1、 The Story for the Christmas Season Most people know that the simple meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the son of God in the Christian religion. The word Christmas originated from an old English phrase, Cristes Masse, meaning the mass of Christ（基督彌撒） . The date, Decembe

2、r 25, was established by Bishop Liberius of Rome in 354 AD. He selected the date to mark the official time for celebrating Christs birth. Before then, the birth of Jesus was observed on different days and even to this day no one is certain the exact date of Christs birth.Christmas celebrations Cultu

3、ral celebrations of Christmas include glittering light displays, the ever-present(經(jīng)常存在） jolly old Santa Claus（圣誕老人） , group celebrations and singing called carolling（圣誕頌歌）, baked holiday cookies and cakes, decorations of mistletoe（槲寄生，裝飾性植物）and pine wreaths（花圈、花冠）, lighted, ornamented Christmas tree

4、s with wrapped presents displayed underneath. The spirit of Christmas at its heart is a festival to celebrate family, love, gratitude to others and giving presents to show appreciation to friends and loved ones.In Europe, typically, family and friends gather together on Christmas Eve, on Dec 24, for

5、 a big turkey dinner, completed with Christmas pudding (a rich cake with brandy source). Everyone shares their stories of the year or brings a newsletter to read out for what has happened during the past year. In America the traditional Christmas dinner is roast turkey with vegetables and sauces. Fo

6、r dessert it is rich, fruity Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. Mince pies, pastry cases （餡餅）filled with a mixture of chopped dried fruit. Dinner usually is roast turkey, goose, duck or ham served with cranberry sauce, then plum pudding or pumpkin pie followed by nuts and fruit.Happy HolidaysTis T

7、he Season To Be Jolly and Cook! Games are played after the dinner. On Christmas day, Dec 25, a brunch （ breakfast+lunch）with family is the norm, followed by some light sporting events, such as a country walk, to digest the heavy food. Dec 26 is calledBoxing Day（節(jié)禮日，往往在這一日大家互贈(zèng)禮物） in the UK, which mea

8、ns everyone opens their box of presents - the most joyful day for the children. In the US, having just celebrated Thanksgiving with turkey, Christmas Eve dinner is more likely to have ham on the menu with a heavy dessert. Dec 25, the Christmas Day is normally the day all the presents are opened. Chr

9、istmas festival originsThe legend of the Santa Claus cherryhouse.free.fr/kl_xmas_02.htmSmall knowledge in ChristmasWish everybody the Christmas happiness Christmas Festival OriginsChristmas is a joyful religious holiday when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The Christmas story comes f

10、rom the Bible. An angel appeared to shepherds and told them that a Savior（救世主） had been born to Mary and Joseph in a stable in Bethlehem. Three Wise Men from the East (the Magi) followed a wondrous star which led them to the baby Jesus to whom they paid homage and presented gifts of gold, frankincen

11、se（乳香）, and myrrh（沒藥，可作香料）.The legend of the Santa ClausTo people all over the world, Christmas is a season of giving and receiving presents. In Scandinavian and other European countries, Father Christmas, or Saint Nicholas, comes into houses in the night and leaves gifts for the children. Saint Nic

12、holas is represented as a kindly man with a red cloak and long white beard. He visited houses and left gifts, bringing people happiness in the coldest months of the year. Another character, the Norse God Odin, rode on a magical flying horse across the sky in the winter to reward people with gifts Th

13、ese different legends passed across the ages to make the present day Santa Claus.Immigrant settlers brought Father Christmas to the United States. Father Christmass name was gradually changed to Santa Claus, from the Dutch name for Father Christmas, which is Sinter Claas. Although he has origins in

14、Norse and pre-Christian mythology, Santa Claus took shape in the United States. Americans gave Santa Claus a white beard, dressed him in a red suit and made him a cheery old gentleman with red cheeks and a twinkle in his eye.American children believe that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole with his

15、 wife. All year he lists the names of children, both those who have been good and those who have been bad. He decides what presents to give to the good children. He oversees the manufacturing and wrapping of the presents by his helpers.Santa Claus supposedly gets his list of toys from the millions o

16、f children who write to him at the North Pole. Children also find Santa Claus at shopping malls across the country. They sit on his lap and tell him what they want for Christmas. Of course, their parents are probably nearby listening in as well.On December 24, Christmas Eve, Santa hitches his eight

17、reindeer（馴鹿） to a sleigh, and loads it with presents. The reindeer pull him and his sleigh through the sky to deliver presents to children all around the world, that is, if they had been good all year. Several American towns maintain the spirit of Santa Claus. The New England state of Connecticut ha

18、s a Christmas village where “Santa” and his elves(侏儒） give out gifts. Over seventeen thousand people visited Christmas Village last year. Each child was given a gift, visited with Santa and Mrs. Claus, watched the elves busily making toys, visited the near life size Nativity Scene(基督降生）, listened to

