Tag Archives: Christmas
American Holidays for 2018 Posted by sasha on Jan 8, 2018
Holidays are a special time when people get time off of work to be with loved ones. There are some holidays that are celebrated all over the world, while others are specific to a country or even a city. These important days can teach us a lot about the history and culture of a country…
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Posted by Gary Locke on Dec 14, 2017
I have a very personal connection to one particular song of the holiday season. 25 years ago, I directed a stage production of Meet Me in St. Louis, a classic film about a family in Missouri at the turn of the 20th century. It was a huge undertaking, spanning several months of planning…
Songs of the Season: White Christmas Posted by Gary Locke on Dec 8, 2017
I don’t know about you, but for me, the best thing about the holiday season is probably the music. There’s something for everybody, from choral to jazz to carols from all around the world. You might hear Kwanzaa chants or Chanukah songs for all ages. But, of course, in English-speaking countries, the most common songs…
White Elephant – A Fun Christmas Game Posted by sasha on Dec 28, 2016
You may know about Christmas traditions like putting a tree in your living room and singing carols, but have you ever heard of a game called White Elephant? This is a fun and easy gift-giving game you can play with friends and family. See what it’s like playing White Elephant and learn the rules in…
Christmas Through Emojis Posted by sasha on Dec 19, 2016
These days, people are using emojis more and more to communicate. They’re fun, cute, and very easy to use. Look on social media or in your text messages, and you’ll probably see a whole lot of emojis. With Christmas approaching, there are a few you can use for the holiday. Let’s practice English and learn…
Hygge and the American Dream Posted by Gary Locke on Dec 16, 2016
Hygge (n): a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being. It is regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture. The Oxford English Dictionary, as it does every year, selects a “Word of the Year” from a list of ten finalists selected by its editors. This year, the…
Gingerbread houses – Christmas tradition Posted by Gabriele on Dec 22, 2015
Making gingerbread houses is a Christmastime tradition in the United States (and other countries too). In the US, children often make small gingerbread houses in school, while at home some families make large, candy-covered gingerbread houses. There are even gingerbread house competitions this time of year, where people make elaborate and theme-based gingerbread houses. If…