1.

Christmas Eve - Đêm Giáng Sinh (24/12)

2. Christmas Day - Ngày Giáng Sinh (25/12)
3. Santa Claus - Ông già Noel
4. Reindeer - Tuần lộc
5. Sleigh - Xe trượt tuyết
6. Elf (plural: Elves) - Chú lùn (phụ tá của ông già Noel)
7. Present - Món quà
8. Stocking - Tất Giáng Sinh
9. Christmas tree - Cây thông Giáng Sinh
10. Ornament - Đồ trang trí (cho cây thông hoặc nhà cửa)
11. Tinsel - Dây kim tuyến
12. Wreath - Vòng hoa Giáng Sinh
13. Mistletoe - Cây tầm gửi
14. Carols - Các bài hát mừng Giáng Sinh
15. Nativity - Cảnh Chúa giáng sinh (trong nhà thờ hoặc lễ hội)
16. Snowflake - Bông tuyết
17. Gingerbread - Bánh gừng
18. Chimney - Ống khói (nơi ông già Noel chui vào nhà)
19. North Pole - Bắc Cực (nơi ông già Noel sống theo truyền thuyết)
20. Fireplace - Lò sưởi

Special days

Christmas is a celebration that lasts for several days. In the UK and many other
countries, the main celebration takes place on Christmas Day (25 December). From
the Christian origins of the holiday, this day marks the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas
Eve (24 December) is the time for last-minute shopping and preparations, present-
wrapping and maybe a drink in the pub. Others will be at home preparing food for the
big day or at a midnight church service to welcome Christmas Day. Boxing Day (26
December) is also a national holiday in the UK – a necessary one for many, to recover
after eating too much the day before! Shops are usually open on Boxing Day and the
big after-Christmas sales begin.

Decorations

From huge cities to tiny villages, the month of December sees buildings and streets
covered in coloured lights, red ribbons and smiling Santa Claus faces. People also
decorate their houses (and sometimes their gardens) for the Christmas period. The
most famous decoration is, of course, the Christmas tree – a pine tree covered in little
shiny decorations and fairy lights. Some people put a nativity scene in their house.
This is a collection of little figures who represent the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.

Family and friends

Christmas is a time to be with the people you love. Often, this involves travelling to
your hometown to be with parents, siblings, cousins, old friends, etc. For some
households, it's the only time of the year when all the family is together. In the UK,
this is usually a time for chats, cups of tea and watching Christmas films together.
However, it can also lead to occasional family tension. But don't worry: there are
plenty of impossibly cheerful pop songs to help everyone relax!

Food

Christmas meals vary across households, but the most common Christmas dinner in
the UK is a roasted turkey with vegetables and potatoes. This may be accompanied by
stuffing (made with bread, onions and herbs) and pigs in blankets (sausages wrapped
in bacon or pastry). And, of course, delicious mince pies – little sweet cakes with fruit
inside. This is, of course, fantastic if someone is cooking for you. If you're the cook,
you may feel under a little pressure as the extended family start arriving for dinner!

Presents

Christmas is certainly the most wonderful time of the year for retailers! The days and
weeks before Christmas are characterised by frantic shopping for presents. Many
groups of friends or workmates take part in a 'Secret Santa' group. This is where each
person buys a small present for one other person in the group, but the identity of the
giver is never revealed. In many countries, Christmas Eve is a night for kids to go to
bed early before their house is visited by Santa Claus, a magic man in a red suit who
leaves presents for all the kids in the house.

Parties

Apart from dinner at home with family or friends, Christmas is also a time for parties.
At school, children often do a Christmas theatre performance or sing Christmas carols
in a concert, then have a party with sweets and cakes. For adults, most workplaces
usually have their Christmas 'do'. This can be a dinner in a restaurant or just a few
drinks in a bar. At workplace parties, many romances have started under the mistletoe,
a special plant which people hang from the ceiling. If you meet somebody under the
mistletoe, the tradition is to kiss that person.
However you celebrate Christmas, for many it's a time for having fun and spending
time with the people you love. Plastic decorations and neon Santa Claus faces might
be considered to be in bad taste by some people, but without them, it simply wouldn't
be Christmas.

