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Christmas is an important annual festival, which is celebrated throughout the English-speaking world, and used to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. However, while it is a religious festival at its core, it has its own symbolism and imagery as well, with children often believing in an imaginary figure called Santa Claus, who brings gifts or presents. Here, we take a look at the way in which Christmas is celebrated in different English-speaking countries.

Christmas in the US
Due to the fact that it is a multicultural country, exact Christmas customs in the United States vary from place to place, and depending upon the heritage of each family. With that said, there are certain practices which are widespread. For example, almost every town and city will have a large Christmas tree and Christmas decorations, and many Americans like to decorate the front of their house with bright lights and even statues.

Most families take their traditions from Western European culture and they will typically eat turkey or ham as their main Christmas meal, possibly accompanied by cranberry sauce. However, families of Eastern European origin may opt for soups, cabbage dishes and sausages, while the sizeable Italian population of the country sometimes favours lasagne and other traditional Italian trimmings.

Catholic communities attend Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and this church service is usually busier than other services during the year, as even those who do not regularly attend church come along. Meanwhile, in some southern parts of the country, traditions have been adopted from Mexico, including the lighting of 'luminarias' or candles, which are placed on the side of paths to represent 'lighting the way' for Mary and Joseph.

Gifts are typically exchanged on the morning of Christmas Day (25th December), with children believing that Santa Claus delivers the presents the night before. The following day is often used to eat any leftover food and watch television as a family. Some communities feature a custom known as 'Mummering', with cities like Philadelphia having a Mummer's Day parade, featuring costumes, music and parade floats.

Christmas in the UK
In the United Kingdom, Christmas celebrations are usually fairly close to what is seen in the United States. There is a strong emphasis on family and gifts are exchanged on Christmas Day itself. Once again, children believe that presents are delivered by Santa Claus and left under their Christmas tree, or in their Christmas stocking. In the build up to Christmas, people will often go to see nativity plays, or pantomimes.

Like in America, the main Christmas meal often consists of turkey, which is usually eaten at lunch time on Christmas Day and served alongside roast potatoes, vegetables and stuffing. Some families opt for goose or beef in place of turkey and Christmas meals are often topped with cranberry sauce, bread sauce or gravy. Popular desserts include Christmas pudding, Christmas cake and mince pies.

Streets in the UK are decorated with Christmas lights and these are often switched on by a celebrity or popular local person. Churches have Christmas carol services, where people gather to sing, while it is also common to see children going from door to door throughout December, singing Christmas carols to their neighbours.

The day after Christmas is known as Boxing Day and is a bank holiday. However, it is primarily regarded as a shopping holiday, with many retail outlets opening before 7am and offering discount Boxing Day sales. Winter in the United Kingdom typically brings bad weather, but over the Christmas period, many people hope for snow - especially on Christmas day itself. When it happens, this is referred to as a 'white Christmas'.

Christmas in Ireland
Generally, Christmas celebrations in Ireland are close to those seen in the UK, although for Catholic families the Christmas period is said to last from 8th December up until 6th January, which marks the feast of Epiphany, sometimes known as 'Little Christmas'. Santa Claus is known as Saint Nicholas and Christmas meals are very similar to in other countries, although some families include spiced beef as a main part of their meal.

In Ireland, Boxing Day is known as St. Stephen's Day and many treat it in much the same way as in the UK and US, eating leftover food and spending the day with family. One old Irish tradition, which also takes place on this day, sees people dress up and go from house to house, singing songs and playing musical instruments. This is known as the Wren Boys Procession. Traditionally, horse racing meetings and football matches also take place.

Overall, Christmas has a stronger religious component in Ireland than it does in the UK and church services are usually extremely busy at this time of year, especially on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. In many Irish homes, a traditional crib is used as a decoration, along with a Christmas tree.

Christmas in Canada
Although celebrations in Canada share many similarities with those seen in the United States, Canada has several distinctive cultures, which mean there are some notable differences as well. However, one widespread tradition in English-speaking parts of the country is the use of real fir or pine Christmas trees, and this is especially common in the eastern province of Nova Scotia, where huge trees can be seen in towns and cities.

