35816 christmas the good the bad and the ugly

CHRISTMAS – THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

Christmas is one of those holidays which means very different things to different people.
It can be a spiritual time, a family time, a time for giving, a time for partying or a time for just overeating... Most people (in those countries where it is the main religious festival of the year) find something to
enjoy about Christmas, whether they are Christians or not. But hasn’t Christmas in the consumer age become
just a bit too big and a lot too commercial?
I think so. The secret of a good Christmas is to be selective. Here is my personal list of the things
Christmas (at any rate, Christmas in Britain) would be infinitely better without. Let’s get rid of….
Plastic Christmas trees
Fussy people don’t like trees that drop their needles on the carpet. Surely, in the age of vacuum
cleaners, this is not a problem any more? Worst of all are those plastic trees that come with their own
decorations already attached, so depriving children of the great pleasure of hanging the decorations
themselves.
Replace with : Real fir trees, from sustainable forests.
Fairy lights that don’t work
We have sent people to the moon. Computers have changed our lives. On the Internet, huge amounts
of information travel all over the world at the speed of light. So it shouldn’t be too difficult to put a few
coloured light bulbs in a row, so they last until New Year without breaking down.
Replace with : Candles. And fireproof fir trees.
Slade’s Merry Christmas Everybody
A stomping, two-chord song from the dark days of 1970s rock. Played endlessly in British pubs and
on the radio through December. It is the musical equivalent of jumping up and down with heavy boots on and
trying to drink beer at the same time. I remember once, at a Christmas party, picking up my beer and taking a
sip - to find out someone had used the can as an ashtray. And this song is the theme tune of that kind of party.
Replace with : The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl’s Fairytale of New York : a great, soulful Christmas song.
Bing Crosby’s White Christmas
While we’re on the subject of Christmas songs, let’s not forget that this sentimental 1950s tune is the
biggest selling single of all time. It’s ideal for falling asleep in an armchair but finally just too nostalgic. And
very annoying.
Replace with : Silent Night, a beautiful German carol known all over the world.
Office parties

Doesn’t a computer decorated with tinsel, and an office with paper chains hanging from the ceiling,
look just a tiny bit depressing? And office Christmas parties are worse. Under the influence of cheap wine in
paper coffee-cups, strange things happen with the photocopier. Rude messages are faxed to clients. Most
people can’t relax in the office. And those that can will probably do something they’ll regret later.
Replace with : an extra afternoon off work.
British Christmas Weather
In Richard Curtis films (like the recent hit Love, Actually), it always snows at Christmas in London.
The city is covered with a beautiful white blanket, the perfect setting for a romantic happy ending. What’s the
Teacher: Adriana Cîrciu

Reading Comprehension 1


reality of Christmas weather in the South of England? Grey skies with a good chance of cold drizzle in the
late afternoon.
Replace with : Russian Christmas weather.
TV
It’s a fact that we spend more time in front of the TV at Christmas than at any other time of year. The
TV schedules are filled with old films, comedy “Christmas Specials”, soap operas with Christmas-related
plots, and of course hundreds of adverts. Switch it off and visit your relatives instead.
Replace with : log fires, board games.
Turkey with Cranberry Sauce
In Britain, the usual Christmas dinner is turkey with cranberry sauce – although ultra-traditionalists
may prefer goose. Cranberry sauce is basically a kind of jam. We don’t put jam on meat at other times of
year, so why at Christmas?
Replace with : No cranberry sauce.
Consumerism
You know what I mean. Adverts for toys on children’s TV. Department stores which put out
Christmas decorations as early as September. The stress of Christmas shopping. Everywhere the message is
spend, spend, spend. Christmas is a Christian religious festival, to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It’s not

just an excuse for making money.
Replace with : Midnight carols at church, peace on earth, and goodwill to all men.
So that’s my advice. Avoid these things and you’ll have a good chance of having a truly Merry Christmas.
Which is what I wish you now. And a happy new year.

Do you agree with the author's suggestions? Do you have other suggestions?

User's texts
Marija writes “In Lithuania Christmas begins on the evening of Christmas Eve. On that evening all our
family meets together. Usually the mother and other women prepare a dinner of 12 dishes (I think it comes
from Christian religions). These dishes can't be with meat. Usually there is a lot of different ones made from
herring, also cold soup with poppy-seed milk. And you should try all 12 dishes. In my family we draw
different lots to guess the future. And the next day we look under the fir tree for presents. After that we go all
together to Church. I am not a great believer, but its like a ritual of our family.”
Kirti writes “Christmas! From children to adults every body enjoys the auspicious occasion. It is not only the
occasion but also we say good-bye to the present year and get ready to welcome the New Year. It is
celebrated by people form all over the world. Of course the intention of the celebration is just to enjoy. And
most of us forget the actual importance of Christmas. Our interest has increased in shopping, food and parties.
I agree with the author of the article that we have to maintain the simplicity. Our young generation should not
forget the traditional values of Christmas. Let us think some other way. Think that by celebrating any
occasion all the people come together, share their happiness and keep tension away for some time. Though
everybody has his or her own way of celebrating. Why don’t we find the mid way by which the importance of
Christmas remains and also it becomes enjoyable too? Merry Christmas!”
Teacher: Adriana Cîrciu

