Christmas History The presentation is made by teacher Julia Apt, gymnasium 74, St. Petersburg, Russia JuliaApt.blogspot.ru Interactive Quiz for grades 8-11

Religious Is Christmas a religious holiday or a public holiday? Public

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It is a Christian holiday.

Resurrection of Jesus Christ What is the meaning of Christmas? The birth of Jesus Christ Beginning of the New Year

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Christians believe that Jesus Christ was born at Christmas time.

Yule Roots of Christmas go back to pa- gan religions. Winter pagan festival in Celtic countries was called …. Saturnalia Samhain Birthday of Mithra

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Yule Yule was a midwinter holiday. Winter solstice

Log At Yule they brought and burnt a very big …. Evergreen tree PigBear

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While the Yule Log was burning (about 12 days) people had feasts and ate a lot.

Inside Did they have their parties in- side their houses or outside? Outside

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Parties were inside because out- side were demons and spirits.

Winter Pagans used evergreen plants as a symbol of …. Spring Life Death

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Being green, they prove that life persists in cold winter.

Holly King Celts believed that at Yule Oak King took place of …. Mistletoe King Pine-tree King Fir-tree King Click to see the hint

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Oak King took place of Holly King

Yes Yule is forgotten nowadays. No

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Chocolate Yule log a Yule toy

Saturn In Scandinavian countries the main character of midwinter celebrations was god …. Poseidon Odin Thor

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Odin could ride a magical flying horse across the sky.

Yule The winter festival in ancient Rome was called …. Saturnalia Samhain Winter solstice

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Saturnalia was a month-long orgy of food and drink.

Zeus Apollo Saturn Poseidon Saturnalia was called after the god ….

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god Mithra Romans of the upper classes celebrated the birthday of …. their emperor

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The sun god Mithra was born from a rock, and shepherds came to worship him.

the 1 st century The first Christians didn’t celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ until …. the 2 nd century the 3 rd century the 4 th century

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4 th By the 4 th century the question of the holly birth was impossible to ignore.

Yes The date of the holly birth is mentioned in the Bible. No

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No date in the Bible.

the birthday of Mithra For their celebration the Christians chose the same date as …. the winter solstice

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The Christians wanted to draw people’s attention to their religion.

celebrations in Ancient Rome The name “Christmas” comes from …. a church service in the Middle Ages

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The church ceremony was called Christ’s Mass Salisbury Cathedral, England built 1220 to 1258.

We wish you a Merry Christmas Which of the Christmas carols was written in the 16 th century? Silent Night Oh, Christmas Tree Jingle Bells

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the 17 th century Modern Christmas tradition was established in …. the 18 th century the 19 th century the 20 th century

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It was established in the 19 th century and got very popular in Victorian time. reigned

Saint Patrick One of the forerunners of Santa Claus was …. Saint Peter Saint Paul Saint Nicholas

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Saint Nicholas

a real person Saint Nicholas was … a legendary man

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He was the Bishop of Myra (the Rome Empire, modern Turkey).

He lived mostly in …. the 1 st century the 2 nd century the 3 rd century the 4 th century

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He was born in 280 and died in 345 or 352 in Roman prison.

St Nicholas was famous because he was …. generous ambitious sly hot- tempered

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He was ve- ry kind and generous. He travelled the country, hel- ping people and giving gifts.

No He wanted people to know who they had got gifts from. Yes

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His gifts were given late at night, so that the gift giver's identity would remain a secret.

The person who is largely respon- sible for the modern conception of Santa Claus is Clement Clarke Moore. In 1822 he wrote the poem …. “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer ” “A Visit from Saint Nicholas”

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Clement Clarke Moore created the new image of St Nick and described his behaviour. 1862

His physical appearance You can click on the headings to see what we know about Santa from the poem. The number and na- mes of his reindeer The tradition of giving presents The way he gets into the house The time of his visit His mode of transportation Click to continue the quiz

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; … He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

“T’was the night before Christmas”

1862 “What to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.” “ 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 roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.”

“Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound”

1862 "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!"

1862 “He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings”

Yes The name “Santa Claus” comes from Saint Nicholas. No

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Dutch name for St Nicholas is 'Sinterklaas‘. When Dutch emigrants came to America, this name was adopted as Santa Claus.

Travelling through the sky Which of these doesn’t differ Victorian Santa Claus from the old Saint Nicholas? Going down the chimney Using the stockings Travelling in a sleigh

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The legend of stockings comes from St Nicholas.

Names “Father Christmas” and “Santa Claus” have the same origin. YesNo

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“Father Christmas” comes from Anglo-Saxon mid-winter festivals. At that time he was called “Old Winter”.

a god “Old Winter” was …. a spirit a specially dressed man

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An elder man from the community would go from house to house, carrying the spirit of good winter.

a red coat with white fur “Old Winter” was wearing …. a green coat decorated with holly

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He would be dressed in green as a sign of returning spring.

Yes “Old Winter” was bringing gifts. No

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He was not a gift- giver. He was feasting and celebrating with the people.

the 12 th century The term “Father Christmas” or “Sir Christmas” was first mentioned in … the 13 th century the 14 th century the 15 th century

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A 15 century carol says, “Goday, goday, my lord Sire Christëmas, goday!”

the mid-19 th century The names “Father Christmas”, “St Nicolas” and “Santa Claus” merged as the main Christmas personality in …. the late 19 th - early-20 th century the mid-20 th century the late-20 th century

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Graduately the three names got interchangeable. 1900

“Jingle Bells” This song was written in Victorian time. “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” “Frosty, the Snowman”

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“Jingle Bells”