Christmas dinner. 7 who quit smoking cold turkey. 8 who has a lot of Christmas shopping to do. 9 whose favorite holiday is Christmas. 10 who has decorated his/her house with Christmas lights. Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (HIGH INT ADV / VERSION 4.0) 11
Listening http://blog.esllibrary.com/2011/12/14/podcast-christmas/ Fill in the blanks as you listen to the recording. 1. Christmas, which is celebrated on December 25, is one of the biggest celebrations of the year in many countries around the world. It is both a religious and a holiday. In most countries where Christmas is celebrated, it is a legal or statutory holiday. Most workers receive at least one or two days off work, and children often have a two-week at this time. Christmas is a very important day for members of the Christian religion because it commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. At church services everywhere, Christians retell the story of the birth of Jesus in the manger in Bethlehem. 2. Although Christmas is celebrated on the 25th of December, the Christmas season actually lasts for almost a month. In many countries, from mid-november on, it is to forget that Christmas is coming. Streets, homes, and shops are filled with colorful Christmas lights and. Shopping centers are full of people doing their Christmas shopping. In fact, the weeks preceding Christmas are the busiest shopping weeks of the year. In most Western countries, many retailers make up of their annual sales in the month before Christmas. 3. Many of the present-day customs that we associate with Christmas actually originated in pagan festivals long ago. Thousands of years ago, celebrations were often held around the time of the winter solstice. People were often afraid when the sun disappeared during the long, cold nights of winter. When the days finally began to, they celebrated the return of the sun by making great bonfires, serving large, meals, and exchanging gifts. After the birth of Christ, many of these traditions of the old pagan festivals were combined with the celebration of Christmas. Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (HIGH INT ADV / VERSION 4.0) 12
Listening cont. 4. Probably the most recognizable non-religious symbol of Christmas is that of Santa Claus. Pictures can be seen everywhere of the jolly old man with the long, white beard, big stomach, and red suit. Children in Canada and the United States believe that Santa Claus lives in the North Pole where he makes toys with his helpful little elves. On Christmas Eve, December 24, he travels through the sky on a sleigh pulled by reindeer. He lands of people s homes, enters through the chimney, and leaves wonderful gifts for all the good little boys and girls. In some countries, December 6 is known as Saint Nicholas Day and is celebrated in a similar way as Christmas. In the weeks before Christmas, Santa Claus often appears in many stores and shopping centers throughout the cities. Excited children wait in to sit on Santa s lap, have their pictures taken with him, and tell him what presents they are hoping to receive at Christmas. 5. Besides being a religious celebration and a wonderful, exciting time for children, Christmas is also an important time for family. People travel long distances to spend time with their families at this time of the year. Singing Christmas carols, decorating the family Christmas tree, stockings by the fire, and exchanging cards and gifts are all part of the holiday season. Of course, food is also a very important part of the Christmas celebration. Stuffed turkey with mashed potatoes remains the most traditional meal served at Christmas dinners, but other wonderful Christmas dishes, holiday baking, and special festive treats fill the homes of all who celebrate this season. Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (HIGH INT ADV / VERSION 4.0) 13
Answer Key LESSON DESCRIPTION: LEVEL: High Int Adv Students read about the history, symbols, and traditions associated with Christmas. This lesson includes a review of vocabulary and idioms as well as a class survey. TIME: TAGS: 2 3 hours holidays, Christmas, Xmas, December, Santa Claus, tradition, culture Pre-Reading Comprehension A. WARM-UP QUESTIONS 1. Christmas Day is celebrated on December 25. The Christmas season is celebrated throughout December until New Year s Day. 2. Yes, it is a Christian holiday. It has also become a secular holiday. Many people who celebrate it are not Christian. 3. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. 4. Answers will vary. Some symbols include nativity scenes, ornaments, trees, bells, gifts, reindeer, and Santa Claus. B. VOCABULARY PREVIEW 1. j 2. e 3. m 4. k 5. n 6. b 7. o 8. l 9. f 10. a 11. g 12. c 13. d 14. h 15. i Reading Read individually, in small groups, or as a class. You can also play the listening as your students read along. A gap-fill version of the reading is available on pages 12 13. Help your students with vocabulary and expressions that they are unfamiliar with. After reading the passage, break the students into pairs and have them practice asking and answering the comprehension questions. At the end of the oral practice, have the students write out the answers. Review again orally with the whole class. 1. Most people do not work on this day as it is a statutory holiday. 2. This day commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. 3. The weeks preceding Christmas are the busiest shopping weeks of the year. 4. Many of the customs originated in pagan festivals long ago. 5. The solstice marked the end of the long, dark nights of winter and many people celebrated the return of the sun by having bonfires, eating festive meals, and exchanging gifts. 6. Santa Claus is a jolly old man with a long, white beard, a big stomach, and a red suit. 7. Santa Claus lives in the North Pole with many elves and reindeer. 8. Saint Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 6. 9. Stuffed turkey with mashed potatoes is the traditional meal. 10. Exchanging gifts, singing carols, getting together with friends and family, hanging stockings by the fire, decorating a Christmas tree, and eating a festive meal are mentioned. (continued on the next page...) Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (HIGH INT ADV / VERSION 4.0) 14
