NEW YEAR'S LONDON PARADE

The New Year's Day Parade route starts at 11.45 am at The Ritz hotel and ends in Parliament Square. 

Do you want to watch a video?

NEW YEAR'S EVE CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS

Today is 31st December. It's NEW YEAR'S EVE !!!
Many countries celebrate New Year on 1st January in different ways. Celebrations start on the New Year's Eve on December 31st. Hotels, restaurants, clubs and pubs organize New Year Eve parties. People sing, dance and have fun. 

And just when the clock strikes midnight ( 12 o'clock ) everyone join hands and sing a traditional old song "Auld Lang Syne". It's a poem written by Robert Burns, the national poet of Scotland, in 1788 and it is very popular in English- speaking countries.

People sing this song to celebrate the start of the New Year, but also in emotional moments, at funerals, graduations and as a farewell or ending to other occasions. 

 Here you have a version with English and Spanish subtitles, so that you can understand the lyrics.

Here you can listen and read two different subtitled versions adapted to today's English. Which one do you like best?

People kiss, drink champagne and say " Happy New Year". With loved ones and friends at a distance people exchange greetings through SMSs, Whatsapps and phone calls. 

And YOU? What do you do on New Year's Eve? 

Write a comment and tell me !!! 

SONG: ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU

This is a romantic song by Mariah Carey. Here you can watch 2 different versions. Choose the video you like best and sing along!

Mariah Carey duet with Justin Bieber at a department store. 2011

I don't want a lot for Christmas 
There is just one thing I need 
I don't care about the presents 
Underneath the Christmas tree 
I don't need to hang my stocking 
There upon the fireplace 
Santa Claus won't make me happy 
With a toy on Christmas day 
I just want you for my own 
More than you could ever know 
Make my wish come true 
All I want for Christmas is you
baby

Oh I won't ask for much this Christmas 
I won't even wish for snow 
I'm just gonna keep on waiting 
Underneath the mistletoe 
I won't make a list and send it 
To the North Pole for Saint Nick 
I won't even stay awake to 
Hear those magic reindeer click 
'Cause I just want you here tonight 
Holding on to me so tight 
What more can I do 
Baby all I want for Christmas is you
baby 

All the lights are shining 
So brightly everywhere 
And the sound of children's 
Laughter fills the air 
And everyone is singing 
I hear those sleigh bells ringing 
Santa won't you bring me the one I
really need 
Won't you please bring my baby to me

I don't want a lot for Christmas 
This is all I'm asking for 
I just want to see my baby 
Standing right outside my door 
Oh I just want you for my own 
More than you could ever know 
Make my wish come true 
Baby all I want for Christmas... is you



With subtitles, so that you can sing along!

MAKE A CHRISTMAS CRACKER

Do you like Christmas crackers?  They are not difficult to make. Watch the video and make crackers for your family and you. 

WE'RE KIDS IN BRITAIN: CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS VOCABULARY 1

Two games to listen, repeat and match. 

VIDEO: IT'S CHRISTMAS

This video and its rights are property of Oxford University Press. 

The share in this blog has no commercial, but educational purposes.

Jessica: It’s Christmas Eve! This is my advent calendar.
Ben: Look at the Christmas tree, Jessica!
Jessica: Ben!
Mum: Here are your Christmas stockings!
Jessica: Thanks Mum!
Dad: Do you like mince pies?
Ben: Yes. Thank you.
Ben: It’s Christmas Day!
Jessica: Look at our presents!
Mum and Dad: Happy Christmas!
Jessica and Ben: Happy Christmas!
Jessica: Oh, thanks Mum and Dad! I’ve got a CD!
Ben: I’ve got a football! Thank you!
Jessica: This is our Christmas dinner. We have roast turkey. I love turkey!
Everyone: Happy Christmas!

Write a comment and answer the questions.
Win 1 extra point per correct sentence.

1 Jessica opens her advent calendar. What day is it?

•  It’s Easter.
•  It’s Christmas Eve.
•  It’s Christmas Day.

2 What does Mum give them on Christmas Eve?

• stockings
• decorations
• presents

3 The next day they open presents. What’s Ben’s present?

• It’s a CD.
• It’s a stocking.
• It’s a football.

4 The next day they open presents. What’s Jessica’s present?

• It’s a CD.
• It’s a stocking.
• It’s a football.

5 Where are the presents?

• They are next to the Christmas tree.
• They are under the Christmas tree.
• They are on the Christmas tree.

ADVENT CALENDAR

An Advent Calendar is a calendar where you can find a surprise for every day from December 1st to December 24th. Click on the Christmas tree and you'll find out different facts about Christmas in England. But don't try to cheat! You cannot click on the dates which have not arrived yet. Be patient!