Reading Comprehension 2


Rustam Kamberov writes “I am from Kazakhstan. It is a former USSR republic. Mostly Kazakhstanis
celebrate New Year, but celebration of Christmas is becoming popular. In our country the celebration of New

Year is similar to the celebration of Christmas in Europe. Usually people gather with their families, present
gifts, eat homemade food and wish for the good dreams to come true. And we also decorate a New Year Tree
with different toys and bulbs. As for me I respect the celebration of Christmas although I am not Christian.
And I wish that everybody would respect and love people of all nationalities and religions. It is a little early
but I would like to wish Merry Christmas to everybody.”
Donatella Aigotti writes “Christmas is a very important day for the Catholic religion, and for the whole of
Christianity. His followers believe Jesus Christ, born on the 25th December, is the son of God. People usually
give some presents. Streets, shops and homes are decorated with lights and candles. Some people hate
Christmas day, because they became sad, thinking about their solitude. On the other hand, there are some
people who decide to spend the Christmas Day alone. On Christmas Eve my mother cooked us special meals,
mainly baked cakes. She prepared excellent food for the Christmas lunch, when the whole family ate
together.”
Ines Aparici writes “Christmas is a pleasant occasion for me. It takes me back to my childhood, not only in
my memory but in my sensations as well. Nowadays I live 3,000 kilometres away from my parents, sisters
and relatives.
However I have a large family living with me in this part of the world. I live in Tierra del Fuego,
which is located at the southernmost extreme of South America. Here I live with my husband and three
children and they mean almost everything to me so it is not so hard to be away from all of those who I also
love. Besides I have developed a wonderful friendship here. These friends are almost as my own family and
although I sometimes can go back to my parents’ house, every year I chose to spend these special days in my
friends’ company.
When I was a child, Christmas would mean the entire family and relatives meeting at my
grandmother’s house. She would roast a special chicken, which used to be decorated with golden ribbons tied
to its legs. There was plenty of homemade food such as biscuits, and deserts and lots of candy, almonds and
nuts. There was an attractive smell in the air from the very moment you came through the entrance. An old
aunt would cook some boiled eggs that were placed on a big dish wearing ears, noses, eyes and tails, looking
like small white mice that we, the children, would fight for. So I will always remember it for its particular
smell and taste besides the happiness the whole party gave us.
Today things have turned out to be quite different. Besides the fact that our enormous family has
scattered all over the country, things have turned difficult between some of us. So although we spend these

holy days away from our grandma’s house we do not forget about that nice time we once had. Anyway some
of us still keep certain traditions such as a special dinner with nightdresses and home made food. And there is
always a bright Christmas tree full of presents and good surprises at midnight.”
Aily Tapia writes "A brief story about how we celebrate Christmas in my City
Christmas in Mexico City, is like a big party because a lot of Mexicans who live in the USA come to
celebrate from December 12 until January 06, and is called Lupe-Reyes. We celebrate our the Festival of
Lady Guadalupe on December 12 and we end the party on January 6th when all the children receive gifts
from the Magic Kings (Reyes Magos), and we eat "rosca", which is like a cake, and inside of it if you’re
lucky you will find a little boy that means that you have to make "tamales" on February 2nd on your own to
share with your family, friends or co-workers..."
Tatiana writes “Christmas in Russia: In Russia we celebrate Christmas and New Year and the latter is more
popular because of restrictions during 70 years of socialism. But there are Christmas traditions in our New
Year celebrations. The main one is Ded Moroz (not Santa Clause) who brings gifts for all and puts them
Teacher: Adriana Cîrciu

Reading Comprehension 3


under the New Year Tree. And one of the old traditions is when children come to every house and sing
Christmas songs or carols, and people give them sweets and other gifts. This is called ‘colyadovat’.”
‘grazynajastrzebska’ writes “I live in Poland and in my country Christmas is the most important festival in
the whole year ... our traditions date from the 10th century, since we became Christians. I am not religious at
all but I love decorating the tree and having supper with my closest family on Christmas Eve ... Christmas
time is the best opportunity to meet your closer family and friends, impossible during the rest of the year.
Season's Greetings! May you find fulfilment and enjoyment in the New Year …”
Gulseren Yaman writes “I am a Muslim and we don’t celebrate Christmas but I appreciate Christians’
respect to their religion. Merry Christmas all Christians.”
BuiDuyQuang writes “In my country Christmas is an important event. TV programs broadcast a lot of music
about Christmas Day. At Christmas the Catholic people go to church and pray. The children receive a present
from Santa Claus. So Christmas Day in my country is very interesting.”

Teacher: Adriana Cîrciu

Reading Comprehension 4