CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

Christmas is probably the most festive time of the year, a season of gift-giving and celebration. We all know that Christmas is a religious holiday, which marks the birth of Jesus Christ. But did you also know that some of the traditions are adapted from rituals dating back to a time before Christianity? any pagan peoples regarded the winter solstice as a time of celebration. !nticipating the return of spring, people decorated their homes with evergreen plants, a symbol of eternal life. istletoe was especially popular, as it was believed to have magic powers. "eople hung sprigs of mistletoe in their homes and kissed beneath them as a gesture of friendship. !t pagan festivals there was also a lot of singing and dancing going on # $dancing in a circle% is the original meaning of the word $carol%. &till now we keep these traditions up' we sing Christmas carols and dance around in circles, we kiss beneath the mistletoe and we decorate our homes with Christmas trees. By the way, did you know that it was a (erman who set the trend of decorating Christmas trees in )ngland? *t was "rince !lbert, +ueen ,ictoria-s husband. When he moved to )ngland, Christmas trees had already been popular in continental )urope, but not in )ngland. *n ./0., "rince !lbert put up a Christmas tree at Windsor Castle. 1he event was reported in the press2 and as the whole country was very keen on the royal family, people enthusiastically took up the custom of decorating a tree at Christmas. *n )nglish speaking countries, children don-t get their presents on Christmas )ve 340 5ecember6. &anta comes at night when everyone is asleep. &anta-s reindeer can fly and take him from house to house. 1hey land on the roofs of the houses and then &anta climbs down the chimney to leave the presents under the Christmas tree. *n the morning of Christmas 5ay 347 5ecember6, children usually get up very early to unwrap their presents. 1hen they have plenty of time to play with their new toys. Christmas dinner is served in the early afternoon. ost people eat turkey and sprouts and a Christmas pudding. 48 5ecember is called Bo9ing 5ay. *t hasn-t always been a holiday. "eople used to go back to work on that day where their bosses gave them little Christmas presents in small bo9es. 1hat-s why the day is

called Bo9ing 5ay.

Silent Night
&ilent night, holy night: !ll is calm, all is bright. ;ound yon ,irgin, other and Child. <oly infant so tender and mild, &leep in heavenly peace, &leep in heavenly peace. &ilent night, holy night: &hepherds =uake at the sight. (lories stream from heaven afar. <eavenly hosts sing !lleluia, Christ the &avior is born: Christ the &avior is born. &ilent night, holy night: &on of (od love-s pure light. ;adiant beams from 1hy holy face. With dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus >ord, at 1hy birth. Jesus >ord, at 1hy birth.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

;udolph the ;ed-?osed ;eindeer <ad a very shiny nose, !nd if you ever saw it, @ou could even say it glows. !ll of the other reindeer Ased to laugh and call him names2 1hey never let poor ;udolph Join in any reindeer games. 1hen one foggy Christmas )ve, &anta came to say' $;udolph with your nose so bright, Won-t you guide my sleigh tonight?% 1hen how the reindeer loved him !s they shouted out with glee, $;udolph the ;ed-?osed ;eindeer, @ou-ll go down in history.%

B Christmas 1ree:
B Christmas tree, B Christmas tree: <ow are thy leaves so verdant: B Christmas tree, B Christmas tree, <ow are thy leaves so verdant: ?ot only in the summertime, But even in winter is thy prime. B Christmas tree, B Christmas tree, <ow are thy leaves so verdant: B Christmas tree, B Christmas tree, uch pleasure doth thou bring me: B Christmas tree, B Christmas tree, uch pleasure doth thou bring me: Cor every year the Christmas tree, Brings to us all both Doy and glee. B Christmas tree, B Christmas tree, uch pleasure doth thou bring me: B Christmas tree, B Christmas tree, 1hy candles shine out brightly: B Christmas tree, B Christmas tree, 1hy candles shine out brightly: )ach bough doth hold its tiny light, 1hat makes each toy to sparkle bright. B Christmas tree, B Christmas tree, 1hy candles shine out brightly:

1he >ittle 5rummer Boy

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum ! new born Eing to see, pa rum pum pum pum Bur finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum 1o lay before the Eing, pa rum pum pum pum ;um pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum. &o to honor <im, pa rum pum pum pum, When we come. >ittle Baby, pa rum pum pum pum * am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum * have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum 1hat-s fit to give our Eing, pa rum pum pum pum ;um pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum. &hall * play for you, pa rum pum pum, Bn my drum. ary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum 1he o9 and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum * played my drum for <im, pa rum pum pum * played my best for <im, pa rum pum pum pum ;um pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum. 1hen <e smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum, e and my drum.