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ESL forum > Message board > Long before father Christmas ...    

Long before father Christmas ...



Peter Hardy
Australia

Long before father Christmas ...
 
there was a bishop by the name of Saint Nicholas. His birthday is celebrated in many countries all over the world on 6th December. And as you guessed it, Santa Claus is derived from this original good-doer. So before we get overwhelmed by Christmas greetings, cards and worksheets, it may be a good idea to look at the history of this phenomenon. You can find all things �Sinterklaas� as he�s known in Holland on www.stnicholascenter.org/ This feast teaches children the art of sharing and giving, while the modern "Father Christmas" seems to be more about getting. As we do on ESL Printables, teach and enjoy the joy of sharing! Cheers.

4 Dec 2013      





Minka
Slovenia

Our kids still get their presents on the 6th of December. Saint Nicholas brings them at night. He puts them in the baskets or any other things waiting there. Smile

4 Dec 2013     



chiaretta
Italy

In my city, the children do not receive gifts from Santa Claus, but from St. Nicholas, in fact, this evening the children put their shoes next to the bed.
Tomorrow will find their shoes filled with candy and chocolates, and will also find toys and other useful things as objects for school, clothing and more ...
Greetings from Terlizzi in Puglia. Tongue

5 Dec 2013     



Daisee
Vietnam

Thumbs Upthanks for info - intresting

5 Dec 2013     



Minka
Slovenia

Actually, Saint Nicholas is only one of three kind men arounbd here. It �s the most traditional. 

The next one is Santa, the most modern of the tree and absolutely imported and still alien to me - not really ours. 

The third one is from the times of socialism, they brought him from Russia. Saint Nicholas is a saint, after all, and comunists didn �t like saints being mentioned too often, so we got presents from Grandfather Frost on New Year �s Eve. He broght them in a basket on his back. I really liked Grandfather Frost as he usually brought toys and fun things (that kept us busy while waiting for the New Year). Saint Nicholas brought more useful things, like caps, gloves, coloured pencils.. I liked that too, of course.

In today �s families in Slovenia where I come from either one or two or all three bring presents, depending on the preferences of the parents and everybody else - one may bring presents at home and another one might leave them at the grandparents, you never know. A bit confusing, but still fun. 

Saint Nicholas is still the most OURS. They all still go to the kindergartens, schools, malls and big towns in December. In TV shows you can sometimes see them together. 

Grandfather Frost  in Ljubljana,  Saint Nicholas, accompanied by two angels and a devil;

5 Dec 2013