ChristmasChristmas

Fujian Normal University

Christmas, Xmas, Noel, YuletideChristmas, Xmas, Noel, Yuletide

• Christmas: originally, Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ

• Xmas: abbreviation for Christmas – “X” is the Greek letter chi, first letter in the word “Christ”

• Noel: from Old French, meaning “birth”• Yule, Yuletide: pre-Christian European festival at

the end of the year

• Christmas: religious and secular (世俗 ,非宗教的 ) meanings

Advent, Nativity PlayAdvent, Nativity Play

In Latin, Advent means “coming”. Western Christians consider this period as a time of waiting and preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth. The 4 Sundays preceding Christmas Day marks the beginning of the “Advent Season”.

Advent Symbols

Calendar: For Christians, for 24 days, a part of the story of the birth of Jesus is told. Typically, there is a piece of chocolate behind each door.

Candles: 4 purple candles lit each Sunday before Christmas. The white candle is lit on Christmas Day

Brainstorm: Spring Festival (Brainstorm: Spring Festival ( 春节春节 ))

• What words, meanings or activities do you associate with Spring Festival?

Christmas DinnerChristmas Dinner• Traditional family gathering,

usually features roast turkey, roast beef or ham

Opening of presents may take place after or before dinner, or on Christmas Eve (the night before)

Christmas Cards

Greeting cards that people send to relatives and friends to wish them a good year.

Common greetings are “Merry Christmas” (for Christians) or “Season’s Greetings” (for non-Christians)

Christmas Carolers

• Carols: religious or popular songs sung at Christmas.

• Carolers: groups of people going from house to house, singing carols outside.

Christmas Lights

• Used to decorate trees or houses

• Possibly symbolize hope (light) in darkness

• Christians believe Jesus is the “Light of the World”

Christmas Trees

• Real or artificial, evergreen tree (coniferous), popular symbol of Christmas.

• decorated with ornaments and lights, usually with an angel or star on the top

Ornaments• made from glass, wood, paper or

plastic, even popcorn; sometimes homemade

• have hooks on top, are hung from the branches of Christmas trees.

Wreaths 花圈• Made from evergreen branches,

hung on doors or above fireplaces.

Poinsettias 圣诞红

• Plant used for decoration at Christmas;• Poinsettias can be red, pink, or white, but red is the most

popular color.

Candy Canes 拐杖糖

• red and white striped candy sticks, are shaped like a cane or a shepherd’s (牧羊人 ) staff.

Gingerbread Houses and cookies

• Gingerbread is a kind of biscuit or cookie flavoured with ginger

Father Christmas, Saint (St.) Nicholas, Santa Claus

• Santa Claus delivers presents to good children, and lumps of coal to bad children.

• He climbs down the chimneys while they are asleep.

• Based on a real person, St. Nicholas, who helped the poor and gave gifts to children

Christmas Stocking

• filled with small gifts for children, hung by the fireplace

Reindeer 驯鹿 , Sleigh 雪橇

• A deer with large antlers (鹿角 ), pulls Santa‘s sleigh (雪橇 ).

Christmas Shopping and CChristmas Shopping and Consumerismonsumerism

• Stores and shopping malls are very busy at Christmas.

• Many stores being promoting Christmas shopping the day after Halloween.

Christmas and CChristmas and Commercialismommercialism

• The use of Christmas symbols to promote buying goods and services.

Homework Discussion

• a) Why do you think Chinese celebrate Christmas?

• (b) Do you think Chinese should celebrate Christmas?

Hot Potato: Traditions Edition

• Each time the music stops, put on the mittens.

• Unwrap the package, with the mittens on!

• Follow the instructions on the wrapper after you have unwrapped the package.