Christmas in Ukraine: customs and traditions

Цель урока:
коммуникативно — речевое развитие учащихся через обобщение знаний о традициях празднования Рождества.

Задачи:
Обучающие: - Организация повторения лексического и страноведческого материала по данной теме. - Формирование коммуникативной культуры школьников.
- Развитие речевого умения (монологическая и диалогическая форма речи).
- Развитие навыков аудирования.
- Способствование формированию навыков социолингвистической и лингвострановедческой компетенции.
Развивающие:
- Развивать познавательный интерес, инициативу в осуществлении иноязычной речевой деятельности.
Воспитательные:
- Воспитывать у учащихся чувство прекрасного, уважения к народной культуре и традициям.
- Повышать мотивацию к изучению английского языка.

Ring out wild bells By Lord Tennyson
Ring out wild bells, to the wild sky
The flying cloud, the frost light
The year is dying in the night
Ring out wild bells, across the snow,
Ring out the old ring in the new
Ring happy bells across the snow
The year is going, let him go.
Ring out the false, ring the true
Ring out the grief that saps the mind
For those that here we see no more;
Ring out the feud of rich and poor
Ring is redress to all mankind.

Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright,
Round your virgin, mother and child,
Holy infant, so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glory streams from heaven afar.
Heavenly hosts sing hallelujah,
Christ the Saviour is born.
Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love’s pure light.
Radiant beams from thy holy face.
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

Warming-up
1. By the way do you know what the word Christmas means?
(Christ+mass=Christmas- Mass of Christ`s birth).
2. Do all countries celebrate it?
(No, only Christians and Catholics do)
3. When do people celebrate this holiday?
(January 7 or December 25)
4. Does your family celebrate Christmas? In what way?

What do you associate Christmas with?
Jesus
Christ
Christmas
star
Church
service
Christmas
tree
holiday
Christmas
cards
carols
presents
Advent
symbols
Christmas
fortune-telling

Do you know Christmas ABC?
M for the Music, merry and clear;
E for the Eve, the crown of the year;
R for the Romping of bright girls and boys;
R for the Reindeer that bring them the toys;
Y for the Yule log softly aglow.
C for the Cold of the sky and the snow;
H for the Hearth where they hang up the hose;
R for the Reel which the old folks propose;
I for the Icicles seen through the pane;
S for the Sleigh bells, with tinkling refrain;
T for the Tree with gifts all abloom;
M for the Mistletoe hung in the room;
A for the Anthems we all love to hear;
S for St. Nicholas – joy of the year!

History of Christmas.
For the Ukrainian people Christmas is the most important family holiday. It is celebrated according to ancient customs that have come down through the ages and are still observed today.
Christianity was introduced in 988 A.D. This day was a festival long before Christianity, because ancient people believed that this was the time when the Sun god started his journey back to Earth. The church accepted many ancient customs as part of the Christian holidays (Feasts of Winter Solstice). This is why Ukrainian customs are quite unique and deeply symbolic.

The Birth of Christ

Traditions of Christmas

Sviata Vecheria (Holy Supper)
Didukh is a sheaf of wheat stalks. It is placed under the icons. The stalks of grain symbolize all the ancestors of the family.
Kutia (boiled wheat mixed with poppy seeds and honey) is the most important food of the Christmas Eve Supper and is also called God`s Food.
There are twelve courses in the supper in honor of twelve Christ`s Apostles. Meat and dairy products are not permitted.
Colach(Christmas bread) is placed in the centre. This bread is braided into a ring and three such rings are placed one on top of the other, with a candle in the centre. The three rings symbolize the Trinity.

Caroling

Caroling-singing folk ritual songs.
Carols have come to us from ancient times. Our ancestors sang ritual Koliadky in honor of the Sun returning to summer in the feast which was called Kolo or Koliada.
There are two main groups of Christmas songs in Ukraine: Koliadky which are sung on the Christmas Eve and schedrivky (from the word meaning generous) which are sung during the feast of Epiphany.
The group of carolers is usually picturesque: one member is dressed as a goat, another carries a six-pointed star attached to a long stick, which symbolized the star of Bethlehem. They go from door to door singing carols for each member of the family. The hosts present carolers with apples, nuts, sweets and money.

Vertep

Vertep- Ukrainian Christmas Puppet Theatre.
It`s history began in the 17-th century. The theatre was probably founded by students of the Kyivan Academy.
Puppets were made of wood. The play which was staged
had two separate acts. The first had a religious theme
and told about the birth of Christ. The second act of the
play consisted of short, humorous scenes. There was
traditionally one personage there, who was just called
“Kozak Zaporozhets”. Probably the role of Kozak was
based on Kozak Mamai, the semi-legendary folk hero. In the puppet theatre the Kozak doll was always made
larger than the others. He wore the traditional dress of the Kozaky, had a bandura (Ukrainian folk string
instrument) and smoked a pipe. The Kozak puppet
spoke of the glorious historical past of Ukraine, he was
the eternal defender of Ukraine`s freedom.

Christmas cards

Заключительное слово учителя
Every person wants to be happy, to feel harmony in his her soul. Christmas is a great chance to forget wars, terrorism and other cruel things that spoil our life. It’s a chance to become better, to believe in miracles. It’s a chance to look into the eyes of people who are near you and say, “I love you with all my heart! I wish your dreams to come true! Be happy!” If all people did it, we think, our life would be better. Merry Christmas!

Рефлексия
Christmas is:
The Christmas tree with toys, tinsels, candles, lights, garlands and a golden star on the top.
Beautifully decorated Christmas cards with best wishes.
TV programs full of famous screen stars, songs and Christmas spirit.
Christmas dinner with a great deal of tasty food to eat.
A special atmosphere of love, happiness and understanding that makes us feel like home.
Gifts under the Christmas tree from those who love you

Homework
Write a letter to your foreign friend about Christmas traditions in Ukraine.