CONTAINED

THE MOST IMPORTANT DAYS

How is Christmas in England
The boxing day
November 15
Christmas Eve
CHRISTMAS GASTRONOMY

Turkey
Roast Potatoes
Stuffing
Pigs in Blankets
Yorkshire Pudding
Gravy

TYPICAL THINGS OF CHRISTMAS

Christmas crackers
Christmas tree
Christmas Cards
 technical secondary school 101
ENGLISH III

My name is: Paula Hernández Rizo

My teacher´s name is: Yazmín
Grade: 3º
Group: (E)
Orderly turn: Morning
Period: 2

School cycle:

2018-2019
 THE MOST IMPORTANT DAYS
OF CHRISTMAS
THE MOST IMPORTANT DAYS OF

HOW IS CHRISTMAS
IN ENGLAND
Christmas is a time that is celebrated throughout the
world. Although many of the customs and traditions of
Christmas are shared, there are many more that are
celebrated in certain countries. Some students take
advantage of this holiday period to improve their English
and know step
.
by step what Christmas is like in another
country.
In London, for example, the streets are flooded with
people singing Christmas carols, the squares are filled
with small markets full of gifts and elements to decorate;
There are trees, lights and garlands, and in the
atmosphere you can see the joy and the illusion that these
dates deserve.
The city of Bath (where the famous University of Bath is) is
well known at this time for its many markets and stalls in
the cobbled streets that characterize the city.
Christmas day is usually a dinner with turkey, chicken or
stuffed goose and then enjoy the typical desserts such as
Christmas pudding, a very sweet cream flambéed with
brandy, and fruit tarts.
While here the king's message is televised on New Year's
Eve, in London the Queen's Message is seen on 1
 THE MOST IMPORTANT DAYS
OF CHRISTMAS

BOXING DAY
The 26th
DAY AFTER December is
also St.
Boxing Day takes place on December 26th and is only
CHRISTMAS Stephen's Day.
Just to confuse
celebrated in a few countries; mainly ones historically things, there are

connected to the UK (such as Canada, Australia, South two St.

Stephens in
Africa and New Zealand) and in some European history! The first
St. Stephen is
countries. In Germany it is known as "Zweite Feiertag” believed to have
(which means 'second celebration') and also “Zweiter been a very
early follower of
Weihnachtsfeiertag” which translates as Boxing Day Jesus and he is
(although it doesn’t literally mean that)! said to have
been the first
It was started in the UK about 800 years ago, during the Christian Martyr
(a person who
Middle Ages. It was the day when the alms box, collection dies for their
religious
boxes for the poor often kept in churches, were beliefs). The
traditionally opened so that the contents could be Bible says that
Stephen (who
distributed to poor people. Some churches still open these was a Jew) was
boxes on Boxing Day. stoned to death
by some other
It might have been the Romans that first brought this type Jews (who
didn't believe in
of collecting box to the UK, but they used them to collect Jesus).

money for the betting games which they played during

their winter celebrations!
It was also traditional that servants got the day off to
celebrate Christmas with their families on Boxing Day.
Before World War II, it was common for working people
(such as milkmen and butchers) to travel round their
delivery places and collect their Christmas box or tip
 THE MOST IMPORTANT DAYS
OF CHRISTMAS

. This tradition has now mostly stopped and any

Christmas tips, given to people such as postal workers
and newspaper delivery children, are not normally given
or collected on Boxing Day.
Boxing Day has now become another public holiday in
countries such as the UK, Canada, Australia and New
Zealand. It is also the traditional day that Pantomimes
started to play.
There are also often sports played on Boxing Day in the
UK, especially horse racing and football matches! It's
also when shops traditionally had big sales after
Christmas in the UK (like Black Friday in the USA).
 NOVEMBER 15
THE BEGIN OF CHRISTMAS
Beginning at the beginning, in England, Christmas begins with
nothing more than spending the night of Halloween, although it is
true that it has become official on November 15, planting the tree in
the great Trafalgar Square. Of course, Christmas carols have also
become the same date in all shops with the environment. In England
and in the presence of digital media, the custom of continuing to
send Christmas postcards to loved ones and digital postcards is still
a thing of the past. The first was made in 1840.

