The book that created the holiday: Charles Dickens

The image of an English Christmas is textbook: there is a snowstorm outside the window, a table is set in a heated room, dozens of candles are burning, beautifully dressed children sing Christmas carols and receive gifts... This image has little connection with reality - if only because in December it is easier on the streets of modern London see flower beds than snowdrifts. The creator of the “English Christmas” was Charles Dickens, or rather, his first and most famous holiday story, “A Christmas Carol.” The unusual Russian name has taken root in our culture thanks to Tatyana Ozerskaya’s translation made in the twentieth century. And in the 19th century, Dickens’ story, translated almost instantly after the original was published in 1843 and becoming incredibly popular in Russia, was called “A Yule Carol.” And this title more accurately reflected the essence of the book, because in the original it was called “A Christmas Carol.” Carol is an analogue of Russian carols, folk spiritual couplets that both adults and children sing at Christmas.

Although most modern Russian children are unfamiliar with Dickens' story, the name of its main character is well known to them. This is the banker Scrooge, whose image the Disney studio borrowed from Dickens for its animated series. The name Scrooge comes from the English verb screw (to oppress, miser, be stingy) and has long become a common noun for a curmudgeonly rude person. Dickens' story is dedicated to the miraculous transformation of Scrooge from an evil monster into a generous benefactor, which takes place on Christmas Eve. Scrooge is helped by three Christmas spirits who show him the true essence of his past, present and future life.

Dickens in A Christmas Carol creates a vivid and memorable portrait of “good old England,” which consists of a roast goose (“the size of a child”), pudding, a fire in the hearth, a game of forfeits, strong ale, and dancing. This is an exclusively family holiday; “the trinity of prayer, food and drink,” as the famous writer Gilbert Key Chesterton put it. Inspired by the beauty of the image of a kind, calm, family holiday, the British began to actively bring it to life in the mid-19th century and continue to do so to this day. Almost every modern English family has Dickens's A Christmas Carol, often in combination with his other Christmas texts (he later wrote The Hearth Cricket, The Bells, The Battle of Life, Possessed). During Advent, Dickens is read to young Britons in kindergartens and schools, and there is no lower age limit for such reading.

Christmas Memories: Dylan Thomas

It’s hard to imagine the Russian New Year without the film “The Irony of Fate.” And English Christmas is marked by the obligatory December radio broadcast of Dylan Thomas's story "A child's Christmas in Wales", the Russian translation of which was published under the title "Childhood. Christmas. Wales". The name of Dylan Thomas is well known to all poetry connoisseurs, because he is one of the best English poets of the twentieth century, and also very fond of speaking on the radio.

If Dickens created an ideal picture of an English Christmas, then Thomas autobiographically recreated the reality of this holiday. "Childhood. Christmas. Wales" is a small prose text, a kind of “stream of consciousness”, instantly transporting the author and reader to snowy Wales at the beginning of the century. “Our snow didn’t just pour from the sky from buckets of whitewash, it spread like a shawl from under the ground, it floated out, it flowed out of tree trunks, and shoots, and branches; and during the night all the roofs grew overgrown with tender and snowy moss, white ivy instantly ran around all the walls, and a silent, stormy, white crumb of Christmas cards fell on the postman entering the yard ... "Gifts, guests, pudding, a fire from the hearth, the wind over the icy sea, snowballs and snowdrifts, freezing birds - all these pictures float one on top of the other, creating an amazing illusion of authenticity. And although, at first glance, Dylan Thomas writes in a complex and opaque manner, many English adults admit that “A child’s Christmas in Wales” was their favorite Christmas reading in childhood.

Letters from Father Christmas: John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

English Christmas, like many of our domestic holidays, arose at the intersection of Christian and pagan folk traditions. The date of December 25 coincided with the ancient Germanic Yule, the pagan holiday of the winter solstice, the “return of the sun,” the main character of which was Great-Grandfather Yule. Well, who could best build the connection between Yule, Santa Claus and Christ? Of course, Sir Tolkien is an Oxford professor, an expert in Anglo-Saxon antiquities...

Tolkien had four children: John, Michael, Christopher and Priscilla. In the book The Family Album, John and Priscilla remember their childhood: “On Christmas morning - like thousands of other children - we were allowed to look into our stockings and unwrap our carefully chosen gifts. However, in addition to gifts, every year we received a letter from Father Christmas himself, with the stamp “North Pole” and the real “North Pole” stamp!”

