Christmas Activities
READING - LISTENING - WRITING
CHRISTMAS IS COMING
Christmas Podcast
Holiday traditions Worldwide
Christmas Gift
Reading Section ( + music)
6-minute English-Christmas
Christmas Tidbits
The uniting power of christmas
Survey
CHRISTMAS IS COMING
Listening exercise
1.
Transcript
2.
3.
4.
5.
The CHRISTMAS Gift
Listening exercise
1.
Transcript
2.
3.
4.
5.
What’s the best tree to have at Christmas?
Listening exercise
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The uniting power of christmas
Listening exercise
1.
Transcript
2.
3.
4.
5.
Christmas all around the world
Christmas all around the world
Christmas all around the world
Christmas all around the world
Christmas all around the world
Christmas all around the world
Christmas all around the world
Christmas all around the world
Christmas all around the world
Holiday Traditions all around the world
ReadinG section
Here you can find some interesting reading materials.
Guiness Book of Records
In the first photo you can see the largest collection of souvenirs with Santa Claus. Her owner is Canadian Jean-Guy Laqueur. He began to collect his treasures in 1988, and by November 30, 2010, he is the owner of 25,104 different exhibits. This collection of Christmas items includes 2360 figurines, 2846 Christmas cards and cards, 1312 different napkins and 241 brooches and decorative pins.e are visual beings
On December 9, 2009, 13,000 Santa Clauses gathered at Guildhall Square in Darry, Ireland. This is the largest collection of Santas in the world.
This photo was taken from the world's largest gathering of Santa Claus helpers - 800 Christmas elves gathered in the South Wales city of Bridget, breaking the previous record set in 2009 in New York. Then "only" 607 elves gathere
The 4th photo shows the shopping arcade of Tanglin Mall in Singapore. From November 10, 1996 to January 3, 1997, the world's tallest Santa Claus adorned its entrance. The height of the figure was 15.6 m, width 11 m, depth 4 m. The structure was made of foam plastic on a metal frame, but still its weight was 2.5 tons.
One of the Christmas traditions in Rio de Janeiro is the installation of a floating Christmas tree. The largest such Christmas tree was launched in 2007. Its height was almost 85 m. The sponsor of this amazing Christmas tree was "Bradesco Seguros e Previdência" firm.
Great Books to Read at Christmas
Letters From Father Christmas Tolkien's letters are a cool mix of Norse myths, Christian stories, and a dad's love. They hit home because they capture the real magic of Christmas. Plus, they're super personal. You can feel the warmth and playful vibe as Tolkien enjoys entertaining his kids. The fancy words and myth references help spark his family's wild imaginations while connecting the myths to Truth, Goodness, and Beauty.
How the Grinch stole ChristmasThe Grinch doesn't like Christmas. He just doesn't like it, that's all. What a horrible time! All the adults and kids in Wheretown do is decorate Christmas trees with lights, rustle bags, eat all sorts of goodies and sing songs. And they make an unbearable amount of noise! How to stop them? So the Grinch decides... to steal Christmas! Read about it in Dr. Seuss's book!“It came without ribbons, it came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags.” — The Grinch“Maybe Christmas (he thought) doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more.” — The Grinch“No one should be alone on Christmas.” — Cindy Lou Who
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas If you haven't checked out Agatha Christie yet, now's a great time! Her books are super popular, second only to the Bible. This one's a classic featuring the iconic Hercule Poirot.
Right before Christmas, Poirot gets approached by Mr. Jameson from the British government to help get back a priceless ruby that was stolen from a royal heir in a friendly eastern country. It's a tough job, but Poirot loves a good mystery. He'll be spending Christmas in the English countryside...
Charles Martin's The Mountain Between Us This book has a super chilly vibe. It's a gripping story about a guy and a girl who fall in love but face life-or-death situations. At Salt Lake City Airport, all flights are grounded due to bad weather. Ben and Ashley, who barely know each other, jump on a small private plane. Ashley's late for her wedding, and Ben, a surgeon, is late for surgery. Then, things go wrong, and the plane crashes in the mountains. The pilot doesn't survive, leaving just Ben and Ashley stuck in the snow. To escape, they have to pull off the impossible.
Great Christmas Songs 1
Let's chat about the Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey! Seriously, no Christmas in the US feels right without her song for over 20 years. And get this? She recorded it in just about fifteen minutes! Legend has it she wrote it just 'cause she loves Christmas. There are three music videos for this song. The first one's like a home video shot on 8 mm film, with Mariah as both the cameraman and director. The second is a cool black-and-white clip inspired by The Ronettes, also filmed by her. Then in 2015, an animated video for the remix came out. Finally, at the end of 2019, she dropped a new video for "All I Want for Christmas Is You."
One of my favorite songs for New Year's is from a Swedish group. It started as a comic track for a project that never happened. It took nearly ten years for it to become a hit worldwide.
The lyrics are pretty sad. The last verse makes a lot of people feel like it’s about being unsure about the future, which is something people often feel before the new year. The song used to be called "Daddy Don't Get Drunk on Christmas Day". Overall, it’s not your typical happy New Year's song, but it’s really atmospheric and makes you think about what you’ve been through and what you still want to achieve.
