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“Christmas Traditions”

Christmas season is the most festive time of the year in Britain and the United States. Students at schools and colleges usually have 2 weeks' vacation, beginning before Christmas and ending soon after New Year. There are a lot of parties to celebrate the birth of Christ and the arrival of the New Year.

Although no one knows exactly when Jesus was born, Christians everywhere in the world celebrate his birthday on December 25. This day was a festival long before Christianity because ancient people believed this was the time when the sun god started his journey back to earth and it was a custom to give presents to each other.

Now children are told that Santa Claus or Father Christmas in a red suit, red hat and a long white beard puts presents for them into their stockings by the fireplace.

The winter traditions of decorating homes with evergreens began in ancient times too. Branches of fir were thought to bring good luck and guarantee the return of spring. The Germans were the first to use the Christmas tree in their celebrations.

In the 19th century the decorated fir tree became popular in Europe and the USA. Carol singers begin to go from house to house in groups singing traditional Christmas songs and asking for charity.

Today many people also send Christmas cards to each other.

The most popular wishes in these holiday cards are:

Merry Christmas. Peace on Earth.

Твердження до тексту

1.    Christmas is the most widely celebrated festival in Britain.
2.    The 25th of December was celebrated after Christmas.
3.    Students have a month's winter vacation.
4.    Ancient people gave each other presents at this time.
5.    Father Christmas puts children's presents into stockings by the fireplace.
6.    It is a modern tradition to decorate the house with a fir tree.
7.    Branches of fir were thought to bring good luck.
8.    Traditional Christmas songs are sung only at home.
9.    Greeting cards are not sent at Christmas. '
10.          On this holiday people wish each other Peace on Earth.

“New Year Celebrations”

The last day of December and of the year is called New Year's Eve, and with it comes the celebration of all kinds and all-night parties, especially in Scotland, where it is of more importance than Christmas Day. It was and it often is a night of feasting, singing, dancing until midnight when bells ring and people greet each other with the New Year. The celebration is the same in England, Ireland and Wales. Children go singing from door to door, and are given sweets and presents.

Those who see the New Year in, join hands at midnight and sing the Scottish song of "Auld Lang Syne" as soon as the clock finishes striking twelve. This song is sung in England to nowadays, but it is not one of the Old English customs. Even in Scotland, singing it is not so very old, for the words were only written in the 18th century by Robert Berns.

At home or in restaurants most people spend the final hours of the old year and the first hours of the new year dining with friends. Champagne - the drink that traditionally symbolizes a celebration - is often served for the midnight toast on New Year's Eve.

Following a long New Year's Eve, people usually spend a quiet New Year's Day. In most homes everyone sleeps late, then enjoys lunch and TV with the family and friends. New Year's Day is the time for starting new life programs and giving up bad habits, for making New Year resolutions. But this winter Festive season is expensive. To earn extra money for presents and celebrations a lot of young people do part-time work in December.

Ringing out the old year, ringing in the new; is a custom followed in most countries and one which will continue for many centuries more.

Твердження до тексту

11.          In Scotland New Year Eve is not as important as Christmas.  
12.          There is dancing and singing everywhere only till midnight.
13.          Children are given presents at New Year.
14.          On New Year Eve a Scottish song is sung in England.
15.          The words of this song were written by a modern writer.
16.          There is no traditional drink on New Year Eve.
17.          People usually spend a quiet Now Year Day with their family.
18.          During the winter festive season young people do not have to do any extra work.
19.          New Year's Day is the wrong time to give up bad habits.
20.          New Year resolutions have become a tradition.