Many Canadian families choose to exchange their gifts on Christmas Eve, rather than Christmas Day, while others open one present on Christmas Eve and the remainder on the 25th December. Traditionally, the Monarch of Canada also gives a Christmas Day speech, which is watched by many families while they eat their main meal. This unites Canadian people with those in other Commonwealth countries, like Great Britain and Australia.

As with the United Kingdom, Boxing Day is a recognised holiday in Canada and many people use it as a shopping day, with stores opening early and providing discount prices. In some parts of the country, such as northern Ontario, stores are not allowed to open on Boxing Day and in these areas, an equivalent sale usually takes place on the 27th.

Christmas in South Africa
Christmas celebrations in South Africa are quite distinct from those seen in other English-speaking countries, and this is because the Christmas holiday takes place in the summer, meaning sunshine and warm weather is the norm. As a result, many South Africans eat their traditional Christmas meal outside, while others choose to go a step further and enjoy a camping trip over the Christmas period.

Often, on the afternoon of Christmas Day, families will spend time outside, playing games or swimming. Nevertheless, due to their shared history, a lot of South African customs are similar to those seen in Britain. For instance, gifts are exchanged on Christmas Day itself, Christmas trees are put up in households, children believe in Santa Claus, Christmas pudding is a popular dessert and Boxing Day is celebrated as a national holiday.

Christmas in Australia and New Zealand
As with South Africa, Christmas occurs in the height of the summer season in both Australia and New Zealand. Despite this, much of the iconography surrounding Christmas is taken directly from the United Kingdom and North America, meaning that snow-themed imagery is used on Christmas cards and Santa Claus is still depicted as riding in a sleigh while wearing a fur coat.

Like in other English-speaking countries, the Christmas tree is central to household Christmas decorations. Once again, the traditional Christmas meal consists of turkey, although it is not uncommon for it to be accompanied by cold meats and salad, making it more appropriate for the time of year. Unlike in the United Kingdom and the United States, watching television does not form a major part of Australian traditions, due to the warm weather.

Christmas in New Zealand is usually similar to that in Australia, although there are some key differences. For example, an indigenous tree known as the PÅhutukawa, which produces large red flowers, is an important symbol of Christmas in the country, and is sometimes referred to as a New Zealand Christmas tree. Both Australia and New Zealand recognise Boxing Day and workers in both countries usually get both Christmas Day and Boxing Day off.

Vocabulary List

'Christmas Tree' - An evergreen tree, often made from pine, which is put in the house and decorated.

'Santa Claus' - A mythical figure who provides children with gifts. Also known as Saint Nicholas or Father Christmas.

'Christmas Cracker' - A small paper tube, which makes a 'bang' when it is pulled apart and usually contains a toy.

'Carol' - A religious song, such as a hymn, or a non-religious song about the Christmas holiday.

'Pantomime' - A musical stage production aimed at families, usually with a comedy element.

'Nativity' - A depiction of the story of Christ's birth, often performed on stage.

'White Christmas' - A phrase used to refer to snow over the Christmas period, especially on Christmas Day.

'Boxing Day' - The day after Christmas, sometimes known as St. Stephen's Day.

'Mistletoe' - A green flower, hung from the ceiling as a decoration. People often kiss when stood underneath it.

'Wrapping Paper' - Decorated paper, which is used to wrap Christmas presents.

'Wreath' - A circular ornament, made from fresh or dried leaves and flowers and hung on the door.

'Christmas Card' - A greeting card, similar to a Birthday card, sent during the Christmas period.

'Festive Period' - An alternative phrase used to describe the period immediately before, during and after Christmas.

'Fairy Lights' - Small lights, which are used to decorate and light up the Christmas tree.

'Tinsel' - Glittery string-like material, which is draped over the branches of the Christmas tree.

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Christmas in English Speaking Countries - Lingoda

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Christmas is an important annual festival, which is celebrated throughout the English-speaking world, and used to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. However, while it is a religious festival at its core, it has its own symbolism and imagery as well, with children often believing in an imaginary figure called Santa Claus, who brings gifts or presents.