So, there's this super famous New Year's song that everyone links to Christmas just 'cause of its name. George Michael and Andrew Ridgely got the idea while watching a football game at his parents' place. After the game, he spent the whole night writing the lyrics and music, and by morning, it was all done.
Last Christmas is about a guy who's still bummed about his crush who ditched him. The chorus could've mentioned any holiday—like New Year, Easter, or Thanksgiving—and it wouldn’t change the feel. There are almost five hundred covers of Last Christmas, with artists like Billie Piper, Ashley Tisdale, Crazy Frog, Cascada, and Arctic Monkeys covering it. Seriously, check out the original version of this classic!
So, this song is like the ultimate Christmas jam, but believe it or not, it had nothing to do with Christmas or New Year's when it was first made. "Let It Snow" was actually written on one of the hottest days in Hollywood. It's about a couple chilling by the fire on a cold night, and the guy is totally happy about the snow because it gives him a reason to stick around a bit longer. No Christmas vibes at all!
Vaughn Monroe was the first to perform it back in 1945, and it blew up, hitting the top of the Billboard charts. Since then, tons of famous artists like Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, Cliff Richard, and Billy Idol have sung it. You should definitely check out Frank Sinatra's version; it's super popular!
Great Christmas Songs 2
Queen released this song at the peak of its form in 1984. However, the song was not a phenomenal success. It was not included in any studio album, remained without a video clip and did not receive proper promotion on radio and television. However, this is another composition that was recorded in the hot summer. Brian May later recalled: "Well, it's funny that you have to do Christmas tracks in the summer, and you're not in the right mood at all. Because if you start making them for Christmas, it will obviously end before you release them."
Another well-known New Year's song that's super popular in movies and TV shows. Young country singer Bobby Helms first recorded it and dropped the single just two days before Christmas in 1957. It became a hit right away, hitting number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Funny enough, the singer didn't even want to record this big hit at first! But after it blew up, he re-recorded it a bunch of times later on. The word "Rock" in the title? Totally makes sense! It came out in 1957, right when rock and roll was taking off, and it's seen as the first Christmas song in that style.
"This Magic Moment is a song written by lyricist Doc Pomus and pianist Mort Shuman and is one of their most famous songs. The song is used in the movie 'Sandlot and was also performed in David Chase's TV show "The Sopranos Clan". This song, although not released in honor of Christmas, but perfectly suits its atmosphere. Just turn on this song when you are walking on a snowy street on cold winter evenings, and you will understand everything at once.
It was originally featured on the soundtrack of Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Darlene will cheer up the listener with her powerful vocals, and the saxophone actively helps her in this. The song became a hit in the USA and Britain, and a very cute video was shot for it, where Macaulay is producing this song together with the musicians. Unfortunately, the song is not particularly popular right now. So, I suggest you listen to her and help her get back into our Christmas playlists!
Great Christmas Songs 3
Well, since we are talking about the movie "Home Alone", it is important to note the main musical composition of the first film. The main theme of the film was composed by composer John Williams and even received two Oscar nominations for it. For the second part, the theme of the quail Bette Midler is undoubtedly a talented woman, there is also a cover in Spanish from Ana Belen. But I suggest you listen to the original version and the version with a chorus of angelic voices that symbolize the tranquility of winter holidays in childhood.
Nathaniel Adams Coles, professionally known as Nat King Cole, (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965) was an American jazz musician, singer and songwriter. He was born in the southern city of Montgomery, Alabama. His father was a Christian minister. Millions of Nat King Cole’s recordings were sold while he was alive. He died of lung cancer in February, 1965, when he was 45 years old. People around the world still enjoy listening to the music of one of America’s greatest performers of popular and jazz music"The Christmas Song" (commonly subtitled "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" or, as it was originally subtitled, "Merry Christmas to You") is a classic Christmas song written in 1945 by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé. The Nat King Cole Trio first recorded the song in June 1946.
It is impossible to imagine the New Year without classical compositions that are somehow connected with the Christmas theme. I suggest you listen to those compositions that I always associate with winter and winter holidays: Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake; Vivaldi - 4 seasons of "Winter"; Tchaikovsky - "The Nutcracker", No. 2 March; "Minuit Chrétien", which is the traditional French Christmas Carol Equivalent of O Holy Night.; "What kind of child is this?" by Chris Tomlin
Christmas Podcast
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Christmas Podcast
Here you can read the transcript of the podcast.
Holiday Tidbits
This is a pop quiz related to the holiday season. You can find some interesting reading materials as well.
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“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”– Lao Tsu
And we know how it continues .... step by step. Keep walking.
Certificate of achievement
Janos Blasszauer
Cultural Studies Focusing on holiday traditions
"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." – Robert Collier
December, 2024
Christmas in the UK
In the UK, families usually hang out together for Christmas. They often have a Christmas tree that everyone helps decorate. This tradition became popular thanks to Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, who brought it from Germany.
They also use holly, ivy, and mistletoe to deck out their homes.
You’ll see Christmas lights all over towns and cities during the holidays.
