PREVIEW ACTIVITY Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2022. For use only with license.

Quirky Christmas Traditions Around the World (B2)

PAGE 1

Work with a partner, group, or your teacher. Do the activities below together.

PART 1 Discuss the questions below about Christmas and traditions.

1 What are some of the most popular Christmas traditions you know about?

2 Do you celebrate Christmas? If so, how do you celebrate it? If not, is there any
similar tradition/holiday that you celebrate?

3 Do you know what it means if a tradition is described as quirky? Does your

country have any traditions you would describe as quirky?

The images below depict different quirky Christmas traditions around the world.
PART 2
What do you see in the images? Do you know anything about these traditions?
Do you know where each one takes place?

1 2 3

4 5

PART 3 Match the images from Part 2 above associated with the vocabulary terms below.

figurine witch fun run demon carving

IMAGE 1 a “Krampus” IMAGE 4 a parade

IMAGE 2 a half-naked IMAGE 5 a pooping (or defecating)
IMAGE 3 a radish

QUIRKY CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2022. For use only with license.
AROUND THE WORLD Quirky Christmas Traditions Around the World (B2)
PAGE 2

PREVIEW DISCUSSION: Read the discussion topic

below and discuss it with your partner or teacher.

How important do you think it is to learn or know

about other countries’ Christmas traditions?

VIEWING ACTIVITY

PART 1 Match the locations with the quirky Christmas traditions followed.

0:04 1 Boston, USA a. radish sculptures

0:14 2 Oaxaca, Mexico b. a witch parade
0:29 3 Catalonia, Spain c. half-naked “fun runs”
0:55 4 Central Europe d. defecating/pooping figurines
1:19 5 Viterbo, Italy e. a Krampus demon

Watch the video again. Describe/write any specific information or details you hear
PART 2
related to the quirky Christmas tradition in the following locations.

0:14 1 Oaxaca, Mexico

0:29 2 Catalonia, Spain

0:55 3 Central Europe

1:19 4 Viterbo, Italy

POST-VIEWING ACTIVITY 1 Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2022. For use only with license.
Quirky Christmas Traditions Around the World (B2)
PAGE 3

PART 1 Discuss the questions below.

1 What is your opinion of these quirky Christmas traditions? Which one would
you like to observe or take part in the most/the least? Why?

2 Some people think that holiday traditions that frighten children, such as the
‘Krampus’, shouldn’t be observed. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Read the following quotes from the video out loud. Then discuss the questions below
PART 2
each quote with your teacher or partner.

1 “ Known as ‘Night of the Radishes’, both artisans and amateurs display their
exceptional carvings, and the winner receives a cash prize.”

• Can you think of a synonym for the adjective exceptional?

• Can you think of something you’ve seen that you would describe as
exceptional? If so, describe how it is/was exceptional.

2 “ As legend has it, ‘La Befana’ honors a witch who missed the birth of the
baby Jesus because she was too busy cleaning.”

• What does the phrase “As legend has it...” mean? When do we use it?
• Try to give your own example sentence starting with “As legend has it...”

3 “ No one is really sure how the tradition of the defecating figurines in Catalonia
came about.”

• What do you think it means if something comes about?

• Do you know how any traditions from your native culture came about?

PART 3 Read the quote from the video out loud about how the “pooping figurine” originated.

“ The tradition is thought to have gained popularity in the 17th and 18th century.”

This quote above is in the passive voice. Try to rewrite this sentence in
the active voice using the subject “People ... ”

People
POST-VIEWING ACTIVITY 2
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Quirky Christmas Traditions Around the World (B2)
PAGE 4

PART 1 Study the usage and examples of the passive voice construction below.

The narrator uses the passive voice to discuss the origins of the pooping figurine in Catalonia:

“ The tradition is thought to have gained popularity in the 17th and 18th century.”

ACTIVE VOICE: People think the tradition gained popularity in the 17th and 18th century.

The narrator uses the passive construction in the video because the subject (people) is not
necessary to express, since it is already understood from context. See the construction below:

OBJECT OF ACTIVE VOICE FORM OF “TO BE” PAST PARTICIPLE TO + PRESENT PERFECT
The tradition is thought to have gained...

