christmas is coming: curious british and american christmas facts and traditions

Christmas is coming!

Curious British and American Christmas facts and traditions

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What does Christmas mean to you?

Christmas is a very “Dickensian” idea

Mr Scrooge

Who’s been listening?

1.What is Scrooge’s profession?

2.What does Scrooge not say to Cratchit when he sneezes?

a) Every sneeze is a penny lostb) Get rid of that coldc) Are you feeling ok?

3. Why does the man ask for more time to pay his mortgage?

Who’s been listening?

1.What is Scrooge’s profession?A moneylender

2.What does Scrooge not say to Cratchit when he sneezes?

a) Every sneeze is a penny lostb) Get rid of that coldc) Are you feeling ok?

3. Why does the man ask for more time to pay his mortgage?To pay for his wife’s funeral

Fill in the gaps

Hurry up Cratchit! Trust these _______ to close before a man can finish his day’s ____________

Which word in this Scrooge quote does each picture represent?

“Every idiot who goes about with Merry Christmas on his lips should be ____ in his own _____ and _____ with a _____ of _____ through his heart.”

a) b) c) d) e)

buried holly pudding boiled stake

Fill in the gaps

Hurry up Cratchit! Trust these _______ to close before a man can finish his day’s ____________

Which word in this Scrooge quote does each picture represent?

“Every idiot who goes about with Merry Christmas on his lips should be boiled in his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart.”

foolsbusiness

a) b) c) d) e)

buried holly pudding boiled stake

What adjectives describe Scrooge?

What adjectives describe Scrooge?

Mean, bitter, tight-fisted, selfish…

Who are the supernatural beings who help him change?

Plus these three ghosts. Can you name them?

Jacob Marley

The four ghosts

The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to come

Jacob Marley

The four ghosts

The Ghost Club

Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol

Arthur Conan Doyle What did he write?

The Ghost Club

Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol

Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes

What you may not know about Xmas

The reindeer

What’s this reindeer’s name? Why is he famous? Can you name the others? How many are there?

The reindeer

Mistletoe

What do you know about this popular holiday decoration?

Mistletoe

Norse mythology: love and friendship

Santa Claus

St Nikolas of Myra

Sinterklass

4th century Turkey

Odin

Pagan Germanic God

8-legged horse and 8 reindeer

Yule / Yuletide Germanic festival

British vs American Christmas

British American

British American

Father Christmas Santa Claus/Santa

British

Where does Santa live?

American

BritishLapland The North Pole

Where does Santa live?

American

British

Roast Turkey ???

American

British

Roast Turkey Roast Turkey / Ham / Beef

American

British

??????

American

British

Mince Pies Christmas Cookies

American

British

When do we put the Christmas tree up?

After Thanksgiving (26th Nov)

First Sunday in December

American

BritishWhen do we take the Christmas tree down?

On the 12th night of Christmas

Depends, but for some people after the Superbowl (first week in Feb)

American

British

Tree Lighting???

American

British

The Royal Christmas Message Tree Lighting

American

British

The Royal Christmas Message

2007

1952

1932

British

Do you know these places?

American

British

Trafalgar Square Rockefeller Center

The Oslo connection Habitat for Humantiy

American

British

Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman (1982)

The Yule Log (TV program)

American

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dYQNAl48E0

A Yule log

12 days of Christmas

Tell stories, play cards…

Health, fertility, luck, ward off evil spirits!

Yule log cake

British, American or both?

Christmas Pudding???

Christmas Pudding

Christmas Crackers???

Christmas Crackers

A pun / A play on words / word play

What’s a mathmatican’s favourite Christmas snack?

What’s a mathmatican’s favourite Christmas snack?

A mince pi!

What did Adam say the day before Christmas?

What did Adam say the day before Christmas?

It’s Christmas, Eve!

What do you call people who are scared of Santa Claus?

What do you call people who are scared of Santa Claus?

Claustrophobic!

Egg nog???

Egg nog

Milk

Eggs

Alcohol

Boxing Day???

Boxing Day

Quiz Time!

1. What ingredient is not in a Christmas pudding?

a) Nutsb) Brandy / Rumc) Chocolated) Cinnamon

2. Dickens lived in the…

a) 16th centuryb) 18th centuryc) 19th centuryd) 20th century

3. What’s in a Christmas cracker traditionally?a) A small giftb) A 20-pound notec) A paper hat, a joke and a small gift d) Cosmetics

4. Why are Santa’s reindeers mainly female?

a) Male reindeer lose their antlers in winterb) Male reindeer are called “moose”c) Female reindeer are stronger to pull the sleighd) They are male reindeer but with female names

5. How long has the Royal Christmas message been broadcast on TV?

a) For less than 25 yearsb) Since Queen Elizabeth was bornc) Since 1920d) For over 50 years

6. What is not usually eaten in the US for Christmas?

a) Turkeyb) Yule Log Cakec) Mince piesd) Christmas Cookies

7. When do many Americans take their Christmas trees down?

a) In Januaryb) In Februaryc) On December, 31std) Before Thanksgiving

8. Where does the Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square come from?

a) Norway, as a present for their help in WWIIb) Germany, as a present from Angela Merkelc) Spain, as a present for the Battle of Trafalgard) Queen of England, as a present for Christmas

9. Which of these places is not a real US city or town?

a) Noel, Missourib) Snowflake, Texasc) St Nicholas, Floridad) Santa Claus, Indiana

Extra Bonus Question!!!

christmas is coming: curious british and american christmas facts and traditions

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