THE SNOWMAN – RAYMOND BRIGGS

Unusual amongst the other works on this list in that this book doesn’t have any words, The Snowman was published in 1978 as an illustrated children’s book about a Snowman that comes to life.  The Snowman and the boy who built him then have a magical adventure through the countryside before the Snowman melts in the morning.  It was adapted into a cartoon and the song “Walking in the Air” from the special is constantly on stores’ Christmas playlists.

A STAR OVER BETHLEHEM – AGATHA CHRISTIE

While largely known for her mysteries and characters such as Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, Agatha Christie was also a very religious person.  Her religious beliefs come out largely in this collection of poems and short stories published as Agatha Christie Mallowan (her title, Lady Mallowan, earned from her second husband).   The short stories vary from a donkey that witnesses the birth of Jesus to a London widow who encounters Jesus on a water taxi and has a profound experience.  It’s certainly worth reading for a better understanding of her abilities as a writer.

LETTERS FROM FATHER CHRISTMAS – J.R.R. TOLKIEN

Another author essentially known for one genre is J.R.R. Tolkien.  Very different from his stories involving elves and hobbits, Letters from Father Christmas takes a page from his contemporary C.S. Lewis and imagines letters written from the supernatural spirit himself.  Tolkien actually wrote the letters for his children between 1920 and 1942 as if they were from Father Christmas (or his chief elf secretary) to add to the holiday magic for them by relating stories that happened to Father Christmas.  The letters were amongst Tolkien’s posthumous works and show not only the full range of his writing but also the lengths he would go to for his family.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE – ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

Not really about Christmas, this Sherlock Holmes story by Arthur Conan Doyle is the only one of the great detective’s cases that takes place during the holiday.  In the days following Christmas, Watson visits Holmes, and the two become embroiled in the search for a missing jewel.  After catching the villain in the story’s conclusion, Holmes indulges in the holiday spirit to grant mercy on the thief.  As with many Holmes stories, it’s been adapted multiple times and might even be shown on TV around the season.

DICKENS AT CHRISTMAS – CHARLES DICKENS

We couldn’t get through this list without including at least one Dickens work, and if you can find this edition in print or on an e-reader, Dickens at Christmas is the book you need.  Containing all five of his Christmas novels from A Christmas Carol to The Cricket on the Hearth, it also features several short stories (including “The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton” from The Pickwick Papers) that have helped to define the holiday for every generation since.  It really is the most comprehensive collection of Dickens Christmas stories around and totally worth your money whether you get it at a discount or pay full price.

source: anglotopia

Listen to the song in the video and fill in the gaps in the lyrics.

Walking In The Air                   

We’re walking in the air

We’re floating in the 1. …… sky

The people far below are sleeping as we 2. ……

I’m holding very 3. ……

I’m riding in the 4. …… blue

I’m finding I can fly so high above with you

Far across the 5. ……

The 6. …… go by like trees

The rivers and the hills

The forests and the 7. ……

Children gaze open mouth

Taken by 8. ……

Nobody down below believes their eyes

We’re surfing in the air

We’re swimming in the 9. ….. sky

We’re drifting over icy

10. …… floating by

Suddenly swooping low on an ocean deep

Arousing of a mighty 11. ……  from its sleep

We’re walking in the air

We’re floating in the midnight sky

And everyone who sees us 12. …… us as we fly

I’m holding very tight

I’m riding in the midnight blue

I’m finding I can fly so high above with you

Key:

1. moonlit

2. fly

3. tight

4. midnight

5. world

6. villages

7. streams

8. surprise

9. frozen

10. mountains

11. monster

12. greets

Lanterns lighting up the town

Peace on Earth is all around

Everything is calm on Christmas Eve

There’s goodwill in the air tonight

Angels sing by candle light

Their voices carried on the wind

When carol singers gather ’round

When I hear that festive sound

I wanna join with them and sing!

