.png)
English with Ally
Welcome to English with Ally!
I'll take you on a journey of language learning and cultural discovery! Each episode is designed to help you improve your English while exploring the traditions, culture and everyday life that make English-speaking countries unique.
From festive fun to fascinating customs, you’ll learn the language and discover the culture – one story at a time.
In season 1, we'll take a look at Christmas customs over 24 episodes exploring the secular and religious traditions of this Christian celebration.
So sit back and enjoy a backstage pass to English culture and language!
English with Ally
Faith and Festivity: Traditions Across Christian Faiths
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Hello everyone, and welcome to English with Ally!
In previous episodes, I've looked at different secular, or non-religious, customs around Christmas, but this episode will focus on religious traditions from Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant communities.
But first, let’s look at some key words you’ll hear in the episode:
- Mass: A special church ceremony in the Catholic tradition.
- Hymns: religious songs
- Manger: A wooden trough for feeding animals, where baby Jesus was placed according to the Nativity story.
- Supper: An evening meal, often linked to religious celebrations.
- To fast: not to eat
- Apostles: There were twelve original followers of Jesus in the Bible, they were called the twelve apostles
- Liturgy: The set prayers and rituals used in Christian worship.
- Wreath: A circle of greenery, often decorated, used during Advent.
- Christingle: An orange decorated with a candle, ribbon, and sweets, symbolising Jesus as the Light of the World.
- Services: Religious gatherings or ceremonies in a church.
Listen out for these words during the episode!
Roman Catholic Traditions
One of the most important traditions is Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Families gather at church to celebrate the birth of Jesus with prayers and hymns. Another favourite is the Nativity Scene, showing baby Jesus in a manger with Mary, Joseph and shepherds. Many homes and churches display these scenes during Advent and Christmas.
Orthodox Traditions
In Orthodox traditions, Christmas is often celebrated on 7 January, following the Julian calendar. A key tradition is the Holy Supper on Christmas Eve, which usually includes 12 meatless dishes symbolising the12 apostles. People also fast before Christmas and attend a long, beautiful Divine Liturgy. In some countries, carollers go from house to house singing hymns.
Protestant Traditions
Protestant communities often focus on Advent, the four weeks before Christmas. Families light candles on an Advent Wreath and read Bible verses. Many churches hold Christmas carol services, and some have candlelight Services on Christmas Eve. In countries like Germany and the UK, Protestants also enjoy Christingle services, where children hold oranges decorated with candles and ribbons to represent Jesus as the Light of the World.
These traditions—whether Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant—share one message: hope, peace and joy.
Well, that's all for today, do listen to my previous episodes to find out more about Christmas while practicing your listening skills. I'm sharing an episode a day up to the 24th December, Christmas Eve.
You can get in touch by emailing helloenglishwithally[at]gmail.com, I'd love to hear from you.
Thanks for joining me on English with Ally. See you tomorrow.
Wishing all my listeners hope, peace and joy over the coming months.
Learn the language, discover the culture.