1. Unit 1: Holidays and Celebrations
In this unit you are going to …
Identify vocabulary related to holidays
Use past tense in sentences
Predict events

2. The first time the new year was celebrated on January 1st in Rome in 153 B.C.
New Year means the first day of the Gregorian year.
People make new year’s resolutions, and celebrate with parades and fireworks.

3. On February 14th, people celebrate the feast day of Saint Valentine, the celebration of love and affection.
Most people send cards and gifts.

4. Holy Week in the Christian year is the week immediately before Easter.
Holy Week begins with what is now called Palm Sunday, the Passion of the Lord.
Then comes Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.

5. It is celebrated in Ireland.
It is the comemoration of the death of St. Patrick.
He is important because he brought Christianity to Ireland.
It’s celebrated on March 17th.
People go to parades, and wear green clothes.
In Ireland it´s a National Holiday and Christians go to mass.

6. Earth Day is on April 22nd.
It began in the United States in 1970.
People plant trees, recycle and ride their bikes.

7. Mother's Day is a celebration honoring mothers and the influence of mothers in society.
It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in March, April or May.

8. Father's Day is a celebration honoring fathers and the influence of fathers in society.
It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in March, May or June.

9. On July 4th, Americans celebrate their Independence from Britain.
Americans celebrate with fireworks and parties.

10. It’s celebrated the first Sunday in August in many countries and on July 20th in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.
In Chile is celebrated on August 5th.
It’s a day when all races get to learn from each other.

11. On September 18, 1810, Chile broke from Spanish rule, declaring their independence.
What do you do for Fiestas Patrias?

12. Halloween is a festival originally celebrated in the pagan Celtic countries (Ireland, England, Wales, and Scotland)
It is a festival of the dead with possible pagan roots.
People do some activities such as trick or treat, wear costumes, carve pumpkin into jack-o-lanterns, tell scary stories, and watch horror movies.

13. Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada.
It is celebrated on the third Thursday and Friday of November and on the second Monday of October in Canada.
People usually eat turkey to commemorate this day.

14. Christmas is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
It’s celebrated on December 25th by millions of people around the world.
Children ask Father Christmas for presents.

15. A birthday is a day when a person celebrates the anniversary of his or her birth. Birthdays are celebrated in numerous cultures, often with a gift and a party.

16. What’s your favourite holiday? Why?