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Teacher’s NotesChristmas

Christmas is an annual religious and cultural holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, generally celebrated on 25 December by billions of people around the world. In fact, the exact month and date of birth of Jesus are not known and some cultures celebrate it on 24 December or in January.

The traditions associated with Christmas in various countries have a mix of pagan, pre-Christian, Christian, and secular themes. Popular modern traditions include gift-giving, Christmas music and carol-singing, exchanging Christmas cards, church celebrations, a special meal, and displaying various Christmas decorations, including Christmas trees, Christmas lights, nativity scenes and mistletoe. In addition, several fi gures, known as Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas are connected with bringing gifts to children during the Christmas season.

Because gift-giving and many other aspects of the Christmas festival result in higher economic activity among both Christians and non-Christians, the holiday has become a signifi cant event and a key sales period for businesses. The economic impact of Christmas has been growing over the past few centuries in many parts of the world.

Quiz1. When was Jesus Christ born?

a) On 24 or 25 December.

b) In January.

c) We don’t know exactly.

2. Christmas traditions

a) are religious in nature all over the world.

b) are a mixture of religious and secular traditions.

c) are all the same all around the world.

3. Economic activity during Christmas

a) is created by Christians who buy gifts.

b) has been on the same level for many years.

c) has been, and still is, increasing.

Glossaryannual – corocznyto commemorate

– upamiętniaćto be associated with

– być związanym zpagan – pogańskisecular – świeckicarol-singing – kolędowaniea nativity scene – szopka bożonarodzeniowamistletoe – jemiołato result in – prowadzić dosignifi cant – znaczącykey – kluczowyimpact – wpływ

Answers: 1.c, 2.b, 3.c