Christmas.

Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Every year more than 400 million people all over the world celebrate Christmas. People celebrate the birth of the Christ , that’s why many of them go to the church. For them it is the happiest and the busiest time of the year.

People of different countries celebrate this day in different ways. They decorate their homes with Christmas trees and coloured lights. Most people, also put decorations on and around their houses with such a symbol of Christmas as mistltoe plants. They believe that this plant has magical powers. It can help peaceful and friendly people come in and keep out witches or evil spirits.

Christmas carols are heard everywhere. The most famous one is “The Silent Night”. Children write letters to Santa Claus and tell him what presents they would like to get. The most common sentence in a Christmas card is “Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”. The first Christmas card was created and sent in 1843. A man named John Calcott Horsley printed the first Christmas card for Sir Henry Cole, the friend who had given him this idea.

Christmas is a family holiday and a special Christmas family meal is traditionally an important part of the holiday's celebration. A traditional Christmas dinner consists of stuffed turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and many other dishes. Some families have ham or roast goose instead of turkey. Pumpkin pie, plum pudding, and fruitcake are favourite desserts. When the Elizabeth Tower strikes twelve they drink a toast to the New Year

Many children believe that Santa Claus arrives on Christmas Eve in a sleigh pulled by a reindeer and brings presents. Some children hang up stockings so Santa Claus can fill them with candies, fruit and other small gifts. On Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, families open their presents which they find under the Christmas tree.

Christmas Day is the one day of the year when London practically shuts down. Major sights and shops close their doors, the Tube and buses come to a standstill, and most people are at home unwrapping presents.

ИСТОЧНИКИ:

1. http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org

2. http://www.merry-christmas.com

3. http://englishstory.ru

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7. Английский язык. Учебник для 3 класса школ с углубленным изучением англ. языка.  Верещагина И.Н., Притыкина Т.А.