Santa Claus• Santa Claus is a variation of a Dutch folk tale based on the historical

figure Saint Nicholas, a bishop from Turkey (then known as Myra), who gave presents to the poor. His charity became legend when a man lost his fortune and found himself incapable of supporting his three daughters, who would not be able to find husbands as they lacked dowries. This man was going to give them over to a life of prostitution; however, St. Nicholas provided them with gold, enabling them to retain their virginal virtues and marry. This inspired the mythical figure of Sinterklaas, the subject of a major celebration in the Netherlands and Belgium, Germany (where his alleged date of death, December 6, is celebrated the evening before on December 5), which in turn inspired both the myth and the name of Santa Claus (actually a mispronunciation of the Dutch word "Sinterklaas" by the English settlers of New Amsterdam (later renamed New York). Whilst in those countries Saint Nicholas is celebrated as a distinct character with a religious touch, Santa Claus is also making inroads as a symbol during Christmas.

• He forms an important part of the Christmas tradition throughout the Western world and Japan and other parts of East Asia.

• In many In Seychelles, Santa Claus is also known as Bononm Nwel. He delivers presents to children and has a red coat, fur boots and long white beard. Nowadays her feminine counterpart “mama Nwel” is also popular at children’s parties.

• Conventionally, Santa Claus is portrayed as a kindly, round-bellied, merry, bespectacled white man in a red coat trimmed with white fur (perhaps remotely derived from the episcopal vestments of the original Bishop Nicholas), with a long white beard and green or white gloves. On Christmas Eve, he rides in his sleigh pulled by flying reindeer from house to house to give presents to children. To enter the house, Santa Claus comes down the chimney and exits through the fireplace. During the rest of the year he lives together with his wife Mrs. Claus and his elves manufacturing toys. Some modern depictions of Santa (often in advertising and popular entertainment) will show the elves and Santa's workshop as more of a processing and distribution facility, ordering and receiving the toys from various toy manufacturers from across the world. His home is usually given as either the North Pole, in northern Canada, Korvatunturi in Finnish Lapland, Dalecarlia in Sweden, or Greenland, depending on the tradition and country.

Origins of Christmas

• Although no one knows on which exact date Jesus was born, Christians have favored December 25 since ancient times. It is the date on which the Romans marked the winter solstice and it is nine months following the Festival of Annunciation (March 25). In ancient and early Medieval times, Christmas was either a minor feast, or not celebrated at all.

Other Dates?

• Although Christmas may be celebrated on December 25 -31 in historically Catholic and Protestant nations, in eastern Europe it is often celebrated on January 7. This is because the Orthodox church continues to use the Julian calendar for determining feast days.[16]

• The Orthodox churches fast during the forty days before Christmas. Christmas is dubbed the "Feast of the Nativity of our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ." Armenian Christians celebrate Christmas on January 6.[17]

The Story of Christmas• Two thousand years ago, the emperor

Augustus want to count people in his land. He told everyone to go back to the city where they had been born.

• Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth. Mary was to have a baby. But they had to go to Bethlehem because Joseph had been born there. It was a long, long trip.

When they went to Bethlehem, the time came for the baby to be born. But there was no room for them to stay at the inn.Joseph and Mary went to the stable. Mary’s baby was born. They named him Jesus. Mary made a bed for the baby in a manger.

The Story of Christmas There were shepherds out in the fields. They

were watching their sheep. An angel came to speak to shepherds. The shepherds were afraid. “Don’t be afraid,” said the angle. “I bring you

good news. Today, in the town of Bethlehem, a baby has been born. This baby is Christ the Lord. You will find him in a manger.”

The shepherd went to Bethlehem. They found Mary and Joseph in the stable. They saw the baby in the manger. They were very happy.A bright star appeared in the sky. Wise men saw the star in the East. “A new king is born,” they said. “Let’s go to see him. Let’s bring him gifts.”The wise men followed the star. The star went ahead of them. It stopped over the place where the baby Jesus was born.The wise men saw the child with his mother. They bowed him. “We have came to see the new born king,” they said.

The Story of Christmas

• They gave him gifts. They him gold. They gave frankincense and myrrh. This was the first Christmas.

• Today people give each other gifts on Christmas. They remember the gifts that the wise men gave to the baby Jesus.

Christmas Tree• The Christmas tree is often explained as a

Christianization of the ancient pagan idea that the evergreen tree represents a celebration of the renewal of life. In Roman mosaics from what is today Tunisia, showing the mythic triumphant return from India of the Greek god of wine and male fertility, Dionysus (dubbed by some modern scholars as a life-death-rebirth deity), the god carries a tapering coniferous tree. Medieval legends, nevertheless, tended to concentrate more on the miraculous "flowering" of trees at Christmas time. A branch of flowering Glastonbury thorn is still sent annually for the Queen's Christmas table in the United Kingdom.

• IN SEYCHELLES – The branch of the

Casuarina tree –were used and are still being used by some people as a Christmas tree. Traditionally a big branch is placed just outside the Central Post-Office in Victoria to enhance the Christmas festive mood.

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas,We wish you a Merry Christmas, And a Happy New Year.

Good tidings to you, And all of your kin,Good tidings for Christmas, And a Happy New Year.

We all know that Santa's coming, We all know that Santa's coming, We all know that Santa's coming, And soon will be here.

Good tidings to you, And all of your kin,Good tidings for Christmas, And a Happy New Year.

We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas,We wish you a Merry Christmas, And a Happy New Year.

Christmas Stockings

• A Christmas stocking is an empty sock or sock-shaped bag that children in the United States and some other cultures hang on Christmas Eve so that Santa Claus can fill it with small toys, candy, fruit, coins, or other small gifts when he arrives. These small items are often referred to as stocking stuffers or stocking fillers. Tradition in western culture dictates that a child who behaves badly during the year will receive only a piece of coal.

• IN Seychelles, children hangs their stockings on the branches or put their shoes under the tree to receive gifts from Santa- (Bononm Nwel). Gifts are also placed next to the sleeping children in bed.

• One traditional practice is to reserve the stocking for five gifts that stimulate each of the five senses, for example:

– Something to eat like fruit or candy – A toy or other item that makes a

noise (this can even include nuts to crack)

– An item that is visually pleasing in any way like jewelry, cuff-links or a coloring book.

– Something that has tactile appeal such as modeling clay, a soft toy, lingerie or even a pair of novelty Christmas socks.

– Any item with a distinctive scent such as bubble-bath, cologne, perfume, etc.