christmas-around-the-world-reading-comprehension-exercises 83939

(Joyeux Noël) FRANCE
(Vrolijk kerstfeest) THE NETHERLANDS
(Vrolijk Kerstfeest) BELGIUM
Père
Noël
is
Sinterklaas
rides a horse. Dutch children
Belgian children believe
accompanied by Père
leave
their
shoes
out, filled with hay and
that
Saint
Nicholas
Fouettard, who brings
sugar
for
his
horse.
In the morning they find
brings
them
their
presents only to good
their
shoes
filled
with
candy,
presents.
They
also
kids. Children put their
nuts
and
gifts.
When
believe he rides a horse so
shoes by the fire place to
Sinterklaas appears to
they leave hay and
get gifts. People have
children, he takes the
carrots and water for the
dinner at midnight on
form of their father or a
horse just outside the
December 24 (le Réveillon) with a cake
male relative.
house on December 6.
called La Bûche de Noël.
(Glædelig Jul) DENMARK
(Frohe Weihnachten) GERMANY
(God Jul) SWEDEN
Danish people celebrate
Children count the days until
Most people in Scandinavian countries
Christmas Eve with a
Christmas with an Advent
honour St. Lucia on December
special rice pudding
calendar. They also write
13. Traditionally, the eldest
in which a single
letters to St. Nicholas
daughter in each family gets up
almond is hidden.
asking
for
presents
early and wakes each of her
Whoever finds the
(December 6). Christmas
family members, dressed in a
Eve is the most important
almond will have good luck for
long, white gown with a red
time of the Christmas
the
coming
year.
ribbon and a crown made of
season for families. Some
Julemanden arrives in a
twigs with nine lighted
even say it is a magical night when animals sleigh drawn by reindeer and
candles. Jultomten, visits
can speak. The wonderful tradition of the a sack over his back. He is
houses in the afternoon on
Christmas tree, which started in Germany,assisted with his Yuletide chores by ElvesChristmas Eve.
is the heart of the celebration.
called Juul Nisse, who live in attics.
(C рождеством!) RUSSIA
(Buon Natale) ITALY
Families decorate a New Year’s tree and
(Feliz Navidad) SPAIN
Italian people exchange
make Salad Olivier
Spanish people celebrate
gifts on January 6, when
(diced meat, veggies
Nochebuena (Christmas
the Wise Men or Magi
and
potatoes
all
Eve), and families gather
reached baby Jesus. Italy
slathered in Mayo).
together to share a meal.
has La Befana, who
Grandfather
Frost
Children leave their shoes
brings gifts for good
(Дед Моро́з) delivers
filled with straw and
children and punishment
presents
to
good
barley for the camels of
for the bad ones. The
children, aided by The
the Wise Men who visit
nativity scene dates back to Saint Francis of
Snow
Maiden
them on January 6.
Assisi.
(Снегу́рочка).
(Merry Christmas) UK
(Feliz Navidad) MEXICO
The tradition of hanging
(Merry Christmas) CANADA / U.S.A.
They
celebrate
Christmas for nine days with
stockings by the chimney
People decorate Christmas trees and hang
Las
Pastorelas.
People dress as Mary and
began here because Father
their stockings by the fireplace because
Joseph
walking
from
Christmas
accidentally
children believe that
house
to
house
dropped some gold coins on
Santa Claus will fill
asking if Mary may
his way down the chimney
them with gifts.
stay the night.
which got caught in a drying
People also exchange
Then, they are
stocking. British children wait until thecards and gifts and go
invited in for a
afternoon to open their gifts.carolling.
party with food,
Boxing Day is celebrated the
songs, and a Piñata
day following Christmas,
filled with all kinds of sweets.
when small gifts were given
to servants.
(圣诞快乐) CHINA
Christian kids decorate
their
houses
with
beautiful paper lanterns.
Many Chinese children
also hang stockings and
wait for Santa Claus or
Dun Che Lao Ren, which
means “Christmas Old
Man.”
(メリークリスマス) JAPAN
In Japan there is a god or priest known as
(Merry Christmas) AUSTRALIA
Hoteiosho, who closely
Santa's sleigh is pulled by eight white
resembles our Santa
kangaroos. Christmas dinner is eaten
Claus. He is always
outdoors and is followed by a visit to the
pictured as a kind old
beach or a game of cricket.
man carrying a huge
pack. He is thought to
have eyes in the back of
his head. Children must
be good when this all-seeing gentleman is
abroad.
CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD QUIZ
1) In Belgium, who comes on December 6?
2) Christians in China call Santa Claus Dun Che Lao Ren, which means…
3) The first nativity scene was displayed in 1223 by St. Francis of Assisi in which country?
4) In Sweden, the Christmas season begins on December 13, the feast day of St. Lucia. On this
day it is traditional for the eldest daughter in every family to…
5) In which country is a Yule log-shaped cake called a "Bûche de Noël" traditionally served?
6) In China, what do people traditionally use to light their homes at Christmas?
7) Where do Santa's elves live in Denmark?
8) Who delivers presents in Russia?
9) In The Netherlands, what transport does Saint Nicholas traditionally use?
10) Which country originated the tradition of hanging stockings by the fireplace?
11) At Christmas Mexican parents allow children to break a ………………
12) What animals pull Santa’s sleigh in Australia?
13) Where was developed the modern tradition of the Christmas tree?
14) When and where is Boxing Day celebrated?
15) Where is Father Christmas known as Père Noël?
16) When do Spanish children receive their gifts?
17) In what country do children receive gifts from La Befana, a kindly old witch?
18) Who accompanies Père Noël with a book in which each child's behavior is recorded?
Answer key
http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/
1. Saint Nicholas
2. Christmas Old Man
3. Italy
4. wear a long, white gown with a red ribbon and a crown made of twigs with nine lighted candles
5. France
6. Paper lanterns
7. In the attics of houses
8. Grandfather Frost and the Snow Maiden
9. A horse
10. England
11. Piñata
12. Kangaroos
13. In Germany
14. In UK on December 26.
15. In France
16. On January 6.
17. Italy
18. Père Fouettard
.