3. In Great Britain many customs and traditions are connected with Christmas, and most of them are still popular today . Houses are still decorated with holly and mistletoe. Decorating the house with ''holly'' is a custom, which comes from England. Holly is a bush with shiny red berries and leaves with sharp edges.Because it remains green throughout the year it was believed to hold a promise that the sun would return. Mistletoe is another Christmas symbol . Springs of it are tied together with ribbons and hung up in doorways. Anyone standing under the mistletoe gets to be kissed. Mommy Daddy , quick! Let's go! And stand beneath the mistletoe! You kiss me ,and I kiss you Here comes sister , kiss her too.
4. The proverb says, “Christmas comes but once year”. There is once a year a buzz in the air as Christmas approaches. Fairy lights and brightly decorated trees illuminated the streets, carols ring out from cathedrals and churches, and children anxiously await the arrival of the most enjoyable holiday.Christmas is a traditional family reunion day. On this day, many people attend a church service, open their presents, eat a Christmas dinner and watch the Sovereign’s annual Christmas broadcast on television.Preparations for Christmas are always pleasant: buying gifts, sending Christmas cards and decorating the Christmas tree with small, brightly- colored lights and small colored glass ornaments. In Britain, Christmas is the most important public holiday of the year. It combines the custom of giving gifts with the tradition of spending this day with the family. Every year a huge Christmas tree, the gift of Norwegian people in thanks for Britain’s support during the second World War, graces Trafalgar Square.
5. There are a lot of traditions connected with Christmas but perhaps the most important one is the giving of present. Family members wrap up their gifts and leave them bottom of the Christmas tree to be found on Christmas morning. Children leave sock or stocking at the end of their beds on Christmas Eve, 24th of December, hoping that Father Christmas will come down the chimney during the night and bring them small presents, fruit and nuts. They are usually not disappointed! At some time on Christmas Day the family will sit down to a big turkey dinner followed by Christmas pudding. They will probably pull a cracker with another member of the family. It will make a loud crack and a colored hat, small toy and joke will fall out!
7. Who Decorated the First Christmas Tree? Christmas tree is becoming popular in England in the 1840. No one knows for sure. The custom of bringing an evergreen tree indoors and decorating it at Christmas started in Germany. One legend says that Martin Luther started the practice. Luther was an important Christian leader. According to the story, he noticed the starlit sky as he walked home one Christmas Eve about the year 1513. He thought the stars looked as if they were shining on the branches. When Martin Luther arrived home, he placed a small fir-tree inside the house. He decorated it with lighted candles. Decorating Christmas trees became popular in Germany. Prince Albert took the tradition to England. Both German and English people brought it to America.
8. "Christmas tree" Oh, Christmas tree, oh, Christmas tree, Your branches green delight us. 0h, Christmas tree, oh, Christmas tree, Your branches green delight us. They're green when summer days are bright. They're green when winter snow is white. Oh, Christmas tree, Oh, Christmas tree. Your branches green delight us. Christmas Day, happy day! We are all glad and happy. We all dance and sing and say: "Welcome, welcome Christmas day!". It's Christmas! Merry Christmas! Yes, it's Merry, Merry Christmas!
10. C hristmas is closely connected with giving presents. They give presents to each other. It is not only children and members of a family. It is a tradition to give Christmas presents to the people you work or study with. Another custom is to hang up the stockings over the fire place. This tradition came from Germany. It is believed that Santa fills them with toys and sweets when he comes down the chimney.
