Merry Christmas

Christmas in English speaking countries

by Miss Jaulneau

Brainstorming: English speaking countries

Christmas crackers

Christmas Carols

Traditions & origins

Ornaments

a star

On Christmas Eve, on December 24th, children get very excited and wait for Santa Claus to come with presents.

Ø candles

Ø tinsel

A Christmas wreath

Ø baubles

Ø Christmas stockings

Ø presents

Christmas trees are decorated with ornaments.

People put stockings and a Christmas wreath on the fireplace.

adapted from I Bet You Can 6ème

Origins & Traditions

Christmas is a religious holiday and a cultural phenomenon! Celebrated on December 25th, it is a time of joy with family and friends.

People love decorating their houses. British and Americans love sending Christmas cards, and they decorate their living rooms with the cards they receive from friends or family.

Sending Christmas cards is a very old tradition in English-speaking countries. The first cards were created in London in

1843

adapted from I Bet You Can 6ème

Christmas in the USA Christmas is a special time of year in the US. Americans have many different traditions to celebrate Christmas. They like to decorate their houses with lights and even statues of Santa Claus, snowmen and reindeer. They place Christmas trees and wreathes too. Towns and cities decorate the streets with lights. The most famous Christmas street lights in the USA are at the Rockfeller Center in New York. There is a huge Christmas tree with a public ice skating rink. Some Americans go to church on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. They sing Christmas carols together and pray. On 24th December, at night, children put a snack of milk and cookies on the table, for Santa Claus. On 25th December, after exchanging gifts, many Americans have a meal together. The tradition meal is turkey with cranberry sauce. For dessert, they have Christmas cakes or cookies. Americans love the Christmas season!

Christmas in Australia Some people decorate their houses with wreaths on their dooers and go out Christmas carol singing on 24th December. Australians decorate their houses with Christmas trees, lights, tinsel, snowmen and baubles. They also decorate their homes with bunches of Christmas bush (an Australian tree). In Australia, there is a special tradition called Carols by Candlelight. People gather in a park to sing Christmas carols. On Christmas day, children receive presents in a stocking or under the Christmas tree. Then, they have a special meal. Many people celebrate with a barbeque. For dessert, they have a Pavlova (a soft meringue with fruit and cream). Autralians go to the beach and swim in the sea!

Christmas in the UK In the UK, families often celebrate Christmas together. Most families have a Christmas tree in their house. The decorating of the tree is usually a family occasion. Holly, ivy and mistletoe are also sometimes used to decorate homes. Most villages, towns and cities are decorated with Christmas lights. The most famous Christmas lights in the UK are in Oxford Street in London. During the night between 24th December and 25th December, Father Christmas leaves the presents in stockings. They are hung up by the fire. In the morning of Christmas Day the 25th of December, children usually get up very early to have their presents. Then, they eat the Christmas meal at lunchtime or in the early afternoon. It is normally roast turkey and roast vegetables. You have carrots, peas and sometimes bacon and sausages. Dessert is often Christmas pudding, mince pies and chocolates. Each person receives a Christmas cracker.

Do you know? Where is English spoken?

Christmas crackers!

You can create your Christmas crackers!At Christmas dinner, people have fun with Christmas crackers displayed on the table. you pull the cracker with your neighbour and it opens with a "bang". You get little presents line paper hats...