The author of these picture letters was the father, the head of the family. Tolkien wrote the first letter on behalf of Father Christmas to three-year-old John in 1920. The latter was received by 14-year-old Priscilla in 1943. These were not banal lines of congratulations, but a lively and very personal dialogue: Grandfather rejoiced at the children’s successes, complained about delays with the reindeer, was interested in family news, and talked about life at the North Pole. Tolkien's children carefully preserved these letters and published them after his death. Today, in English, there are several editions of “Letters from Father Christmas”, both in the form of books and in the form of a box with envelopes from which the letters themselves are pulled out. Only the text has been translated into Russian; Russian-speaking children cannot yet see Tolkien’s amazing pictures.

“Letters from Father Christmas” is interesting not only as a story about an English Christmas. First of all, this is a most interesting monument of family culture. Try writing and drawing letters to each of your children every year, observing their lives as if from the outside! This is an invaluable psychological experience, and its importance is great for both children and parents. After all, this is how a person develops the ability to give, and not to “give for reasons,” the ability to receive unexpected, unsolicited gifts, the ability to rejoice and be surprised together.

Christmas Gifts and Gifts: Beatrix Potter and O. Henry

Throughout the Christian world, Christmas is the only religious holiday considered a children's holiday. And all over the world, children are given gifts on this day. The meaning of these traditions is obvious: on this day the Divine Child was born, and the whole earth bowed before him with its gifts. The star of Bethlehem shone in the sky, the wise men brought gold, incense and myrrh into the cave, the shepherds brought their flocks. For many centuries, children of different nations received gifts twice a year: on their own birthday and on the Nativity of Jesus. Therefore, it is rare that a Christmas book does not include the theme of gifts. But gifts are different. Russian readers are well aware of O. Henry’s Christmas story “The Gifts of the Magi.” True, in our country this immortal story about selfless giving is considered teenage reading, but in England it is read to five- and eight-year-old children.
Another very popular children's “gift” story was told and drawn by Beatrix Potter. Although several books by this writer have already been published in Russia, the story about a tailor from Gloucester (“The Taylor of Gloucester”) with illustrations by the author can only be read on the Internet. This simple story tells how, on Christmas Day, mice helped a poor tailor finish an important job on time in gratitude for saving them from a cat. And from then on he became rich and famous.

Why is it so important to read these stories to children? Because they are talking about the same thing: about a gift-action, a gift-deed. Books by O. Henry and Beatrix Potter show the child the true essence of a gift and take him a little away from the consumer-commercial attitude towards the holiday.

The Miracle of Christmas: Oscar Wilde

In England, unlike Russia, there has never been persecution of Christianity, and the religious “core” of Christmas and New Year celebrations is completely natural for modern Britons. The essence of Christmas is a miracle: every year the Christian world celebrates the miraculous coming of Jesus into the earthly world. Therefore, it is quite natural for religious themes and characters to appear in children's Christmas books. One example is Oscar Wilde’s fairy tale “The selfish giant”, which in Russian translations is called differently: “The Selfish Giant”, “The Evil Giant”; “The egoistic giant”, “The giant who thought only of himself.” This extraordinarily beautiful text tells about a garden that belonged to a giant. Winter always reigned in the garden, since the giant surrounded the garden with a high wall and did not allow children into it. But then one day... “He saw an amazing sight. Through a small hole in the wall, the children made their way into the garden and sat on the branches of the trees. There was a small child on every tree. And the trees were so happy at the return of the children that they immediately became covered with flowers, and their branches gently swayed over the heads of the little ones. Birds fluttered everywhere and chirped enthusiastically, and flowers peeped out of the green grass and laughed. It was a lovely picture; only in one corner was winter still reigning. It was in the farthest corner of the garden, and there stood a little boy. He was so small that he could not reach the branches and only walked around the tree, crying bitterly. The poor tree was still covered with frost and snow, and the North Wind raged and roared over it.” The giant helped the baby climb the tree, and it was immediately covered with flowers of extraordinary beauty. For many years the aging Giant waited for the baby to return. This happened just before his death; the child appeared before the Giant with two wounds from nails on his hands and feet, calling them “wounds of love”...

