ADVENT CALENDARS FOR EVERYONE!

December is approaching and finally the time has come to think about Christmas. First thing to do to buy an Advent calendar (or even more than one) to start the countdown.

For years now there have been so many kinds,  filled with every possible surprise: from beers to scented candles, from herbal teas to games,  to beauty products.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS (WAR IS OVER)

 

Happy Christmas (War Is Over) is a song written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. It was published on 6^th December 1971 on the B-side of a record, with, on the A-side, Listen the snow is falling, written by Yoko Ono. Happy Christmas (War Is Over) is one of the most important and best known Christmas songs.

The authors recorded this song as a protest against the war in Vietnam and they wanted to attract interest on it. The war had started in 1955, sixteen years before and it would continue until 1975.

In that war the USA used chemical weapons such as napalm, a substance, containing petrol, which can cause serious burns. This incendiary mixture killed a lot of people and it made the war incredibly bloody.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING AGAIN

Hello guys ... December’s finally arrived and this means that Christmas is coming, followed by lots of lights, coloured shop windows, gifts and probably the most wanted gift: Christmas holidays. 

There are so many typical traditions that remind us of Christmas and here I’m going to list my favourite ones.

CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD

These days the Christmas atmosphere has joyously invaded all our homes and is spreading all over the world. Christmas is celebrated in lots of different countries and cultures in the world.  So what I’d like to do with you today is a virtual journey through 4 different countries and their Christmas celebrations. I ‘ve chosen to take you to China, Republic of Congo, Australia and Jamaica with me. Ready to take off?

CHINA

In China, only about one percent of people are Christians, so most people only know a few things about Christmas. Because of this, Christmas is only often celebrated in major cities. In these big cities there are Christmas Trees, lights and other decorations on the streets and in department stores. Santa Claus is called “Shen Dan Lao Ren” and has grottos in shops like in Europe and America. In Chinese Happy/Merry Christmas is “Sheng Dan Kuai Le”. Only a few people have a Christmas Tree . If people do have a tree,  it is normally a plastic one and might be decorated with paper chains, paper flowers, and paper lanterns.

CHRISTMAS MOVIES FOR EVERYONE!

CHRISTMAS BOOKS

The Polar Express

The Polar Express was written by Chris Van Allbusrg in 1985.

It's the night of Christmas Eve and a child whose name isn't mentioned, splees in his bedroom and he doesn't believe in Santa Claus. But that night he hears a train whistle, The Polar Express,

which will take him to the Noth Pole, to Santa's house. During the trip he meets many children who love drinking hot chocolate and they sing Christmas songs all together. When he arrives at the North Pole, he meets Santa Claus and he starts believing in him. Santa gives him a bell whichhas the same sound of Santa's sleigh.

SPORTS DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

Many sports during Christmas holidays will stop, but if you are a sport fan you don’t have to be worried because there are many sport events to watch on TV. The majority of football championships (Serie A,Ligue one,Bundesliga and Liga), Formula 1, Moto GP and tennis tournaments stop in this period. Instead, Premier League, Serie B, rugby, basketball and horse racing continue.