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Useful information

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'Tis the season to be jolly, friends - think holly and mistletoe, presents beneath the tree, nativity plays, midnight mass and advent calendars.

With Christmas just around the corner and decorations already up and sparkling in town and cities across the globe, from London to Sydney, Baltimore to Banff, today we look at some of the most popular Christmas traditions in the English-speaking world.

Popular Christmas traditions in the English-speaking world:
Carolling
In the days leading up to Christmas, it's traditional for groups of singers - usually amateur choirs, but often just a group of friends - to go from house to house in the evening singing such well-loved carols as Silent Night, Once in Royal David's City and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. If a group of carollers shows up at your door, be kind to them and hear them out; it's often the case that they're collecting money for charity as they go.

Many churches also have carol services, often on Christmas Eve and sometimes by candlelight. Open-air Carols by Candlelight celebrations, where people gather in parks or other public spaces to sing their favourite carols, is an Australian tradition that originated in the early 20 th century and has since spread around the world.

One of the most popular Christmas songs is The Twelve Days of Christmas, which is fun to learn and sing with young learners in class.

Pantomime
During the festive season, theatres large and small throughout the UK, and to a lesser extent in other countries, put on pantomime shows. These plays, based loosely on classic children's stories such as Jack and the Beanstalk and Cinderella, are intended primarily as entertainment for families with young children. They feature lots of singing, dancing, slapstick comedy and audience participation, plus a host of stock characters, such as the young male hero (always played a young woman) the Pantomime Dame, who is often the hero's mother (typically played by a middle-aged man in drag), a villain, a pantomime animal (often a horse, donkey or cow), and a comic lead who gets audience to sing along and repeat traditional catchphrases such as "He's behind you!" and "Oh, yes he is!" or "Oh, no he isn't!".
Boxing Day (St. Stephen's Day)
In the UK and in many current and former Commonwealth countries, such as Kenya or Jamaica, December 26th is a national holiday. Its unusual name derives from an old tradition whereby servants and tradespeople would receive a 'Christmas Box' - a gift of money or presents - on the first weekday after Christmas as a thank you for their services throughout the year. In the homes of the rich, the servants would have to wait on their masters on Christmas Day itself, which meant that they had to hold off until their work was done before they could celebrate themselves. These days, Boxing Day, like Black Friday in the USA, is primarily known as the day the post-Christmas sales begin.
Turkey and wine
Of course, no holiday is complete without traditional food and drink. Christmas Dinner, the main meal on Christmas Day (which is generally more important in the English-speaking world than Christmas Eve), is eaten at lunchtime and typically consists of roast turkey, Brussel sprouts, stuffing, roast potatoes, cranberry sauce, tiny sausages wrapped in bacon (known as pigs in blankets), and lashings of hot gravy.

For desert there are mince pies and Christmas cake, as well as Christmas pudding. Christmas pudding is rich and fruity, made with nuts, cherries and raisins. Traditionally a sixpence coin was hidden inside, which was said to bring good luck to whoever found it when the pudding was sliced. A popular yuletide drink is mulled wine, a deliciously comforting beverage made of red wine, sugar and spices, which is served hot with slices of fruit. Prior to serving, brandy butter or sauce is poured over it and set alight as the perfect garnish.
Mistletoe and tinsel
For many people, one of the most popular Christmas traditions is decorating the house. This includes dressing the famous fir tree, a tradition brought over from Germany in 1841 when Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, put one up in Windsor Castle. The Royal couple were illustrated in the newspapers standing next to their tree with their children, after which Christmas trees were all the rage.

Another beloved decoration is mistletoe, a plant that grows on apple trees, which is hung in the house over Christmas and under which a man was traditionally allowed to kiss a woman - bad luck was said to befall any woman who refused. One version of the tradition also has it that one berry had to be plucked for each kiss, and that the kissing had to stop when there were no more berries.

Don't forget to sign up to our ELT Learning Journeys blog. You'll find lots of great stuff to read here!