19、 Christmas Carols and watched Santas reindeer play. Everyone going through Christmas Village has hot chocolate available to them through various club efforts. Many organizations, such as civic, business, private and non-private, public agencies help support the dream. In New York, a small town calle

20、d the North Pole was designed for Santa Claus. There is a post office, a church and a blacksmith shop, to repair the shoes of the reindeer.Santa Claus exists only in our imaginations. But he, Saint Nicholas, and Father Christmas are spirits of giving. Christmas has been associated with gift giving s

21、ince the Wise Men brought gifts to welcome the newborn Jesus Christ. In anticipation of Santas visit, American children listen to their parents read The Night Before Christmas before they go to bed on Christmas Eve. Clement Moore wrote the poem in 1823.THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMASby Clement Clarke Moo

22、re Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the houseNot a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;The children were nestled all snug in their beds,While visions of sugar-plums danced in their he

23、ads;And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,Had just settled down for a long winters nap,When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.Away to the window I flew like a flash,Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.The moon on the breast of t

24、he new-fallen snowGave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,With a little old driver, so lively and quick,I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,And he whistl

25、ed, and shouted, and called them by name;Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,When they meet with an obstac

26、le, mount to the sky,So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roofThe prancing and pawing of each little hoof.As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

27、He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.His eyes - how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a che

28、rry!His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;He had a broad face and a little round belly,That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.He w

29、as chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,And laying his fi

30、nger aside of his nose,And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night. The legend of Christmas socksThere

31、 was a kindly nobleman whose wife had died of an illness leaving the nobleman and his three daughters in despair. After losing all his money in useless and bad inventions the family had to move into a peasants cottage, where the daughters did their own cooking, sewing and cleaning. When it came time

32、 for the daughters to marry, the father became even more depressed as his daughters could not marry without dowries（嫁妝）, money and property given to the new husbands family. One night after the daughters had washed out their clothing they hung their stockings over the fireplace to dry. That night Sa

33、int Nicholas, knowing the despair of the father, stopped by the noblemans house. Looking in the window Saint Nicholas saw that the family had gone to bed. He also noticed the daughters stockings. Inspiration struck Saint Nicholas and he took three small bags of gold from his pouch（袋子） and threw them

34、 one by one down the chimney and they landed in the stockings. The next morning when the daughters awoke they found their stockings contained enough gold for them to get married. The nobleman was able to see his three daughters marry and he lived a long and happy life. Children all over the world co

35、ntinue the tradition of hanging Christmas stockings. Legend has it, Saint Nicholas dedicated all his life to helping mankind, especially children. He died on December 6, which marks the Saint Nicholas Day in many European countries and that was when gifts were given to children. St. Nicholas bears m

36、any different names, such as Father Christmas in the UK, San Nicolass in the Netherlands, Le Pere Noel in France, and Kriss Kringle in Germany. He also arrives on different dates to deliver presents to children in different countries, typically from chimneys. The chimney story was this: Santa flew o

37、ver house tops in a sleigh, he dropped coins by accident and they landed in some stockings hanging next to the fireplace to dry. From then on, red stockings were hung by the chimney in hopes Santa would fill them with gifts. Most countries use fabric stocking while in others, wood shoes are also pla

38、ced on earth for Santas gift-dropping. In America, the image of Santa Claus was conceived by the famous poem The Night Before Christmas, written by Clement Moor. Moor transformed the Santa character from a saint in a long robe to a chubby, rosy-cheeked elderly man in a red suit, riding on a sleigh p

39、ulled by a team of reindeer. In some countries children have similar customs, in France the children place their shoes by the fireplace, a tradition dating back to when children wore wooden peasant shoes. In Holland the children fill their shoes with hay and a carrot for the horse of Sintirklass. In

40、 Hungary children shine their shoes before putting them near the door or a window sill. Italian children leave their shoes out the night before Epiphany, January 5, for La Befana the good witch. And in Puerto Rico children put greens and flowers in small boxes and place them under their beds for the

41、 camels of the Three Kings. The Legend of the Christmas StockingThe stockings were hung by the chimney with careIn hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there A Christmas stocking is an empty sock or sock-shaped bag that children hang on Christmas Eve so that Santa Claus can fill it with small toy

42、s, candy, fruit. Christmas CarolsChristmas carolsThe tradition of carol singing originated from the carolling practised by the Waits in the fourteenth century. Waits were royal singers who were sent by the court to perform in selected homes for treats, pennies and/or fun. Carol means a circle dance

43、accompanied by a song. Most Christmas carols we sing now were composed around 1400-1600s. During the Christmas season, Christmas carols are heard all over, on radio, on TV, in church, and at school. Following an English tradition, many people walk from house to house singing traditional carols, such

