This month we have a new series: the festivals of midwinter, when the nights are longest. And we begin with the most famous one of all today: Christmas!
Learn from Songs · Festivals: The Winter Solstice and Christmas · Part 1 of 4 · A1–A2
Christmas: Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Part 1 of the Winter Solstice and Christmas series: the fun and magic of Christmas today. Santa Claus, presents, chocolates and sweets, parties and family visits. The present continuous (Santa Claus is coming, snow is falling), you’d better (not) for advice, there is / there are, and Christmas words, with Philo, Sophia, Marcos, Demetria and two happy songs.
SOPHIA
MARCOS
Presents! Chocolate! Parties!
SOPHIA
Yes, Marcos. And a man in a red coat who comes down the chimney. Our first song is sung by a boy of twelve, Michael Jackson, with his brothers. Listen: Santa Claus is coming to town!
DEMETRIA
Who is Santa Claus?
Before you listen: the song
Christmas today, in many countries
Christmas is on 25 December. For Christians, it is the birthday of Jesus. Today people all over the world also celebrate it with presents, Christmas trees, lights, special food and parties. Families travel to be together, and children wait for Santa Claus (also called Father Christmas).
Santa Claus is a fat, happy old man with a white beard and a red coat. Children say that he lives at the North Pole, and that on Christmas Eve he flies through the sky in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. He comes down the chimney and leaves presents in children’s stockings or under the tree. But be careful: he knows if you are good or bad!
Our songs: “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” was written in 1934. The Jackson 5 sang it in 1970, when Michael Jackson was twelve. “Merry Christmas Everyone” (1985) by the Welsh singer Shakin’ Stevens was number one in Britain at Christmas. In the songs, it is snowing, people are celebrating, and Santa is coming to town.
The best presents are the people we share them with.
Listen: Santa is coming
PHILO
Listen to the Jackson 5. Who is coming to town? What must children do?
SOPHIA
Then listen to Shakin’ Stevens. What is falling? What are the children doing? Then answer Section A.
🎅 Listen to the song: “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” (J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, 1934), sung by the Jackson 5 (1970).Listen to the official recording →
🎄 And listen to: “Merry Christmas Everyone” (Shakin’ Stevens, 1985).Listen to the official recording →
The present continuous: what is happening now
MARCOS
It’s snowing. The children are building a snowman. Santa is checking his list.
SOPHIA
am / is / are + -ing for things happening now. Questions: Is it snowing? Negatives: It isn’t snowing. And for plans: Santa Claus is coming tonight!
You’d better (not)!
DEMETRIA
You’d better be good! You’d better hurry! You’d better not be late!
SOPHIA
You’d better + verb = you should, or there will be a problem. You’d better hurry! Negative: you’d better not. (’d = had, but it means now!)
Christmas words
PHILO
presents, a Christmas tree, lights, a stocking, a chimney, a sleigh, reindeer, chocolates and sweets, a party, a family reunion.
SOPHIA
There is / there are: There is a tree in the living room. There are presents under the tree. Ask: What do you get for Christmas? Who do you visit?
Sophia’s comparison: lamps in the dark
PHILO
In winter we Jews have Hanukkah: for eight nights we light lamps, one more each night, to remember how the Temple was given back to us, and how the light did not go out.
SOPHIA
And our Roman friends in Alexandria have Saturnalia in December: they give presents, eat and drink, play games, and light candles. People everywhere want light, food and friends when the nights are long.
Sophia’s summary
| Words and forms | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| am / is / are + -ing | what is happening now | It’s snowing. |
| is coming (+ time) | plans | Santa is coming tonight. |
| you’d better (not) + verb | advice, warning | You’d better be good! |
| there is / there are | what we can see | There are presents under the tree. |
| presents, stocking, sleigh, reindeer | Christmas words | He brings presents in a sleigh. |
Practice
Listen to the song for Section A, then do the rest. Press “Check my answers” at the end. You can try again as many times as you like.
A · Listen: the song
Listen to the song and choose the best answer.
1. Who is coming to town?
2. What does Santa know?
3. What is falling in Shakin’ Stevens’ song?
4. How old was Michael Jackson in 1970?
5. Where does Santa leave presents?
6. What pulls Santa’s sleigh?
B · Grammar and vocabulary
Write the missing word or words.
7. It snowing. (be)
8. The children are . (play)
9. You’d not cry!
10. There presents under the tree.
11. Santa Claus is to town tonight. (come)
12. There a tree in the living room.
C · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct English?
13. “It’s snowing.”
14. “The children is playing.”
15. “You’d better to be good!”
16. “There are presents under the tree.”
Talk and write
Discussion and writing
Describe the picture. Draw a Christmas room. Your partner asks questions: Is there a tree? What is the cat doing?
Talk. 1. What do you do at Christmas? 2. What is your favourite Christmas food? 3. Who do you visit?
Write (50–70 words). It’s Christmas Eve! Write what is happening in your house now. Use the present continuous and there is / there are.