More info: ELT Argentina - - ELT Spain & Portugal - ELT Uruguay & Paraguay - ELT Central America and the Caribbean

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Popular Christmas traditions in the English-speaking world

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'Tis the season to be jolly, friends - think holly and mistletoe, presents beneath the tree, nativity plays, midnight mass and advent calendars. With Christmas just around the corner and decorations already up and sparkling in town and cities across the globe, from London to Sydney, Baltimore to Banff, today we look at some of the most popular Christmas traditions in the English-speaking world.

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Important things to take into account in your dinner

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Important things to take into account in your dinner

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More useful information

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When you hear the word "Christmas," what do you think of?

Do you think of snow, Christmas trees and hot chocolate?

Or do you think of a sunny Christmas Day barbecue at the beach with friends?

In different English-speaking countries, both of these images may be real celebrations, depending on where you live.

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere-like in the USA, Canada or England-then December is usually a cold, dark month.

If you live in an English-speaking country in the southern hemisphere-such as Australia, New Zealand or South Africa-then Christmas happens during summer.

Because people speak English in different countries all around the world, Christmas traditions are not the same in each country. In this post, I'll share some Christmas traditions that are common in the United States and Canada.

The Importance of Christmas Traditions

Christmas is one of the most important holidays in most English-speaking countries. In the USA, the biggest holiday is probably Christmas or Thanksgiving. But Christmas is a little bit different in one major way.

Thanksgiving is a secular holiday, which means it's not connected to religion. People celebrate by being with family and eating delicious food. But for many people, Christmas is a holiday that's tied to religious beliefs and traditions.

The religious holiday celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25. Christmas is also a cultural celebration with non-religious (secular) traditions, like Santa Claus, sending cards and giving gifts.

Whether they're religious or secular, many Christmas traditions are different from region to region, or even family to family. This is because traditions are passed down from generation to generation. This means that children learn family celebrations from their parents, and when they grow up, they do the same Christmas celebrations with their own children, and so on.

Many of the common Christmas traditions can be grouped together into a few categories. We'll start with family and friends, then move on to food. After that, we'll look at some traditions related to faith-for the Christian Christmas. Finally, we'll see some other fun activities that many people do around Christmas time.

Family and Friends

Christmas is usually a very social holiday. Normally, people like to spend time with friends and family to celebrate the holiday.

1. Family get-togethers

Most families try to get together (spend time with one another) to celebrate on Christmas Eve (December 24) or Christmas Day (December 25). This informal gathering is called a get-together, which is a noun.

Often, people live far away from their relatives, so it might not be possible to be with their family on Christmas. In this case, people will get together with friends (or their friends' families) to have a special dinner or a Christmas party.

Every family has different traditions and customs depending their history, ethnicity and values. But the shared tradition is to be with family or friends on Christmas.

2. Gift giving and gift exchanges

Many people celebrate Christmas by giving presents (gifts) to their friends, family members or coworkers. This is called a gift exchange. There are a few special words related to presents, and some different types of gift exchanges.

First of all, normally people wrap the gifts they give, which means that they put decorative wrapping paper around the gift. They might also put the gift in a gift bag. Then, when people exchange the presents, they unwrap (or open) them to see what's inside.

Some families and offices might have a special kind of gift exchange. Since it's expensive to buy a present for all of your friends or coworkers, many groups do a gift exchange called a secret Santa. For secret Santa, every person takes the name of another person in the group (in secret), and buys a present just for that one person.

Another popular type of gift exchange is called white elephant. In a white elephant gift exchange, everyone in the group brings an inexpensive present. Someone is chosen to open the first gift while everyone watches. Then, the second person can either open a new gift or take the first person's gift. If the second person takes the first person's gift, then the first person chooses a new gift (or another opened gift, if it's later in the game). It's pretty fun, but it can also get a bit competitive and chaotic (crazy), so that's why it's best if the gifts are inexpensive (cheap)!

