Level 1: Holidays & Traditions

Birthday - a day when a person was born.

Example:

I want to bake a cake for Michael’s birthday.

Christmas - the celebration of Christ's birth held on 25 December.

Example:

Christmas is an extremely popular holiday. Even people who do not believe in god or follow other religions still celebrate it.

Father’s Day - a holiday celebrating fatherhood, usually held on 19 March.

Example:

Many people all over the world celebrate Mother’s Day, but not many people know that Father’s Day exists too.

Halloween - the celebration of All Hallows' Eve that includes scary decorations and costumes, as well as trick-or-treating, and is held on 31 October.

Example:

I love Halloween! Every year my best friend and I compete in costume-making.

Mother’s Day - a holiday of honoring motherhood.

Example:

I usually just send my mom flowers for Mother’s Day, but this year I’m planning on visiting her.

New Year’s Eve - the celebration of the upcoming year is held on 31 December.

Example:

Unlike Christmas, New Year’s Eve is not a family holiday, and most people celebrate it with friends and go out to bars or nightclubs.

Summer vacation - a period of time when you are free from work or study.

Example:

I would like to go on summer vacation next week.

Valentine’s Day - the celebration of romance and love.

Example:

Not having a girlfriend or boyfriend on Valentine’s Day makes a lot of people sad.

Balloon - a colored rubber or plastic bag inflamed with air used as decoration or a child’s toy.

Example:

Some people find this fear of mine irrational, but I am extremely afraid of balloons, especially if they break.

Birthday card - a card with greetings and a picture on the front that is usually given to a person for their birthday.

Example:

My granny always says, “A birthday card is good, but a birthday card with money inside is better.”

Birthday cake - a cake decorated with lit candles that a birthday person blows out after making their birthday wish.

Example:

Maria is 30 years old, meaning there will be 30 candles on her birthday cake.

Candy - a sweet treat.

Example:

I usually gain weight during the holiday season because I eat a lot of candies.

Chocolate - a sweet treat made of cocoa beans.

Example:

Chocolate is a traditional gift for Valentine’s Day.

Christmas tree - an artificial or evergreen tree decorated with lights and ornaments for Christmas.

Example:

One of our family Christmas traditions is decorating our Christmas tree together.

Cupid - the god of love in classical mythology who is one of the symbols of Valentine's Day.

Example:

I believe that Cupid brought us together. There’s no other way to explain how the two completely different people became a couple.

Fireworks - a device that creates explosions and various effects in the sky, usually used for celebrations.

Example:

Every year our family gathers to celebrate the 4th of July and watch fireworks together.

Flower girl - a little girl who scatters flowers in front of the bride at a wedding.

Example:

I can’t believe Samantha is getting married. It seems like only yesterday she was a flower girl at my wedding.

Gift - a present you give a person for a special occasion.

Example:

Bob has still not found a gift for Sarah’s birthday.

Lover - one’s romantic partner.

Example:

Not having a lover on Valentine’s Day is not pathetic! In fact, I find solitude quite amusing.

Party - a social gathering that usually involves a celebration of a certain occasion by eating, drinking, and entertaining.

Example:

My friend Josh got really drunk at my birthday party, and he doesn’t remember anything that happened there.

Party hat - a colorful decorated pointed hat made of cardboard and worn at parties.

Example:

Some people hate party hats, but I find them cute.

Santa Claus/ Santa - a patron of children who brings them presents for Christmas.

Example:

I hope this year Santa will bring me a puppy.

Snowflake - a small piece of snow; artificial snowflakes are often used in Christmas decorations.

Example:

The snowflakes dance from the Nutcracker is simply mesmerizing.

Snowman - a figure (usually a representation of a human) made of compressed snow.

Example:

When there is enough snow outside, we will make a snowman in our backyard.

Teddy bear - a stuffed animal usually given as a present for Valentine’s Day.

Example:

My boyfriend gave me this teddy bear on our second date.