The History and Fun Facts About Christmas

The origins of Christmas date back to ancient times. Although it is widely celebrated
as a Christian holiday marking the birth of Jesus Christ, its roots are influenced by
older pagan festivals (ngoại đạo) such as Saturnalia in ancient Rome. Saturnalia was a
celebration of the winter solstice (đông chí), featuring feasts, gift-giving, and
merriment(niềm vui). Early Christians chose December 25th to honor Christ’s birth,
aligning it with these pre-existing festivities.

Over time, Christmas traditions have evolved significantly. For example, the modern
image of Santa Claus was popularized in the 19th century, based on the Dutch (Hà
Lan) figure "Sinterklaas" and the generosity of Saint Nicholas. The famous poem "A
Visit from St. Nicholas" (1823), also known as "The Night Before Christmas", shaped
the modern Santa we know today.

Did you know that the first-ever Christmas card was sent in 1843 in England?
Another fun fact is that "Jingle Bells," one of the most popular Christmas songs, was
originally written for Thanksgiving, not Christmas. Additionally, the tradition of
decorating Christmas trees began in Germany in the 16th century, but it didn’t
become popular worldwide until much later.

Christmas continues to combine religious, cultural, and commercial elements, making

it one of the most beloved holidays across the globe.

1. What do people usually do on Christmas Eve in the UK?

a. Go shopping and wrap presents
b. Decorate the Christmas tree
c. Watch fireworks
d. Exchange gifts
2. What is Boxing Day known for in the UK?
a. Preparing Christmas dinner
b. Recovering from Christmas celebrations
c. Wrapping presents
d. Singing Christmas carols
3. What is the most famous Christmas decoration?
a. Nativity scene
b. Santa Claus figures
c. Christmas tree
d. Red ribbons
4.What does the nativity scene represent?
a. Santa Claus delivering gifts
b. Christmas meals
c. The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem
d. Traditional songs

5.What is a common Christmas dinner in the UK?

a. Pizza and pasta
b. Roast turkey with vegetables
c. Grilled chicken with rice
d. Burgers and fries

6.What are 'pigs in blankets'?

a. Sausages wrapped in bacon or pastry
b. Mince pies with fruit
c. Bread stuffed with vegetables
d. Candies in a blanket shape

7.What is a popular activity at workplace Christmas parties?

a. Singing carols
b. Kissing under mistletoe
c. Exchanging cards
d. Cooking together
8.What is 'Secret Santa'?
a. A Santa Claus game for kids
b. A group activity where people exchange anonymous gifts
c. A shopping tradition for Christmas
d. A name for Christmas carols
 9. What is the tradition if you meet someone under the mistletoe?
a. Shake hands
b. Exchange gifts
c. Kiss that person
d. Sing a Christmas song
10. Which ancient festival influenced the date of Christmas?
a. Diwali
b. Saturnalia
c. Thanksgiving
d. Hanukkah

10. Who inspired the modern image of Santa Claus?

a. Saint Nicholas and Sinterklaas
b. Charles Dickens
c. Roman gods
d. The nativity scene

11. What is the title of the poem that shaped the modern Santa Claus?
a. Silent Night
b. A Visit from St. Nicholas
c. The First Noel
d. O Holy Night

12. What was 'Jingle Bells' originally written for?

a. Christmas
b. Thanksgiving
c. Halloween
d. New Year’s Eve

13. Which country is credited with starting the tradition of decorating

Christmas trees?
a. The UK
b. The USA
c. Germany
d. Italy

"The History of Santa Claus"

The story of Santa Claus begins with Saint Nicholas, a kind and generous man who
lived in the 4th century in what is now Turkey. Saint Nicholas was known for his love
of children and his habit of secretly giving gifts to those in need. One of the most
famous stories about him is when he helped a poor family by dropping gold coins
down their chimney, which landed in their stockings. This is why, even today,
children hang stockings by the fireplace at Christmas.

The name "Santa Claus" comes from the Dutch word Sinterklaas, a shortened form of
Sint Nikolaas, which means Saint Nicholas. When Dutch settlers (ng định cư) brought
the tradition to America, the name evolved into Santa Claus. Over time, stories about
Santa Claus merged (sáp nhập) with other traditions, such as the British Father
Christmas. By the 19th century, Santa Claus became a jolly, bearded man in a red suit
who delivers presents to children on Christmas Eve.

Santa's modern image was popularized in the 1823 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas
(often called The Night Before Christmas), which described him as a cheerful man
who travels in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. Later, in the 1930s, Coca-Cola
advertisements depicted (miêu tả) Santa in the red-and-white suit we all recognize
today. Santa’s role in Christmas has grown to symbolize generosity, joy, and the
magic of the holiday season.