3. Charity

The word charity can be used to describe any actions that help people who really need the help-like homeless people or people without money for food. The "holiday season" (Thanksgiving and Christmas) is one of the most charitable times of year.

For example, some people may volunteer (donate their time) making food at a homeless shelter. Others might donate gifts to children from poor families.

In general, the holiday season is a time to help others, so you may see signs like "keep the spirit alive all year." The idea is that we should help others all year long, and not just during a month at the end of the year.

4. Office parties

Many businesses will have a holiday party or an end of the year party in December for their employees. To keep the celebration secular, they might not use the word "Christmas." This keeps the party inclusive (open) to all people, no matter their religious beliefs.

Often, employees can bring their spouse (husband, wife, partner, boyfriend or girlfriend) to the holiday party or dinner.

5. Family traditions

As I mentioned earlier, many families have their own unique traditions for Christmas. Usually family traditions are related to cultural backgrounds or location.

For example, in my family, we eat fondue on Christmas Eve. Then, on Christmas Day we exchange presents. We also do a type of white elephant gift exchange, except every year we need to find gifts related to a specific letter of the alphabet (this year it's the letter "F"). My friends have different traditions with their families.

If you know any native English speakers, ask them if they have any family Christmas traditions.

6. Family meals

When families get together for Christmas, they usually have a large, special meal. Many families even have fancy (special) plates and silverware (forks, knives, spoons) that they only use for Christmas or other special occasions. Although there are common holiday foods, one family may eat specific foods every year, while the family next door may eat something completely different.

In my family, for example, we oven have prime rib (which is a kind of beef roast) for the main meal. We also eat cardamom bread (a delicious and supposedly Danish bread that includes cardamom, a spice) and a crab dip that my aunt makes. It's these kinds of traditional foods that make the day special in different ways for different people.

7. Decorations

It's generally easy to tell when it's December in the United States. Everywhere you go, you'll see Christmas decorations and hear Christmas songs.

The most common decoration is probably a Christmas tree, and most families that celebrate Christmas have one in their house. Some people buy their trees from large tree lots, and others go to Christmas tree farms and choose a tree to cut down.

Some families might use artificial (fake) trees, since they don't make a mess and you don't have to buy a new one every year.

The most common tree decorations are called ornaments. These have a small hook so you can hang them on the tree branches. In some families, ornaments have special significance. For example, if someone went on a special trip this year, they might buy an ornament of an airplane to remember the year.

The Christmas trees also usually have some Christmas lights. Many people also decorate the outside of their houses with Christmas lights. Some people decorate with lots and lots of lights and other festive Christmas decorations outside their house and in their yard.

Many people put a wreath on their front door. A wreath is a decorated circle made out of pine branches.

Finally, Christmas stockings are another common Christmas decoration. Stockings are large, long socks that people often hang them near the fireplace (if the house has one). The idea is that Santa Claus will come down the chimney and leave toys and treats in the stockings for the children-but only if they've been good!

8. Christmas cards

Sending Christmas cards to family and friends is a tradition that is still very popular today. These look similar to birthday cards, but many families also include a family picture. Many Christmas cards also include a letter that tells what the family did that year. During December, it's common to receive lots of Christmas cards in the mail from friends and family.

Food

We've already seen a few examples of how food can be very important for Christmas celebrations and traditions. Here are some more vocabulary words that you may hear when people talk about food during the Christmas holiday.

9. Feast

A feast is a very large meal for a special occasion. Feasts often have multiple courses, which means that a series of foods will be brought out and eaten over a few hours!

The main course is often some kind of meat dish, such as ham, duck or turkey. As I said before, though, my family usually has beef, so it depends on the family you're celebrating with.

10. Fruitcake

Fruitcake is a bread or cake that usually contains nuts and pieces of candied fruit. This is actually a funny word, because many people make jokes about fruitcake around Christmas time.

Since it's really dense (thick) and heavy, many people don't want to eat fruitcake. There are many other foods for Christmas that are sweeter or more delicious. So the joke is that if someone gives you a fruitcake as a gift one year, you can give the same fruitcake as a gift the next year!