Christian ethics enters the consciousness of the British from early childhood, without hiding or hiding under the guise of secular morality. Fabulous parables about mercy, kindness, and inner beauty were written by Oscar Wilde, Clive Lewis, and John Tolkien. Reading these tales at Christmas time is completely natural for the British and causes mixed feelings among emigrants from Russia. This is how Natalya, who moved from St. Petersburg to Manchester ten years ago and is raising three children, describes them: “In our country, Wilde’s fairy tales are read, at best, in school. Here in Britain it is given to two or three year olds. In the early years, I couldn’t read “The selfish giant” to my little daughters. After all, no one here ever talks to children about religion easily and calmly. Either the brutal seriousness of textbooks, temples, museums, or the indifference and atheism of the family. But just like that, just read to a three-year-old child about the Garden of Eden and the wounds of love... I couldn’t, in horror I thought how I could explain this to my daughter, I started babbling something about Christ, the Crucifixion. And my husband suddenly stopped me: “There is no need to explain anything. Wilde has already said everything.” And so it is. This is how the British know how - not to read morality, but to tell a fairy tale. And everything is clear, right? Probably, these are the very Christian values ​​that Europeans absorb from childhood..."

Anna Rapoport

English teacher,

MBOU "Gymnasium No. 1", Angarsk

"A Christmas Tale"

Scenario for a theatrical school performance dedicated to Christmas in England

Participants: students in grades 2-4

Goal: Acquaintance with the traditions and customs of Great Britain, instilling respect for the culture of the country, increasing motivation to learn English

Abstract: “A Christmas Tale” is a script for one of the traditional extracurricular activities dedicated to the culture of Great Britain and the USA. The script includes authentic Christmas poems and songs for children. The date is December 24-25. Duration 7-10 minutes.

Characters: 6 gnomes, boy and girl (brother and sister), Santa, presenter (maybe teacher)

Decorations: decorated Christmas tree, fireplace

Spectators enter the music room and stand in a semicircle.

The lights go out, gnomes appear with lanterns in their hands (caps, mittens, scarves) to the music.

In Canada, America, Great Britain, France, Sweden, Denmark (1 word each)

There is only one thing on everyone's mind - people are waiting for Christmas! (all together).

The gnomes speak two lines:

It's Christmas! Merry Christmas!

Yes, it’s merry, merry Christmas!

It's time for hanging stockings,

It's time for riding sleighs,

It's time for Jolly great,

Snow and holly overeating.

Oh, I love you, Merry Christmas,

You are the best of holidays.

Narrator: The trees are covered with sparkling snow. Deep snowdrifts covered the ground. Christmas night is approaching. Everything around froze in anticipation of a miracle...

The trees are heavy

With glaring snow.

The drifts are deep.

And the world is white.

No breath of wind

Is there below,

Hushed beauty reigns…

It's Christmas night.

Host: Quiet winter evening. The stars and moon light up in the dark sky, Christmas trees are in the houses and on the streets and Christmas candles are lit.

Brother and sister decorate the Christmas tree near the fireplace and say:

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

They are green when summer days are bright.

They are green when winter days are white.

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree

Your branches green delight us.

(At this time, the candles on the fireplace are lit)

(Children hang stockings on the fireplace)

The stockings are hunger,

The carols are being sung.

My heart is field with joy,

Along with every boy and girl.

It's really hard to go to sleep,

you want to go and take a peep.

And when you are finally in bed,

Visions of Santa dance in your head.

(children hang up stockings, blow out candles, yawn and leave)

Host: They won’t be able to sleep for a long time today, just to look at this guest, Santa will sneak into the house on the sly and hide the gifts under the tree.

Dwarfs say:

• Who very soon will come our way?

Santa very soon will come our way.

Eight little reindeer pull his sleigh.

Santa's little reindeer pull his sleigh.

• Reindeer sleigh, come our way,

Ho, Ho, Ho cherry nose,

Cap on head, suit that's red,

Special night, beard that's white –

Must be Santa, must be Santa,

Must be Santa, Santa Claus.

Santa comes in:

When the clock is striking 12,

When you are fast asleep

Down the chimney broad and black

With my bag I'll creep.

Jonny wants a pair of skates.

Susy wants a Dolly;

Nelly wants a story book;

She thinks dolls are folly.

A little sleepy boy comes out with a pillow:

As for me, my little brain

Isn't very bright:

Choose for me, old Santa Claus

What do you think is right.

(Santa takes the baby by the hand and leads him away.)

Presenter: Children get up before everyone else and run for gifts

It opens, the children freeze with delight,

Merry Christmas to everyone and shouts: “Hurray! Hooray!"

Everyone sings the song “We wish you a Merry Christmas!”

