Answers: Christmas Vocabulary & Speaking Exercise

If you took the time yesterday to fill in the answers, have a look now to see just how well you did:

1. Santa (or Father Christmas) enters your house through the chimney and the fireplace. True
2. Traditionally, if you hang a stocking by the fireplace, Santa will fill it with money. False - he fills it with presents!
3. Father Christmas travels on a sleigh pulled by reindeer. True
4. Santa lives in the North Pole, and if English children send a letter to Santa, Santa’s Grotto, Reindeerland, SAN TA1, he will reply.  True
5. It is traditional to kiss people underneath the mistletoe.  True
6. Now, holly is used as a decoration, but traditionally, it was to protect us against evil spirits. Apparently this is true - a long, long time ago!
7. It is bad luck to have Christmas decorations up after the 6th January. True - if you forget to take them down you should leave them up until the next Christmas to avoid back luck.
8. Traditionally, crackers contain jokes, hats and food. False - jokes and hats, but not food! 
9. English people traditionally eat turkey on Christmas Day. True-ish - Although goose and other fowl are also eaten.
10. It is illegal to eat mince pies on Christmas Day. True, but its one of those old laws which aren't enforced anymore. If you don't believe me look at this website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6204511.stm 
11. It is traditional to cook money (for example, a £10 note) inside a Christmas Pudding.  False - coins, not notes!
12. The Mariah Carey song "All I want for Christmas is you" is a carol. False - carols are songs of praise or joy!
13. The day before Christmas is called Christmas Eve, and the day after is called Boxing Day.  True
14. There are 25 days on an advent calendar. Depends on the family, but yes, some have 25, others 24.
15. Snowmen are traditionally dressed as Santa. False 
16. We have used the word "Xmas" instead of ‘Christmas’ for over 500 years. True