Now that I think about it, I don't think I've actually ever tried fruitcake.

11. Christmas drinks

There are quite a few drinks that are common around Christmas. Since the weather is usually cold in December, many people enjoy hot drinks at Christmas.

One really common drink around Christmas is hot chocolate, which is also sometimes called " cocoa" ( pronounced "co-co") or " hot cocoa." It's warm milk with cacao or chocolate powder.

Another hot drink is mulled wine, which is red wine that also has fruits and spices like cinnamon.

Eggnog is a drink that is usually served cold. It's made from milk or cream and eggs, and usually has some spices. Many people add liqueur to eggnog, like amaretto or rum.

12. Christmas sweets

In addition to the sweet drinks, many people enjoy other Christmas treats. Chocolate is always popular, and around Christmas many chocolate companies make special chocolates just for the holiday.

Candy canes are also a traditional symbol of Christmas, and many businesses give them out to customers as small presents.

People also eat more marshmallows around Christmas, and usually put them in hot chocolate so that they can melt and add even more delicious sugar to the drink!

Finally, there are hundreds of different types of Christmas cookies. Many of them are based on recipes that have been passed down in families over generations. Some people even have parties to exchange different cookies and cookie recipes.

Faith

Since Christmas has roots in Christianity, many modern customs are connected to religious traditions and beliefs. The traditions in this section are most common with families that are religious, and specifically Christian.

13. Church

Many religious families go to church sometime during the Christmas season. For Catholic families, the event is called mass, and there are often midnight masses on Christmas Eve or other days close to Christmas.

Protestant churches also have special events, but they're not called masses, they're usually just called church services. At mass or a church service, you usually sing hymns (which are religious Christmas songs), and the readings are related to the story of Jesus's birth.

14. Nativity

The birth of Jesus is also referred to as the Nativity. Many church services or masses include plays called Nativity pageants, where children act out the story of Jesus's birth.

15. Nativity scenes

Many churches-and even homes-put up a Nativity scene on display during the holiday season. These generally include Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph and other characters from the Nativity story.

According to the story, Jesus was born in a manger, which is a part of a farm where animals sleep. Because of that, many Nativity scenes include animals like sheep and cows.

Some churches even have live people and real animals in their Nativity scenes, which is called a living Nativity.

16. Advent wreath

As we learned in the decorations section above, a wreath has a circular shape. The word "advent" often refers to the coming of Jesus, but in this case it can also refer to a "season" in many churches. Advent generally takes place during the four weeks before Christmas.

An advent wreath is a small wreath that usually has five candles. Four candles are on the circle and one is in the center of the wreath. Advent wreaths rest flat on a table, not vertically on a door. Every Sunday during the advent season, a family (or church congregation) lights one candle on the wreath and reads a Bible lesson or Christmas story. The next Sunday, the previous candle or candles are lit, as well as a new one for each week. Finally, on Christmas Day, the center candle is also lit.

17. Christmas songs

Songs in church are also called " hymns," and there are many special hymns for Christmas.

Some of the most popular religious Christmas songs include "Joy to the World," "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," "Silent Night" and "O Holy Night." You might already know many of these songs!

Fun

A lot of the other Christmas traditions are fun too, but these activities are all about having a good time!

18. Santa Claus

Santa Claus (also called Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, or a number of other similar names) is a mythical man who brings presents to good boys and girls on Christmas Eve. There are many variations on the tradition, but most people generally say he flies on a sleigh pulled by reindeer.

As he travels around the world, he stops at every house and goes down the chimney, leaving presents in the children's stockings. Many families also leave out cookies for Santa, since he supposedly gets hungry flying around the world. And even NORAD, part of the American military, has an online " Santa Tracker " so children will know where Santa is during December.

Many families with children celebrate this tradition in some way.

Also, many shopping malls in the United States have a mall Santa. Many children go to the mall with their parents to have their pictures taken with Santa. If you want a good laugh, check out some of the Santa pictures on Awkward Family Photos.