Christmas (Christmas Day). The most important day of the holiday and Christmas holidays is, of course, December 25 (25December), or Christmas Day. Every year in Britain people receive gifts for Christmas. The custom of giving gifts on December 25 (25 December) dates back to the Victorian era. Before this, in Britain it was customary to exchange gifts on New Year's Eve - December 31 (31 December) - or on Twelfth Night - January 5/6 (5/6 January) - i.e. .on twelfth day after Christmas, which falls on the last day of Christmastide (Christmas-tide) and coincides with Epiphany (Epiphany). According to a long-standing custom Children get up very early in the morning and go looking for traditional Christmas stockings filled with small gifts. Usually parents hang these socks (quite large sizes) in the children's room, often near the children's bed, while they are sleeping. When children wake up in the morning, many of them believe that Santa Claus came to visit them at night and brought them gifts. But gifts in the traditional stocking are not all the gifts children receive at Christmas. Gifts for older children, teenagers and adults are placed around the Christmas tree (Christmas tree) also on Christmas Eve. Gifts for all family members are carefully placed around the tree, which is usually decorated with multi-colored garlands. The big presents are opened as the whole family gathers together in the living room in front of the Christmas tree. Only when everyone has already sat down around the tree - not earlier - can you unwrap your gift.

What do they eat at Christmas in the UK? The traditional Christmas dinner includes roast turkey, roast potatoes and Brussels sprouts, and ends with Christmas pudding.

Boxing Day, Second Day of Christmas (Boxing Day): December 26 (26December) is an official holiday in the UK. Usually this day is spent in front of the TV and relaxing after Christmas. On this day, the series of gift giving continues. Wealthy people give gifts to servants, postmen, clerks, merchants, etc. Why is this day called Boxing Day? - because the word “box” refers to any Christmas gift or box with a Christmas gift, as well as Christmas awards, which are given as a token of gratitude to people for the services they have provided during the year.

Christmas cards: Most people in the UK send Christmas cards to their friends and family. Some stores sell charity cards. This means that the proceeds from the sale of these cards will go to good causes.

New Year's Eve:On December 31st, New Year is celebrated throughout Britain. Most people spend this day with friends or family. At midnight everyone joins hands and sings an old Scottish song"Good old days" ("Auld Lang Syne "), written by the poet Robert Burns. In Scotland (Scotland) and the north of England (North of England) just after midnight (midnight) people go to visit their friends (go first footing) - they call at the doors of their friends' houses with the hope of being the first to enter the house after midnight. The guest (the first footer) brings with him a piece of coal (a piece of coal) and a glass of water (a glass of water), which are symbols of good luck in the New Year. year.

New Year's Day (New Year'sDay) : On January 1, the British traditionally make New Year's resolutions - they decide what to do to improve their lives in the New Year. For example, people decide to quit smoking or go to the gym once a week.

Christmas vocabulary

Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas!
Happy New Year – Happy New Year!
Season's Greetings! – Happy upcoming holidays!
Christmas Holiday’s – Christmas holidays
Christmas Eve - Christmas Eve
New Year's Eve - New Year's Eve
Carol – Christmas carol/jolly song
Bells - Bells
Santa Claus - Santa Claus
Secret Santa – Invisible Santa
Three Wise Men – Three Magi
Nativity scene – Birth scene
Christmas Tree – Christmas tree
Decorations – Decorations
Ornament – ​​Decorate
Poinsettia – Poinsettia (Christmas star)
Snowman - Snowman
Snowflake – Snowflake
Snowball - Snowball
Snowy – Snowy weather
Christmas card – Christmas card
Presents/gifts – Gifts
Toy – Toy
Reindeer – Deer
Sleigh - Sleigh
Turkey
The star of Bethlehem – Star of Bethlehem
Manger – Nursery

Here are collected books about English Christmas and New Year

Christmas stories in English for children Christmas fairy-tales & stories for children A Christmas Journey Wildsmith Brian A Christmas Stor y Wildsmith Brian A Christmas Carol + CD Lesley Sims Christmas Fun Ruth Hobart Christmas Stories for Little ChildrenPunter Russell Christmas Felicity Brooks Christmas Watt Fiona Christmas around the world Lesley Sims Clubhouse Christmas Susan American Horrid Henry's Christmas Cracker Francesca Simon Madeline's Christmas Ludwig Bemelmans Paddington and the Christmas Surprise Michael Bond Pocket's Christmas Wish Ann Bonwill The Oxford Book of Christmas Stories Dennis Pepper That's Not My Snowman Watt Fiona The Killer Cat's Christmas Anne Fine The Battle for Christmas Jeremy Strong Twas the Night Before Christmas Wordsworth Video for Christmas Christmas Video Christmas English songs Christmas songs, chants, carols Very First Christmas Carols Felicity Brooks 5+6 Games Christmas Carols + Book

Sections: Extracurricular activities

Scenario of the New Year's fairy tale in English “When Christmas comes”.