Kids write letters to Santa with their wish lists, and sometimes they toss them in the fireplace instead of mailing them. The smoke carries the letters up the chimney for Santa to read.
The dinner table has a Christmas Cracker for everyone, plus some flowers and candles.
It doesn’t snow much in the UK, but people still hope for a 'White Christmas'. It only happens about once every ten years.
It was Christmas Eve, and the snow was falling softly on the small town where the Smith family lived. The father, mother, and their four young children were gathered around the fireplace, sipping hot cocoa and enjoying each other’s company.Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. The father got up to answer it and found a man standing there with a large package in his hands.“Excuse me, sir,” the man said. “I’m new to this town, and I’m looking for the Johnson’s house. I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere.” The father could see that the man was shivering from the cold, and he felt sorry for him. “Come on in and warm up by the fire,” he said. The man gratefully accepted the invitation and sat down in a chair near the fireplace. Mother went to the kitchen to make him some hot cocoa, and the children couldn’t resist the opportunity to nose around and see what was in the man’s package.
As they gathered around, the man opened the package to reveal a beautiful, fragile glass doll. The children gasped in wonder as the man showed the beautiful gift.“Wow!” exclaimed the children. “That’s amazing!”The man smiled at their excitement and explained that the glass doll was a gift for his daughter, who lived in the area. “I wanted to give her something special for Christmas, and I haven’t seen her for some time” he said.When it was time for the man to leave, he thanked the family for their kindness and generosity. “I will always remember this Christmas,” he said, holding the glass doll in his hands.As he stepped out into the snowy night, the family watched him go, feeling grateful for the unexpected joy that had come into their lives that evening.So, to conclude, answer this question: How can small acts of kindness, like inviting a stranger into your home or giving toys to children, impact both the giver and the receiver. Think about it.
Letters From Father Christmas
Tolkien's letters are a cool mix of Norse myths, Christian stories, and dad vibes. They really show the magic of Christmas, and they're super personal. You can feel Tolkien's happiness in making his kids smile. The fancy words and myth references spark his family's wild imaginations while tying those myths to Truth, Goodness, and Beauty.
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas
If you haven't read Agatha Christie yet, now's your chance! Her books are some of the biggest sellers ever, right after the Bible. This one's a classic featuring the famous detective Hercule Poirot.
Charles Martin's The Mountain Between Us
This book has a really chilly vibe. It's a suspenseful tale about a guy and a girl who find love but almost lose their lives.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
The Grinch just can't stand Christmas. It's the worst! Everyone in Wheretown decorates trees, rustles bags, snacks on treats, and sings loudly. It drives him crazy! So, he decides to steal Christmas! Check it out in Dr. Seuss's book!
We’d like to share with you a remarkable Christmas story: one of courage, life, and love.Twenty-five years ago, Ray Anderson, a single parent with a one-year-old son, was returning home after running a few errands Christmas Eve when he witnessed a horrendous accident which took place when the driver of a truck ran a red light and collided with the car of Sandra Jenkins. The impact of the collision killed Sandra instantly, but her three-month-old daughter was left trapped upside down in the burning wreckage seemingly doomed to a fiery tomb. While others looked on in horror, Anderson jumped out of his vehicle and crawled into the car through the shattered rear window to try to free the infant. Seconds later, the car was totally engulfed in flames, but Anderson was miraculously able to pull the baby to safety. While the child came out of the accident virtually unscathed, Anderson suffered third degree burns over 80 percent of his body. Two days later, Anderson died, but his heroic act was published widely in the media. Anderson’s son was soon adopted by relative, and the family moved to the East Coast.he most remarkable part of this story unfolded only last week. Karen and her fiancé, Aaron, were looking through some old boxes in the attic of Karen’s home when they came across some old newspapers clippings. “This is me when I was a newborn baby.
I was rescued from a burning car, but my mother died in the accident,” explained Karen. Although Aaron knew Karen’s mother had died years earlier, he never fully understood the circumstances until he started to skim over the newspaper article. Karen continued to sort through some old books when saw Aaron absorbed in the details of the accident. Then she noticed, to her much surprise, tears swelling up in his eyes, and he began to cry uncontrollably. Then, in between sobs, he went on to reveal that the man that pulled her from the flames was his own father he never knew. The two embraced and shed many tears that afternoon, recounting stories told to them about their parents.What really drew their attention were some other details unknown to both of them until that moment. According to the article, Aaron’s father was on a mission of love that fateful Christmas Eve in the process of distributing care packages to needy families in the area. That was a yearly tradition that he performed unbeknownst to everyone except two close friends. This he did because of his firm conviction that the best Christmas gifts came not from the gift received, but from those given, and that those acts of charity should remain anonymous. As it turns out, Karen’s mother was also involved in similar volunteer work throughout the community.In honor of their parents and the desire to share the gift of Christmas, Aaron and Karen have committed to carry on similar acts of kindness. While hardship, grief, and tragedy plague our lives, the gift of the love seems to transcend all material obstacles and brings greater hope for those downtrodden and low in spirit.