They sing a merry song and we all sing along

A festive melody that tells us Christmas time is here

See the stars tonight; they’re shining bright

‘Cause it’s Christmas time

And it’s my favourite time of year

Deck the halls with boughs of holly

Give me mistletoe; it’s the season to be jolly

Wrapping presents, writing cards

Helping decorate the tree

But there’s one thing that makes it all for me

When carol singers gather ’round

Angel voices fill the town

It’s like the world is joining in

(Noel, Noel, Noel)

They sing a merry song and we all sing along

A festive melody that tells us Christmas time is here

See the stars tonight; they’re shining bright

‘Cause it’s Christmas time and it’s my favourite time of year

Christmas Eve

Still believe

So excited

Can’t sleep

When the morning comes

Church bells ring

And he’s been

They sing a merry song and we all sing along

A festive melody that tells us Christmas time is here

See the stars tonight; they’re shining bright

‘Cause it’s Christmas time and it’s my favourite time of year

And it’s my favourite time of year

(Noel, Noel)

Find the Christmas words in the lyrics and translate them into Hungarian. How many can you find?

Key

Vissza tudod fordítani a magyar dalszöveg részleteit angolra?

1. Ne sírj, hóember!
2. Mert én vagyok Mrs. Hó.
3. az otthonom minden évszakra
4. Menjünk nulla (fok) alá!
5. Szeretlek örökké.
6. Ne félj a naptól!
7. Ne hullajts egy könnyet se!

Key

1. Don’t cry, snowman.
2. Because I’m Mrs. Snow.
3. my home for all seasons
4. Let’s go below zero.
5. I love you forever.
6. Don’t you fear the sun.
7. Don’t you shed a tear.

But I ain’t stupid! You’re asking if it’s real!

No, I’m not perfect! You wanted honesty! 

Hey, I’m not making fake promises!

I’m not your ex-boyfriend, I know he left you a little bit broken!

But I’m falling deeper, every time I look in your eyes

I’m not perfect, you wanted honesty ohh (so)

Chorus:

Can I promise you!

All it takes is two

Verse 2

Under this moonlight we’re dancing with the stars!

I know who you are! Let’s heal our battle scars!

If looking for a reason! 

Can treasure you no matter what the season!

‘Cuz I’m falling deeper into your eyes!

Chorus:

Can I promise you!

All it takes is two

Bridge

I’ll be by your side

No matter the storms in life

Let me in tonight

Chorus:

Can I promise you!

All it takes is two.

PROMISE

A „promise” szó, sok más angol szóhoz hasonlóan egyszerre több szófajban is ugyanabban az alakban jelenik meg. Tehát van a „promise” ige, ahogy a dalban a „Can I promise you?” mondatban szerepel „megígérni” jelentésben és van a „promise” főnév is, mindjárt magában a címben, „promises”, azaz „ígéretek” formában. Ez akkor okozhat például gondot, ha egy ilyen -s végződésű alak, mint a „promises” megjelenik egy mondatban valahol és el kell döntenünk, hogy a „promise” főnév többes számáról van-e szó vagy a „promise” ige kap –s végződést egyes szám harmadik személyben, például: „he never promises anything to me”. A dalban szerencsénkre ez teljesen világos: Az „I’m not making fake promises” mondatban látjuk, hogy a „make” az ige és a „promises” ígéreteket jelent.

Can you tell the opposites?

1. honesty

2. perfect

3. fake

4. moonlight

5. to heal

Key: 

1. dishonesty

2. imperfect

3. real

4. sunlight

5. to make ill

And there I stood in another line

Trying to buy that last gift or two

Not really in the Christmas mood

And standing right in front of me was a

Little boy waiting anxiously

Pacing around like little boys do

And in his hands he held

A pair of shoes

His clothes were worn and old

He was dirty from head to toe

And when it came his time to pay

I couldn’t believe what I heard him say

[Chorus:]

Sir I wanna buy these shoes

For my mama. please

It’s Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size

Could you hurry sir

Daddy says there’s not much time

You see,

She’s been sick for quite a while And I

know these shoes will make her smile And I

Want her to look beautiful

If mama meets Jesus tonight

They counted pennies for what seemed like years then the

Cashier said, “Son, there’s not enough here.”

