Customs and festival revision

1. Review the vocabulary for this topic. Cover the English meanings and see how many you can
write in the middle column. Then check what you know and learn the rest.

German Write the English English

der Adventskranz advent wreath

anzünden to light

der Aschermittwoch Ash Wednesday

bekommen to get/receive

danken to thank

einladen to invite

die Einladung invitation

die Feier celebration

feiern to celebrate

der Feiertag public holiday

das Fest Festival/celebration

das Feuerwerk fireworks

freuen (sich auf) to look forward to

freuen (sich über) to be pleased about

der Gast guest

der Gastgeber host

das Geschenk present

Heiliger Abend Christmas Eve

Heilige Drei Könige Epiphany (6 Jan)

der Karfreitag Good Friday

der Karneval carnival

die Kerze candle

kirchlich religious

der Lebkuchen type of gingerbread

der Maifeiertag May Day

der Muttertag Mother’s Day

der Neujahrstag New Year’s Day

das Osterei Easter egg

der Osterhase Easter bunny

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 Customs and festival revision

Ostern Easter

Pfingsten Whitsuntide

Sankt Nikolaus Tag St Nicholas' Day (6 Dec)

schmücken to decorate

Silvester New Year’s Eve

Tag der Deutschen Einheit Day of German Unity (3 Oct)

der Umzug street procession

der Valentinstag St Valentine’s Day

verkleiden (sich) to dress up/disguise oneself

verstecken to hide

Weihnachten Christmas

der Weihnachtsbaum Christmas tree

Weihnachtslieder (pl) Christmas carols

der (erste) Weihnachtstag Christmas Day

der (zweite) Weihnachtstag Boxing Day

2. Reading practice

Foundation

Mein Lieblingsfest ist Weihnachten, denn ich mag Geschenke! Ich finde auch die
Weihnachtsbäume schön. Ich freue mich auf den Heiligen Abend. Ich finde Silvester auch gut
und es macht besonders Spaβ, das Feuerwerk anzusehen. Nächstes Jahr werde ich Ostern
feiern und ich möchte ein ganz groβes Osterei bekommen. Richard

a. What is Richard’s favourite festival and why? ...........................................................

b. What else does he like about it? ...........................................................................
c. What does he look forward to? .............................................................................
d. What does he think of New Year’s Eve? ...................................................................
e. What will he do next year and what is he hoping for? ..................................................

Higher

Ich muss zugeben, dass ich Halloween lustig finde, obwohl die Kostüme schlecht sein können.
Weihnachten ist mir wichtig, nicht nur wegen der Geschenke, sondern auch, weil ich religiös
bin. Außerdem freue ich mich darauf, die Kerzen und den Adventskranz anzünden zu dürfen.
Karneval finde ich auch ganz toll, da die Umzüge oft total schön sind. Dorris

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 Customs and festival revision

a. What does Dorris think of Halloween (pros and cons)? .................................................

b. Why is Christmas important to her? .......................................................................
c. What two things does she look forward to? ..............................................................
d. What does she think of the carnival? ......................................................................

Extension: Translate the texts into English.

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 Customs and festival revision

Answers

Task 2

Foundation

a. Christmas because he likes presents.

b. The beautiful Christmas trees.

c. Christmas Eve.

d. He thinks it’s good, especially the fireworks.

e. He’s going to celebrate Easter and hopes to get a big Easter egg.

Higher

a. She thinks it’s fun although the costumes can be bad.

b. It’s important not only because of the presents but because she is religious.

c. Lighting the candles and the Advent wreath.

d. She thinks it’s great and she likes the parades.

Extension translations

Foundation

My favorite celebration is Christmas because I like presents! I also think the Christmas trees are
beautiful. I'm looking forward to Christmas Eve. I also think New Year's Eve is good and it is
especially fun to see the fireworks. Next year I am going to celebrate Easter and I want to get a
really big Easter egg.

Higher

I must admit that I find Halloween fun, although the costumes can be bad. Christmas is
important to me, not only because of the gifts, but also because I am religious. I look forward to
being able to light the candles and the Advent wreath. I also think carnival is great and funny
because the parades are often really nice.

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