Christmas

 Christmas

Boy: Hi everybody!

I want to ask you some very important questions: do you like holidays? Do you like getting and making presents? Do you feel excited feeling the magic holiday atmosphere? If the answer is ‘yes’ to all these questions, you`ll enjoy the information I`ve prepared for you:)

I`d like to tell you about my favourite holiday: Christmas = (Xmas).

I`m lucky to be here, in the UK at Christmas time! And I invite you to dive into the traditions of British Christmas.

It`s time to get offJ

In Britain Xmas is the most popular holiday. It is celebrated on the 25th of December. …

By the way, do you know why in Britain people celebrate Xmas on the 25th of December, but we celebrate it on the 7th of January?

The explanation is not that difficult. In our countries people are mostly Christians. В наших странах люди в основном исповедуют Христианскую веру, то есть, Христиане. In Britain people are mostly Catholic Christians and in Russia we are mostly Orthodox Christians. В Британии люди в основном – католические христиане, а мы в большинстве своем – православные христиане.

Many years ago, in the 16th century, Catholic Christians began to use the new Gregorian calendar instead old the old Julian one. And Orthodox Christians didn`t agree to do that and still use the old Julian calendar. Итак, смотрите: много лет тому назад, еще в 16 веке, католические христиане начали использовать новый Григорианский календарь, который пришел на замену старому – Юлианскому календарю. А православные христиане не согласились и до сих пор используют старый Юлианский календарь. That`s why there`s difference among church holidays of Catholics and Orthodox. Именно поэтому и существует разница в церковных праздниках католиков и православных.

But all the celebrations begin much earlier: on Advent. …  It means that all the magic starts on the 1st of December.

Especially children enjoy this time because they are usually presented the Advent Calendar. It has 24 or 25 doors (days before Christmas). And Children open a door every day. Behind those doors you can see Christmas scenes or what is more popular with children – chocolate.

As soon as the 24th door is opened we understand that it is finally Christmas Eve – the most exciting and expected time of the year. … Look, the snow is falling. it means magic of the Christmas night is coming. let`s go and see how the British decorate their houses and homes….

People decorate their homes with Xmas trees, … tinsel and … myriads of colourful lights. Children hang up stockings in their rooms and wait for Santa Clause to come and fill them in with many sweets. …

What I especially enjoyed on Christmas Eve is singing carols. … What is it?.. A group of people, usually children, go from house to house and sing carols – traditional Christmas songs.

And then the night comes.

All the people are in their beds but …

 Far away in Greenland … among deep snows … there are many people who don`t sleep on this very night. … Santa Clause and his elves are very busy. They pack all the toys into Santa`s red bag and put it into his sleigh. …

And now, Santa Clause is ready to ride across the sky together with his nine reindeer: …  Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen…  and ... Rudolf - the reindeer that is always at the front with a glowing red nose.

Oh, it`s time to hurry! Christmas is coming!

Look, Santa has found the needed address. … He goes down the chimney…, leaves the presents under the Xmas tree…  and eats a piece of a mince pie expecting for him. … Santa works really hard during this night to give away all the presents. …

And here Christmas comes. … Happy smiling faces looking for their presents under the Christmas tree … and of course, family dinners with traditional roast turkey for the main course.

From home to home

and heart to heart

from one place to another

the warmth and joy of Christmas

Brings us closes to each other  ….

Do you know that …

The 26th of December is a holiday too. This day is called ‘Boxing Day’ because people usually visit their friends, congratulate them on Christmas holidays and present gifts in big and small boxes.

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. Рождество взмахивает волшебной палочкой над нашим миром, и, обратите внимание, все становится мягче и красивее.