Урок "Різдвяні традиції в Англії, Америці та Україні"

Culture Lesson for the fifth form - Christmas Traditions in America, Great Britain and Ukraine

 

Objectives: 

-          consider and study the peculiarities of celebrating Christmas traditions in America and Britain; 

-          study the history of the holiday;

-          motivate pupils to study a foreign language and culture of English-speaking countries;

-          analyze the difference between celebrating Christmas in America, Britain and Ukraine.

 

Outcomes: ​at the end of the lesson, pupils will learn new vocabulary on the topic of "Christmas", learn new, useful and interesting information about the history and celebration of Christmas in English-speaking countries, and will be able to tell about Christmas traditions in Ukraine.

 

Materials: handout with pictures “Christmas Symbols”, laptop, projector, the list of the new vocabulary for each pupil, video materials on Youtube about the history of the holiday, whiteboard. 

 

Lesson Procedure I.   The beginning of the lesson.

 

1.      Greetings​. Good day, dear pupils of the 5th form. Today we are going to have an unusual lesson. It will be connected with the Great Holiday, which is waited by each of us - Сhristmas. 

 

2.      Warming-up. ​Let's speak for a little bit:

 

-          What winter holidays do you know?

-          Which of them is your favourite?

-          What do you know about Christmas: its history and traditions?

-          Are the Christmas Traditions in the UK and Ukraine different?

 

Pupils' answers.

 

II.         Main part of the lesson.

 

Teacher: ​What is Christmas? Is it only tasty dishes, presents and celebrations? Christmas is

one of the main Christian holidays. This day we celebrate the Birth of Jesus.

Catholics,

Protestants and part of the Orthodox (in Greece, Romania, Bulgaria and Japan) celebrate the holiday on December 25, the majority of Orthodox Christians - on January 7 (that is, December 25 according to the old style).

 

On January 7, Christmas is celebrated in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, Ethiopia and Egypt.

 

In Armenia Christmas is celebrated on the same day as Epiphany (крещення) - January 6.

 

In Ethiopia, Christmas is celebrated once a month every month.

 

Pre-teaching the vocabulary 

 

Teacher:​ you may have some difficulties with unknown words, so let’s learn them.

 

Do you know what is the dominant religion in the UK?

 

Pupils: ​Catholicism.

 

You are right. 

 

So Catholic Christmas is celebrated in the United Kingdom and the USA on December 25th. 

 

Christmas in England and the United States is a public holiday. On this day, the whole country is resting, schools and most businesses are closed. Christmas in Great Britain is usually celebrated with the family. People who do not respect church traditions so much celebrate Christmas as a secular one. Church traditions are observed in religious families. What makes catholic Christmas special? Christmas Symbols. What of them do you know?

 

Pupil 1: 

 

Bells

 

Bells, especially church bells, have been associated with Christ's Birth for a long time. The ringing of bells notifies the faithful of the beginning of the midnight church service; the altar bells ring during the Christmas mass. Since the middle of the 19th century, funny bells from the American song Jingle Bells have also become associated with Christmas.

 

Teacher: Great. And do you know this song? Let​'​s sing it together. And what are the other symbols?

 

Pupil 2:

 

Stars and angels

 

These Christmas decorations are associated with Christian tradition. The stars symbolize the Star, which helped the wise men find the baby Jesus. Angels are associated with the saints who gathered in the sky to announce the birth of Jesus to the world.

 

Pupil 3:

 

Christmas tree

 

Evergreen trees symbolize eternal life. It is also believed that its triangular shape represents the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Nowadays, Christmas trees can be found in most British homes, regardless of religion. Real ones are being replaced with artificial ones so as not to destroy nature. People decorate the Christmas tree with candles or garlands, sweets and ribbons. An angel or a star is usually placed on the top of the tree.

 

Pupil 4: 

 

Mistletoe

 

The custom of hanging mistletoe in the house dates back to the days of the ancient druids, who believed that it brought good luck and ward off evil spirits. In Scandinavia, this plant symbolizes love and friendship. It is believed that any two people meeting under the mistletoe must kiss.

 

Pupil 5:

 

Christmas grandfather

 

British Santa Claus is usually called Father of Christmas. Its history goes back to the legends about Saint Nicholas, who helped the poor. Over time, his image was transformed into Santa Claus - a nice old man who brings gifts to children. He travels across the sky in a sleigh pulled by reindeer, enters the house through the chimney and leaves his gifts in Christmas stockings or under a Christmas tree.

