Чудо Рождества

Tasks for historical research:
-collect the material on the history of Santa Claus;
-make a story about Santa Claus;
-find or draw pictures of Santa;
-describe his costume;
-make a list of websites used;

«Who is Santa Claus?
He lives at the North Pole.
He raises reindeer.
He wears a red suit and sports a white beard.
He's jolly. He's fat. A merry, old elf.
He's making a list, checking it twice.
He's coming to town.
In a sleigh.
Must be Santa, Santa Claus…»
(And, oh yes! He is real!)
Who is Santa Claus?

Santa Claus is the mythical figure. He brings toys to children around the world each year on Christmas Eve. He lives in the North Pole. Each December 24th, on the eve of the celebration of the birth of Jesus, Santa flies around the world delivering his toys in a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer: Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Dancer, Dasher, Donder (or Donn), Prancer and Vixen

Santa Claus is based on a real person, St. Nicholas who was born in Turkey in the 4th century. He was a bishop. He had devoting his life to Christianity. It was his custom to go out at night and bring gifts. He was very shy, and wanted to give money to poor people without them knowing about it. One day, he climbed the roof of a house and dropped a purse of money down the chimney. It landed in the stocking which a girl had put to dry by the fire! This may explain the belief that Santa Claus comes down the chimney and places gifts in children's stockings.

The Dutch kept the legend of St.Nicholas alive and in 16th century Holland, Dutch children would place their wooden shoes by the hearth in hopes that they would be filled with a treat. The Dutch spelled St.Nicholas as Sint Nikolaas, which became corrupted to Sinterklaas, and finally, to Santa Claus. In 1822, Clement C. Moore composed his famous poem, «A Visit from St.Nick," which gave us the modern image of Santa Claus as a jolly fat man in a red suit, riding a sleigh drawn by eight flying reindeer. In the USA the name was mispronounced and finally changed to Santa Claus.
Thus was born the legendary figure of Sinterklaas and our favourite Santa Clause is the result of its American mispronunciation.

Children often write letters to Santa Claus to tell him what they would like for Christmas. Some children will send their letters by post or e-mail but the more traditional way is to throw the letters into back of the fireplace. How does Santa do all of this? The story that was passed down to me is that Santa is magic! When I was a little girl I believed in Santa too. Santa сan do things that normal people just can't do.

What does Santa Claus wear under a fur coat? White linen shirt and trousers, decorated with white geometric patterns (symbol of purity ). At the head of Santa Claus - a red cap with silver and pearl. On a frosty day, Santa Claus wears white boots.