Christmas

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What are some things that people do for Christmas?
One thing people do is buy a Christmas tree.
Read this conversation:

Michael: Come on, Michiko. Let's go shopping for a Christmas tree.
Michiko: All right. Let's find a real, big one.
Michael: Hmm. What about this one? Is it too tall?
Michiko: No, it's not too tall. But it's too bushy.
Michael: This one is no good either. It's too sparse. What do you think about this one?
Michiko: It's better than the other ones. Why don't we get it?
Michael: Ok. I think you made a good choice.

In this conversation, Michael and Michiko are looking for a nice, big tree.
Now let's practice these sentences.
Read these example sentences:

"Is it too tall?"
"Is it too bushy?"

or

"Is it too sparse?"


When decorating the tree, people use shiny tinsel,
Christmas ornaments, lights and sometimes even popcorn.
Read this conversation around the Christmas tree.

Michael: Michiko, let's trim the tree now.
Michiko: OK, first we'll have to wrap the lights around the tree.
Michael: Should I go clockwise or counterclockwise?
Michiko: It doesn't really matter.
Michael: Hey, some of the lights are burnt out.
Michiko: That's ok. We'll replace them later.
Michael: Now, let's hang some ornaments.
Michiko: Don't drop those ornaments. They're glass so they'll break.Michael: Let's put the star on now.
Michiko: There, all finished. It looks beautiful, doesn't it?
Michael: It really does.

this conversation, they were decorating the tree. The first thing that they put on was the lights. For example:

"Should I go clockwise or counterclockwise?"

Clockwise means the same direction the hands of a clock go while counter-clockwise is the opposite way.


After wrapping the lights around the tree, they hung the ornaments. And finally they put on the star. For example:

"Wrap the lights around the tree"

"Hang the ornaments"

"Put the star on"


In the conversation above, some of the lights were burned out. In that case, you can say:

"Some of the lights are out"

or

"Some of the lights don't work"





A very important custom associated with Christmas is the giving of gifts. There is always a crowd at the shopping centers with people pushing and shoving to find just the right gift for someone.

Now read this short conversation at a department store:

Customer: I'd like to ask if you have any more of this perfume.
Salesman: I'm sorry, you'll have to ask someone in the women's department. I'm new here.

Read these example sentences:

"I'd like to ask if you have any more of this perfume"

or

"Do you have any more perfume?"


Read this next conversation:

Salesman: Hi, may I help you?
Customer: Yes, I'm looking for a sweater for my mother.
Salesman: The only ones we have are the ones on the rack.
Customer: Oh, I like this one. I'll take it.
Salesman: Will that be cash or charge?
Customer: I'll pay by check.
Salesman: May I see your ID please?
Customer: Here you are. Can I have this wrapped here?
Salesman: You'll have to take it to the gift wrap department. It's on the fourth floor in the back corner.
Customer: Thank you.

Sometimes the cashier will give you a box for your purchase. If not, then you will have to go the gift wrapping department. In this conversation, the customer asked the salesman:

"Can I have this wrapped here?"



If you don't want to be bothered by going to the shopping center to do your shopping, you can always shop by catalog. When you order something through a catalog by mail, it's called "mail order". When you order something over the phone, it's called a "phone order."

Read this conversation about Christmas dinners:

Michiko: Michael, are you planning a party for Christmas?
Michael: Yes, I think so.
Michiko: What's going to be on the menu?
Michael: I'm going to have turkey, steamed vegetables, ham and pineapple, tossed green salad, rice and dessert.
Michiko: That sounds delicious. Is that what most Americans eat for Christmas?
Michael: Well, there is no set menu for Christmas dinner. People eat whatever they like. But in general, Christmas dinner is very similar to Thanksgiving dinner.
Michiko: Wow, it sounds like it's going to be a feast.

Read these example sentences:

"What's going to be on the menu?"

"What kind of food will you have?"


Did you notice that in this conversation, Michael said:

"there is no set menu"



A set menu means that everyone will eat the same thing. So at Christmas dinner, there will be a lot of variety. Another word that is commonly used during the Holidays is "feast." A feast is a very large meal with lots of food. Another word that can be used is "banquet."

Christmas morning can be one of the most exciting times for a child. Many children like to look at or shake their presents to try to guess what they are. Let's read this conversation under the Christmas tree:

Mother: Johnny, don't open that present! You have to wait until Christmas.
Johnny: I'm not going to open it. I'm just listening to it.
Mother: If you shake it too much, you might break it.
Johnny: Is it made of glass?
Mother: I don't know but if you don't stop shaking it, it will break.
Johnny: Is it made of plastic?
Mother: You ask too many questions. Just put it back under the tree.

It is a custom to put Christmas gifts under the Christmas tree. Then on Christmas morning, everyone will open their gifts. "To peek at something" means to look at it when you aren't supposed to. For example:

"Don't peek at your present"

"Don't tear off the wrapping paper until Christmas"




Another activity for people at Christmas time is to go to a Christmas party. These parties are great because people have an opportunity to meet people they haven't seen in a long time.

Now read this conversation:

Aunt: Johnny, it's been such a long time since I last saw you.
Johnny: Hi, Aunt Jane.
Aunt: You've really grown a lot.
Johnny: Yeah, I grew 2 inches this year.
Aunt: What grade are you in now?
Johnny: I'm in the 7th grade.
Aunt: My how time flies.

If you haven't seen a person in a long time, you can use these sentences:

"I haven't seen you in a long time"

"Long time, no see"

"It's been ages, hasn't it?"


One more thing that people like to do on Christmas is to visit theirfriends or relatives. Of course, it's much easier if you call them first.

Read these example sentences:

"Thank you for stopping by"

"It was our pleasure"

"Thank you for coming over"

"It was no problem"

"Thanks for your visit"

"Your welcome"





Read this final conversation:

Michiko: Merry Christmas
Uncle Norman: Merry Christmas
Michiko: Here Uncle Norman. This is for you.
Uncle Norman: Oh, you shouldn't have.
Michiko: It's just a little something.
Uncle Norman: Do you want to come in the house?
Michiko: Oh, no. I'm sorry we can't. We have to get home.
Uncle Norman: Well, thank you for stopping by. And thank you for the gift.
Michiko: It was our pleasure.