A Russian girl is sitting in am armchair and reading a book of fairy-tales.

Her mother calls her.

Mother: Stop reading books, dear, New Year is coming. Help me to lay the table, please.

Russian girl: Just a moment, Mum. It's my favorite tale. I wish I were there in the fairy-tale.

Music. Lights go down.

A group of children is singing Christmas carol “Holy night”.

Silent night
Holy night
All is calm
All is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child,
Holy infant so tender and mild.
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace.
In the forest. (slide “Winter Forest”)

Russian girl is looking around her with great interest.

Russian girl: Where am I? I can't believe my eyes. Is it a fairy-tale? Oh, it's cold here. Where shall I go?

A white rabbit appears on the stage. He is in a hurry. He is looking at his watch and taking it in and out of his waistcoat.

Rabbit: Oh, dear, oh dear! I'll be too late!

Russian girl: What? A rabbit with a pocket and a watch in it? Of course, I’m in a tale. Who’s ever seen a rabbit with a watch?

Children on the other side of the stage:

1. A cat went to town to buy a hat.
   What? A cat with a hat? A hat for a cat?
   Who’s ever seen a cat in a hat?
2. A cock went to town to buy a clock.
   What? A cock with a clock? A clock for a cock?
   Who’s ever seen a cock with a clock?
3. A bear went to town to buy a chair.
   What? A bear with a chair? A chair for a bear?
   Who’s ever seen a bear with a chair?
4. A dog went to town to buy a log?
   What? A dog with a log? A log for a dog?
   Who’s ever seen a dog with a log?
5. An owl went to town to buy a towel.
   What? An owl with a towel? A towel for an owl?
   Who’s ever seen an owl with a towel?
6. A hen went to town to buy a pen.
   What? A hen with a pen? A pen for a hen?
   Who’s ever seen a hen with a pen?

Russian girl: Mister Rabbit, wait for me, please!

Lights go down.

Queen's palace. (slide “Palace”)

The Queen is sitting at the desk. There is a blackboard near the desk. Rabbit comes through the gates and runs into the palace. The Russian girl enters and hides nearby.

Rabbit: Good evening, Your Majesty! I am on time (bows). Let's start our lesson. May I ask you to write down four irregular verbs?

Queen: All right. Dictate!

Break-broken-broken
Speak-spoke-spoken
Begin-began-begun

Chancellor comes.

Chancellor: Good evening, Your Majesty! May I ask you to put Your signature? To four edicts only.

Queen: Write! Well! But then I won’t write – begin-began-begun. Give me your papers!

Chancellor: Thank you very much, Your Majesty!

Queen: And what shall I write?

Chancellor: Either “execute” or “forgiveness”.

Queen (counts): E-xe-cu-te, for-gi-ve-ness. I shall write “execute” – it is shorter.

Russian girl comes out: Stop it! What have you written?

Queen: Who are you? How dare you speak to me like this? I am your Queen.

Russian girl: You executed a person and didn’t think about him!

Queen: But I can’t write and think at the same time!

Russian girl: It isn’t necessary. First you should think and then you should write.

Queen: If I do that, I shall think and think and think and then I’ll go mad.

Russian girl: Nonsense! And besides, you are not my Queen. I am not from here. I am from Russia.

Queen: Russia? Where is it? Oh, I know, your people live on the other side of the Earth and they walk with their heads downward.

Russian girl: Do you study at school? You don’t know Geography at all. (slide “The map of Russia”)Russia is the largest country in the world with a long and interesting history and culture. Do you know how Russian people celebrated Christmas traditionally?

A group of children is going around the hall and singing Russian folk songs.

Russian girl: Russian people made up a lot of fairy-tales. One of them we prepared for you in a modern version. Can you guess the tale?

Queen: Why should I know it? Mr. Rabbit knows it well.

Rabbit: It’s Russian folk-tale “The Turnip”. But I hardly guessed it.

Queen: As for me I know Math.

Russian girl (writing at the blackboard): How much is six multiplied by six?

Queen: Six times six is ​​eleven. Mr. Rabbit, is it OK?