10 Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

1. The story of Santa Claus begins with ______, a kind and generous man who lived
in the 4th century.
2. Saint Nicholas was known for secretly giving ______ to those in need.

3. The tradition of hanging stockings by the fireplace comes from a story where Saint
Nicholas dropped ______ down a chimney.

4. The name "Santa Claus" comes from the Dutch word ______.
5. Dutch settlers brought the tradition of Santa Claus to ______.
6. Santa Claus merged with the British tradition of ______.
7. The poem A Visit from St. Nicholas described Santa as a cheerful man who travels
in a ______.
8. Santa’s sleigh is pulled by ______.
9. The modern red-and-white image of Santa Claus was popularized by ______
advertisements in the 1930s.

Santa Claus has become a symbol of ______, joy, and the magic of the holiday
season.
GRAMMAR CHECK
1. Choose the correct answer:

It is essential that every child ___ their Christmas wish list before December 15th.
A. submits
B. submit
C. submitted
D. submitting

2. Identify the error:

Many children are believing in Santa Claus and eagerly waiting for him on Christmas
Eve.
A. are
B. believing
C. waiting
D. on

LƯU Ý: Các động từ sau không được chia ở thì hiện tại tiếp diễn

19. suppose (có

13. mean (nghĩa
nghĩa vụ làm gì đó)
7. hate (ghét) là)
1. appear (xuất hiện) +to
8. hope (hi 14. need (cần)
2. believe (tin) +in 20. understand
vọng)+ to V 15. prefer (thích
3. belong (thuộc về) (hiểu)
9. know (biết) hơn) +to V
+to 21. want (muốn)
10. lack 16. realize (nhận
4. contain (chứa) 22. wish (ước)
(thiếu) +of ra)
5. depend (phụ 23. hear (nghe)
11. like 17. remember
thuộc) +on 24. smell (ngửi)
(thích/giống) (nhớ)
6. forget (quên)
12. love (yêu) 18. seem (có vẻ 25. taste (nếm)
như)

3. Complete the sentence:

Had the snowstorm not delayed our flight, we ___ the Christmas celebration with our
family.
A. would enjoy
B. would have enjoyed
C. could enjoy
D. had enjoyed

4. Choose the correct form:

By the time the Christmas carolers arrived, we ___ decorating the Christmas tree.
A. finished
B. had finished
C. were finishing
D. have finished

5. Fill in the blank

If it ___ for the warm fireplace, we would have frozen during the snowy Christmas
night.
A. isn’t
B. wasn’t
C. hadn’t been
D. weren’t

6. Rewrite the sentence:

Santa Claus will deliver presents only if the children are asleep.
→ Unless ________________________________________________

7. Choose the correct form:

The Christmas decorations, as well as the gifts, ___ beautifully wrapped.

A. is
B. are
C. has been
D. was

8. Choose the correct word order:

No sooner ___ the Christmas dinner than the guests started to sing carols.
A. had we finished
B. we had finished
C. did we finish
D. have we finished

9. Fill in the blank:

She wishes she ___ how to bake gingerbread cookies for Christmas.
A. knows
B. knew
C. had known
D. will know
10. Identify the error:
If he decorated the house more festively, it will feel more like Christmas.
A. If
B. decorated
C. will feel
D. like

11. Choose the correct form:

The Christmas tree, together with the stockings, ___ placed near the fireplace.
A. is
B. are
C. have been
D. were

12. Choose the correct form:

We suggested that Mary ___ a Santa costume for the Christmas party.
A. wears
B. wear
C. wore
D. is wearing

13. Fill in the blank:

John promised that he ___ all the Christmas lights by tomorrow evening.
A. finishes
B. will finish
C. would finish
D. finished

14. Identify the error:

Each of the children are looking forward to opening their Christmas gifts.
A. Each
B. are
C. looking
D. their

15. Choose the correct answer:

Had we known about the snowstorm, we ___ the Christmas trip.

A. would cancel
B. will cancel
C. would have canceled
D. canceled

16. Fill in the blank:

The Christmas dinner, which ___ for hours, was finally served at 8 p.m.
A. is preparing
B. had been prepared
C. was preparing
D. has prepared

17. Choose the correct word order:

Seldom ___ such a beautiful Christmas tree in their town before.

A. they have seen
B. they saw
C. have they seen
D. did they see