Advent Calendars
Christmas calendars, which resemble modern calendars, appeared in the 1840s and 50s: Lutherans in Germany made them for children to make it easier for them to count down the time left until the holiday. Children had to pray and remember the good and bad things they had done the day before. Later, Catholic families also began to make calendars. Gradually, the tradition spread across Europe; for example, in Scandinavia - they divided a candle into 24 pieces, and each day during Advent, one of the pieces was lit. In the U.S., Advent calendars came about thanks to World War II soldiers who sent them to families. Using Advent calendars as a livelihood was first invented by Gerhard Lang, who was an impatient child. And already in the 20th century, the sale of Advent calendars became a profitable business. Many manufacturers began to produce them to introduce customers to their products, using them as advertising. Advent calendars continue to be popular to this day. This is obvious, because everyone wants to feel the atmosphere of Christmas and mystery, and in addition to get a nice surprise.
Electric lights on Xmas trees
Thomas Edison created the first practical light bulb and set up electric lights outside his lab in 1880. People saw electric lights for the first time, but it took almost 40 years for electric Christmas lights to become popular.
Before that, families used candles on their trees, which was pretty dangerous and led to fires. In 1882, Edward H. Johnson, a friend of Edison, made the first string of electric Christmas lights with 80 red, white, and blue bulbs on his tree, and it even spun!
At first, people were unsure about using electric lights for decorations. It took a bit for everyone to get used to it. President Grover Cleveland helped change that in 1895 by lighting the White House Christmas tree with colorful electric bulbs. Then, in 1923, President Calvin Coolidge kicked off the holiday season by lighting the National Christmas Tree with 3,000 electric lights.
While Edison and Johnson were trailblazers, it was Albert Sadacca who recognized the market for electric Christmas lights. In 1917, as a teen, he suggested that his family's novelty lighting store sell colorful strands for everyone.
Transcript
Emily: Um. We could prepare some cookies for him and some hot chocolate, and, um, we could give Rudolph some, um, hot chocolate in a bowl and a cookie. And we could give some of the reindeer some cookies and some hot chocolate in a bowl. Man: Well, what do you think? They, Um, reindeer probably don’t eat cookies, but what else could we give them, Mikey? Mikey: Um, apples. Man: Ah, that’s good. And, uh . . . Emily: Oranges and bananas. Man: Okay and what time do you think we should go to bed? Emily: Um, seven. Man: About seven o’clock. Well, that’s exciting. I’m really happy that Christmas is coming.
Man: Well, Christmas is almost here. So, what do you want from Santa this year? Mikey: A toy car and walkie-talkies. Man: Really? Well, and what about you, Emily? What do you want for Christmas? Emily: If I can’t have a Barbie radio, um, I would have some fragile dolls. And if I can’t have some fragile dolls, it doesn’t really matter what I get. Man: Wow. Well, I’m excited, and Santa’s coming. And how is Santa going to get inside the house, Mikey? Mikey: Um, go down the chimney . . . Man: Okay, so he’s going to go down the chimney, and should we prepare anything for Santa? Mikey: Yeah! Man: What are we going to prepare for him, Emily?
Christmas Elves 🎅 Santa's little helpers chill at the North Pole or Lapland. They're these tiny dudes in red and green suits, cranking out toys for kids. The workshop's always buzzing with little hammers and busy elf sounds. This idea of hard-working elves popped up in the 1800s, probably thanks to Louisa May Alcott, who drew from Scandinavian legends.
Santa's Reindeer 🦌
Santa's got nine reindeer pulling his sleigh. It started with eight, but then came Rudolf, the red-nosed reindeer. He got teased for his nose, but on a foggy Christmas Eve, his bright nose helped guide Santa. Now he's the leader and Santa's favorite! At first, publishers were iffy about telling his story because of his nose, but it turned into a huge hit with songs and cartoons, and now everyone loves him.
Mrs. Claus 🤶
Behind every great guy is an even greater gal, and Santa’s no different. Who else would greet him with milk and cookies after a long night? Mrs. Claus popped up in the 1800s when Santa was just a chubby elf. She's the perfect partner, quietly backing her hardworking hubby.
Questions
1. The writer doesn’t like Christmas. 2. He doesn’t like the commercialization of Christmas. 3. Cleaning up the needles from a real tree is not challenging. 4. He is impressed by the technology of fairy lights. 5. He doesn’t like any Christmas songs. 6. He mentions two kinds of parties he doesn’t like. 7. He thinks the film ‘Love Actually’ is realistic. 8. Christmas should be a time for visiting your family. 9. He thinks Cranberry sauce goes well with turkey. 10. He enjoys Christmas shopping. 11. He seems to prefer a rather traditional Christmas.
Pentatonix
This is the moment when I will advise you not just a song, but a separate selection of songs, because Pentatonix is the ambassador of Christmas Songs. It is important to note here that Pentatonix is an American a cappella group, that is, they perform their compositions mainly without musical accompaniment. However, this is the mastodon of Christmas albums and compositions. I advise you to listen to the most popular – "Hallelujah", "Mary, Did You Know?", "Carol of the Bells", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", "Let It Go", "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" and the song that started my love for Pentatonix - "That's Christmas to Me".
