Transcript:
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Hey there!
Welcome back to the podcast.
I’m really happy you’re here today.
Christmas is a special time in the United States.
But here’s something interesting:
people don’t celebrate Christmas the same way everywhere.
In today’s episode,
let’s look at some fun and unusual Christmas traditions
from different parts of the USA.
🎅 SantaCon – New York City
Let’s start in New York City.
In December, something funny happens there.
Thousands of people dress up like Santa Claus.
Yes — real adults.
Not children.
They walk around the city,
laugh, take photos, and have fun.
This event is called SantaCon.
It’s silly, noisy, and very New York.
🕯️ Luminarias – New Mexico
Now let’s go southwest, to New Mexico.
On Christmas Eve, people place small paper lanterns outside their homes.
These lanterns are called luminarias.
You can see them:
- on sidewalks
- on rooftops
- near doors
At night, the lights are beautiful and calm.
They represent light and hope.
🔥 Cajun Christmas – Louisiana
In Louisiana, Christmas looks very different.
Near the Mississippi River,
people build big bonfires.
Why?
To help Papa Noël — the Cajun Santa Claus —
find his way.
Families also eat delicious food like:
- gumbo
- jambalaya
Christmas there is warm, loud, and full of flavor.
🥒 The Christmas Pickle – Midwest
Now let’s go to the Midwest.
In some families, there’s a strange tradition.
They hide a glass pickle in the Christmas tree.
No — it’s not a real pickle.
On Christmas morning,
the first child who finds it gets:
- a small gift
or - good luck for the year
It’s a fun game and kids love it.
🎄 Big Gingerbread House – Texas
Everything is big in Texas —
even Christmas.
In Bryan, Texas,
you can see a huge gingerbread house.
It’s made with:
- cookies
- icing
- candy
You can’t miss it.
And yes — it smells amazing.
🚤 Christmas Boat Parades – Florida
Now let’s go south, to Florida.
There’s no snow there.
So people celebrate Christmas on the water.
They decorate boats with lights and music
and sail together at night.
These are called Christmas boat parades.
It’s bright, colorful, and very festive.
🌴 Mele Kalikimaka – Hawaii
Finally, let’s visit Hawaii.
In Hawaii, people say
“Mele Kalikimaka” instead of “Merry Christmas.”
Santa wears shorts.
People listen to Hawaiian music.
And yes — sometimes there’s hula dancing.
Christmas there feels relaxed and tropical.
🎁 Final Thoughts
So as you can see,
Christmas in the USA is not the same everywhere.
Each place has its own traditions.
Its own culture.
Its own way to celebrate.
And that’s what makes it special.
Relax.
Just listen.
You don’t need to remember everything.
Now, let’s practice with a mini-story.
If you want to practice more, get my
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Mini-Story
(Practice Speaking)
I’ll tell you a short story, then I’ll ask you questions.
After each question, you’ll answer out loud. Then I’ll confirm the correct answer. This helps you think in English and improve your speaking.
Ready? Let’s go!
Joe lives in New York City.
He works in an office near Central Park.
In December, he goes to work like every day.
Does Joe live in a small village?
No, Joe doesn’t live in a small village. He lives in New York City.
Where does Joe live?
He lives in New York City.
Does Joe work in a hospital?
No, he doesn’t work in a hospital. He works in an office.
Where is Joe’s office, near Central Park or near the beach?
His office is near Central Park, not near the beach.
Does Joe go to work in December or in August?
He goes to work in December.
One morning, Joe sees something strange.
He sees many people dressed like Santa Claus.
Does Joe see something normal or something strange?
Something strange. Joe sees something strange.
What does Joe see?
He sees many people dressed like Santa Claus.
Does he see one Santa or many Santas?
He sees many Santas.
Where does Joe see them?
He sees them on the street, in the subway, and in cafés.
Does Joe see them in summer?
No, he doesn’t see them in summer. He sees them in December.
At first, Joe feels confused.
He thinks, “Is today Christmas Day?”
But it’s not Christmas Day.
It’s just a normal workday.
How does Joe feel at first?
At first, Joe feels confused.
Does Joe feel relaxed at first?
No, he doesn’t feel relaxed. He feels confused.
What does Joe think?
He thinks, “Is today Christmas Day?”
Is it really Christmas Day?
No, it’s not Christmas Day.
Is it a normal workday or a holiday?
It’s a normal workday. It’s not a holiday.
Joe asks a woman dressed like Santa.
She smiles and says, “It’s SantaCon.”
She explains that SantaCon is a Christmas event.
Does Joe ask a police officer?
No, Joe doesn’t ask a police officer. He asks a woman dressed like Santa.
How does the woman look, angry or friendly?
She looks friendly. She smiles.
What does she say?
She says, “It’s SantaCon.”
Is SantaCon a summer festival?
No, SantaCon isn’t a summer festival. It’s a Christmas event.
What kind of event is SantaCon?
It’s a Christmas event.
Many adults dress like Santa Claus.
They walk around the city together.
They laugh, sing, and take photos.
Do children or adults dress like Santa?
Adults dress like Santa.
Do they walk alone or together?
They walk together.
What do they do in the city?
They walk around, laugh, sing, and take photos.
Do they look sad?
No, they don’t look sad. They look happy.
At first, Joe only watches.
Then he feels curious.
Finally, he feels happy and excited.
Does Joe join immediately?
No, no. He doesn’t join immediately. He only watches at first.
How does Joe feel after watching?
He feels curious.
Does Joe feel bored?
No, he doesn’t feel bored. He feels happy and excited.
Joe buys a red Santa hat.
He puts it on and joins the group.
Now, Joe is part of SantaCon.
Does Joe buy a Santa hat or a cowboy hat?
He buys a Santa hat.
What color is the hat?
It’s red. Joe’s hat is red.
Does Joe put the hat in his pocket?
No, he doesn’t put it in his pocket. He puts it on his head.
Does Joe join the group or go home?
He joins the group. He doesn’t go home.
Joe laughs a lot.
He takes many photos.
And forgets about work for a moment.
Does Joe cry a lot?
No, Joe doesn’t cry. He laughs a lot.
What does Joe take?
He takes many photos.
Does Joe think about work all the time?
No, he forgets about work for a moment.
At the end of the day, Joe feels great.
SantaCon becomes his favorite Christmas tradition.
Every December, he waits for SantaCon.
How does Joe feel at the end of the day?
He feels great. At the end of the day Joe feels great.
Does SantaCon become his favorite Halloween tradition?
No, it doesn’t become his favorite Halloween tradition. It becomes his favorite Christmas tradition.
When does Joe wait for SantaCon? Every November?
No, no. Joe waits for SantaCon every December.
All right. That’s the end of the story. Listen to this mini-story many times to improve your speaking!
Merry Christmas, everyone!
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