He searched his pockets frantically

Then he turned and he looked at me and he said

“Mama made Christmas good at our house though

Most years she just did without, Tell me sir,

What am I gonna do?

Some how I gotta buy her these Christmas shoes.”

So I laid the money down

I just had to help him out

And I’ll never forget the look on his face when he said,

“Mama’s gonna look so great.”

[Repeat Chorus]

I knew I’d caught a glimpse of heaven’s love as he thanked me and ran out

I knew that God had sent me that little boy to remind me what Christmas is all about

[Repeat Chorus with children]

[Little girl:]

I want her to look beautiful if mama meets Jesus tonight

Here are a few words or expressions from the lyrics? What’s the opposite of them?

1. right in front of me

2. pacing

3. worn

4. dirty

5. sick

6. frantically

7. forget

Key

1. right behind me

2. standing

3. new, brand new

4. clean

5. healthy

6. calmly

7. remember

“If I were a shepherd (or wiseman) on that night long ago

When the new star appeared and started to glow

I would follow that star that would never grow dim

I would follow that star- it would lead me to Him.

Chorus:

Starlight Shining Bright

Lighting my way

His Light Shining Bright

Forever will stay

Verse 2:

I’ll be like that shepherd (or wiseman) on that night long ago

Who trusted the light and decided to go

I will follow His light that will never grow dim

I will follow His light it will lead me to Him.

Can you fill in the gaps in the expressions from the lyrics?

1. If I were a …… or a ……

2. when the new star ……

3. I would follow that ……

4. that would never grow ……

5. on that night ……

Key

1. shepherd, wiseman

2. appeared

3. star

4. dim

5. long ago

The Cog is Dead: Holy Crap, It’s Snowing!

Holy crap, it’s snowing!

The flakes are falling down, the wind is blowing.

The roads are closed, there’s nowhere I’ll be going now.

I guess today I’m staying home.

Oh yeah. But what is this “snow” you ask?

Water freezes into icy flakes.

It’s sort of a frozen form of precipitation.

Blankets all the houses, trees and lakes.

And everything is covered in a layer of white!

Holy crap, it’s snowing!

That’s right!

The inches on the ground just keep on growing.

It’s bright!

The snow reflects the sun and it is glowing now!

I think I’ll put my goggles on.

It’s important!  You know snow blindness is a real thing!

When temperatures reach 0° Celsius or 32° Fahrenheit

Atmospheric water vapor freezes into beautiful geometric crystals.

These crystals fall from the sky down to the Earth in what is commonly known as snow.  And what’s that I see out there?

Holy crap, it’s snowing!

Oh my!

And not a single blade of grass is showing.

It’s cold!

And it’s not showing any signs of slowing soon.

I guess it’s time to go inside.  Yup!

Do you remember the rhymes from the lyrics?

1. snowing – ……

2. flakes – ……

3. snowing – ……

Key

1. blowing

2. lakes

3. growing

I met a man of two …… (1) tall

This man was quite ambitious

In a world that is so …… (2) to us all

I said, “Hi,” as he replied

He said, “Listen to these words

That I have …… (3) my whole life

“You’re only as …… (4) as your heart will let you be

And you’re only as …… (5) as the world will make you seem

When the going gets …… (6) and you feel like you may fall

Just look on the bright side – you’re roughly six feet tall”

I met a man of 12 feet tall

He towered like a …… (7)

In a world that was …… (8) of his height

I said, “Hi,” as he replied

He said, “Listen to these words

That I have …… (9) my whole life

“You’re only as tall as your heart will let you be

And you’re only as small as the world will make you seem

When the going gets rough and you feel like you may fall

Just look on the …… (10) – you’re roughly six feet tall.”

I am a man of six feet tall

Just looking for some answers

In a world that answers none of them at all

I’ll say, “Hi,” but not reply

To the letters that you write

Because I found some peace of mind

Cause I’m only as tall as my heart will let me be

And I’m only as small as the world will make me seem

When the going gets rough and I feel like I may fall

I’ll look on the bright side – I’m roughly six feet tall.

