Christmas is very near, so let's practise some Christmas vocabulary with this maze.
Click on the photo to see the instructions.
Have fun!
Vocabulary exercises to help learn words to talk about Christmas.
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta CHRISTMAS. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta CHRISTMAS. Mostrar todas las entradas
CHRISTMAS TIME
CARDS
Create an animated Funky
Created and send your own Video Card
Christmas e-card
Write a letter to Santa
Send a merry message
Web tools for kids
Created and send your own Video Card
Christmas e-card
Write a letter to Santa
Send a merry message
Web tools for kids
VIDEOS
Santa Flibriks
Help Santa
STIR - UP SUNDAY - 22nd NOVEMBER
The last Sunday of the Christian Church Year. A traditional day to make the Christmas pudding.
CHRISTMAS PUDDING DAY
Stir-up Sunday is the traditional day for everyone in the family to take a turn at stirring the Christmas pudding, whilst making a wish.
Before Christmas pudding were sold ready-made in foil containers, there were always made at home. They were made a month before Christmas day so the flavours had plenty of time to develop befoere Christmas.
CHRISTMAS IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE
Christmas tree lighting ceremony
Each year since 1947, a Christmas tree has been given to the people of London from the people of Norway in gratitude for Britain's support for Norway during World War II. For many Londoners the Christmas tree and carol singing in Trafalgar Square signal the countdown to Christmas.
About the tree
The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is usually a Norwegian spruce (Picea abies) over 20 metres high and 50-60 years old. It is selected from the forests surrounding Oslo with great care several months, even years, in advance. The Norwegian foresters who look after it describe it fondly as 'the queen of the forest'.
The tree is felled in November during a ceremony in which the Lord Mayor of Westminster, the British ambassador to Norway and the Mayor of Oslo participate. It is brought to the UK by sea, then completes its journey by lorry. A specialist rigging team erects it in the square using a hydraulic crane. It is decorated in traditional Norwegian fashion, with vertical strings of lights - energy-efficient light bulbs are used.
HOGMANAY - SCOTLAND - 30th DECEMBER-1st JANUARY
There's nowhere better to be at New Year's Eve than Scotland's Capital. Edinburgh's Hogmanay brings Edinburgh's streets alive with non-stop entertainment and enjoyment.
Scottish rock giants Biffy Clyro headline the world famous street party at the concert in the gardens, beneath the spectacular backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. The party's 100,000 revellers are guaranteed a night to remember with a torchlight procession, music and fireworks spectacular and the fantastic Keilidh.
Scottish rock giants Biffy Clyro headline the world famous street party at the concert in the gardens, beneath the spectacular backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. The party's 100,000 revellers are guaranteed a night to remember with a torchlight procession, music and fireworks spectacular and the fantastic Keilidh.
28th DECEMBER - DAY OF THE INNOCENT SAINTS
This is one of the most popular and entertaining Christmas traditions in Spain. December 28 is the day when everyone is allowed to play practical jokes and when it is customary to buy joke articles in Christmas markets like the one in the Plaza Mayor square in Madrid.
This celebration appears to have its origins in an event narrated by the Bible concerning King Herod and the innocents, although over the centuries it has evolved to become a boisterous day in which even the media usually reports on some outrageous and completely invented news story.
One of the most widespread jokes on this day is to stick a figure cut out of white paper on someone's back (without them realising). The word in Spanish for this practical joke is an "inocentada". And, in the numerous Christmas markets (usually located in the large squares in the cities) you can find a whole range of joke articles (wigs, itching powder, false ink…).
Many areas in Spain also have other typical local celebrations on 28 December. Examples include the festivity of Los Locos (or "lunatics") in Jalance (in Valencia, the mayor of the lunatics governs the town for 24 hours); the festivity of the Holy Innocents in Nogalte (in Murcia, with popular dancing and bands of singers); the Danza de Los Locos, or "dance of the lunatics" in Fuente Carreteros (in Cordoba); the "Obispillo", or "little bishop" (celebrated in places such as Burgos, Palencia and Murcia, where a small boy is chosen to carry out the functions of the bishop for one day); and the "Festa dels Enfarinats" de Ibi (in Alicante, involving a "battle" fought with eggs, flour and firecrackers).
This celebration appears to have its origins in an event narrated by the Bible concerning King Herod and the innocents, although over the centuries it has evolved to become a boisterous day in which even the media usually reports on some outrageous and completely invented news story.
One of the most widespread jokes on this day is to stick a figure cut out of white paper on someone's back (without them realising). The word in Spanish for this practical joke is an "inocentada". And, in the numerous Christmas markets (usually located in the large squares in the cities) you can find a whole range of joke articles (wigs, itching powder, false ink…).
