Student’s Worksheet 1 Winter festivals worldwide Task 1
Discuss in pairs:
1. What are winter festivals in Poland? 2. Do you celebrate winter festivals with your family? How? 3. Do you know any other winter festivals which take place in other countries in the world? Task 2
Read about different festivals around the world and decide whether the statements under the text are true (T) or false (F).
“Winter festivals worldwide”
There are many festivals and celebrations which take place in December and January in different parts of the world. Some of them are religious and some of them refer to historical events in the past.
Hanukkah
A Jewish festival celebrated between November 27 and December 5. Each night, throughout the eight-day holiday, a candle or oil-based light is lit. A traditional Jewish menorah has nine candles: one for each day plus the additional helper candle. During this holiday, families meet and children play games, sing songs and exchange small presents. Traditional Hanukkah treats are potato pancakes and doughnuts.
Kwanzaa
celebrated in Africa Kwanzaa is a holiday an heritage. It starts to commemorate Afric lasts for one week. on December 26 and ilies gather together, During this holiday, fam ht coloured candles, exchange gifts and lig ven basic values of which symbolise the se , self-determination, African people: unity nsibility, cooperative collective work and respo vity and faith. This economic purpose, creati ed in other parts of holiday is also celebrat d States, where many the world e.g. the Unite live. African American people
a. Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday.
Saint Nicholas’ Day
This day is especially celebrated in Northern Europe on December 6. Many cen turies ago, Saint Nicholas lived in the small Gre ek town of Myra, where he helped the poor and the weak. He is now treated like Santa Claus, because he brings small gifts to children all over the world. Children place boots on their window sills or by the fireplace, and Saint Nicholas fills them with sweets.
Chinese New Year
This is the most important and the longest holiday in the Chinese calendar. On 31 January 2014, Chinese year 4712 will begin. Many people take a holiday before this festival. They clean and decorate their homes to prepare for the coming New Year. On the New Year’s Eve, families gather for a family reunion. During the New Year celebrations, people wear red clothes. Red symbolises fire, which according to legend can drive away bad luck. The 15th day of each Chinese New Year is the so-called lantern day. People carry lanterns to temples and in street parades.
b. Meat and vegetables are traditional Hanukkah meals. c. Saint Nicholas lived in a small town in Italy. d. On Saint Nicholas’ Day, children get small gifts. e. The Kwanzaa holiday lasts 26 days. f. People in China wear red clothes for Chinese New Year. © Macmillan Polska 2013
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Student’s Worksheet 2 Winter festivals worldwide Task 3
Combine the words/expressions in the neighbouring columns:
to play
gifts
to get
homes
to sing
presents
to exchange
games
to decorate
songs
Task 4
Look at the text “Winter festivals worldwide” again, find the missing information and finish the sentences:
a. A traditional Jewish menorah has
....................................................................................................................................................
.
b. On Saint Nicholas’ Day, children ....................................................................................................................................................... . c. Kwanzaa is celebrated in
......................................................................................................................................................................
d. During New Year celebrations in China, many people wear e. On lantern day, people carry lanterns Task 5
.
.............................................................................................
.
............................................................................................................................................
.
Work in groups of four. Each student will play one role, each from a different country – Israel, Sweden, Tanzania, China. Your task will be to introduce typical winter festivals in your country as listed below. Use the information in Task 2 and make sure that you include all of the details.
Student 1: Joel – Israel (Hanukkah) Student 2: Kirsten – Sweden (Saint Nicholas’ Day) Student 3: Kando – Tanzania (Kwanzaa) Student 4: Chan – China (Chinese New Year) E.g.
Hello, I’ m Chan and I come from China. A typical winter holiday in my country is ……………………….....................................................……………………
Task 6
Work in groups of 3-4 students. Choose one holiday from the text in Task 1 and try to gather as much information as possible about it. Try to look for photos presenting typical activities for your holiday. Then make a poster about this holiday. Start your work in the classroom and if necessary finish it at home.
© Macmillan Polska 2013
www.macmillan.pl
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