BOXING DAY

Today is December 26th, the day after Christmas Day. It's Boxing Day and it's a bank holiday. For many people Boxing Day is a time to recover from the excesses of Christmas Day and an opportunity to spend time with family and friends .

Some people choose to go for a walk in the countryside or park.

Some others watch or play sports. Football and horse racing are the most popular activities.Some people go fox hunting.

They also play boardgames at home... 

... or watch TV. 

In many countries Boxing Day is a Shopping Holiday.

Some shops are open and the New Year sales start with reduced prices. 

Lots of people go shopping .

And you, what do you do the day after Christmas Day?

Do you like shopping? Write about it in a comment.

CHRISTMAS EVE

Today is December 24th and  it is a very special day for young children because Santa Claus is coming tonight.

In the United Kingdom children put Christmas stockings at the ends of their beds or near the fireplace. 

If the children have been good, Father Christmas will  fill them up with small presents and candy. 

In the past, people put up Christmas decorations on Christmas Eve, but today, most people decorate their homes one or two weeks before Christmas Day. 

In the past, people decorated the house with evergreen: holly, mistletoe and ivy.

HOLLY

     MISTLETOE  

       

    IVY

Now, people decorate the inside and outside of their houses with  lights, garlands, bells ...  

Red and green are the traditional colours of Christmas decorations.

Do you have a Christmas tree full of decorations in the living room? Do you put presents under the tree? What's on top of your tree? A star or an angel?

Is there a wreath on the front door?

Write a comment and tell me about how you decorate your home and what you do on Christmas Eve.

STORY: SANTA'S LITTLE HELPER

It's Christmas Eve. Can Santa deliver all the presents in time? Watch the story to find out!

Click on the CC button to read the subtitles in English.

What is Christmas Eve like where you live? Do you get presents on Christmas Eve? Who brings the presents? Is it Santa? When do you get presents? Write a comment and tell us all about your Christmas Eve! 

You can win 1 extra point per correct sentence.

CHRISTMAS INTERACTIVE BOOK

CHRISTMAS TALKING FLASHCARDS

CHRISTMAS CAROL: THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

KARAOKE VERSION

A CHRISTMAS STORY

HAPPY CHRISTMAS (KARAOKE VERSION)

HAPPY CHRISTMAS ♫ ♪ BY JOHN LENNON

So this is Christmas 

And what have you done 

Another year over 

And a new one just begun 

And so this is Christmas 

I hope you have fun 

The near and the dear ones 

The old and the young 

A very merry Christmas 

And a happy New Year 

Let's hope it's a good one 

Without any fear 

And so this is Christmas (War is over) 

For weak and for strong (If you want it) 

For rich and the poor ones (War is over) 

The world is so wrong (Now) 

And so Happy Christmas (War is over) 

For black and for white (If you want it) 

For yellow and red ones (War is over) 

Let's stop all the fight (Now) 

A very merry Christmas 

And a happy New Year 

Let's hope it's a good one 

Without any fear 

So this is Christmas (War is over) 

And what have we done (If you want it) 

Another year over (War is over) 

And a new one just begun (Now) 

And so Happy Christmas (War is over) 

We hope you have fun (If you want it) 

The near and the dear one (War is over) 

The old and the young (Now) 

A very merry Christmas 

And a happy New Year 

Let's hope it's a good one 

Without any fear 

War is over if you want it 

War is over now

GAME: CHRISTMAS MAZE

THE 3 WISE MEN / THE THREE KINGS DAY

Today is 6th January and in Spain and some Spanish-speaking countries like Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay, Philippines, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic people celebrate THE THREE WISE MEN DAY.
According to Christian tradition, the wise men came from the Orient  and visited Bethlehem on their camels to give baby Jesus three symbolic presents: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Each one of the Kings is supposed to represent one different continent, Europe (Melchior), Asia (Caspar) and Africa (Balthasar).  

In Spain, the Three Kings receive letters from children and bring them presents on the night of January 5th, like Santa Claus with his reindeer in English speaking countries. They have servants to help and they visit everyone in one night. Children prepare some food and drink for the kings and for the camels too and go to bed early that night. In lots of cities there are cabalgatas in the evening. The kings and their servants parade and throw sweets to the children (and parents). The cavalcade of the three kings in the town of Alcoy (Alicante) claims to be the oldest in the world, having started in 1886.

People eat 'Roscón de Reyes'. It's a cake decorated with dried or candied fruits (cherries, orange...). In the roscón there is a small figure and a dried bean. The person who finds the small figure can wear the crown and the person who finds the dried bean has to pay for next year's 'roscón'. It's delicious! Yummy!

Do you have a favourite Wise Man/King to bring your presents? Who is he? Melchior, Caspar or Balthasar?

Write a comment and tell me.  

CHRISTMAS CAROLS 2017 - PRIMARY3: SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN