Santa Claus

"It's Christmas time, and there's no need to be afraid
At Christmas time, we let in light and banish shade
And in our world of plenty, we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the worldAt Christmas time..."

Antes de começarmos a festejar o Natal, fica a pergunta, você já se questionou as origens de um dos maiores ícones do Natal, o Papai Noel?



When I was a young boy, I knew exactly who Santa Claus was. He was a fat, friendly, old man with a long, white beard that visited my home once a year to put lots and lots of toys under the Christmas tree. He came only if my sister and I had been good – and only if we were asleep. Then, early the next morning, after we woke up, we ran downstairs to open all our gifts (I never understood why my parents always seemed so tired on Christmas morning). As I got older, however, I stopped believing in Santa Claus. Many years later, I asked myself the question, “Who is Santa Claus … really?” 

Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply  "Santa", is a figure which was derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas, a historical, legendary and mythological figure who in many Western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24 or on his Feast Day, December 6 (Saint Nicholas Day).The legend is based on the tales concerning the historical figure of gift giver Saint Nicholas. 

While Saint Nicholas was originally portrayed wearing bishop's robes, today Santa Claus is generally depicted as a plump, jolly, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots (images of him rarely have a beard with no mustache). This image became popular in the United States and Canada in the 19th century due to the significant influence of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast. This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, and films. In the United Kingdom and Europe, he is often depicted in a manner identical to the American Santa Claus, but he is commonly called Father Christmas.

Saint Nicholas died a very long time ago but I like to believe that the real “Santa Claus” lives in all of us. He is the goodness and love in our hearts that reminds us that true happiness comes from giving to other people.

Answer these questions

1. The article is about getting lots of toys for Christmas. 
(a) TRUE 
(b) FALSE 
(c) It doesn’t say. 

2. What did the man do when he was a boy? 
(a) He put lots of toys under a Christmas tree. 
(b) He slept a lot at Christmas. 
(c) He opened his gifts on Christmas morning. 

3. When did the man stop believing in Santa Claus? 
(a) when he was a boy 
(b) when his sister told him that Santa Claus was not real 
(c) when he grew up 

4. Why was Saint Nicholas famous? 
(a) He helped many people. 
(b) He believed in Santa Claus. 
(c) He lived in Turkey. 

5. What does the word ‘he’ refer to? 
(a) Turkey 
(b) Saint Nicholas 
(c) poor people

6. What does the word ‘tradition’ mean? 
(a) how to remember things 
(b) a way of doing something 
(c) giving things to people 

7. Who is Kris Kringle? 
(a) a modern man 
(b) Santa Claus 
(c) It doesn’t say. 

8. When did Saint Nicholas die? 
(a) about 1,700 years ago 
(b) about a thousand years ago 
(c) about two hundred years ago


Respostas

1. B, 2. C, 3. C, 4. A ,5. B, 6. B, 7. B, 8. A 

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