B11

Christmas is the most important annual festival in both Britain and North America. In its origins, it combines the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ, on 25 December, with the ancient tradition of a winter feast during the darkest period of the year.

CELEBRATION

B12

Christmas carols - a special kind of religious songs - are an important part of it. You may hear them countless times over the radio but it is quite different when you listen to people sing carols around you in church.

 COUNT

B13

At this time, too, many carol singers make door-to-door visits to people at home, collecting money for this or that charity.

 SING

B14

Many weeks before Christmas, shops start selling various Christmas cards and Christmas gifts.

 VARY

B15

Shop owners decorate their shops with holly, mistletoe, candles and colourful paper chains and lanterns.

 OWN

B16

All kinds of traditional Christmas food are also widely available.

 WIDE