CHRISTMAS UK/USA

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1,2

CHRISTMAS

25TH AND 26TH OF DECEMBER

Dear Santa

Dear Santa, did you get my tweet


of presents I would think are sweet?


And what about my Facebook post


of toys and stuff I want the most?

Dear Santa, did you read my blog?


That’s where I keep a running log


of all the times that I’ve been good


and doing things I know I should.

I hope you saw my Instagram,


my email wasn’t flagged as spam,


you’ve seen my YouTube channel too


and all my texts have made it through.

Wait, does the North Pole even get


computers and the Internet?


I hope it does. I mean, it better,


or I might have to write a letter.

Goals of this lesson:

- Practise your listening skills 

- Learn about the main differences between American and British Christmas celebrations

- Learn a bit more about Christmas in general

What do you know about Christmas

USA
Send the letters to Santa by putting them in the mailbox.

UK
Throw letters in the fire, the smoke brings them directly to the North Pole. 

• Letters to father Christmas

USA

Around the fireplace for Santa to fill with presents.

UK

Around the bed > being surrounded by presents is a great way to 

wake up.

• Hanging stockings

• Christmas crackers

- When opening you hear a loud 'cracking' noise

- Inside is a plastic prize, a paper crown and a terrible joke

• Christmas hats

- mandatory to wear (verplicht)

- 90% tries to make the grumpiest relative wear the crown

• Christmas dinner

A British Christmas dinner is just as big as an American one

• Christmas dinner

Main dish: roast turkey

+ bacon wrapped chipolata sausages
+ roast potatoes

+ veggies - traditionally Brussel sprouts

USA

- pumpkin pie

- pecan pie

UK

- 'Christmas pudding'

• Christmas dessert

Christmas pudding

- boiled cake 

> flavoured with dried fruit and spices

> soaked in alcohol, aged for several months, boiled AGAIN, soaked in alcohol AGAIN 

> set on fire!

• The royal Christmas message

- on Christmas day Her Majesty the Queen 

gives a holiday speech

- talks about events of the past year

-  similar to our 'troonrede'

• Boxing day

- the day after Christmas day: 26th of December

-  "workers would receive a box of gifts from their bosses"

- "when people would box up gifts for the poor"

> NOW:  shopping

USA

- some people leave their old brown dry withered Christmas trees until the 4th of July.

wither = verwelken

UK

- tree + decoration should be taken down within 12 days after Christmas  

> if you don't, you'll have bad luck for the rest of the year

• Taking down the Christmas tree

When is BOXING DAY?

1. 24th of December
2. 25th of December
3. 26th of December
4. 27th of December

What is the last step of making a 'CHRISTMAS PUDDING'?

1. Soak in alcohol
2. Set on fire
3. Boil it
4. Age for several months

Who has to wear the PAPER CROWN?

1. Happiest relative
2. Saddest relative
3. Grumpiest relative
4. Angriest relative

How do they send letters to Santa in the UK?

1. They don't
2. E-mail
3. Throwing them into the fire
4. Putting them in the mailbox

How many days after Christmas should you take down the Christmas tree and the decorations?

1. 12
2. 15
3. 10
4. 6

What is the main dish during a CHRISTMAS DINNER?

1. Bacon wrapped sausages
2. Turkey
3. Veggies
4. Brussel sprouts

What is NOT in a CHRISTMAS CRACKER?

1. Terrible joke
2. Paper crown
3. A candle
4. Plastic prize

Where do the AMERICANS hang up their CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS?

1. Next to the bed
2. At the fireplace
3. Near the front door
4. They don't

What does the Queen do on CHRISTMAS DAY?

1. Give a speech
2. Nothing
3. Play videogames
4. Sleep all day

Christmas crossword

Do the crossword on the next slide.

Have fun!

https:

What is/are your Christmas wish(es) for our class?