Rabbit (sadly): OK, Your Majesty.

Russian girl (written): Multiply eight by eight, please.

Russian girl: Awful!

Queen: And I know Biology very well.

Russian girl: Then answer, when do snowdrops appear in the forest?

Rabbit whispers: In April.

Queen: Snowdrops? Of course, in December, because snow falls in December.

Snowflakes dance.

Russian girl: You are wrong. It's impossible. Snowdrops blossom in April.

Queen: OK. I want April now. I like snowdrops very much. I have never seen them.

Rabbit: April will come soon. You have to wait only three months or 90 days.

Queen: 90 days! But I can't wait! Tomorrow we are going to have a New Year’s party. I want to have snowdrops for this party.

Rabbit (sadly): Your Majesty, you can’t break the law of Nature.

It’s winter now….

Music (winter) (slide “Winter”)

Rabbit: Then comes spring with the first dripping of melted snow and snowdrops…

Music (spring) (slide “Spring”)

Rabbit: After spring comes bright summer….

Music (summer) (slide “Summer”)

Rabbit: And then comes golden autumn with a lot of fruit and vegetables, rains and winds.

Music (autumn) (slide “Autumn”)

Queen: I’ll promulgate a new law of Nature! Mr. Rabbit! Sit down and write! I'll dictate to you. “The grass is green.

There are a lot of flowers in our forest. Bring a basket of snowdrops to our palace for the New Year’s party! “A full basket of gold is awaiting you!” Chancellor!

Chancellor comes.

Queen: Set my seal and proclaim my order!

Chancellor: But Your Majesty…

Queen: This is my order!

Lights go down.

In the forest. (slide “Winter forest”).

It's freezing. A giant caterpillar is sitting under the tree covered with snow.

Mr.Rabbit and Russian girl are standing and hesitating in which direction to go.

Rabbit: Let's go this way. Frosty the famous snowman lives here. I hope he can help us.

Russian girl: I am so tired. What’s the use of looking for snowdrops in winter. Where can I sit down?

Russian girl tries to sit down on a giant caterpillar but jumps up and cries.

Russian girl: What is it? Dear me! It's a snake!

Caterpillar: First of all can’t you be more polite and stop sitting on a delicate caterpillar?

Russian girl: Caterpillar in winter! It's incredible!

Caterpillar: Stop talking nonsense. Can't you see? It's me. What are you doing here on Christmas Eve?

A group of children is singing Christmas carol “Away in a manger”.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed

The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.

The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay

The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

Russian girl: We are looking for snowdrops.

Caterpillar: Isn’t it more incredible to look for snowdrops in winter?

Russian girl: Certainly it is. Am I going mad?

Caterpillar: Why haven’t you said before you are going crazy? I am sure only Rudolf can help you – he is also an extraordinary creature. You have to go that way. (Show them the way).

Russian girl: Thank you. Bye.

Rabbit: Thank you Miss (kisses her hand). Shall we meet one day?

Carterpillar: Put down my phone number, ducky. (Hugs and kisses him).

Lights go down. Music.

Lights go up. Russian girl and Mr. Rabbit are going through the forest.

Chorus. Song “Rudolf the Red-Nose Reindeer”.

Rudolf, the red-nosed reindeer Had a very shiny nose. And if you ever saw it Used to laugh and call him names. They never let poor Rudolf play in any reindeer games. Then one foggy Christmas Eve Santa came to say, "Rudolf with your nose so bright,

you would even say it glows. All of the other reindeer Won't you guide my sleigh tonight? Then how the reindeer loved him, As they shouted out with glee: "Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer, you"ll go down in history!"

Rudolf appears. Russian girl and Mr. Rabbit run to him.

Rabbit: Mr. Rudolf we are so glad to see you. Can you help us to find snowdrops.

Rudolf: Snowdrops? What a strange idea! I can manage to get moss and lichen for you.

Russian girl: But we need snowdrops very much.

Rudolf: You need a real magician, you need Santa.

Russian girl: Where is he? Tell us, please, we are in a hurry.

Rudolf: I can't tell you. He is very busy now, he is preparing Christmas gifts for children. That's why nobody knows where he is. But you can ask Frosty.

Rabbit: Who is Frosty?

Chorus. Song “Frosty, The Snowman”.

Frosty the snowman was a jolly happy soul,
With a corncob pipe and a carrot nose,
And two eyes made of coal.
Frosty the snowman is a fairy tale, they say.
He was made of snow but the children know
How he came to life one day.
There must have been some magic in that
Old silk hat they found,
For they put it on his head
He began to dance around!

