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Christmas is celebrated all over the world, but it did not start exactly as we know it today. In this lesson, we will learn about the origins of Christmas, how it is celebrated in different countries and what makes this holiday special in places like London.
🎄 1 · ORIGINS OF CHRISTMAS
Before Christianity, many ancient cultures celebrated light, birth and life during the darkest days of winter. Let's watch this short video. It explains how pagan traditions, Roman festivals and Christianity slowly merged to create modern Christmas.
Instead of eliminating older celebrations, the Church chose to adapt existing traditions. That is why many Christmas symbols, such as evergreen trees, decorations and even Santa Claus, have much older origins.
📘 Mini Dictionary — Christmas Origins
- winter solstice – the shortest day of the year.
- pagan – linked to ancient, non-Christian religions.
- Yule – ancient winter festival in Northern Europe.
- evergreen – a tree that stays green all year.
- Saturnalia – Roman winter festival with food and celebrations.
- Mithra – a god worshipped in Ancient Rome.
- Nativity – the birth of Jesus.
- adapt – to change something to fit a new situation.
- Saint Nicholas – historical figure who inspired Santa Claus.
- ornaments – decorative objects.
🌍 2 · CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD
Christmas is celebrated in many different ways around the world.
In some countries, traditions focus on food and family,
while in others they include special characters, dates or customs.
Read the worksheet and complete the activities on the page.
💂3 · CHRISTMAS IN LONDON
London becomes especially festive at Christmas. Streets, shops and public spaces are decorated with lights, markets and seasonal activities. Watch the video and pay attention to what people do and see.
Christmas in London combines tradition and modern life, making it one of the most popular cities to visit during this time of year.
🎧 EXTRA · CHRISTMAS VOCABULARY (HOME)
This final video is longer and is meant as extra practice. You can watch it calmly during the holidays to review and learn more Christmas vocabulary.
🎄 Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Thank you for all the work and effort you have made this term. I am really happy to be your teacher and to share this learning time with you.
As you already know, this is my first year teaching adult learners, and I want to thank you for coming with me on this journey. It is an amazing experience for me, and I hope these classes are helping you and that you are liking them as much as I am.
Enjoy the holidays, take some rest, and don’t forget to practise a little English with the videos and vocabulary.
See you soon! 🌟