Many areas in Spain also have other typical local celebrations on 28 December. Examples include the festivity of Los Locos (or "lunatics") in Jalance (in Valencia, the mayor of the lunatics governs the town for 24 hours); the festivity of the Holy Innocents in Nogalte (in Murcia, with popular dancing and bands of singers); the Danza de Los Locos, or "dance of the lunatics" in Fuente Carreteros (in Cordoba); the "Obispillo", or "little bishop" (celebrated in places such as Burgos, Palencia and Murcia, where a small boy is chosen to carry out the functions of the bishop for one day); and the "Festa dels Enfarinats" de Ibi (in Alicante, involving a "battle" fought with eggs, flour and firecrackers).
HAPPY INNOCENT SAINTS DAY
BOXING DAY - 26th DECEMBER
Like Christmas Day, Boxing Day is a public holiday. This means is it typically a non working day in the whole of Britain.
Tradicionally, 26 December was the day to open the Christmas Box to share the contents to the poor.
WHAT HAPPENS ON BOXING DAY IN ENGLAND?
- Boxing Day hunts: tradicionally Boxing Day is a day for fox hunting.Horse riders dressed in red and white riding gear, accompanied by a number of dogs called foxhounds, chase de fox through the countryside in the hope of tiring it out.
- Family time:It is a day of watching sports and playing board games with the family.
- Shopping: In recent times,some shops have broken from tradition and started opening on Boxing Day to start the New Year sales.Hundreds of people spend Boxing Day morning in queues outside shops, waiting to be the first to dive for the sales racks as the doors opened.
CHRISTMAS DAY IN BRITAIN
Christmas presents are opened on Christmas Day.
Opening Christmas Stocking Presents
Christmas Day is the favourite day for children. They wake up very early in the morning to find their stockings have been filled by Father Christmas and excitedly unwarp the presents before going down to breakfast.
The Main Presents
Family presents are opened either late morning or during the afternoom.The family gather together to open the presents found under the Christmas tree.
Why do we give each other presents on Christmas Day?
The tradition of giving gifts is thought to be related to the gifts that the wise man (the Magi) brought to Jesus.
TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN BRITAIN
Church service
Many Christians will go to the church to sing carols and to celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day. More people attend the church on this day than any other day of the year. People put on their best clothes to go to church.
Christmas Dinner and Christmas Tea
The whole family sit down for Christmas Dinner at middday.
Christmas Crackers
The pulling of Christmas Crackers often accompanies food on Christmas Day.
CHRISTMAS PUDDING RACE
The 37th Great Christmas Pudding Race will take place on 2nd December 2017
The Great Christmas Pudding Race has been a London annual event since 1980 and is included in my Top 10 Things to Do in London at Christmas.
Teams of contestants wearing fancy dress have to run around Covent Garden piazza while trying to balance a Christmas pudding on a plate! Obstacles, such as balloons full of flour, are put in their way to make it even more fun to watch. It's a charity event to raise money for Cancer Research.
NEW YEAR'S EVE IN SPAIN
In Spain, New Year is observed on the first date of the Georgian calendar. New Year’s Eve, ithe major day of celebrations, is also referred as ‘Nochevieja’.
New Year’s Eve in Spain is more of a family affair. No one prefers to go out before midnight, till the time all traditions and traditional celebrations are concluded appropriately. Once, they are over, one can see the emerging crowd over the streets, and in the community parties organized in clubs and bars.
Madrid, the capital and the largest city of Spain, is also credited as the best host of the New Year’s Eve celebrations for the evening. Thousands of people gather in the main square of Puerta del Sol in Madrid, to witness the best of the community celebrations of Spain. At the stroke of midnight, the sight of thousands of people eating grapes in concord with the ring of each bell does make one feel a part of a magical time. The further magical and spectacular show of fireworks filling the skies seemed to be put to action directly from heavens.
New Year’s Eve is also a time to abide by the traditions and customs associated with the occasion. As far as that goes, people can remain pleasantly engaged in fulfilling traditions only, all through the New Year’s Eve as they are plenty in numbers.
New Year’s Eve in Spain is more of a family affair. No one prefers to go out before midnight, till the time all traditions and traditional celebrations are concluded appropriately. Once, they are over, one can see the emerging crowd over the streets, and in the community parties organized in clubs and bars.
Madrid, the capital and the largest city of Spain, is also credited as the best host of the New Year’s Eve celebrations for the evening. Thousands of people gather in the main square of Puerta del Sol in Madrid, to witness the best of the community celebrations of Spain. At the stroke of midnight, the sight of thousands of people eating grapes in concord with the ring of each bell does make one feel a part of a magical time. The further magical and spectacular show of fireworks filling the skies seemed to be put to action directly from heavens.