O Frosty the snowman,
Was alive as he could be!
And the children say he could
Laugh and play
Just the same as you and me.
Thumpety thump thump
Thumpety thump thump
Look at Frosty go!
Thumpety thump thump
Thumpty thump thump
Over the hills of snow…

Frosty (appears): Who called me?

Russian girl: Dear Frosty, can you show us the way to Santa’s house. We need his help. It’s Christmas Eve now and we’d like to get a basket of snowdrops on Christmas Day.

Frosty: What strange presents do people want to have on Christmas! OK, if you guess my riddles, I’ll show you the way.

Russian girl: We’ll try and I think children will help us (to the audience). Will you help us to guess Frosty’s riddles?

It's blue by night
By day it's white.
It is cold and not dry,
It falls from the sky. (Snow)

Fat and gay, on a winter day,
He came here with us to stay.
But day by day he grew sad and thin,
And so we brought his younger brother in. (A calendar)

In winter and in summer
They stand in one color. (A fir-tree and a pine)

This is the season
When children ski
And Santa brings
The bright Christmas tree. (Winter)

Frosty: Let's go that way. I'll follow you, you can lose yourselves. (They are going away).

Music. Chorus “I wish I were a snowman”

I wish I were a Snowman,
So tall and big and white.
I'd never have to clean my teeth,
Or go to bed at night.
But maybe Mister Snowman
Is wishing he were me,
For I'll be here when summer comes,
But where will the Snowman be?

Music. Song “Christmas is coming..”

Christmas is coming
The goose is getting fat
Please, to put a penny
In an old man's hat
Please put a penny
In an old man's hat.
If you have no penny
A half-penny can do
If you have no half-penny
Then God bless you.

Lights go down.

Santa's house. (slide “Santa’s house”).

Santa Claus is picking up his bag.

Santa: A new nose for Rudolf, a new broom for Frosty, a beautiful hat for the caterpillar, a basket of snowdrops for the Queen. What else? Ah, they are coming. We'll see if they gain their presents.

All: Santa, hello. Help us, please!

Santa: All right! I’ve just learned a new and very modern dance. If you dance with me I’ll make all your wishes come true.

Dance. Everybody is dancing.

The clock strikes.

Santa: Christmas has come!

Song “We wish you a Merry Christmas...” (All participants).

We wish you a merry Christmas

We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy New Year!
Good tidings for you
Wherever you are
Good tidings for Christmas and a happy New Year!

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Today on English 4 kids premiere. Kyle Keaton reads his new Christmas story for children in English: “How Little Bear Spent Christmas With Santa”.

The story is suitable for children who already know a little English and is published by us without translation. Below there will be a link to download and print this story without illustrations.

If you and your children like this story, we will be glad if you send us your drawings and we will be happy to publish them here.

Kyle Keaton reads “How Little Bear Spent Christmas With Santa”

1. Once upon a time there was a little Bear and Little Bear was trying to write a letter to Santa Clause. For it was after Thanksgiving and Christmas was right around the corner. Little Bear had always been told to write a letter to Santa and make sure that Santa knew what Little Bear needed for Christmas. This year though, Little Bear was just too busy to write a letter, as he had so much to do.

Little Bear was more worried about getting gifts for his mom, dad and all his grandparents that he never had time to stop and think about what he needed. So that letter to Santa was never written.

Little Bear was a kind and thoughtful little bear and he always put others before himself. So he went about making gifts for his parents and grandparents. For his mom he dried hundreds of flowers that he had collected all summer. These he made into a wonderful smelling potpourri, He even found a wonderful, only slightly cracked bowl to put the dried flower pedals in, that his mom would just love to see all winter long. For his dad, he made a fishing lure out of an old wine cork and he painted it like a shark from the ocean. For his grandparents he painted a picture of each of them. He hid the paintings in the woods and covered the paintings with leaves and branches, so that no one would see them and spoil the gift.

2. Now all this was good and most proper for a little bear to be doing, but Santa Clause got worried, for he kept track of all the kids in the world and here it was a week before Christmas and no letter from Little Bear. Why there was a letter from Little Calf, Little Squirrel, Little Lamb, Little Blue Jay and millions of others, but no Little Bear. Santa got worried...

You see Santa knows good children and Santa knew that Little Bear was an good child. So Santa grabbed one of his Reindeer and rode to see if Little Bear was okay.

