"We wish you a Merry Christmas We wish you a Merry Christmas We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year"

　　These words are from a famous Christmas carol(圣诞颂歌). Carols are songs people sing at Christmas. Sometimes people go to other people's houses and sing them songs. These people are called carol singers.

　　Christmas is a very important festival(节日) in the UK, it is a time when people celebrate the birth of Jesus(耶酥). At this time of year the whole family gets together. Most people have a holiday on Christmas Day. We send cards and give presents to friends and family. We decorate(装饰) our homes. Many towns and cities are also decorated with bright lights.

　　Before Christmas Day comes young children write letters to Father Christmas. They ask him to bring them lots of presents. On Christmas Eve the children leave a mince pie (a small cake) and a glass of milk on the kitchen table for Father Christmas. This is to say thank you to him for bringing them their presents.

　　On Christmas Day we have a large meal. Before we eat our meal we pull crackers(爆竹). Crackers are made from paper and have paper hats, jokes and little toys inside them. We put the hats on our heads and tell each other our jokes. Traditionally we eat turkey(火鸡). With our turkey we have roast potatoes(烤薯条) and lots of other vegetables. Brussel sprouts are a traditional Christmas vegetable, but I don't think you eat this vegetable in China. After we eat our dinner we have some Christmas pudding.

　　Many people go for a walk on Christmas Day. Other people stay at home and play games or watch TV. There are always lots of films to watch. A lot of people watch the Queen's(女皇) Christmas message. Every year the Queen talks to us on Christmas Day about the year that has passed and the year ahead.

　　(文/ Katharine Johnson；英语辅导报初一版03~04学年第24期；版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)