Presented by: Irina Pomazanovschi

Christmas

Christmas Vocabulary

The Candy cane

Poinsettias

Mistletoe

Christmas Stockings

Christmas cards

Santa Clause

Briefly explain the character of Scrooge. Brainstorm all the possible reasons why Christmas should be cancelled this year. Write them on the board. Students then talk in pairs about whether they agree with any of the reasons.

Christmas Tradition: Tree Decoration

In 16th-century Germany fir trees were decorated, both indoors and out, with apples, roses, gilded candies, and colored paper.

A fir tree hung with apples was used to symbolize the Garden of Eden — the Paradise Tree. 

Christmas Comes to the White House

View from the Grand FoyerThe tree stands in the Blue Room, and the large stone urns are filled with birch, beech and crystal branches.

The China Room: Decorated in red and turquoise, the room centers around a table set with china, silver and glassware from the Clinton and Reagan years.

Stae Dining Room: Vintage-style ornaments and presents wrapped with satin ribbon decorate the Christmas trees.

The White House estimates that 100,000 people will visit the building this year.

XMAS  ROLE PLAY:Assign each student a different Xmas

character. Tell them to mill around introducing themselves and comparing notes on what it’s like being who they are. Roles might include: Santa, a snowman, Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer, a North Pole penguin, the Xmas tree fairy, the Christmas turkey, any other characters related to your students’ cultures …

HE MAGIC OF XMAS:What makes Xmas magical for you? Here

are some categories. Talk about them with your partner and rank which in order of importance – food / presents / family / lights / shopping / alcohol / church / no work / no school / other.

THE NIGHTMARE OF XMAS: What makes Xmas a nightmare for you?

Here are some categories. Talk about them with your partner and rank which in order of ‘nightmare ness’ – food / bad presents / family / shopping / alcohol / hangover / small children / Frosty the Snowman songs / cold weather / other.