44、 as Joy to the World, Silent Night, and Oh Come, All Ye Faithful.Christmas Songs We Wish You A Merry ChristmasWe wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas,We wish you a Merry Christmas, And a Happy New Year. Good tidings to you, And all of your kin,Good tidings for Christmas, And a H

45、appy New Year. We all know that Santas coming,We all know that Santas coming, We all know that Santas coming, And soon will be here. Good tidings to you, And all of your kin,Good tidings for Christmas, And a Happy New Year. We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas,We wish you a M

46、erry Christmas, And a Happy New Year. Christmas Songs （1） Christmas song SilentNight, Holy Night, the original lyrics for the song inGerman, Stille Nacht, was written by Joseph Mohr andthe melody was composed by Franz X. Gruber. It is saidthat there exist over 300 translations of the song in the wor

47、ld. Silent NightSilent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright. Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child. Holy infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight. Glories stream from heaven afar Heavenly hosts sing Alle

48、luia, Christ the Savior is born! Christ the Savior is born. Silent night, holy night! Son of God loves pure light. Radiant beams from Thy holy face With dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus Lord, at Thy birth. Jesus Lord, at Thy birth. Christmas Songs （2） 平安夜 平安夜，圣善夜！萬暗中，光華射，照著圣母也照著圣嬰，多少慈詳也多少天真，靜享天賜安眠，靜享天

49、賜 安眠。平安夜，圣善夜！牧羊人，在曠野，忽然看見了天上光華，聽見天軍唱哈利路亞，救主今夜降生，救主今夜降生！平安夜，圣善夜！神子愛，光皎潔，救贖宏恩的黎明來到，圣容發(fā)出來榮光普照，耶穌我主降生，耶穌我主降生！ Jingle BellsDashing through the snow On a one-horse open sleighOver the fields we go Laughing all the way; Bells on bob-tail ring making spirits brightWhat fun it is to ride and sing A sleighing

50、 song tonight Jingle bells jingle bells jingle all the way! O what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh A day or two ago I thought Id take a rideAnd soon Miss Fanny Bright Was seated by my side; The horse was lean and lank; Misfortune seemed his lot; He got into a drifted bank And we we got

51、upsotJingle Bells Jingle Bells Jingle all the way! What fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh Christmas Songs （3） Jingle Bells (continued)A day or two ago the story I must tell I went out on the snow And on my back I fell; A gent was riding by In a one-horse open sleighHe laughed as there I s

52、prawling lieBut quickly drove awayJingle Bells Jingle Bells Jingle all the way! What fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh Now the ground is white Go it while youre youngTake the girls tonight And sing this sleighing song; Just get a bob-tailed bay two-forty as his speed Hitch him to an open

53、sleigh And crack! youll take the leadJingle Bells Jingle Bells Jingle all the way! What fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh. Christmas Songs Christmas CardsThe custom of sending Christmas cards was initiated in England around 1850. The first cards were decorated with elaborate designs of fl

54、owers, birds and landscapes. Another important custom of Christmas is to send and receive Christmas cards, which are meant to help express the sentiment of the season. Sir Henry Cole sent the first Christmas card in 1843. Today there are something like three billion Christmas cards sent around the w

55、orld each year. A recent vogue is to send electronic Christmas cards (e-Christmas cards) from the internet. Some are religious in nature; others are more secular. Americans begin sending Christmas cards early in December to friends, acquaintances, and co-workers. People send Christmas cards to their

56、 families, relatives, friends and business customers. They may put the cards that they have received on the wall, the mantle(壁爐架）, or hang them on a string, as Christmas cards are very colorful and beautiful. Christmas Trees Christmas trees The tradition of having a pine tree as a Christmas Tree is

57、believed to come from Germany. Since the medieval time, lighting a candle on a tree is common to welcome guests. Such practice has evolved into the Christmas celebration. The formal Christmas Tree was introduced to England about 100 years ago when Queen Victoria married German Albert. The evidence o

58、f Victorias love for Albert is not only expressed through inheriting the German tradition of having a Christmas Tree but also through the gold Albert Statues that Victoria had ordered built for Albert, standing in many places in London. In America, the Christmas Tree idea was brought by German immig

59、rants too. Tree ornamentsBring back memories of the good old days or simply add a playful touch with these magnificent ornaments! Snowman Glass Disk OrnamentDisney Traditions Laughing All The Way Jim Shore FigureThe White House Christmas Tree and Greeting CardsWritten on White House stationary in hi

60、s own hand in 1927, President Calvin Coolidge issued the first official Christmas message to the American people. As a response to numerous requests for the President to send a holiday greeting, President Coolidge asked newspapers across the United States to publish his holiday greeting to the Ameri