 

Pupil 6: 

 

Christmas stocking

 

The legend about St. Nicholas says that once he decided to help the poor man and threw several gold coins into the chimney. The coins got into the socks, which the poor man's daughter hung up to dry over the fireplace. This story gave rise to the tradition of hanging stockings over a bed or fireplace and waiting for wonderful gifts.

 

Pupil 7:

 

Christmas letter

 

Before Christmas, the children write a letter to Santa telling him about their wishes. On Christmas Day, while they are sleeping, Santa comes and fills the stockings around the house with sweets and gifts.

 

 

 

Teacher: Excellent. What wonderfool traditions have British and Amerscans got, haven't they?

And now let's speak about Ukrainian Christmas Traditions. 

 

Christmas traditions in Ukraine

 

✮ 40 days before Christmas, begins a strict fast, the last day of which falls on Holy Eve.

 

✮ On January 6, on Holy Evening, the whole family is going to have supper at the table immediately after the appearance of the first star in the sky.

 

✮ The star on the Christmas tree is a symbol of Jesus Birth. 

 

✮ In ancient times, the meal was not started until the owner of the house put Didukh in the corner of the table or near the icons - the first or last collected straw sheaf of wheat or oats. 

 

✮ Before sitting on a chair, it is worth blowing on it so as not to take the place of a deceased relative.

 

✮ At midnight from January 6 to January 7, in order to let the holiday into the house, you need to open all doors and windows.

 

✮ 12 meatless dishes (without milk, eggs and butter) according to the number of 12 apostles - another symbol of the celebration. It is important to try each one. At the same time, you shouldn't eat everything: otherwise the refrigerator will be empty all year round.

At the same time, classic British Christmas dinner includes roasted turkey or goose, Brussels sprouts, fried potatoes, cranberry sauce and bacon-wrapped sausages. Fruit pudding is served for dessert.

Turkey is the main dish for Christmas. An important tradition is connected with it: someone has to pull out a special bone, which is shaped like a Y. If two are lucky at once, they will have to drag the bone until it breaks. The one with the largest piece of bone left makes a wish.

 

✮ Until the end of the gala dinner, you must not leave the house in order to keep out the evil spirit.

 

✮ Previously, on the Holy Evening of , it was customary to treat the Godfathers kutia; in response, the “second parents” gave symbolic surprises, money, or also treated them with delicious dishes.

 

✮ A holy evening is also a memorial, so after dinner, food is not completely removed from the table.

 

✮ The next morning after Holy Eve, it is customary to greet with the words "Christ was Born" - "Glorify him."

 

✮ Carols begin to sing on January 7, dressed as the heroes of the den and visiting neighboring houses.

 

✮ The most famous Christmas song in the world is Carol of the bells. And its author is Ukrainian Nikolai Leontovich.

 

✮ Nativity scene is one of the most popular symbols of Christmas in Ukraine. Initially, this was the name of the puppet theater in a box, where various scenes were played. The central characters in it are Mary and Joseph, bending over the cradle with the little Christ.

 

✮ The most important Christmas tradition is the forgiveness of all offenses: only then will the world settle in the soul!

 

You see, there is the huge difference between Ukrainian and American celebrations of Christmas. 

 

And now I want to offer you a rather interesting task. Please, make the poster of perfect Catholic Christmas decorations. 

(Pupils use the pictures, whiteboard and magnets). 

 

Let's start with the Christmas tree.

What a beautiful fir-tree. But where are the Christmas decorations: stars, balls, bows, ribbons, angels, candies and bells?

What about the fireplace?

Oh, I don't see traditional stockings for presents?

And where are the presents from Santa?

 

This picture shows the real Christmas atmosphere, doesn't it? 

Good job!

Do you remember your homework? Your task was to write the letters for Santa. You can stick them on our beautiful picture. 

Now it is really perfect Christmas. 

 

III.       The End of the Lesson.

 

•                     Summarizing

Today we have looked through a lot of interesting and useful information about Catholic and Ortodoxi Christmas.

•                     Assessment

•                     Hometask – to learn new words and to fill the crossword.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!