CHRISTMAS EVE
AND CHRISTMAS
For the English, the Christmas Eve is not as important as it may be
in other countries, but it is different for the little ones in the house
and they are impatient for the interference in their homes of Mr.
Santa Claus and his bags full of gifts. After spending the next
morning tearing up the wrapping paper, enjoying the toys and the
snow, the family prepares to go to church in which it is already far
from the songs of the choirs formed by the young people.

That same day is the Christmas dinner, where the protagonist is a

large roast turkey stuffed with roasted potatoes. And the dessert? A
 CHRISTMAS GASTRONOMY

What do Brits eat during Christmas dinner? People around the UK

look forward to Christmas for many reasons, but one of the things
we get very excited about is the thought of all the delicious food we
can eat (and how much of it)! Some items on a traditional Christmas
dinner menu might vary from region to region in the UK – so
Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland will all have slightly
different customs. But here is a general list of items you may find
during Christmas dinner across Britain.

TURKEY

This one is probably one of the most popular dishes at Christmas,

because it is usually the main course! Other popular dishes include
ham or a roast beef, but in the UK, turkey is definitely the main
course of choice. People often buy a frozen turkey, thaw it, and then
roast it in the oven for a couple of hours before adding garnishes,
sauces…and then it’s ready to carve and serve!

ROAS POTATOES

There is nothing like scoop of properly roasted potatoes! These are

often cut into small squares, and put into the oven with a bit of olive
oil drizzled on top, along with herbs such as parsley and thyme, and
salt and pepper. Once the edges are browned, the potatoes are
good to go!
 CHRISTMAS GASTRONOMY
STUFFING

Stuffing is another dish that can vary from region to region.

Interestingly, in North America, chestnut stuffing is a popular
choice (chestnut puree is stirred into the mixture of onions,
breadcrumbs, butter, and other herbs) while in Britain, herb
stuffing is a more traditional choice, with large quantities of
rosemary or thyme added to similar ingredients. The stuffing
can be served inside the turkey or as a side dish.

PIGS IN BLANKETS

Pigs in blankets are another quintessentially British part of

Christmas dinner! These are small sausages that are wrapped in
bacon, and often surround the turkey when it is served. Fun fact: In
Scotland, these are called kilted sausages!

YORKSHIRE PUDDING

Yorkshire pudding originates from England, and is made

from a batter that includes eggs, milk, and flour. It’s usually
eaten with the roast turkey, but once in awhile (aside from
Christmas) it can be served as a dessert!
 CHRISTMAS GASTRONOMY

GRAVY
Gravy is actually a type of sauce that comes from the
drippings of the turkey when it is cooked. Then the drippings
are mixed with wheat flour to make it thicker, as well as salt
and pepper, and finally poured over the slices of turkey and
stuffing.

CRANBERRY SAUCE
Cranberry sauce is another type of sauce that is made from,
yes: cranberries! Though it often accompanies Thanksgiving
dinner in North America, it is a popular sauce for Christmas
dinner here in Britain. Pour a little onto the turkey and
stuffing along with the gravy for a wonderful mixture of
flavours!
BRUSSEL SPROUTS
Even though many people will never eat Brussel sprouts on
their own, when they are cooked or sautéed, they become
incredibly delicious! Common toppings during Christmas
dinner include cheese and butter, balsamic vinegar, or even
brown sugar.
 CHRISTMAS GASTRONOMY

TRIFLE

Trifle is a dessert that is made from custard, sponge cake, fruit,

jelly, and whipped cream. The sponge cake is often soaked in
sherry or port (types of fortified wine) and then all of the
ingredients are placed into a bowl, layer by layer. Just perfect if
you have a sweet tooth!

