Задание

Choose the correct options

Script

Speaker A

In Serbia, it is customary to give gifts not on Christmas day, but on Sundays the day before. On Sunday, two weeks before December 25, children usually tie up their mother. To free herself from captivity, the mother must pay the children a ransom in the form of gifts. Next Sunday, the same festive fate awaits the father of the family.

Speaker B

In Italy, the good witch Befana brings gifts to children on January 6, not on our usual sleigh, but a broomstick. However, if you behaved badly all year, then instead of the long-awaited gifts you will receive a piece of coal.

Speaker C

In Greece, there is a tradition to wrap across with basil, and then use it to spray the house with holy water in order to protect it from evil spirits. Also, by tradition, old shoes are burned for good luck in the coming year.

Speaker D

In Iceland, there are as many as 13 Santa Clauses. Moreover, in the tradition of Iceland, Santa is more like trolls who descend from the mountain one after another during Christmas time and bring gifts or rotten potatoes, depending on the behaviour of the child. By the way, their names are also unusual, for example, Door Sniffer or Meat Hook.

Speaker E

One of the Latvian Christmas traditions involves reciting a poem, playing an instrument or singing a song in exchange for one of the gifts. Latvia also claims to be home to the first Christmas tree—the oldest recorded use of an evergreen tree for celebrating Christmas dates back to 1510 in Riga, although it is difficult to know if it really was the first.

Speaker F

In Australia, Santa Claus sneaks into a house through a pipe, feasts on a cake specially left for him, washed down with a delicious drink. Then he leaves gifts for all household members under the tree and hurries on.

It is not difficult to see him. Every year, Santa appears at Lake Macquarie, just north of Sydney. Travelling on a big old ferry, the kind grandfather stops at all the marinas, generously presenting the local children with sweets.

Australians love to arrange carols by candlelight. A lot of people go out and sing good Christmas songs all week before the holiday.

Home of the first Christmas tree —

13 Santa Clauses —

Witch Befana —

Evil spirits —

Santa on a ferry —

Tying up parents —