Học Tiếng Anh chủ đề Giáng sinh: Christmas in English speaking countries
Học Tiếng Anh chủ đề Giáng sinh: Noel ở các nước nói Tiếng Anh
Lễ Giáng Sinh, còn được gọi là lễ Thiên Chúa giáng sinh, Noel hay Christmas là một ngày lễ kỷ niệm Chúa Giêsu sinh ra đời. Ngày lễ được cử hành chính thức vào ngày 25 tháng 12 nhưng thường được mừng từ tối ngày 24 tháng 12 bởi theo lịch Do Thái, thời điểm tính bắt đầu một ngày là lúc hoàng hôn chứ không phải nửa đêm. Lễ chính thức ngày 25 tháng 12 được gọi là "lễ chính ngày", còn lễ đêm 24 tháng 12 gọi là "lễ vọng" và thường thu hút nhiều người tham dự hơn. Ỡ mỗi quốc gia, người ta lại có những cách tổ chức Noel khác nhau. Mời các bạn cùng tìm hiểu nhé.
Christmas in England
In English speaking countries, children don't get their presents on Christmas Eve (24 December). Santa comes at night when everyone is asleep. Santa's reindeer can fly and take him from house to house. They land on the roofs of the houses and then Santa climbs down the chimney to leave the presents under the Christmas tree.
In the morning of Christmas Day (25 December), children usually get up very early to unwrap their presents. Then they have plenty of time to play with their new toys.
Christmas dinner is served in the early afternoon. Most people eat turkey and sprouts and a Christmas pudding.
26 December is called Boxing Day. It hasn't always been a holiday. People used to go back to work on that day where their bosses gave them little Christmas presents in small boxes. That's why the day is called Boxing Day.
Questions on the text
Answer the questions according to the text.
1. Santa's sleigh lands ...
- in front of the house
- in the sitting room
- on top of the house
2. Santa puts the presents ...
- under the tree
- in the chimney
- in his bag
3. Why is 26 December called Boxing Day?
- People used to fight for their presents on that day.
- People hang around all day watching TV.
- People received little gift boxes on that day.
Christmas in New Zealand
New Zealand is on the southern hemisphere. Our winter is their summer, so New Zealanders celebrate Christmas in the warm summer sun. Many flowers and trees are in bloom at this time of the year, for example the pohutukawa. The pohutukawa tree grows on the North Island, mainly in coastal areas and has lovely red blossoms. Therefore New Zealanders call the pohutukawa their Christmas tree.
As it is usually quite warm on Christmas Day, New Zealanders can eat their Christmas dinner outside. Many people have a picnic or a barbecue. And some people even have a traditional Maori hangi: they dig a hole in the ground and heat it with hot stones. Then they put meat and vegetables into this hole, cover the hole and let the food cook inside. The hangi is served in the afternoon or evening; after the delicious meal, people often sit around and sing Christmas carols.
Some New Zealanders can't get enough of Christmas–they celebrate it twice each year: on 25 December and in July, which is mid-winter in New Zealand. So if you go to New Zealand in July, you may find hotels and restaurants fully decorated for Christmas.
Questions on the text
Answer the questions according to the text.
1. In New Zealand, Chistmas Day is in ...
- spring
- summer
- autumn
- winter
2. What is a hangi?
- New Zealand's Christmas tree
- the Maori word for 'Christmas'
- something to eat
3. Some New Zealanders celebrate Christmas in July.
- true
- False
Irish Christmas Traditions
Ireland, like most countries, has a number of Christmas traditions that are all of its own. Many of these customs have their root in the time when the Gaelic culture and religion of the country were being supressed and it is perhaps because of that they have survived into modern times.
The Candle in the Window
The placing of a lighted candle in the window of a house on Christmas eve is still practised today. It has a number of purposes but primarily it was a symbol of welcome to Mary and Joseph as they travelled looking for shelter.
The candle also indicated a safe place for priests to perform mass as, during Penal Times this was not allowed.
The Laden Table
After evening meal on Christmas eve the kitchen table was again set and on it were placed a loaf of bread filled with caraway seeds and raisins, a pitcher of milk and a large lit candle. The door to the house was left unlatched so that Mary and Joseph, or any wandering traveller, could avail of the welcome.
The Wren Boy Procession
During Penal Times there was once a plot in a village against the local soldiers. They were surrounded and were about to be ambushed when a group of wrens pecked on their drums and awakened the soldiers. The plot failed and the wren became known as "The Devil's bird".
On St. Stephens Day a procession takes place where a pole with a holly bush is carried from house to house and families dress up in old clothes and with blackened faces. In olden times an actual wren would be killed and placed on top of the pole.
This custom has to a large degree disappeared but the tradition of visiting from house to house on St. Stephens Day has survived and is very much part of Christmas.
Decorations:
The placing of a ring of Holly on doors originated in Ireland as Holly was one of the main plants that flourished at Christmas time and which gave the poor ample means with which to decorate their dwellings.
All decorations are traditionally taken down on Little Christmas (January 6th.) and it is considered to be bad luck to take them down beforehand.
Traditional Gaelic Salutation
The Gaelic greeting for "Merry Christmas" is: "Nollaig Shona Duit" ... which is pronounced as "null-ig hun-a dit".