New Year’s Eve is also a time to abide by the traditions and customs associated with the occasion. As far as that goes, people can remain pleasantly engaged in fulfilling traditions only, all through the New Year’s Eve as they are plenty in numbers.
People usually stay back to their homes, along with their family members till the moment of the arrival of New Year occurs. At the stroke of twelve, there is a tradition of eating twelve grapes. It is a prominent and highly popular tradition, which is followed in many other countries, though with different beliefs and in different ways. In Spain, one has to eat one grape with each ring of the bell, and thus, has to complete one’s share of twelve grapes by the time the clock rings the last bell. Usually, people in Spain listen to the rings of the bell from the live telecast of the clock of Puerta del Sol in Madrid.
There is another tradition of wearing red underwear on New Year’s Eve, and that too must not be bought by you, but should be gifted or given by someone else. Wearing red colored underwear is believed to confer one with good luck in the coming year.
NEW YEAR'S EVE IN LONDON
2016 was amazing.
2017 is going to be even better!
New Year’s Eve in London is all about fun and celebration and we all want to have a great time.
2017 is going to be even better!
THE QUEEN'S SPEECH
A traditional feature of Christmas afternoom is the Queen's Christmas Message. At three o'clock in the afternoon the Queen's gives her Christmas Message to the nation which is broadcast on radio and television. In 2007, the Queen launched her own channel on video-sharing website YouTube, which feature the message.
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING
Jingle bells, jingle bells... Have you done your Christmas shopping yet? Watch this video to see how a shop is getting ready for Christmas.
THE THREE KINGS DAY
The next important day is the 6th January or Three Kings Day (Los Reyes). This is the day that the Three Kings arrived in Bethlehem, it is also the most important day for the children as the Three Kings in effect replace Father Christmas for Spanish children (although Santa is becoming popular). They arrive overnight on the 5th January, riding camels and leave presents for the children. Parents encourage children to write to the Three Kings with their gift requests.
Every town and city in Spain will have a procession on the night of 5th January where tons of sweets will be thrown from the passing floats, much to the joy of the children (and adults).
On the morning of the 6th January you can only imagine the excitement of the children as they rip open their gifts.
The three Kings are:
Gaspar has brown hair and a brown beard and wears a green cloak and a gold crown with green jewels on it. He is the King of Sheba. Gaspar represents the Frankincense brought to Jesus.
Melchior has long white hair and a white beard and wears a gold cloak. He is the King of Arabia. Melchior represents the Gold brought to Jesus.
Balthazar has black skin and and wears a purple cloak. He is the King of Tarse and Egypt. Balthazar represents the gift of Myrrh that was brought to Jesus.
THREE WISE MEN IN SPAIN - 5th JANUARY
On 5 January Spain celebrates the end of Christmas with a great party where everybody gives and receives presents. It is to celebrate the arrival of the Three Wise Men - Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazar - to the city where Jesus was born. In the same way that the Three Wise Men gave gifts to baby Christ, here they share out presents amongst children around Spain - in fact; they are more popular than Santa Claus.
There are lots of processions of the Three Wise Men in each city, the children go along with there parents to see the kings and receive sweets from them.
Before going to sleep, children put some milk and biscuits next to the Christmas tree for the Three Kings and some water for their camels. They also leave out their best pair of shoes to be filled with presents.
On the next day, 6 January children wake up and see how many presents they have received. If they have behaved properly, they will find a lot of good presents but if they have been naughty they will find coal. These days, the coal is actually made of sugar, but some years ago it was real coal.
During this day, all families enjoy a piece of roscon (a sugar-frosted fruit-filled bread) for breakfast tradition says that the person who finds a novelty such as a coin, in his or her portion will have good luck for the next year.
Both young and old enjoy opening their presents on this day, but sadly it also marks the end of Christmas.
TWELFTH NIGHT - DECORATIONS
Twelfth Night is the night before Twelfth Day.
Twelfth Night (5th January) is when all Christmas Decorations should be removed so as not to bring bad luck upon the home. If decorations are not removed on Twelfth Night, they should stay up all year.
Why is it bad luck to leave the decorations up after Twelfth Night?
Long ago it was thought that leaving the decorations up would cause a disaster. People believed that tree-spirits lived in the greenery (holy, ivy etc) they decorated their houses with. The greenery was brought into the house to provide a safe haven for the tree-spirits during the harsh midwinter days. Once this period was over it was necessary to return the greenery back outside to release the tree-spirits into the countryside once again. Failure to do this would mean that vegetation would not be able to start growing again (spring would not return), leading to an agricultural disaster.
It was also thought that, if you left the greenery in the house, the tree-spirits would cause mischief in the house until they were released.
Today people still feel uneasy about leaving the Christmas decorations up after Twelfth Night. Despite decorations now being made of foil or paper, and even though the tree-spirits are long forgotten, the superstition still survives.
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