Christmas

Vocabulary Building
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Christmas Time



Christmas is a special time of year. Many people put up a Christmas tree in their homes. They decorate it with colorful balls and bright Christmas lights. Some people put an angel on top of the tree.

During Christmas, houses look very festive. People hang holly with red berries on their doors and put mistletoe inside their homes. When two people stand under the mistletoe, they often kiss for good luck.

Father Christmas, also known as Santa Claus, is a man with a long white beard. Children believe he travels in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. He visits homes on Christmas Eve and puts presents in stockings or under the tree.

On Christmas Day, families enjoy a big meal together. Many people eat turkey with vegetables. After dinner, they might pull Christmas crackers, which make a small bang and contain small toys or jokes. For dessert, they often eat Christmas pudding or Christmas cake.

Some families light candles or sit by the fireplace to keep warm. Outside, children might play with sparklers, which are small fireworks they can hold safely.

Christmas is a time for giving presents, eating good food, and spending time with family and friends.



Reading Comprehension Questions:

1. What do people decorate their Christmas trees with?
2. What is mistletoe used for at Christmas?
3. How does Father Christmas travel?
4. What do children believe Father Christmas puts in their stockings?
5. What do many families eat for their main Christmas meal?
6. What happens when people pull Christmas crackers?
7. What do families often eat for dessert at Christmas?

True/False Statements:

1. People put holly with white berries on their doors.
2. Father Christmas has a short black beard.
3. Reindeer pull Father Christmas's sleigh.
4. Christmas crackers contain small toys or jokes.
5. Christmas pudding is a main meal dish.
6. Candles help keep people warm at Christmas.
7. Sparklers are big fireworks that cannot be held.

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Personal Questions

• What kind of [bell | angel | ball | Christmas light | candle] do you like the most and why? Model answer (bell): "I like small silver bells the most. They make a nice sound when you shake them. I have some bells on my Christmas tree. They look pretty and shiny. Sometimes I like to touch them to hear their sweet sound."

• How often do you use [mistletoe | holly | Christmas cracker | Father Christmas | sparkler] during Christmas celebrations? Model answer (mistletoe): "I use mistletoe every Christmas. I put it above the door in my house. When friends come to visit, they stand under it. It's a fun tradition. I get new mistletoe each year because the old one dries out."

• Do you prefer homemade or store-bought [Christmas candy | Christmas pudding | Christmas cake | present | stocking]? Model answer (Christmas cake): "I prefer homemade Christmas cake. My mother makes it every year. It has lots of fruit and nuts inside. The taste is much better than cakes from shops. Also, our house smells wonderful when she bakes it."

• Where do you usually put your [Christmas tree | sleigh | reindeer | turkey | fireplace] decoration? Model answer (Christmas tree): "I put my Christmas tree in the living room corner. It's next to the window so people outside can see it. I decorate it with my family. We put it up two weeks before Christmas Day. It makes our home feel special."

• Can you describe how to make or prepare a [Christmas candy | Christmas pudding | Christmas cake | turkey | Christmas cracker]? Model answer (turkey): "To prepare a turkey, first you clean it. Then you put salt and spices on it. You can put bread stuffing inside. Then you cook it in the oven for several hours. You need to check it often so it doesn't get too dry."

• What was the best [present | Christmas candy | Christmas cake | Christmas cracker | stocking] you ever received or gave? Model answer (present): "The best present I ever received was a book from my father. It was about animals, which I love. I read it many times. It had beautiful pictures inside. I still have this book on my shelf at home."

• How important is [Father Christmas | reindeer | Christmas tree | fireplace | turkey] in your family's Christmas tradition? Model answer (Christmas tree): "A Christmas tree is very important in my family. We cannot imagine Christmas without it. We all help to decorate it together. We put our presents under it. We take many photos next to our tree every year."

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One-Minute Talking Points

BELL

1. What is a bell? (cup-shaped, tinkles)
2. Types of bells you know?
3. Where do you hear bells?
4. Bells at Christmas time?
5. Bell sounds you enjoy?
6. Do you have bell decorations?
7. Bells in your country's traditions?
8. Favorite memory involving bells?

CHRISTMAS TREE

1. What is a Christmas tree? (evergreen, decorated)
2. When do you put it up?
3. Who decorates it in family?
4. Real or artificial tree preference?
5. What decorations do you use?
6. Where do you place it?
7. Feelings when you see it?
8. Tree traditions in your country?

PRESENT

1. What are Christmas presents? (gifts, surprises)
2. Best present you received?
3. How do you choose presents?
4. When do you open them?
5. Wrapping presents - who does it?
6. Budget for Christmas presents?
7. Handmade or bought presents preference?
8. Present traditions in your family?

FATHER CHRISTMAS

1. Who is Father Christmas? (Santa, beard)
2. Did you believe in him?
3. How does he enter homes?
4. Letters to Father Christmas?
5. How does he travel?
6. Father Christmas in your country?
7. Tell about meeting Santa experience?
8. Why do children love him?

CHRISTMAS LIGHT

1. What are Christmas lights? (electricity, bright)
2. Colors you prefer for lights?
3. Where do you put them?
4. Indoor or outdoor lights preference?
5. When do you switch them on?
6. Light displays in your town?
7. Feelings when seeing Christmas lights?
8. Energy concerns with lights?

CHRISTMAS PUDDING

1. What is Christmas pudding? (thick, dessert)
2. Have you ever tried it?
3. Main ingredients in it?
4. When do people eat it?
5. Traditional pudding customs?
6. Make it yourself or buy?
7. Pudding alternatives you prefer?
8. Pudding traditions in your country?

TURKEY

1. What is turkey? (big bird)
2. How is it prepared?
3. When do you eat it?
4. What do you serve with it?
5. Who cooks it in family?
6. Alternative Christmas main dishes?
7. Leftover turkey - what to do?
8. Traditional Christmas meat in country?

REINDEER

1. What are reindeer? (animal, sleigh)
2. Names of Santa's reindeer?
3. Have you seen real reindeer?
4. Favorite reindeer character?
5. Reindeer in stories or movies?
6. Why pull Santa's sleigh?
7. Reindeer in your country?
8. Drawing or decorating reindeer?

STOCKING

1. What is a Christmas stocking? (present, clothing)
2. Where do you hang it?
3. What goes inside stockings?
4. Who fills stockings in family?
5. Stocking size and appearance?
6. Do adults get stockings too?
7. When do you open stockings?
8. Stocking traditions in your country?

CHRISTMAS CAKE

1. What is Christmas cake? (sweet, baked)
2. Main ingredients inside it?
3. When do people eat it?
4. Homemade or bought preference?
5. How is it decorated?
6. Who makes it in family?
7. Christmas cake alternatives?
8. Cake traditions in your country?

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People should celebrate Christmas

Linkers: It's true, but..., I agree because..., I don't agree..., On the other hand..., For example...

For

• Christmas brings families and friends together — keywords: family, together, visit
• Children feel happy and excited with gifts — keywords: children, gifts, smile
• Christmas is a time to give and help others — keywords: give, help, charity
• Traditions and songs make culture and memories — keywords: tradition, song, memory
• Decorations and lights make places beautiful — keywords: lights, tree, decorate

Against

• Christmas can be too expensive for many people — keywords: money, gifts, cost
• Some people feel lonely at this time of year — keywords: lonely, alone, sad
• The holiday is very commercial with many ads — keywords: shop, ads, buy
• Not everyone shares the same religion or beliefs — keywords: different, religion, not same
• Decorations and waste can harm the environment — keywords: waste, tree, recycle

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