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Level 3 – Intermediate
Who Santa really was
Today Christmas is traditionally the celebration of the birth of Christ. So where does the kind old man with a long beard and a red coat fit in?
Many people believe that today’s Santa Claus or Father Christmas has his origins in the person of the third century Saint Nicholas. For many centuries Christians celebrated Saint Nicholas’ Day on 6th December. Today his birthday is still celebrated in Holland where he is called Sinter Klaas. He leaves presents for good children at night. The legendary Nicholas was a generous man who helped the poor. According to one story, he saved a poor man’s daughters from becoming slaves because he threw a bag of gold into their house. Nicholas was Bishop of Myra in what is now Turkey.
The Romans imprisoned him for his Christian beliefs and the Church made him a Saint after his death. In later centuries when Christmas became the most important Christian celebration, people kept the tradition of Saint Nicholas but on the night of 24th December.
Whatever his origins, the magic of Christmas would not be the same without Santa and his presents.
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Answer the questions below to check how well you understand the text.
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C2 Mastery
