Merry Christmas everybody——第17周升旗仪式外教Sarah发言

Right now schools all across England and America have closed for the holidays, so that students and their teachers can enjoy the festive period of Christmas and the New Year. On Thursday millions of people around the world will exchange gifts, and feast with their families. Trees and houses have been decorated with lights and bows, presents are being bought and wrapped, and children are counting down the days, waiting for the most exciting night of the year – the night when Santa comes. But where exactly does Santa come from? These days he is said to be living in the North Pole with all his reindeer and elves, working tirelessly all year to create the toys to deliver to children all around the world on Christmas Eve. However, in the 3rd century, Santa was actually called Nicholas, and he lived in a Greek village called Patara, situated in the country that we now know as Turkey. Throughout his life Nicholas did many kind and generous things for people who were poorer than him, and for children who needed help. I will tell you one of the stories of his kindness now. This example happened in the town of Myra, where a band of Pirates came to the town and stole gold and treasures from the people that lived there. Before they left they also took a child, a young boy called Basilios. They took Basilios back to the King of their own country, Crete, and he used the boy as a slave. The boy spent a year bringing the King his golden cup to drink from. Meanwhile the boy’s parents felt very sad to have lost their only son. When Christmas day came, the boy’s mother did not want to celebrate without her son, and instead stayed quietly at home praying that he was safe. However, Nicholas himself had travelled to Crete and found the boy Basilios. He quickly picked the boy up and carried him away back to his mother. When they arrived and Nicholas delivered the boy to his mother’s arms, she cried with happiness.