C H R I S T M A S I N U K N I I N T G E D D O M

Christmas is the time when the Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. We call it Christmas because we celebrate the “ Mass”, or church service, for Christ. In the year 440 the Christian Church fixed a celebration date of 25 December. CHRISTMAS IN UK

Christmas is a magical season where all the people are happy. Family and friends share the much loved customs and traditions. People send cards, watch nativities plays, go to carol services, put up Christmas decoration in their houses and churches. In England, Santa Claus or Father Christmas comes and gives presents but the Magic Kings come only to Spain. CHRISTMAS IN ENGLAND

PHOTOS

Many of their customs and traditions began long before Jesus’ birth. They come from festivals when the days were shortest, they believed the sun would be strong, the Romans decorated the homes with evergreen to have a good harvest and to have the following spring. Father Christmas, Christmas cards and crackets were added. HISTORY OF BRITISH CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS

PHOTOS

2.Christmas in the UK In the UK the family stay all together at home in Christmas Day. Everything starts by sending postcards and installing a Christmas tree.

Christmas Eve Christmas Eve: The children hang the socks on the chimney or on the bottom of their beds. During the night Father Christmas leaves the presents in the socks.

Boxing Day Boxing Day: It´s on 26th of December and it is a party because they receive their Christmas box. They visit friends and family and they soccer other traditional British sports.

New year They have got a tradition for this day: the first person who walks under the door, brings luck to the house for the new year, this tradition is called “first step”. In Wales, at the first stroke they open the back door so that the old tear can leave and in the last stroke they open the front door so that the new year can come in.

3-IMPORTANT MEALS *Christmas Eve drink: (24th, December). - Posset ** Christmas dinner: (25th, December). - Roast turkey - Dessert *** Christmas tea: (25th, December).

Nowadays, this is offered to children that sing carols from house to house. * EVE DRINK: posset Posset is a very old drink. It was used as a cure for illnesses.

** Christmas dinner First: Roast turkey with...

brussels sprouts roast potatoes cranberry sauce rich nutty stuffing tiny sausages wrapped in bacon lashings of hot gravy

Then . . .

Dessert Fruity pudding which is doused in flaming brandy, to ward off evil spirits.

*** Christmas tea To celebrate Christmas with family and friends. Tea with cookies, cake and nougat.

4. CHRISTMAS PRESENTS TYPICAL PRESENTS

F l o w e r s

Toys Jewelry V I D E O G A M E S  bracelet

FATHER CHRISTMAS  

The little children believe that the 24th of December, at nigth, Father Christmas go to the houses and put the presents under christmas tree and in christmas day they open them.

5.Compare to Spanish Christmas In the UK Santa Claus or Father Christmas goes to the houses and leave presents under the Christmas tree. But in Spain it’s different, for some people Santa Claus exists but he is called Papa Noel (for spanish children, Papa Noel goes in the 24th December). But the most important characters in Spanish Christmas are The Three Kings or the Three Wise Men (in spanish ‘’Los Reyes Magos’’).

The Three Kings or The Three Wise Men When December comes, all the boys and girls in Spain start to write their letters to the Three Kings or to their favorite King: Melchor, Gaspar or Baltasar. They write about the things they'd like to receive on the morning of the 6th of January, and also about their behavior during the year. If they’ve been good, they get presents; if they’ve been bad, they get a piece of coal (it's very unusual to bring coal because many people say it's not true that naughty girls and boys get only coal and no toys). Their Majesties travel by camel and due to the fact that they come from the East, they take a long time to arrive to Spain.

Christmas Eve In the UK: It’s in 24th December, the time when Father Christmas comes and leave presents under the Christmas tree, or leave candies on the Christmas stocks. In Spain: It’s on 24th December too. Christmas Eve is called Nochebuena in Spanish (Goodnight) and it is the most important family gathering of the year. In the evening people often meet early for a few drinks with friends then return home to enjoy a meal with the family. For some people, in this date, Papa Noel comes and leaves presents too.

 New Year's Eve  In the UK: England celebrates the New Year from the evening of December 31st into January 1st. It’s usually to used fireworks in this night. In Spain: It’s in 31st December. New Year's Eve is known as NocheVieja. It is a big celebration all over the country with street parties and special nights in hotels and clubs everywhere. Until midnight people tend to stay at home and on the stroke of midnight it is traditional to eat 12 grapes, one on each stroke of the clock to bring good luck for the new year.  Grapes in ‘’Noche Vieja’’ Fireworks in the New Year’s Eve

* Sources * Google: Images Wikipedia Own files http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/eve.html ********************************************************************************************************** IES Tiempos Modernos ENGLISH Teacher’s name: María Jesús Lázaro School year 2011-2012 Date: 15th December 2011 By: Alberto, Nerea, Alejandro, Adrián H., Lucía Group 5 / 2nd G