1. издательский дом «Первое сентября» www.1september.ru

2. Издательский дом «Первое сентября» // www.1september.ru …is the traditional British name for a figure associated with Christmas. A similar figure with the same name exists in several other countries, including Canada and France (Pere Noel), Spain (Papa Noel, Padre Noel), Russia (Ded Moroz, Grandfather Frost), India (Christmas Father), Turkey (Noel Baba). In the English-speaking world, Father Christmas is associated with the development in the United States of Santa Claus, and most people now consider them to be different names for the same figure. In English Canada and French Canada, Santa Claus and Pere Noel are definitively the same character.

3. Издательский дом «Первое сентября» // www.1september.ru also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle and simply “Santa”, is a fantasy figure with legendary, mythical, historical and folkloric origins who, in many western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children on the night before Christmas, December 24. The modern figure of Santa Claus is derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas, which, in turn, has part of its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of Christian bishop and gift giver Saint Nicholas. Sinterklaas in 2007 European-Style Santa Suit Santa Claus waves to children from an annual holiday train in Chicago

4. Издательский дом «Первое сентября» // www.1september.ru …originated in the U.S. in 1950 as a holiday song by Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys. The song was made into a children’s book the same year. An animated television special followed in 1969 and featured the voice of Jimmy Durante as the narrator. Frosty has been a Christmas icon for over half a century.

5. Издательский дом «Первое сентября» // www.1september.ru …is a fictional male reindeer with a glowing red nose, popularly known as “Santa’s 9th Reindeer.” When depicted, he is the lead reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve. The luminosity of his nose is so great that it illuminates the team’s path through inclement winter weather. Rudolph fi rst appeared in a 1939 booklet written by Robert L. May and published by Montgomery Ward.

6. Издательский дом «Первое сентября» // www.1september.ru …is an American personification of the start of a new year, commonly seen in various New Year’s customs, especially holiday cards and illustrations for store window displays. The stereotypical representation of Baby New Year is as a male baby wearing nothing more than a diaper, a top hat and a sash across his torso that shows the year he is representing.

7. Издательский дом «Первое сентября» // www.1september.ru perhaps also known as Jack the Smith, Drunk Jack, and Jack of the Lantern, is a mythical character apparently associated with All Hallows Eve. It is common lore that the “jack-o’- lantern” is derived from the character.

8. Издательский дом «Первое сентября» // www.1september.ru …was a 5th-century Romano- British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the “Apostle of Ireland”, he is the primary patron saint of the island along with Saints Brigit and Columba. Legend (dating to 1726) credits St. Patrick with teaching the Irish about the doctrine of the Holy Trinity by showing people the shamrock, a three-leafed plant, using it to illustrate the Christian teaching of three persons in one God. For this reason, shamrocks are a central symbol for St Patrick’s Day.

9. Издательский дом «Первое сентября» // www.1september.ru Latin cupido, meaning “desire”) in Roman mythology, is the god of love and beauty. He is also known by another one of his Latin names, Amor. He is the son of goddess Venus and god Mercury. In popular culture Cupid is frequently shown shooting his bow to inspire romantic love, often as an icon of Valentine’s Day. He is now in the current culture the personification of love and courtship in general.

10. Издательский дом «Первое сентября» // www.1september.ru …is also known as The Maiden, the goddess of spring, flower bride, queen of the faeries, and the lady of the flowers. The May Queen is a symbol of the stillness of nature around which everything revolves. She stands for purity, strength and the potential for growth, as the plants grow in May. She is one of many personifi cations of the energy of the earth.

11. Издательский дом «Первое сентября» // www.1september.ru is a groundhog resident of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, USA. On February 2nd, Phil comes out of his burrow on Gobbler’s Knob, in front of thousands of faithful followers from all over the world, to predict the weather for the rest of the winter.

12. Издательский дом «Первое сентября» // www.1september.ru …also called the Easter Rabbit or Easter Hare is a character depicted as a rabbit bringing Easter eggs. The Easter Bunny is sometimes depicted with clothes. In legend, the creature carries colored eggs in his basket, candy and sometimes also toys to the homes of children, and as such shows similarities to Santa Claus, as they both bring gifts to children on the night before their respective holiday.