Christmas Activities
Janos Blasszauer
Created on December 10, 2024
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Transcript
Christmas Activities
READING - LISTENING - WRITING
CHRISTMAS IS COMING
Christmas Podcast
Holiday traditions Worldwide
Christmas Gift
Reading Section ( + music)
6-minute English-Christmas
Christmas Tidbits
The uniting power of christmas
Survey
CHRISTMAS IS COMING
Listening exercise
1.
Transcript
2.
3.
4.
5.
The CHRISTMAS Gift
Listening exercise
1.
Transcript
2.
3.
4.
5.
What’s the best tree to have at Christmas?
Listening exercise
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The uniting power of christmas
Listening exercise
1.
Transcript
2.
3.
4.
5.
Christmas all around the world
Christmas all around the world
Christmas all around the world
Christmas all around the world
Christmas all around the world
Christmas all around the world
Christmas all around the world
Christmas all around the world
Christmas all around the world
Holiday Traditions all around the world
ReadinG section
Here you can find some interesting reading materials.
Guiness Book of Records
In the first photo you can see the largest collection of souvenirs with Santa Claus. Her owner is Canadian Jean-Guy Laqueur. He began to collect his treasures in 1988, and by November 30, 2010, he is the owner of 25,104 different exhibits. This collection of Christmas items includes 2360 figurines, 2846 Christmas cards and cards, 1312 different napkins and 241 brooches and decorative pins.e are visual beings
On December 9, 2009, 13,000 Santa Clauses gathered at Guildhall Square in Darry, Ireland. This is the largest collection of Santas in the world.
This photo was taken from the world's largest gathering of Santa Claus helpers - 800 Christmas elves gathered in the South Wales city of Bridget, breaking the previous record set in 2009 in New York. Then "only" 607 elves gathere
The 4th photo shows the shopping arcade of Tanglin Mall in Singapore. From November 10, 1996 to January 3, 1997, the world's tallest Santa Claus adorned its entrance. The height of the figure was 15.6 m, width 11 m, depth 4 m. The structure was made of foam plastic on a metal frame, but still its weight was 2.5 tons.
One of the Christmas traditions in Rio de Janeiro is the installation of a floating Christmas tree. The largest such Christmas tree was launched in 2007. Its height was almost 85 m. The sponsor of this amazing Christmas tree was "Bradesco Seguros e Previdência" firm.
Great Books to Read at Christmas
Letters From Father Christmas Tolkien's letters are a cool mix of Norse myths, Christian stories, and a dad's love. They hit home because they capture the real magic of Christmas. Plus, they're super personal. You can feel the warmth and playful vibe as Tolkien enjoys entertaining his kids. The fancy words and myth references help spark his family's wild imaginations while connecting the myths to Truth, Goodness, and Beauty.
How the Grinch stole ChristmasThe Grinch doesn't like Christmas. He just doesn't like it, that's all. What a horrible time! All the adults and kids in Wheretown do is decorate Christmas trees with lights, rustle bags, eat all sorts of goodies and sing songs. And they make an unbearable amount of noise! How to stop them? So the Grinch decides... to steal Christmas! Read about it in Dr. Seuss's book!“It came without ribbons, it came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags.” — The Grinch“Maybe Christmas (he thought) doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more.” — The Grinch“No one should be alone on Christmas.” — Cindy Lou Who
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas If you haven't checked out Agatha Christie yet, now's a great time! Her books are super popular, second only to the Bible. This one's a classic featuring the iconic Hercule Poirot. Right before Christmas, Poirot gets approached by Mr. Jameson from the British government to help get back a priceless ruby that was stolen from a royal heir in a friendly eastern country. It's a tough job, but Poirot loves a good mystery. He'll be spending Christmas in the English countryside...
Charles Martin's The Mountain Between Us This book has a super chilly vibe. It's a gripping story about a guy and a girl who fall in love but face life-or-death situations. At Salt Lake City Airport, all flights are grounded due to bad weather. Ben and Ashley, who barely know each other, jump on a small private plane. Ashley's late for her wedding, and Ben, a surgeon, is late for surgery. Then, things go wrong, and the plane crashes in the mountains. The pilot doesn't survive, leaving just Ben and Ashley stuck in the snow. To escape, they have to pull off the impossible.
Great Christmas Songs 1
Let's chat about the Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey! Seriously, no Christmas in the US feels right without her song for over 20 years. And get this? She recorded it in just about fifteen minutes! Legend has it she wrote it just 'cause she loves Christmas. There are three music videos for this song. The first one's like a home video shot on 8 mm film, with Mariah as both the cameraman and director. The second is a cool black-and-white clip inspired by The Ronettes, also filmed by her. Then in 2015, an animated video for the remix came out. Finally, at the end of 2019, she dropped a new video for "All I Want for Christmas Is You."
One of my favorite songs for New Year's is from a Swedish group. It started as a comic track for a project that never happened. It took nearly ten years for it to become a hit worldwide. The lyrics are pretty sad. The last verse makes a lot of people feel like it’s about being unsure about the future, which is something people often feel before the new year. The song used to be called "Daddy Don't Get Drunk on Christmas Day". Overall, it’s not your typical happy New Year's song, but it’s really atmospheric and makes you think about what you’ve been through and what you still want to achieve.
