THE ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS STUFF

QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Why is Christmas celebrated on 25 December?
2. Is Christmas celebrated in non- christian countries?
3. What different good elves bring presents to children in different countries?
4. Why are reindeers associated with Father Christmas and camels with the Three Kings?
5. What's the origin of the 'nativity scene'?
6. What animals are expected to be seen in the stable near baby Jesus?
7. Is the Christmas tree a Christian, religious tradition?
8. What's the origin of New Year's resolutions?
9. Find three superstitions connected with Christmas.
10. Where's Boxing Day celebrated? What happens on this day?

1. Because Jesus born in that date.

2. Yes, it is. For example, in China.

3. Santa Claus in Northamerica and Europe, the three wise men in Spain, the Befana Witch in Italy, gnomes in Iceland, the Jesus' camel in Siria and the Cold Grandfather in Rusia.

4. Because reindeers live in a cold climate and camels live in a hot climate.

5. The first-ever Nativity scene recorded in history was created by St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis was concerned that the meaning of Christmas was becoming lost as most people were more focused with the ritual of gift giving them they were of the true message of Christmas.

6. A donkey and an ox.

7. No, there is not any spiritual meaning.

8. The ancient Babylonians are said to have been the first people to make New Year’s resolutions, some 4,000 years ago. They were also the first to hold recorded celebrations in honor of the new year—though for them the year began not in January but in mid-March, when the crops were planted. During a massive 12-day religious festival known as Akitu, the Babylonians crowned a new king or reaffirmed their loyalty to the reigning king. They also made promises to the gods to pay their debts and return any objects they had borrowed. These promises could be considered the forerunners of our New Year’s resolutions. If the Babylonians kept to their word, their (pagan) gods would bestow favor on them for the coming year. If not, they would fall out of the gods’ favor—a place no one wanted to be.

9. Wear something red, that must be a pair number in the table where people eat and eat an apple.

10. Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated on the day following Christmas Day in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth nations. Boxing Day occurs on 26 December, although the attached bank holiday or public holiday may take place either on that day or a day later.

TASK #4
TITLE:  (UNIT 3 Test Speaking Task)

DEADLINE: Sunday 18 December at 10.00 pm

INSTRUCTIONS:Talk about your shopping habits, leisure choices and what kind of food you like.

•    Do you prefer shopping online or going to shops? Why?

•    Which do you prefer; shopping in small local shops or large department stores? Why?

•    What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of shopping in small local shops and shopping in large department stores? 

•    What’s your favourite place to shop? Why do you like it?

•    What do you like doing in your free time?

•    Do you like trying out new activities? Why? Why not?

•    What’s your favourite food?

•    Do you like trying food from different countries? Why? Why not?

As always, send the recording to  miguelgarciaarreza@gmail.com

NOTE: Make sure that you change the title of the recording to the following pattern:

3Anametask#4

Eg. 3Anerealuquetask#4

I prefer shopping online (well, my father shop online) because it is so easy, you do not have to go anywhere and it is so comfortable.

I prefer shopping in small local shops, because I do not like shopping, so if I go to a small shop, I will finish early.

The advantage of buy in an small local shop for me it is that there are a ot of bargains, but the disadvantage is that normally there are a lot of people there. The advantage of shopping in a large department store is that there are a lot of thing to buy, but there are also a lot of people that that can get ahead and buy them before.

My favourite place to shop is Decathlon, because there are a lot of things that are about sports and there are a lot of varieties in their products.

I love play football in my free time, because it is so entretaining and always there is another person that wants to play football whit me. Also because I am so good playing football.

I like trying out new activities, because I really like sports and new things to do, and there are also a lot of things to try and that can be very interesting.

My favourtite food is a plate of delicious croquettes. They are so jummy, and it is better when one of my grandmother cook them.

I like trying food from different countries, because there are a lot of interesting flavors to try

TASK #3
TITLE: My best shopping experience.

DEADLINE: Friday 10 December at 10.00 pm

INSTRUCTIONS: WRITE a text about a shopping experience you remember well. Ideally, it would bring good memories not only for the thing that you bought but also because of the illusion you had, the sensations you got and the people you were with.

Then, MAKE A RECORDING and send it to your teacher at:

miguelgarciaarreza@gmail.com

WARNING: MAKE SURE you produce, at least 100 words.

MY BEST SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

My best shopping experience that I remember was two or three years ago. It was the last day of Málaga C.F. Campus 2016, and I was in La Rosaleda's tour with my father, my friends and my coaches. We stayed there for an hour and then we could visit the official Málaga C.F. shop in La Rosaleda. I was there with my dad for a long time looking the end of season sales. When I was near the fitting rooms, I saw the Málaga goalkeeper shirt. In the middle of the season, it costed 75 euros, and when I saw it, it only costed 20 euros! It was a bargain! I took the shirt and I showed it to my father. He said that he can buy it, and that it could be my saint's presents. Next season, Málaga C.F. showed its news shirts and... The goalkeeper shirt was the same! It was fantastic.