Christmas in the USA

In the USA, Christmas season traditionally begins after Thanksgiving Day. On the first Saturday of December there is a spectacular parade in New York city in which Santa Claus arrives to town, marking that event the start of Christmas season.
Christmas was originally a strictly religious celebration but in the United States it has become commercial and a secular celebration. Department stores, shopping malls and small shops are decorated elaborately and they make customers spend a lot money on Christmas presents. However, for many people Christmas has got a strong religious meaning. It is the time of the year when families gather together. Special feelings, such as, generosity and goodwill appear and they are known as the "Christmas Spirit".
In the United States, Santa Claus is usually presented as a cheerful, fat man with a bushy white beard who wears a red coat. He travels in a magical sleigh pulled by eight reindeers and flies all over the world, the night before Christmas, delivering toys and candies to children.
Many families in the United States put up a small pine tree in their homes and decorate it with lights and bright ornaments. On Christmas morning when children wake up, they find their gifts in colourful wrappers under the Christmas tree. The stockings hanging in the fireplace also appear full of candies and small toys.
During this season, many people exchange Christmas cards. The cards are mailed to friends, neighbours, friends and relatives all through December. If you want to send a Christmas card and you are not sure of the recipient’s religion you should choose a card with no religious theme to be politically correct.
Christmas Eve and Christmas are reserved for religious observance and family celebrations. The members of the family gather at home for the annual celebration. When someone is invited to a family party, it is appropriate to bring a small gift for the family. If there are children, sweets and a small gift are appreciated.
The week after Christmas, people go shopping and take advantage of clearance sales in department stores. On New Year’s Eve there are lots of parties in restaurants, bars and clubs all over the United States. Some cities have great outdoor parties that end with fireworks at midnight. The most famous festival takes place at Times Square in New York City.
The first day of the year marks the end of Christmas and people stay home recovering from food and party excesses and watch football on television.

By Elena Reyes ESO 2

Christmas crafts made by bilingual students of ESO 2.

Christmas in my class

View more presentations from Pedro Talavera.

By Laura Díaz 2º ESO B

CHRISTMAS DAY

In the UK, Christmas Day is normally spent at home with the family and is regarded as a family celebration. The preparations begin in advance by sending Christmas cards and by putting up a Christmas tree in a special place in the house. Today, the Christmas tree is a well established
tradition, but it was first popularized by Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, who introduced this custom from his native Germanyin 1840. Traditionally, gifts are placed under the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve.

On Christmas Eve, children hang their stockings (an old sock or pillow cases) around the chimney or at their bed side for Santa Claus to fill them with gifts. The first image of Santa Claus in his traditional red and white suit appeared in an engraving in 1653. However, the story of Santa Claus arriving in his reindeer-drawn sleigh and descending down the chimney to fill children's stockings with presents appeared much later.

In Spain, the streets are decorated with lights, and apart from the Christmas Tree, people put up Nativity Scenes in their houses, and as well as Santa Claus, the three wise men also bring presents to the children on January 6th.

By Isabel de Sola Rodríguez 2º ESO A

This month's song is ... "Luka" by Suzanne Vega

This week we celebrate the day against domestic abuse. As a result, we propose this beautiful but sad song about child abuse. This song is written from the point of view of an abused child. It was a hit in 1987 and it was one of the earliest songs in the pop music industry to deal with domestic abuse. Let's see the video and and listen to this interesting song!

Our Halloween Day

Our Halloween Day

View more presentations from Pedro Talavera.

By Laura Díaz 2ºESO

Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night

Guy Fawkes or Bonfire Night is the night of November 5th. In 1605 Guy Fawkes, a Roman Catholic and his fellow conspirators attempted to attack King James I and the Houses of Parliament because they disagreed with King's Protestant policies.
They succeeded in storing 36 barrels of gunpowder in a cellar located under the Houses of Parliament. However, before the Parliament opened its session on November 5th , the gunpowder plot, as it was known, was discovered. Guy Fawkes and his colleagues were executed for treason.
From that moment on November 5th has been celebrated in England with the burning of a cloth effigy of Guy Fawkes called “guy”, usually accompanied by a fireworks display.

By Elena Reyes 2º ESO

Jack o' lantern contest.

Have a look at all the jack o´lanterns created by the students of ESO 1 and ESO 2 and vote for your favourite one. You can vote at the poll on the left.