In England, Christmas is the most important of all the holidays in the year. Two important things help to set this holiday apart from all others: the custom of giving gifts and the habit of spending it with the family.

In the present highly commercialized(商业化的) age, we are reminded of Christmas many weeks before the event. In the shops the special Christmas displays appear. In the shopping centres of very large towns decorations are put up in the streets. Thousands of people flock into the centre of the town to see the decorations. The advertisements in all the newspapers keep reminding us that there are “Only × more shopping days to Christmas". The Post Office vans(厢式货车) are covered with brightly coloured posters urging us to “Post Early for Christmas” for hundreds of millions of Christmas cards and millions of parcels are sent every year. Everywhere one turns, one is made aware that Christmas, which comes “but once a year, is coming once again.

Many people deplore(谴责) what they consider the over commercialization of a sacred holiday, but under all the business activities, a great deal of true Christmas spirit is to be found. The custom of giving presents to one's family and friends is a very pleasant one so long as one remembers that it is the spirit behind the gift that matters most and not the gift itself. And how good it is at Christmas to return to the family home and meet parents, grandparents and as many aunts, uncles and cousins as can be accommodated(容纳). Without twentieth and 21st century means of transport, many families would be denied the Christmas reunion.

On Christmas Eve, the traditional custom of hanging up a stocking at the foot of the bed is performed by millions of excited children. During the day the Christmas tree will have been dressed. All is now ready for the great morning, which comes round soon enough. Many of the young children stay awake until Santa Claus (or Father Christmas, as some call him) steals in to deliver the presents they have asked him for.

Christmas Day is spent quietly at home. The excitement of all the presents is hardly over before it is time for the traditional Christmas dinner.

    Different countries have different customs in giving presents.

    In China you must never give a clock to a Chinese person, because the sound of the word for “clock ”is the same as the sound for “death” in Chinese. Also, don't wrap(包裹) a present in white, black, or blue paper, because these are the colours for funerals(葬礼). Don't give a knife,' because something sharp(锋利的) can cut a friendship.

    In Russia if we give flowers as a present, we have to give odd numbers of them (one，three, five, etc) because even numbers of flowers( two, four, six, etc) are for funerals.

    In Germany a flower is a good present to give to your dinner hostess, but don't give her red roses because they mean you are in love with her. Don't take thirteen of anything because it's an unlucky number. Don't take an even number of anything either. Don't wrap your present in white, brown, or black paper.

    As we know, there are differences between Western culture and Chinese culture. Let's look at the words about animals and plants. Most expressions in Chinese about the dog, for example, “a homeless dog”，“a mad dog”，“a running dog” and “a dog catching a mouse”, have negative(消极的) meanings.

    But in Western countries, people think dogs are honest and good friends of

humans. In English, people use the dog to describe positive( 积极的) actions. For

example, “you are a lucky dog" means you are a lucky person. And “every dog has its day” means each person has good luck sometimes. To describe a person's serious illness, they say “sick as a dog”. The word “dog tired" means very tired, However, Chinese love cats very much. But in Western culture, “cat” is often used to describe a woman who is cruel.

    The rose is regarded as(被看作) a symbol of love in China and some Western countries. People think the rose means love, peace, courage and friendship. And the rose is the national flower of England, America and many other countries.

    The words about plants and animals are used in positive or negative ways in different cultures. We can learn about many differences in cultures by comparing how some words are used.

Dear Jim,

    I'm glad to that you will go to South Korea. There are many special customs in South Korea. When you meet a person the first time, you should bow to him and hello”. Then you will change business cards with each other. Read the card carefully and then put in the pocket. When you take the subway, you'd better talk loudly. When you want to visit someone, you should tell him or her, about it in advance and take presents. I hope you can have a good time.

Yours,

Tony

— It's boring. There's _________________in it.

    China is a nation of etiquette(礼仪)，Chinese people are among the most hospitable(好客的) people in the world. If foreigners visit a Chinese family, they would be1at the warmth that they would receive as guests.

    When you visit a Chinese family, the host usually makes tea for you and serves you snacks like biscuits or candy. Someone in' the family will also chat with you, never letting you feel2.

    At the same time, other family members will be busy3a meal for you. Chinese people treat their guests with a big meal. They always present more food than the guests can eat. At the table, the guests must be the4to eat. Perhaps one of the things that surprises a(n)5 guest most is that the Chinese host likes to pick food for guests， which won't happen at Western tables. The Chinese family go out of their way to make you feel at home. As you finish eating, the host usually says, “It seems that you didn't eat much. Please have6You tell them you are full,7they still put more food in your bowl.

    8warm and hospitable has been an important part of Chinese culture and tradition. As Confucius(孔子) said9years ago:

    To meet friends from a place far away, how10we are!