So, there's this super famous New Year's song that everyone links to Christmas just 'cause of its name. George Michael and Andrew Ridgely got the idea while watching a football game at his parents' place. After the game, he spent the whole night writing the lyrics and music, and by morning, it was all done. Last Christmas is about a guy who's still bummed about his crush who ditched him. The chorus could've mentioned any holiday—like New Year, Easter, or Thanksgiving—and it wouldn’t change the feel. There are almost five hundred covers of Last Christmas, with artists like Billie Piper, Ashley Tisdale, Crazy Frog, Cascada, and Arctic Monkeys covering it. Seriously, check out the original version of this classic!
So, this song is like the ultimate Christmas jam, but believe it or not, it had nothing to do with Christmas or New Year's when it was first made. "Let It Snow" was actually written on one of the hottest days in Hollywood. It's about a couple chilling by the fire on a cold night, and the guy is totally happy about the snow because it gives him a reason to stick around a bit longer. No Christmas vibes at all! Vaughn Monroe was the first to perform it back in 1945, and it blew up, hitting the top of the Billboard charts. Since then, tons of famous artists like Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, Cliff Richard, and Billy Idol have sung it. You should definitely check out Frank Sinatra's version; it's super popular!
Great Christmas Songs 2
Queen released this song at the peak of its form in 1984. However, the song was not a phenomenal success. It was not included in any studio album, remained without a video clip and did not receive proper promotion on radio and television. However, this is another composition that was recorded in the hot summer. Brian May later recalled: "Well, it's funny that you have to do Christmas tracks in the summer, and you're not in the right mood at all. Because if you start making them for Christmas, it will obviously end before you release them."
Another well-known New Year's song that's super popular in movies and TV shows. Young country singer Bobby Helms first recorded it and dropped the single just two days before Christmas in 1957. It became a hit right away, hitting number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Funny enough, the singer didn't even want to record this big hit at first! But after it blew up, he re-recorded it a bunch of times later on. The word "Rock" in the title? Totally makes sense! It came out in 1957, right when rock and roll was taking off, and it's seen as the first Christmas song in that style.
"This Magic Moment is a song written by lyricist Doc Pomus and pianist Mort Shuman and is one of their most famous songs. The song is used in the movie 'Sandlot and was also performed in David Chase's TV show "The Sopranos Clan". This song, although not released in honor of Christmas, but perfectly suits its atmosphere. Just turn on this song when you are walking on a snowy street on cold winter evenings, and you will understand everything at once.
It was originally featured on the soundtrack of Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Darlene will cheer up the listener with her powerful vocals, and the saxophone actively helps her in this. The song became a hit in the USA and Britain, and a very cute video was shot for it, where Macaulay is producing this song together with the musicians. Unfortunately, the song is not particularly popular right now. So, I suggest you listen to her and help her get back into our Christmas playlists!
Great Christmas Songs 3
Well, since we are talking about the movie "Home Alone", it is important to note the main musical composition of the first film. The main theme of the film was composed by composer John Williams and even received two Oscar nominations for it. For the second part, the theme of the quail Bette Midler is undoubtedly a talented woman, there is also a cover in Spanish from Ana Belen. But I suggest you listen to the original version and the version with a chorus of angelic voices that symbolize the tranquility of winter holidays in childhood.
Nathaniel Adams Coles, professionally known as Nat King Cole, (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965) was an American jazz musician, singer and songwriter. He was born in the southern city of Montgomery, Alabama. His father was a Christian minister. Millions of Nat King Cole’s recordings were sold while he was alive. He died of lung cancer in February, 1965, when he was 45 years old. People around the world still enjoy listening to the music of one of America’s greatest performers of popular and jazz music"The Christmas Song" (commonly subtitled "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" or, as it was originally subtitled, "Merry Christmas to You") is a classic Christmas song written in 1945 by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé. The Nat King Cole Trio first recorded the song in June 1946.
It is impossible to imagine the New Year without classical compositions that are somehow connected with the Christmas theme. I suggest you listen to those compositions that I always associate with winter and winter holidays: Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake; Vivaldi - 4 seasons of "Winter"; Tchaikovsky - "The Nutcracker", No. 2 March; "Minuit Chrétien", which is the traditional French Christmas Carol Equivalent of O Holy Night.; "What kind of child is this?" by Chris Tomlin
Christmas Podcast
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You are going to listen to a Xmas podcast. You are kindly invited to do the 11 follow-up tru or false questions.
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Christmas Podcast
Here you can read the transcript of the podcast.
Holiday Tidbits
This is a pop quiz related to the holiday season. You can find some interesting reading materials as well.
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“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”– Lao Tsu
And we know how it continues .... step by step. Keep walking.
Certificate of achievement
Janos Blasszauer
Cultural Studies Focusing on holiday traditions
"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." – Robert Collier
December, 2024
Christmas in the UK
In the UK, families usually hang out together for Christmas. They often have a Christmas tree that everyone helps decorate. This tradition became popular thanks to Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, who brought it from Germany. They also use holly, ivy, and mistletoe to deck out their homes. You’ll see Christmas lights all over towns and cities during the holidays. Kids write letters to Santa with their wish lists, and sometimes they toss them in the fireplace instead of mailing them. The smoke carries the letters up the chimney for Santa to read. The dinner table has a Christmas Cracker for everyone, plus some flowers and candles. It doesn’t snow much in the UK, but people still hope for a 'White Christmas'. It only happens about once every ten years.