MINCE PIES
Mince pies are tiny pies that are filled with fruits such as
raisins, cranberries, and sultanas, as well as chopped nuts and
spices such as cinnamon, sugar, and nutmeg. Once they are
baked, they are dusted with a little icing sugar and ready to eat
– perfect with a cup of tea or a glass of wine, and a nice finish
to a delicious Christmas dinner!
 The first
known
'personalise
THE STORY OF d' Christmas
CHRISTMAS CARDS Card was
sent in 1891
by Annie
The custom of sending Christmas cards was started in the Oakley, the
UK in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole. He was a senior civil servant famous
sharpshoot
(Government worker) who had helped set-up the new 'Public er and star
Record Office' (now called the Post Office), where he was an of Buffalo
Assistant Keeper, and wondered how it could be used more Bill’s Wild
West show.
by ordinary people. She was in
The First Christmas Card Glasgow,
Scotland at
Sir Henry had the idea of Christmas Cards with his friend Christmas
1891 and
John Horsley, who was an artist. They designed the first
sent cards
card and sold them for 1 shilling each. (That is only 5p or 8 back to her
cents today(!), but in those days it was worth much much friends and
family in
more.) The card had three panels. The outer two panels
the USA
showed people caring for the poor and in the center panel featuring a
was a family having a large Christmas dinner! Some people photo of
her on it. As
didn't like the card because it showed a child being given a she was in
glass of wine! About 1000 (or it might have been less!) were Scotland,
printed and sold. They are now very rare and cost thousands
of Pounds or Dollars to buy now! The original cards were
advertised with the slogan: "Just published, a Christmas
Congratulations Card; or picture emblematical of old English
festivity to perpetuate kind recollections between dear
friends"!
The first postal service that ordinary people could use was
started in 1840 when the first 'Penny Post' public postal
deliveries began (Sir Henry Cole helped to introduce the
Penny Post). Before that, only very rich people could afford to
send anything in the post. The new Post Office was able to
offer a Penny stamp because new railways were being built.
These could carry much more post than the horse and
carriage that had been used before. Also, trains could go a
lot faster. Cards became even more popular in the UK when
they could be posted in an unsealed envelope for one
halfpenny - half the price of an ordinary letter.
As printing methods improved, Christmas cards became
much more popular and were produced in large numbers
from about 1860. In 1870 the cost of sending a post card,
and also Christmas cards, dropped to half a penny. This
meant even more people were able to send cards.
Christmas Cards appeared in the United States of America in
the late 1840s, but were very expensive and most people
couldn't afford them. It 1875, Louis Prang, a printer who was
originally from German but who had also worked on early
cards in the UK, started mass producing cards so more
people could afford to buy them. Mr Prang's first cards
featured flowers, plants, and children. In 1915, John C. Hall
and two of his brothers created Hallmark Cards, who are still
one of the biggest card makers today!
 The longest
Christmas
CHRISTMAS Cracker in the
world was 63.1m
CRACKERS long and 4
meters in
Christmas Cracker is a tradition in the United diameter and
was made by
Kingdom. They were manufactured for the first the parents of
time around 1845-1850 by a London candy the children of
Ley Hill School
maker named Tom Smith. I had seen the and Pre-School,
French sweets "bon bon" (almonds wrapped in Chesham,
Buckinghamshire
a nice paper). He returned to London and tried , United
to sell sweets in the same style, also had the Kingdom, on
idea of including a small message next to the December 20,
2001.
candy. But they did not sell very well.
The longest was
The legend says that one night, while he was performed by
1,478 people at
sitting in front of his wood fire, he became very an event
interested in the sparks of the fire. Suddenly, he organized by
Honda Japan at
thought it would be a fun idea if his sweets and Tochigi Proving
toys could be opened when their wrappers were Ground, Tochigi,
Japan, on
cut in half. October 18,
2009.
The Christmas Cracker were originally called
"cosasques" and were thought to be named
after the "Cossack" soldiers who were reputed
to ride on their horses.
When Tom died, his expanding Christmas Cracker
business was taken over by his three children,
Tom, Walter and Henry. Walter introduced the hats
in the Christmas Cracker and also traveled all over
the world in search of new ideas to put in the
Christmas Cracker.
The company built a variety of "thematic"
Christmas Cracker. There were some for singles,
where gifts were things like false teeth and
wedding rings. There was also Christmas Cracker
for suffragettes (women who campaigned to get
the women's vote), war heroes and even Charlie
Chaplin! They also made Christmas Cracker for
special occasions like Coronations. The British
royal family still has special Christmas Cracker
made for them today!
They made very expensive Christmas Cracker, like
the "Christmas Cracker of the millionaire", which
contained a solid silver box with a piece of gold.
The Christmas Cracker that are used today are
short cardboard tubes wrapped in colored paper.
There is usually a Christmas Cracker next to each
plate on the table during Christmas dinner. The
Christmas Cracker are usually adorned with hats
 TYPICAL THINGS OF ENGLISH
CHRISTMAS

