We hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Christmas break!
See you next week!
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE, and English plus Surfing and Yoga in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
We celebrated Christmas on Friday with a Salsa and Sangria party. Students were invited to bring a dish of their choice (preferably something from their home country) to be shared as lunch.
After eating, students were welcome to learn basic salsa moves with teacher Dani, starting with a warm-up!
Thanks to everyone who joined in… Such a great way to end the school year!!
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE, and English plus Surfing and Yoga in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
Byron Carols by the Sea
Date: Friday the 13th of December
Time: 6.30pm
Where: Apex Park, Byron Bay
The iconic Byron Carols by the Sea event is happening again with special guest Chang Po Ching (featured on “The Voice”), local schools, carols choir and more guest artists! Stop by the Byron Rotary Club’s sausage sizzle, and grab a spot on the grass as you watch the sun set over the Bay and sing some beloved carols!
History of the Christmas Tree 🎄
Have you ever stopped to wonder why we do certain Christmas Traditions? Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter.
In the 18th century, it began to be illuminated by candles, which were ultimately replaced by Christmas lights.
Today, there is a wide variety of traditional ornaments, such as garlands, baubles, tinsel, and candy canes.
An angel or star might be placed at the top of the tree to represent the Angel Gabriel or the Star of Bethlehem, respectively, from the Nativity.
Modern Christmas trees have been related to the “tree of paradise” of medieval mystery plays that were given on 24 December, the commemoration and of Adam and Eve in various countries. In such plays, a tree decorated with apples (to represent the forbidden fruit) and wafers (to represent the Eucharist and redemption) was used as a setting for the play. Like the Christmas crib, the Paradise tree was later placed in homes. The apples were replaced by round objects such as shiny red balls.
When you’re in the office next at Lexis Byron Bay make sure to check out our own little Christmas Tree!
History of Cookie Decorating 🎄🍪
Have you ever stopped to wonder why we do certain Christmas Traditions? Did you know that Cookie decorating dates back to at least the 14th century in Switzerland? Springerle cookie molds were carved from wood and used to impress Biblical designs into cookies. One of the earliest recorded forms of cookie decorating is the springerle, and the oldest known springerle mold is housed at the Swiss national museum in Zurich, Switzerland.
The artistic element of cookie making also can be traced back to Medieval Germany.
Lebkuchen was crafted into fancy shapes and decorated with sugar. Lebkuchen is a traditional German baked Christmas cookie, somewhat resembling gingerbread.
During the 17th century, Dutch and German settlers introduced cookie cutters, decorative molds, and festive holiday cookie decorations to the United States.
Today cookie decorating traditions continue in many places in the world and include such activities as cookie decorating parties, competitions, creating cookie bouquets and cookie gift baskets, and simply decorating cookies with others can be a fun activity.
Join us at Lexis Byron Bay this Thursday the 11th of December at 11.30am or 2pm for our own version of Christmas Cookie Decorating!
Make sure to sign up at reception!
Christmas in Byron Bay can be hard for students to get their head around.
It’s been said around the campus “but it doesn’t feel like Christmas! It’s too hot!” or similarly “there’s no snow, and not many people have lights up!”
For a few of the students from colder climates in the Northern Hemisphere the idea of no snow, or a hot Christmas is unheard of!
Much like everything else, Aussie’s just do Christmas differently.
For Christmas lunch or dinner many will have a traditional roast, though additionally the barbie will be fired up! Prawns are very popular to have in the Summer time. It’s also not uncommen to find the men around the BBQ, women in the kitchen getting everything else ready, and chilren playing under a sprinkler or swimming in a pool.
And for dessert we have pavlova with fruit on top. Sometimes in the shape of a Christmas Wreath. Christmas Pudding will still be feautured, though because it is Summer the fruits are a favoured choice.
Then in the afternoon if you’re not napping and sleeping off your Christmas lunch, you might play a game of beach/ backyard cricket! It might be children vs. adults, cousins vs. ‘the other’ cousins, or boys vs. girls. It’s all about having fun, being silly and not taking it all too seriously.
It can be an unusual adjustment, though Christmas in Australia can still be enjoyed! Spend time with friends, and create your own traditions. Swim at the beach, play cricket in the backyard, and revel in the fact that you’re in a t-shirt! Make memories that will last that can be shared back home and one day you can say “I had a Christmas at the beach one year!”
SUSHI MAKING!
TABLE TENNIS!
MAKE A DREAM CATCHER!
SURFING!
VOLLEYBALL!
CHRISTMAS DECORATION MAKING!