19. Cookie exchanges

As I mentioned in #13, many people have cookie exchanges during the holidays. These are parties where people bring different cookies to share and trade. They often also bring the recipes so that other people can make the cookies that they enjoyed the most. It's basically a cookie party-sounds delicious, right?

20. Christmas caroling

There are lots of Christmas songs that are not religious, or only partially religious. Those are often called Christmas carols, and the action of going around singing Christmas songs (religious or not) is called going caroling.

Often, groups of people walk from house to house and knock on doors. When someone opens the door, the group outside sings a song or two. This can just be for fun, but it can also be for charity (when the owner of the house may make a donation for a specific charity).

Other times, people may go on a hayride. This is where a group of people sit on bales of hay (straw) on a trailer, while the trailer is pulled by a truck or some other vehicle. As the group drives around, they sing Christmas songs.

Some popular non-religious Christmas songs include "White Christmas," "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer."

21. Christmas parties

These can be office Christmas parties or family get-togethers, or they can also just be parties among friends to celebrate Christmas. There are usually snacks, drinks and music, and there are often different types of games.

One type of holiday party that's becoming more popular is an ugly sweater party. There's a stereotype that many Christmas sweaters are really big, flashy and ugly, so many (especially younger people) have parties where you have to wear an ugly Christmas sweater. Some people buy ugly Christmas sweaters just to go to these parties!

22. Outdoor fun

Even if it's really cold outside, there's something about the Christmas season that makes people want to get outside to enjoy the fresh air and snow. If there is snow on the ground, one option is to go on a sleigh ride (the word "sleigh" rhymes with "play").

If you feel like getting some exercise instead of sitting in a sleigh, you can go ice skating or snowshoeing. Both of those require special equipment ( ice skates and snowshoes), which you can usually rent somewhere. You may need to practice before you can do them well, especially ice skating, but they're both a lot of fun!

If you live near some hills or mountains, some other fun outdoor activities include , , and snowboarding. Personally, I prefer sledding because it's a lot cheaper than going to a ski resort. It's also really simple-all you need is a sled, or something to slide on!

23. TV specials

When the weather outside gets too cold or dark, it's always fun to come inside, drink a warm cup of hot chocolate and watch a Christmas special on TV.

Many of these specials are movies that were originally made for children, so they are often animated. Some especially popular films include "A Charlie Brown Christmas," "Frosty the Snowman" and "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer."

Also, there is a tradition that many TV series make a Christmas episode. Some of my favorite episodes were the ones from the British version of "The Office," and there are also some good "The Simpsons" Christmas specials-over 13 currently! But be careful, since some Christmas specials-like the "Star Wars Holiday Special" -just aren't that good. So choose something good to watch, since Christmas only comes once a year!

Finally, there are many movies about Christmas, and they are often shown on TV on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. There's even one movie, 1983's "A Christmas Story," that is played over and over for 24 hours on the channel TBS! They call it the "Christmas Story Marathon," and now some families have it playing in the background during part of their Christmas celebrations.

As you can see, there are many different Christmas traditions.

If you are in an English-speaking country during the holidays, try to visit friends for Christmas so that you can experience some of these cool traditions. Maybe you'll even start some of your own, new Christmas traditions!

Merry Christmas!

Ryan Sitzman teaches English and sometimes German in Costa Rica. He is passionate about learning, coffee, traveling, languages, writing, photography, books, and movies, but not necessarily in that order. You can learn more or connect with him through his website Sitzman ABC.

If you liked this post, something tells me that you'll love FluentU, the best way to learn English with real-world videos.
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How Many of These 23 Christmas Traditions Do You Know in English?

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When you hear the word "Christmas," what do you think of?Do you think of snow, Christmas trees and hot chocolate?Or do you think of a sunny Christmas Day barbecue at the beach with friends?In different English-speaking countries, both of these images may be real celebrations, depending o

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christmas in the english speaking countries

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Christmas in the English speaking countries - ppt video online download

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Hello! My name is Dasha. On the 25th of December there is the greatest holiday in all English speaking countries - the Christmas. I'd like to tell you how people celebrate it. Santa will help us.