It was Christmas Eve, and the snow was falling softly on the small town where the Smith family lived. The father, mother, and their four young children were gathered around the fireplace, sipping hot cocoa and enjoying each other’s company.Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. The father got up to answer it and found a man standing there with a large package in his hands.“Excuse me, sir,” the man said. “I’m new to this town, and I’m looking for the Johnson’s house. I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere.” The father could see that the man was shivering from the cold, and he felt sorry for him. “Come on in and warm up by the fire,” he said. The man gratefully accepted the invitation and sat down in a chair near the fireplace. Mother went to the kitchen to make him some hot cocoa, and the children couldn’t resist the opportunity to nose around and see what was in the man’s package.
As they gathered around, the man opened the package to reveal a beautiful, fragile glass doll. The children gasped in wonder as the man showed the beautiful gift.“Wow!” exclaimed the children. “That’s amazing!”The man smiled at their excitement and explained that the glass doll was a gift for his daughter, who lived in the area. “I wanted to give her something special for Christmas, and I haven’t seen her for some time” he said.When it was time for the man to leave, he thanked the family for their kindness and generosity. “I will always remember this Christmas,” he said, holding the glass doll in his hands.As he stepped out into the snowy night, the family watched him go, feeling grateful for the unexpected joy that had come into their lives that evening.So, to conclude, answer this question: How can small acts of kindness, like inviting a stranger into your home or giving toys to children, impact both the giver and the receiver. Think about it.
Letters From Father Christmas Tolkien's letters are a cool mix of Norse myths, Christian stories, and dad vibes. They really show the magic of Christmas, and they're super personal. You can feel Tolkien's happiness in making his kids smile. The fancy words and myth references spark his family's wild imaginations while tying those myths to Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. Hercule Poirot’s Christmas If you haven't read Agatha Christie yet, now's your chance! Her books are some of the biggest sellers ever, right after the Bible. This one's a classic featuring the famous detective Hercule Poirot. Charles Martin's The Mountain Between Us This book has a really chilly vibe. It's a suspenseful tale about a guy and a girl who find love but almost lose their lives. How the Grinch Stole Christmas The Grinch just can't stand Christmas. It's the worst! Everyone in Wheretown decorates trees, rustles bags, snacks on treats, and sings loudly. It drives him crazy! So, he decides to steal Christmas! Check it out in Dr. Seuss's book!
We’d like to share with you a remarkable Christmas story: one of courage, life, and love.Twenty-five years ago, Ray Anderson, a single parent with a one-year-old son, was returning home after running a few errands Christmas Eve when he witnessed a horrendous accident which took place when the driver of a truck ran a red light and collided with the car of Sandra Jenkins. The impact of the collision killed Sandra instantly, but her three-month-old daughter was left trapped upside down in the burning wreckage seemingly doomed to a fiery tomb. While others looked on in horror, Anderson jumped out of his vehicle and crawled into the car through the shattered rear window to try to free the infant. Seconds later, the car was totally engulfed in flames, but Anderson was miraculously able to pull the baby to safety. While the child came out of the accident virtually unscathed, Anderson suffered third degree burns over 80 percent of his body. Two days later, Anderson died, but his heroic act was published widely in the media. Anderson’s son was soon adopted by relative, and the family moved to the East Coast.he most remarkable part of this story unfolded only last week. Karen and her fiancé, Aaron, were looking through some old boxes in the attic of Karen’s home when they came across some old newspapers clippings. “This is me when I was a newborn baby.
I was rescued from a burning car, but my mother died in the accident,” explained Karen. Although Aaron knew Karen’s mother had died years earlier, he never fully understood the circumstances until he started to skim over the newspaper article. Karen continued to sort through some old books when saw Aaron absorbed in the details of the accident. Then she noticed, to her much surprise, tears swelling up in his eyes, and he began to cry uncontrollably. Then, in between sobs, he went on to reveal that the man that pulled her from the flames was his own father he never knew. The two embraced and shed many tears that afternoon, recounting stories told to them about their parents.What really drew their attention were some other details unknown to both of them until that moment. According to the article, Aaron’s father was on a mission of love that fateful Christmas Eve in the process of distributing care packages to needy families in the area. That was a yearly tradition that he performed unbeknownst to everyone except two close friends. This he did because of his firm conviction that the best Christmas gifts came not from the gift received, but from those given, and that those acts of charity should remain anonymous. As it turns out, Karen’s mother was also involved in similar volunteer work throughout the community.In honor of their parents and the desire to share the gift of Christmas, Aaron and Karen have committed to carry on similar acts of kindness. While hardship, grief, and tragedy plague our lives, the gift of the love seems to transcend all material obstacles and brings greater hope for those downtrodden and low in spirit.