Jesus is thought to have been born in a town called Bethlehem.

MORE EXAMPLES
The first Thanksgiving is thought to have taken place in year 1621.

PART 2 Transform the sentences below into the same passive construction that was used in
the video. The object of the active voice has been underlined to help you.

EX. People think the tradition gained popularity in the 17th and 18th century.

The tradition is thought to have gained popularity in the 17th and 18th century.

1 People think the dog ate the Christmas cookies.

2 People think one of the party guests stole the jewels.

3 People think the image of Santa Claus became popular as the result of a Coca Cola ad.

4 People think the tradition of decorating Christmas trees came about in England.

5 People think the Christmas legends had a big impact on the country’s traditions.

POST-VIEWING ACTIVITY 3
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Quirky Christmas Traditions Around the World (B2)
PAGE 5
QUIRKY TRADITION TASK:

• Work with a partner or on your own.

• Come up with an idea for a quirky, festive Christmas tradition that you think would
be fun to celebrate in your home country.

• If your home country doesn’t celebrate Christmas, or you don’t celebrate Christmas,
think of another holiday that you could create a quirky, festive tradition for.

• Answer/discuss the questions/topics below about the tradition.

Tick () which holiday are you making a quirky tradition for.

CHRISTMAS OTHER (specify):

QUESTIONS/TOPICS TO DISCUSS ABOUT THE TRADITION...

1 What is the tradition? Describe it in detail.

2 This tradition is thought to [+ present perfect]...
3 As legend has it, this tradition...
4 This tradition is exceptional because...

OPTIONAL: You can use the following ideas from the video for inspiration for your idea:

• a kind of figurine • a kind of event/parade

• something frightening
• a type of carving/sculpture

QUIRKY TRADITION NOTES:

QUIRKY TRADITION TASK FOLLOW-UP:

Take turns telling your class/teacher about your tradition. Ask each other questions about
the traditions.
OPTIONAL BONUS ACTIVITY
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Quirky Christmas Traditions Around the World (B2)
PAGE 6
SPEAKING TASK:

Your teacher will choose a few of the speaking topics below to discuss. Discuss the topics
with your teacher or partner. In your discussion, explain your ideas in detail.

1 Are there any Christmas or holiday events, parades,

festivals, or markets in the area where you live? If so,
describe them and any activities people do there.

2 What kinds of foods or cultural dishes do you associate

with Christmas or the holiday season?

3 Do you have any special past memories or experiences

connected with Christmas or the holiday season?

4 Have you ever traveled to another country during the

Christmas season? If so, what was the experience like?

5 What might some people dislike about Christmas or the

holiday season? Is there anything you dislike about it?

WRITING TASK:

Imagine you travel to Boston during Christmas and participate in the half-naked fun
run. You’ve just finished your run. Write your best friend a text message about what you
just did and what the experience was like.
QUIZ & REVIEW ACTIVITY Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2022. For use only with license.
Quirky Christmas Traditions Around the World (B2)
PAGE 7

Work with a partner. Complete the quiz and review activities below.

PART 1 What do you remember about the Christmas traditions in the following locations?

1 Boston, USA 4 Central Europe

2 Oaxaca, Mexico 5 Viterbo, Italy
3 Barcelona, Catalonia

PART 2 Vocabulary: Write the correct words/phrases that were used in the video.

1 Known as ‘Night of the Radishes’, both artisans and amateurs display their
carvings, and the winner receives a cash prize.

2 , “La Befana” is celebrated to honor a witch who missed

the birth of the baby Jesus because she was too busy cleaning.

3 No one is really sure how the tradition of the defecating figurines in Catalonia
.

Grammar: Finish writing the passive voice sentence from the video about the origins
PART 3
of the “defecating figurine” in Catalonia.

The tradition is thought...

Grammar: Write the same passive construction form that you used in Part 3 for each
PART 4
sentence below. Use a main verb that fits the context of the sentence.

1 The house built in the 17th or 18th century.

2 The jewels by one of the party guests.

3 The image of Santa Claus popular by Coca-Cola.

4 Jesus born in Bethlehem.

5 The first Thanksgiving place in 1621.