Języki Obce w Szkole - Biblioteka Cyfrowa Ośrodka Rozwoju Edukacji

Języki Obce W Szkole n r 5/2008 l i s t o p a d/g r u d z i e ń
lity and were used for decorating their homes
and altars.
The Romans, celebrated Saturnalia – a holiday
in honor of Saturn, the god of peace and
agriculture. Beginning in the week just before the
winter solstice and continuing for a full month,
Saturnalia was a hedonistic time, when food and
drink were plentiful, gifts were exchanged, and
the normal Roman social order was turned upside
down. 3.
. Peasants were in
command of the city. Business and schools were
closed so that everyone could join in the fun.
Public gathering places were decorated with flowers
and candles.
Also around the time of the winter solstice, Romans
celebrated Juvenalia, a feast honoring the
children of Rome. In addition, members of the upper
classes often celebrated the birthday of Mithra,
the god of the unconquerable sun, on December
25. It was believed that Mithra, an infant god, was
born of a rock. For some Romans, Mithra’s birthday
was the most sacred day of the year.
In the early years of Christianity, Easter was
the main holiday; the birth of Jesus was not celebrated.
In the fourth century, church officials
decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday.
Unfortunately, the Bible does not mention date
for his birth. Lucas, the Evangelist, writes ‘shepherds
were keeping watch over their flock by night’
which suggests that Jesus’ birth may have occurred
in the spring, the only time when shepherds
must watch their flock because sheep give birth
to their lambs, so at first it was established for
the 6 January, and only Pope Julius I changed the
date to December 25. 4.
. First
it was called the Feast of the Nativity (the birth
of Jesus Christ). Soon it spread to Egypt, England
(in the sixth century) and to Scandinavia (in the
eighth century).
Christmas held at the same time as traditional
winter solstice festivals gradually replaced pagan
religion, however adopted some of the pagan
traditions. 5.
. The poor went to
the houses of the rich and demanded their best
food and drink. If they were not given what they
wanted, the visitors often terrorized the owners
with mischief. The feasting, drinking, caroling for
money and frequent excesses (riotous behavior)
presented a drastic contrast with the simplicity
of the Nativity and true spirit of Christmas,
so finally, Oliver Cromwell cancelled Christmas.
6. .
Christmas Day is the first of the Twelve Days
of Christmas. The period is the amount of time
it took the three magi, or wise men, to travel to
Beth lehem for the Epiphany, the revelation of Jesus
Christ as the savior and the son of God („epiphany”
is from the Greek word for „revelation”).
Today, in the Greek and Russian orthodox
churches, Christmas is celebrated 13 days after
the 25th, which is also called the Epiphany or
Three Kings Day, the day when the three wise
men finally found Jesus in the manger.
Scan the text again and decide whether the statements
are true or false.
1. Jesus Christ was probably born between March
and May.
2. From the winter solstice days are getting longer.
3. Many pagan gods were believed to be born
on 25 December.
4. Christmas has always been the most important
Christian holiday.
5. The magi reached Bethlehem two weeks after
Jesus’ birth.
6. Christmas has been celebrated on 25 December
since the very birth of Jesus.
Key:
I. 1. reindeer, 2. gingerbread, 3. carols, 4. holy,
5. Saint Nicolas/Santa Claus/Santa, 6. Santa’s sleigh,
7. baubles, 8. mistletoe, 9. lights, 10. wreath,
11. stockings, 12. Christmas tree, 13. Santa’s hat,
14. chimney, 15. snowman.
II. 1. church, the midnight mass, 2. the first star in
the sky, Christmas Eve supper, 3. presents 4. some
cookies and a cup of milk, 5. carols, 6. Christmas
cards, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,
7. Christmas Eve supper, 8. the place, 9. the table,
one set of plates, 10. share the wafer, 11. Christmas
dishes, 12. decorate, 13. some Christmas
shopping.
III. 1. mistletoe, 2. gingerbread, 3. Christmas tree,
4. angel, 5. candles, 6. wreath, 7. Christmas pudding,
8. nativity, 9. nut cracker, 10. Magi (Three
Wise Men), 11. baubles, 12. snowman, 13. carollers,
14. stockings.
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