ChristmasDayfallsonthetwenty-fifthofDecember.Itisaveryhappydayformanyboysandgirls.Beforethetermendsinsomeschools,thechildrenactanativity①or“birth”play,showinghowJesus②wasborninastable③.

　　Onthetwenty-fourthofDecember,allchildrenareveryexcited.Usuallytheyaresenttobedearlysothattheirparentscangetthepresentsready.TheyoungerchildrenthinkthatFatherChristmaswillcomedownthechimneyorfireplace,sotheyhangupasockforhimtoputpresentsin.Thegreedyonesevenhangupapillow-case④orasack⑤totrytogetmorepresents.Laterthatnight,FatherorMotherwillputpresentsinthesock,andleaveothersatthesideofthebed.

　　OnChristmasmorning,thechildrenwakeupveryearly.Someeventurnonthelightattwoo'clock,andmostofthemareawakebysixo'clockalthoughitisnotlightinEnglandforanotherhourortwoatthistimeoftheyear.Childrenlookfortheirpresents,andtheyoungonesplaywhilethedinnerisprepared.Ataboutoneo'clockintheafternoon,theChristmasdinnerisbroughtin.Theturkeyorchickenisquicklyeaten.ChildrensearchintheirChristmaspuddingfornewcoinswhicharehiddeninit.TherestofthedayisfullofgamesandeatinguntilthehappiestofallChristmashollidayscomestoanend.

　　【词语解释】

　　①nativity[n+'tiviti]n．出生；诞生；（宗教）耶稣诞生

　　②Jesus['dNi:z+s]n．耶稣

　　③stable['steibl]n．厩；马棚；牛棚

　　④pillow-case['pil+ukeis]n．枕套

　　⑤sack[s$k]n．袋；布袋