Advent Calendars
Christmas calendars, which resemble modern calendars, appeared in the 1840s and 50s: Lutherans in Germany made them for children to make it easier for them to count down the time left until the holiday. Children had to pray and remember the good and bad things they had done the day before. Later, Catholic families also began to make calendars. Gradually, the tradition spread across Europe; for example, in Scandinavia - they divided a candle into 24 pieces, and each day during Advent, one of the pieces was lit. In the U.S., Advent calendars came about thanks to World War II soldiers who sent them to families. Using Advent calendars as a livelihood was first invented by Gerhard Lang, who was an impatient child. And already in the 20th century, the sale of Advent calendars became a profitable business. Many manufacturers began to produce them to introduce customers to their products, using them as advertising. Advent calendars continue to be popular to this day. This is obvious, because everyone wants to feel the atmosphere of Christmas and mystery, and in addition to get a nice surprise.
Electric lights on Xmas trees
Thomas Edison created the first practical light bulb and set up electric lights outside his lab in 1880. People saw electric lights for the first time, but it took almost 40 years for electric Christmas lights to become popular. Before that, families used candles on their trees, which was pretty dangerous and led to fires. In 1882, Edward H. Johnson, a friend of Edison, made the first string of electric Christmas lights with 80 red, white, and blue bulbs on his tree, and it even spun! At first, people were unsure about using electric lights for decorations. It took a bit for everyone to get used to it. President Grover Cleveland helped change that in 1895 by lighting the White House Christmas tree with colorful electric bulbs. Then, in 1923, President Calvin Coolidge kicked off the holiday season by lighting the National Christmas Tree with 3,000 electric lights. While Edison and Johnson were trailblazers, it was Albert Sadacca who recognized the market for electric Christmas lights. In 1917, as a teen, he suggested that his family's novelty lighting store sell colorful strands for everyone.
Transcript
Emily: Um. We could prepare some cookies for him and some hot chocolate, and, um, we could give Rudolph some, um, hot chocolate in a bowl and a cookie. And we could give some of the reindeer some cookies and some hot chocolate in a bowl. Man: Well, what do you think? They, Um, reindeer probably don’t eat cookies, but what else could we give them, Mikey? Mikey: Um, apples. Man: Ah, that’s good. And, uh . . . Emily: Oranges and bananas. Man: Okay and what time do you think we should go to bed? Emily: Um, seven. Man: About seven o’clock. Well, that’s exciting. I’m really happy that Christmas is coming.
Man: Well, Christmas is almost here. So, what do you want from Santa this year? Mikey: A toy car and walkie-talkies. Man: Really? Well, and what about you, Emily? What do you want for Christmas? Emily: If I can’t have a Barbie radio, um, I would have some fragile dolls. And if I can’t have some fragile dolls, it doesn’t really matter what I get. Man: Wow. Well, I’m excited, and Santa’s coming. And how is Santa going to get inside the house, Mikey? Mikey: Um, go down the chimney . . . Man: Okay, so he’s going to go down the chimney, and should we prepare anything for Santa? Mikey: Yeah! Man: What are we going to prepare for him, Emily?
Christmas Elves 🎅 Santa's little helpers chill at the North Pole or Lapland. They're these tiny dudes in red and green suits, cranking out toys for kids. The workshop's always buzzing with little hammers and busy elf sounds. This idea of hard-working elves popped up in the 1800s, probably thanks to Louisa May Alcott, who drew from Scandinavian legends. Santa's Reindeer 🦌 Santa's got nine reindeer pulling his sleigh. It started with eight, but then came Rudolf, the red-nosed reindeer. He got teased for his nose, but on a foggy Christmas Eve, his bright nose helped guide Santa. Now he's the leader and Santa's favorite! At first, publishers were iffy about telling his story because of his nose, but it turned into a huge hit with songs and cartoons, and now everyone loves him. Mrs. Claus 🤶 Behind every great guy is an even greater gal, and Santa’s no different. Who else would greet him with milk and cookies after a long night? Mrs. Claus popped up in the 1800s when Santa was just a chubby elf. She's the perfect partner, quietly backing her hardworking hubby.
Questions
1. The writer doesn’t like Christmas. 2. He doesn’t like the commercialization of Christmas. 3. Cleaning up the needles from a real tree is not challenging. 4. He is impressed by the technology of fairy lights. 5. He doesn’t like any Christmas songs. 6. He mentions two kinds of parties he doesn’t like. 7. He thinks the film ‘Love Actually’ is realistic. 8. Christmas should be a time for visiting your family. 9. He thinks Cranberry sauce goes well with turkey. 10. He enjoys Christmas shopping. 11. He seems to prefer a rather traditional Christmas.
Pentatonix
This is the moment when I will advise you not just a song, but a separate selection of songs, because Pentatonix is the ambassador of Christmas Songs. It is important to note here that Pentatonix is an American a cappella group, that is, they perform their compositions mainly without musical accompaniment. However, this is the mastodon of Christmas albums and compositions. I advise you to listen to the most popular – "Hallelujah", "Mary, Did You Know?", "Carol of the Bells", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", "Let It Go", "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" and the song that started my love for Pentatonix - "That's Christmas to Me".