Answer Key cont. Vocabulary Review A. CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD 1. commemorate 6. beard 2. precedes 7. gathering 3. decorations 8. sleigh 4. exchange 9. bonfire 5. similar 10. statutory B. CHOOSE THE CLOSEST MEANING 1. c 2. d 3. a 4. b 5. c 6. a 7. b 8. d 9. b 10. d C. ODD ONE OUT 1. c 2. b 3. d 4. c 5. c 6. d Survey Break the class into groups of three and have the students interview each other. Alternatively or as a follow-up, have each student do a mini-presentation on his/her favorite holiday. Pair Work A. SHARING INFORMATION Break the class into pairs. Each student has a different reading about the symbols of Christmas. Have the students read their articles silently. Then have students share the information with their partners by summarizing their passages for each other. Review together with the whole class. After the students complete their oral work, have them exchange readings and then complete Exercise B, C, and D on pages 8 9 together. Have a few students retell the story of Santa. B. ASK & ANSWER 1. The Christmas wreath is a symbol of everlasting life because the shape is an unbroken circle, and the branches come from an evergreen tree, which remains green all winter. 2. Red and green are the traditional colors of Christmas. 3. It came from Scandinavia where mistletoe was associated with their goddess of love and peace, Frigga. 4. They believed it had special powers. 5. Holly is used as a Christmas decoration because of its religious significance: its pointed leaves represent the thorns in Christ s crown and the red berries represent his drops of blood. 6. Thousands of years ago, people believed that evergreen trees were magical because they stayed strong and green during the winter when other trees became brown and bare. 7. The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree originated in Germany around the 16th century. 8. This custom spread to England in the 19th century when Queen Victoria married a German prince named Albert who put up a Christmas tree in the royal palace to remind him of his homeland. 9. The shape represents the staffs or sticks used by the shepherds who traveled to Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus. 10. Candy canes were first made in the late 1800s. 11. The custom of sending Christmas cards originated in England in 1843. 12. Symbols include wreaths, mistletoe, holly, candy canes, cards, Christmas trees, and/or poinsettias. (continued on the next page...) Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (HIGH INT ADV / VERSION 4.0) 15
Answer Key cont. Pair Work cont. Class Activity C. SYMBOLS REVIEW 1. Christmas card 6. mistletoe 2. mistletoe 7. wreath 3. Christmas tree 8. candy cane 4. Christmas card 9. Christmas tree 5. poinsettia 10. holly D. COMPLETE THE STORY 1. tradition 8. dry 2. century 9. spread 3. kind 10. appearance 4. generosity 11. jolly 5. climbed 12. red 6. chimney 13. sleigh 7. stocking Vocabulary, Idioms & Expressions First, have the students write out the questions they will be asking their classmates. Then have the students circulate around the class, asking the questions on the sheet. When a student finds a classmate who can answer the question, he/she will then write the student s name in the chart and follow up with one more question of his/her own. E.g., Do you have a Christmas tree? If the student answers yes, the second question might be: Is it real? or Where did you get it? Try to encourage students to engage in real conversation during this activity. Follow up by sharing the information with the whole class. Listening 1. secular, vacation 2. impossible, decorations, 70% 3. grow longer, festive 4. on the roof, long lines 5. gatherings, hanging The idioms given include words related to Christmas (e.g., idioms using the colors red and green, the word turkey, etc). Explain the meanings, go over the examples, then have the students complete the sentences. B. PRACTICE 1. red tape 5. caught red-handed 2. roll out the red carpet 6. quit cold turkey 3. stuffed 7. in the red 4. green thumb 8. the green light SPELLING NOTE: This lesson shows the American spelling of the words Colorful, Centers, Honor, Honorable, Favorite, Colors, Colored, Traveled, and Practice. Most other English-speaking countries spell these words this way: Colourful, Centres, Honour, Honourable, Favourite, Colours, Coloured, Travelled, and Practise (when used as a verb; Practice when used as a noun). Make it a challenge for your students to find these words in the text and see if they know the alternate spellings. PRONUNCIATION NOTE: The word poinsettia has three syllables in North American pronunciation (poin-se-ta) and four syllables in most other English-speaking countries (poin-se-ti-a). Copyright 2017, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. (HIGH INT ADV / VERSION 4.0) 16