Santa peeking around a tree trunk found Little Bear painting pictures, making lures and drying flowers. Santa also found that Little Bear was so worn out at the end of the day, that he had no time to write a letter to Santa and tell Santa what he wanted. Santa went back home to the North Pole and thought about what to give a little bear that was too busy making gifts for his family to care about what he wanted for Christmas.

Santa came up with a trick to play on Little Bear. Santa would send Mister Owl to ask him what he wanted. Mister Owl went to Little Bear as he was asked by Santa and presented his question, “What would you like for Christmas, Little Bear?”

3. Little Bear looked up in surprise as he was finishing the painting of his great grandpa bear, just two days before Christmas and he paused a few seconds thinking at the last brush stroke and said, “I guess that I do not need anything!” For I have all that any little bear could ever want!” Then Little Bear said, “I have hugs, kisses, lots of food and lots of love!” What more do I need?” Then he finished the brush stroke and declared the last painting done. In fact he declared all the gifts done and just in time for Christmas which was just two days away…

4. Mister Owl flew back to Santa in the North Pole and reported what he was told. That left Santa in worse shape than he was. For now he had no idea what to get Little Bear. Then since Christmas was two days off and he had to hurry and get done. Santa put his thoughts on the back burner and hurried to get all the gifts together for all the kids all over the world. All the while not knowing what to get a good Little Bear.

Christmas came and Santa put off going to Little Bears home in the deep woods, until last. In fact Little Bear had just gotten up and everyone in the family was gathered around the Christmas Tree in the house and opened up their gifts. Papa Bear and all the rest noticed that Santa had not been by and they were worried. Little Bear had gifts from all the family and he had good gifts of clothes and toys, but the stocking by the fireplace was empty.

Little Bears gifts to the family were a big hit and Papa Bear was so proud of his new fishing lure that he went immediately and stuck it on his fishing hat. That way he would have it safe until spring came and the rivers and lakes thawed from the winter ice. Momma Bear could not get enough deep sweet breaths of her dried flowers and Little Bears grandparents spent all morning hanging their freshly painted portraits that Little Bear had painted. Everyone was very happy, except Santa never came to the house.

5. Little Bear told everyone why he did not get anything from Santa. As Little Bear said, “I did not ask for anything and I did not want anything, for I have all I need!” Then Little Bear said, “I never wrote a letter to Santa!”

Then as everyone thought about what Little Bear just said. There came a rattle, bang, crunch and boom in the front yard of the Bear home in the woods. They all ran to the windows and looked out to see what had happened. Then what appeared before their eyes as the snow settled from being blown around in a whirlwind. There appeared Santa and his reindeer. Then as they stared with wonder a knock came upon the door.

Little Bear ran to the door, for his family was too shocked to go themselves and politely invited Santa to come inside. Santa stepped inside and asked for pardon that he has interrupted the family day of Christmas. Everyone all stared and Santa took that as an OK that all was right. Then Santa asked to speak to Little Bear for a minute.

Papa Bear shook his head yes and his eyes were as big as tea cups. Santa said, “Little Bear, you never sent me a letter!” Little Bear gulped and thought, “Oops I am in trouble!”

Then Santa went on, “I have never had that happen and when Mister Owl came back to me and said that,” “Little Bear said, “I have hugs, kisses, lots of food and lots of love!” What more do I need?” I had run out of time to try to think of what to get you, Little Bear. So I decided to come by in person and give you a gift that no other kid will have. For kids love to tell me what they want for Christmas, but you did not want anything!”

6. Santa looked at Little Bear and said, “If your Papa and the rest of your family say OK!” I want to take all of you to the North Pole and have you spend Christmas with Mrs. Santa Clause, the elves, the reindeer and I. For we always have a late Christmas after everyone else has theirs!”

Faster than a Little Bear can say, “Yippee!”, the whole family crowded into the sled with Santa and before they knew it they were at the North Pole having a special Christmas…

They had games to play with the elves and they even got to meet Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer. He had a cold and his nose was even redder than normal. They ate so much food that they all felt like their clothes would pop the buttons and Mrs. Santa Clause had tears in her eyes as they all had to leave…

Santa dropped them off at their Bear home in the woods and as the sleigh lifted into the sky they heard, “Ho Ho Ho and Merry Christmas Little Bear!”

Little Bear said later as his mom tucked him in bed, “I got the best Christmas gift in the whole world and I am glad that my whole family was able to share in it.”

Then he said as his tired eyes closed, “There really is a Santa!”