Author: Gagarin

The Bascacovo school Times

24. 12 .07.

History of Christmas.
Christmas is a religious holiday. It is the day on which Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a happy holiday. Families come together to share their happiness, attend church, and exchange gifts. In the days before Christmas, parties are held in schools, offices, factories, and clubs; shops and stores are crowded with shoppers. Cities and towns sparkle with bright lights and decorations. Churches, homes, schools, shops, and streets are decorated with Christmas trees, colored lights, Santa Claus and his reindeer. The traditional colors for this holiday are red and green. Families prepare for this holiday weeks before. They make special foods. They make and buy gifts. They wrap them with bright paper and ribbons. They choose a Christmas tree and then decorate it. The Christmas story comes from the Bible (Luke 2 and Mathew 1-2). Luke tells a beautiful story of shepherds who were watching their sheep when an angel appeared to them. He told them that a Savior had been born in Bethlehem. The shepherds went there to see Jesus. The baby Jesus was born in a stable. His mother was the Virgin Mary and his father was Joseph. Mathew tells how the Wise Man followed a star until it led them to Jesus. The Wise Man gave Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Пояснительная подпись под рисунком.

In this Issue:

History of Christmas	1
From the history of Christmas in England	1
Christmas customs / and traditions in Britain.	2
Poem about Christmas	3
Songs about Christmas	4
Christmas Quiz	4

From
the History of Christmas
in England.
Christmas has been celebrated in England for thousands of years. According to the legend, King Arthur started it in the city of York in 571.
The first Christmas Tree came to England in 1841. Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert brought it over from Germany. Nowadays, in London, near the statue of Lord Nelson in Trafalgar Square, a giant Christmas Tree is set up and decorated each year. The Tree is a present from the people in Oslo, Norway.

Christmas customs and traditions in Britain.

Christmas is а Christian holiday. It is the birthday of Jesus Christ. In the Roman Church it is on the 25th of December. To people all over the world it is а time to get together with all relatives and friends and to get and give presents. Some families open their presents on Christmas Eve, December 24th, give Christmas Resolutions, sing Christmas carols and songs, play games. Some people go to their church for Christmas service. Many families with children leave Christmas cookies, wassail or eggnog, and perhaps a carrot or two by the fireplace. Little children go to bed and dream of what presents they'll find under the tree when they wake up. Most children believe that а magical person Santa Claus will visit them. "He is а cheerful old man with а beard that's long and a white, cherry nose, а cap on head and а suit that's red." He comes down the chimney and leaves presents for the family.
There are а lot of Christmas customs and traditions in Britain. One of them is to hang stockings on the mantel to be filled with presents. The next one is the Christmas Tree which is decorated with coloured glass balls and toys, sweets, bells. There is usually а bright star or the figure of the Christmas angel at the top of the tree. Decorating the house with "boughs of holly" (сук, ветка, падуб) is an old British custom. It is а bush with red berries and glossy leaves. Mistletoe is another Christmas symbol. It is tied with ribbons and hung up in doorways. By custom anyone standing under the mistletoe gets to be kissed. In front of most churches the Jesus' place of birth is usually represented. Here we can see Joseph, Mary, stable animals - sheep, cows, goats, shepherds, angels, the wise men, and of course, the baby Jesus asleep in his manger (Eight reindeer - their names: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen.).

Santa Claus

Most children believe that а magical person Santa Claus will visit them.

Page #

Christmas Poem

Many things.
I love Christmas for many things Trees, candels, angel wings. Stars in the heavens, Snow covered hills, Little toy trains, Dolls in their frills. I love Christmas, ribbons of gold, Familiar carols, so very old. Sweet candy canes, bright red sleds, Little ones tucked snug in their beds. I look forward to a neighbor’s call A friendly chat, a cup of tea
Love in the home means Christmas to me.

Christmas Songs
Jingle bells
Dashing through the snow, In a one-horse open sleigh, O’er the fields we go, laughing all the way Bells on Bobtail ring, making spirits bright, What fun it is to ride and sing A sleighing song tonight! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh! What fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh! What fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh!

We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas And happy New Year. Good tidings we bring to you and your kin. Now bring us some Christmas pudding Now bring us some Christmas pudding Now bring us some Christmas pudding And bring some out here.

The Bascacovo school Times

Page #

Christmas Quiz

We... a Christmas Tree with toys, glass balls, sweets and bells (what is the verb that helps to put everything on the tree?)
The day ( or time) when we are not at school and when we get presents and are very happy
People to whom we write Christmas cards (but not only our friends, Mum and Dad - they are our uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces)
The place where the English children hang their stockings at night
waiting for their presents
We dream about them all night before Christmas
We usually put them on, but once a year we hang them for the presents
The unusual entrance through which Santa usually comes in
Santa has it, it's long and white
A magical person who has "a cherry nose, a cap on head, a suit that's red".
A special Christmas song which is sung during Christmas time