Christmas Day

1. Do you usually make or buy gifts for your family and friends? What have you bought/are you going to buy for your parents/girlfriend/boyfriend?
2. Do you celebrate Christmas Eve? How?
3. Do you get together for a big lunch on Christmas Day?
4. Do you eat at home or do you go to a restaurant?
5. What do you eat as a first course, what as a main course? What anbout the dessert?
6. Did you use to hang up stockings, waiting for Santa Claus, when you were a child?

1. Go to Word Puzzle and complete the crossword.
2. Got to ESL Christmas Resources scroll down the bar until you reach the section PUZZLES. Click on Word Searches ~ 12days.com. Go to the Christmas Themes Section and print the Traditional Christmas food, and the Christmas Tree puzzles. Do them at home, then write down the words in your notebook and give the translation in Italian.

Please go to Christmas Facts to know more about the origins of Christmas.

1. Why did the Catholic Church decided to celebrate the Christmas on Dec. 25?
2. Why did the Church decide to celebrate Jesus Christ's birth?
3. Where doeas the misletoe tradition come from?. What does this plant represent?
4. Why are poinsettias bought as a gift at Christmas time?
5. Where does the Christmas tree tradition originate from?
6. Is writing "Xmas" irreligious?
7. Do you think candy canes are widely sold for Christmas? Why?/why not?
8. Whre was St. Nicholas born?
9. What kind of man was he?Who startes the tradtion of expecting stockings to be filled in by candies (treats). When?

1. Go to Christmas.com to know other names of Santa. Name at least three.
2. Go to Whychristmas.com and discover how Christmas is celebrated in the USA. Then explore two other countries of your choice.

The Chinese lunar New Year-the most important holiday in Taiwan- can fall anywhere between 21 January and 28 February on the Gregorian calendar.
To know more about this festivity in Taiwan, click here. Then answer following questions:

1. Why is Chinese New Year known as the Lunar New Year festival?
2. Why is red mainly used in decorations on that day?
3. How long does the festival last?
4. How do people honour their gods?
5. Why do people hung spring couplets around the house?
6. What do people do on New Years' Eve? Why?
7. What do people do first on Chinese New Year?
8. What is one of the most spectacular sights during the Chinese New Year Festival?
9. What are the main dishes served over this period?
10. What Italian dishes are supposed to bring good luck?
11. Mention some of the superstitions and taboos associated with this period of the year.
12. Think about Italian rituals on New Year's Eve and on New Year's Day and explain what they mean.

BE READY TO REPORT ABOUT CHINESE NEW YEAR.