As Boris Johnson said as he announced a new lockdown: “‘Tis the season to be jolly careful”. But it’s nice to know that some festive traditions have survived the pandemic. Friday 11 December is the ninth Christmas Jumper Day, organised by Save the Children U.K. Normally, people wear a Christmas-themed jumper to work or school … Continue reading “Ho, Ho, Ho, Christmas Jumper Day is Back!”
It’s one of those ideas that seem so obvious you can’t imagine why someone has already had it. A Christmas movie inspired by one of the most perennially popular (though bittersweet) yuletide pop songs: “Last Christmas” by George Michael. The 1984 song, a hit for Wham!, is a sad love song about heartbreak at the … Continue reading “Last Christmas: Rom-com with a Message”
Do you fancy using an advent calendar in class in December as a cultural reference, but want to avoid the religious connection? How about using this fabulous December Kindness Calendar instead? Produced by British charity Action for Happiness, it encourages you to do a kind act each day, like counting your blessings or seeing how … Continue reading “Do Good in December”
Christmas Jumper Day has been a big charity event in the UK for several years. The U.S. is catching up with Ugly Christmas Sweater Day. Either way, it’s a great way to get in the Christmas spirit and make a donation to a children’s charity. Christmas Jumper Day in the UK is organised by the … Continue reading “It’s Christmas Jumper Day!”
Sometimes a simple idea can have an enormous effect. A suggestion from a group of British teenagers could brighten Christmas for hundreds of thousands of families living on the breadline. The group of 13 teenagers from Exeter in southwest England participated in a National Citizen Service programme last summer. One of the steps was to … Continue reading “A Gift for Christmas”
This A1+ level article is an opportunity to introduce Christmas from the perspective of the up-coming release of the new version of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas!, one of the much-loved books by The Cat in the Hat author Dr Seuss. Vocabulary: Christmas emotions months locating expressions Grammar: simple present and preterite the indefinite article … Continue reading “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas”
It has all the ingredients of a great British event: tradition, wearing costumes, doing silly things and collecting money for charity! Every year at Covent Garden Market in London, teams of people participate in The Great Christmas Pudding race. They make their way through a series of obstacles while carrying a Christmas pudding on a … Continue reading “The Great Christmas Pudding Race”
Like Red Nose Day, Christmas Jumper Day is becoming a tradition for British people to do something silly – wear a kitschy Christmas jumper — to do some serious good, for the charity Save the Children. Christmas is of course a special time for children, which is why the charity wants people to donate to … Continue reading “Merry Christmas Jumper Day!”
This A1+-level interactive picture, activities and audio will introduce beginners to Christmas vocabulary and Anglophone traditions for the festive season. Vocabulary and structures Christmas vocabulary numbers /ɪ/ and /aɪ/ sounds WH-questions: How many… Don’t miss the Webpicks below for more Christmas-themed resources at different levels.
‘Tis the season to be jolly! Before the winter holidays, why not do a little cultural comparisons, looking at how Christmas is celebrated in English speaking countries in the northern and southern hemisphere? These digital resources will help you. There is are several videos and audio recordings with interactive comprehension activities about Christmas in the … Continue reading “Christmas on the Web”
