VOA朗读: Words and Their Stories: Santa Claus

Words and Their Stories: Santa Claus
The story of the man in the red suit who brings gifts to children at Christmas. Transcript of radio broadcast:
19 December 2009


Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.

(MUSIC)

Santa Claus is someone who will remain in the hearts of children forever. He is the make-believe person who brings toys and other gifts to children at Christmas. To grown-ups, he is a special symbol of good will and selfless giving.

Santa Claus also has some other names: Saint Nicholas, St. Nick, Kris Kringle, Pelznickel.

Two of his names -- Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas -- both come from the Dutch who settled in New York long ago.

The Dutch believed Saint Nikolaas gave gifts to children. They honored this kindly saint with a yearly festival on December sixth. The English-speaking people who lived nearby greatly enjoyed Dutch festivals. And they brought the Saint and the custom of giving gifts into their own celebration at Christmas time.

The Dutch spoke the name "Saint Nikolaas" very fast. It sounded like "Sinterklaas." And so, when the English said this word, it sounded like Santa Claus.

West of New York, in Pennsylvania, many German farmers had also heard of Saint Nikolaas. But they called him Pelznickel. This word came from "pelz," meaning fur, and "nickel" for Nicholas. And so, to the Germans of Pennsylvania, Saint Nicholas or Pelznickel was a man dressed in fur who came once a year with gifts for good children.

Soon, people began to feel that the love and kindness Pelznickel brought should be part of a celebration honoring the Christkindl, as the Germans called the Christ child. After a time, this
became Kris Kringle. Later, Kris Kringle became another name for Santa Claus himself.

Whatever he is called, he is still the same short, fat, jolly old man with a long beard, wearing a red suit with white fur.

The picture of Santa Claus, as we see him, came from Thomas Nast. He was an American painter born in Bavaria. He painted pictures for Christmas poems. Someone asked him to paint a picture of Santa Claus.

Nast remembered when he was a little boy in southern Germany. Every Christmas, a fat old man gave toys and cakes to the children. So, when Nast painted the picture, his Santa Claus
looked like the kindly old man of his childhood. And through the years, Nast's painting has remained as the most popular picture Of Santa Claus.

Santa can be seen almost everywhere in large American cities during the Christmas season. Some stand on street corners asking for money to buy food and gifts for the needy. Others are found in stores and shopping centers.

It is easy to find them by the long lines of children waiting to tell Santa what they want for Christmas.

(MUSIC)

所有跟帖： 

• "Santa Claus will remain in the hearts of children forever." -紫君- ♀ (37 bytes) () 12/20/2009 postreply 14:02:31

• Thanks 紫君 , Santa Cluse is in the town.Happy Holiday~ -天泽园- ♀ (0 bytes) () 12/20/2009 postreply 19:53:00

• Admire your persistence! -eyeyey- ♀ (10 bytes) () 12/20/2009 postreply 14:32:52

• Hello to eyeyey, Welcome Back~~ -天泽园- ♀ (0 bytes) () 12/20/2009 postreply 19:53:56

• Co Admire your persistence~ Merry Christmas~ -小千...千与千寻- ♀ (100 bytes) () 12/20/2009 postreply 15:09:38

• Beautiful card, so pretty ,so cute! Thanks 千寻~ -天泽园- ♀ (0 bytes) () 12/20/2009 postreply 19:55:09

• 真应景，谢mm好读~~~这个可以参加活动 -lilac09- ♀ (0 bytes) () 12/20/2009 postreply 17:04:37

• 谢mm支持,让我们大家一起读吧~~ -天泽园- ♀ (0 bytes) () 12/20/2009 postreply 19:56:59

• Good reading. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! -YuGong- ♂ (493 bytes) () 12/20/2009 postreply 21:26:15

• Thanks YuGong, We meet Santa everyday,Happy Holiday~ -天泽园- ♀ (0 bytes) () 12/20/2009 postreply 21:54:01

• Nice article and well reading~~ good to learn! -小千...千与千寻- ♀ (0 bytes) () 12/21/2009 postreply 16:04:35

• Thanks 千寻, Sweet Girl~~ Thanks for the comments! -天泽园- ♀ (0 bytes) () 12/21/2009 postreply 19:57:20