Christmas in the UK

Christmas in the UK is the biggest holiday of the year. Family gatherings, turkey and presents
are just some of the things that come to mind when we think about Christmas time.
Christmas is a Christian festival. Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Its very common
to send Christmas cards to friends and family in the weeks leading up to December 25th. Christmas is
traditionally a time for helping other people and giving money to charities. Christmas presents are
reserved for close friends and family.
The first day of the holiday is Christmas Eve, and it is celebrated on December 24 th. On
Christmas Eve, children hang up stockings for Father Christmas, also known as Santa Claus. Every
year small children tell him exactly what presents they would like to receive. They usually write him a
letter with a list of requests.
Christmas Day is on December 25th and then people give each other presents, or Christmas
Boxes. Christmas dinner is usually eaten in early afternoon. It traditionally includes roast turkey,
vegetables and potatoes. Dessert is a rich, fruity cake called Christmas pudding.
The day after Christmas is called Boxing Day. Some historians say that this holiday developed
because, back in the past, servants were required to work on Christmas Day, but took the next day off.
As servants prepared to leave to visit their families, their employers would give them gift boxes.
Exercises
1. Read the text and answer the questions.
a. Christmas is a festival which celebrates
_____________________________________.
b. It is celebrated on ______________________.
c. People usually send __________ to their friends and
family and give ________________________ in the
weeks before Christmas.
d. There is no child in the world who doesn't know
who is __________________________.
e. Christmas dinner in the UK includes ____________
__________________________________________.
f. Boxing Day is celebrated on ___________________.
g. Why is Boxing Day called like that?
2. Describe the traditional celebration of Christmas in
Serbia. Are there any similarities?