Key

1. feet 2. vicious 3. lived by 4. tall 5. small 6. rough 7. giant 8. defiant 9. dreaded 10. bright side

Lyrics

I met a man of two feet tall

This man was quite ambitious

In a world that is so vicious to us all

I said, “Hi,” as he replied

He said, “Listen to these words

That I have lived by my whole life

“You’re only as tall as your heart will let you be

And you’re only as small as the world will make you seem

When the going gets rough and you feel like you may fall

Just look on the bright side – you’re roughly six feet tall”

I met a man of 12 feet tall

He towered like agiant

In a world that was defiant of his height

I said, “Hi,” as he replied

He said, “Listen to these words

That I have dreaded my whole life

“You’re only as tall as your heart will let you be

And you’re only as small as the world will make you seem

When the going gets rough and you feel like you may fall

Just look on the bright side – you’re roughly six feet tall.”

I am a man of six feet tall

Just looking for some answers

In a world that answers none of them at all

I’ll say, “Hi,” but not reply

To the letters that you write

Because I found some peace of mind

Cause I’m only as tall as my heart will let me be

And I’m only as small as the world will make me seem

When the going gets rough and I feel like I may fall

I’ll look on the bright side – I’m roughly six feet tall.

Jay-Z is the king
And I’m prolly his biggest fan
But there is a feeling inside that I’m sure he’d understand
That I’m in love with B and I wanna be her man

He wears his hat down over his eyes
And he is smooching her with those lips, I just know it
And he is driving her around in his Maybach late at night

Don’t you know I want Jay-Z’s girl?
I wish I had Jay-Z’s girl
Why can’t I find a woman like that?

He’s got all the cash
All I got is a pocket full of ones
But I’m watching the game, soaking it up like a sponge
Yeah she is cute but it just won’t be the same with Solange

He wears his hat down over his eyes
And he is smooching her with those lips, I just know it
And he is driving her around in his Maybach late at night

Don’t you know I want Jay-Z’s girl?
I wish I had Jay-Z’s girl
Tell me, why can’t I find a woman like that?

I want Jay-Z’s girl
I wish I had Jay-Z’s girl
Tell me, why can’t I find a woman?
Why can’t I find a woman like that?

It’s just a dream in the middle of the night
I know that it will never be
But I need a queen in my life
And it starts with the letter B

Tell me, why can’t I find a woman like that

Don’t you know I want Jay-Z’s girl?
I wish I had Jay-Z’s girl
I wish I had Jay-Z’s girl
Why can’t I find a woman like that?
Jay-Z’s girl
I wish I had Jay-Z’s girl
I wish I had Jay-Z’s girl

You’ve got a friend in me

When the road looks rough ahead

And you’re miles and miles

From your nice warm bed

You just remember what your old pal said

Boy, you’ve got a friend in me

Yeah, you’ve got a friend in me

You’ve got a friend in me

You’ve got a friend in me

If you’ve got troubles, I’ve got ’em too

There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you

We stick together and can see it through

Cause you’ve got a friend in me

You’ve got a friend in me

Some other folks might be

A little bit smarter than I am

Bigger and stronger too

Maybe

But none of them will ever love you

The way I do, it’s me and you

Boy, and as the years go by

Our friendship will never die

You’re gonna see it’s our destiny

You’ve got a friend in me

You’ve got a friend in me

Can you find the English equivalent of the following Hungarian sentences in the lyrics?

1. Nincs olyan, amit meg nem tennék érted.

2. Csak emlékezz arra, amit öreg barátod mondott!

3. A barátságunk mindig élni fog.

4. Egyikük sem fog úgy szeretni, ahogy én szeretlek.

5. Mi összetartunk.

Key

1. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you.

2. You just remember what your old pal said.

3. Our friendship will never die.

4. None of them will ever love you the way I do.

5. We stick together.

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