Summer Bank ast monday in Traditional bank holiday(except Scotland) Holiday Augu Christmas December 25 Celebration of christmas Traditional holiday where gentry give presents to servan Boxing Day December 26 and others Source: Europa Intemational Holidays: Holidays, Festval, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary 2nd edition II. Religious Holidays 1. christmas Christmas, the annual Christian holiday, commemorates the birthday of Jesus Christ. Most members of the roman catholic Church and followers of protestantism celebrate Christmas on December 25, and many celebrate on the evening of December 24 as well. Members of the Eastern Orthodox Church usually delay their most important seasonal ceremonies until January 6, when they celebrate Epiphany, (主显节) a commemoration of the baptism of Jesus The most important holiday on the Christian calendar is Easter, which commemorates the Crucifixion and Resur'rection of Jesus. Nevertheless, many peop le particularly in the United States and Canada, consider Christmas to be the most significant annual Christian event. In add ition to being a religious holiday, Christmas is a widely observed non-relig ious festival. For most people who celebrate Christmas, the holiday season is characterized by gatherings among family and friends, feasting, d gift givin Chs hus, the meaning of Christmas can be the commemoration of the birth of Jesus ist as well as the celebration of the winter solstice However, different people and different countries may have different ways of celebration. In the United Kingdom, people celebrate Christmas in their own way, which is more or less different from the celebration of the United States. The special features of the british celebration are 1)The Christmas Pantomime(P94, Paragraph 3) 2)The Christmas Message given by the Queen(P94, Paragraph 4) 3)The celebration of Boxing Day(P94, Paragraph 5) Religious customs of Christmas celebrations in England center on recounting the story of Christ's birth. Most people who celebrate Christmas also participate in such ecular customs as watching Christmas plays, feasting, singing, and helping the poor Before Christmas Day, children write wish lists to Father Christmas, who is the British version of Santa Claus. They then throw these letters into the fire. Children believe that if a draft(wii)draws the letter up through the chimney their wishes will be fulfilled. Children open their gifts on Christmas afternoon, following a meal of2 Summer Bank Holiday Last Monday in August Traditional bank holiday (except Scotland) Christmas December 25 Celebration of Christmas Boxing Day December 26 Traditional holiday where gentry give presents to servants and others Source: Europa International Holidays; Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary, 2nd edition II. Religious Holidays 1. Christmas Christmas, the annual Christian holiday, commemorates the birthday of Jesus Christ. Most members of the Roman Catholic Church and followers of Protestantism celebrate Christmas on December 25, and many celebrate on the evening of December 24 as well. Members of the Eastern Orthodox Church usually delay their most important seasonal ceremonies until January 6, when they celebrate E’piphany, (主显节) a commemoration of the baptism of Jesus. The most important holiday on the Christian calendar is Easter, which commemorates the Crucifixion and Resur’rection of Jesus. Nevertheless, many people, particularly in the United States and Canada, consider Christmas to be the most significant annual Christian event. In addition to being a religious holiday, Christmas is a widely observed non-religious festival. For most people who celebrate Christmas, the holiday season is characterized by gatherings among family and friends, feasting, and gift giving. Thus, the meaning of Christmas can be the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ as well as the celebration of the Winter Solstice. However, different people and different countries may have different ways of celebration. In the United Kingdom, people celebrate Christmas in their own way, which is more or less different from the celebration of the United States. The special features of the British celebration are: 1) The Christmas Pantomime (P94, Paragraph 3) 2) The Christmas Message given by the Queen (P94, Paragraph 4) 3) The celebration of Boxing Day (P94, Paragraph 5) Religious customs of Christmas celebrations in England center on recounting the story of Christ’s birth. Most people who celebrate Christmas also participate in such secular customs as watching Christmas plays, feasting, singing, and helping the poor. Before Christmas Day, children write wish lists to Father Christmas, who is the British version of Santa Claus. They then throw these letters into the fire. Children believe that if a draft (气流) draws the letter up through the chimney, their wishes will be fulfilled. Children open their gifts on Christmas afternoon, following a meal of