THE STORY OF

CHRISTMAS TREES The tallest

artificial
Christmas tree, an evergreen tree, often a pine or a fir, decorated Christmas tree
with lights and ornaments as a part of Christmas festivities. was 52m
(170.6ft) high
Christmas trees can be fresh-cut, potted, or artificial and are used and was
as both indoor and outdoor decorations. While the trees are covered in
traditionally associated with Christian symbolism, their modern use green PVC
is largely secular. Many families place presents around an indoor leaves! It was
called the
Christmas tree to be opened on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. 'Peace Tree'
and was
Some interpretations designed by
Grupo Sonae
The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands to symbolize
Distribuição
eternal life was a custom of the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Brazil and was
Hebrews. Tree worship was common among the pagan Europeans displayed in
and survived their conversion to Christianity in the Scandinavian Moinhos de
Vento Park,
customs of decorating the house and barn with evergreens at the Porto Alegre,
New Year to scare away the Devil and of setting up a tree for the Brazil from 1st
birds during Christmastime. It survived further in the custom, also December
observed in Germany, of placing a Yule tree at an entrance or 2001 until 6th
January 2002.
inside the house during the midwinter holidays.
Well, but I just wanted know the origin …
The modern Christmas tree, though, originated in western
Germany. The main prop of a popular medieval play about Adam
and Eve was a “paradise tree,” a fir tree hung with apples, that
represented the Garden of Eden. The Germans set up a paradise
tree in their homes on December 24, the religious feast day of
Adam and Eve.
 TYPICAL THINGS OF ENGLISH
CHRISTMAS

They hung wafers on it (symbolizing the eucharistic host, The first person to
bring a Christmas
the Christian sign of redemption); in a later tradition the Tree into a house,
wafers were replaced by cookies of various shapes. in the way we
know it today,
Candles, symbolic of Christ as the light of the world, were may have been
often added. In the same room was the “Christmas the 16th century
German preacher
pyramid,” a triangular construction of wood that had Martin Luther. A
shelves to hold Christmas figurines and was decorated story is told that,
one night before
with evergreens, candles, and a star. By the 16th century Christmas, he was
the Christmas pyramid and the paradise tree had merged, walking through
the forest and
becoming the Christmas tree. looked up to see
the stars shining
The custom was widespread among the German through the tree
Lutherans by the 18th century, but it was not until the branches. It was so
beautiful, that he
following century that the Christmas tree became a deep- went home and
rooted German tradition. Introduced into England in the told his children
that it reminded
early 19th century, the Christmas tree was popularized in him of Jesus, who
the mid-19th century by German-born Prince Albert, left the stars of
heaven to come
husband of Queen Victoria. The Victorian tree was to earth at
decorated with toys and small gifts, candles, candies, Christmas. Some
people say this is
popcorn strings, and fancy cakes hung from the branches the same tree as
by ribbons and by paper chains. Taken to North America the 'Riga' tree, but
it isn't! The Riga
by German settlers as early as the 17th century, Christmas tree originally took
trees were the height of fashion by the 19th century. They place a few
decades earlier.
were also popular in Austria, Switzerland, Poland, and the
Netherlands. In China and Japan, Christmas trees,.
introduced by Western missionaries in the 19th
and 20th centuries, were decorated with
intricate paper designs
 TYPICAL THINGS OF ENGLISH
CHRISTMAS

And all those little lights?

In 1890 the Edison company published a brochure
offering lighting services for Christmas. In 1900 another
Edison advert offered bulbs which you could rent, along
with their lighting system, for use over Christmas! There
are records in a diary from 1891 where settlers in
Montana used electric lights on a tree. However, most
people couldn't easily use electric tree lights at this time
as electricity wasn't widely installed in homes. But rich
people liked to show off with lights installed just for
Christmas, this would have cost about $300 per tree
then, more than $2000 money today!
Electric tree lights first because widely known in the USA
in 1895 when President Grover Cleveland has the tree in
the White House decorated with lights as his young
daughters liked them! The tradition of the National
Christmas Tree on the White House lawn started in 1923
with President Calvin Coolidge.
The first commercially available electric string of lights,
which more people could afford, were advertised in 1903
when a string of 24 lights cost $12 or you could rent
lights from $1.50. This was still quite expensive, but much
cheaper than $300.
 ALL ABOUT OF THE

THE MOST IMPORTANT

BY PAULA’S MAGAZINE ®