Evolution of Santa B2

Evolution of Santa

video-based lesson B2

before you watch

Did you believe in Santa when you were a child? If yes, when did you stop?

What do you know about today's image of Santa? Where did it come from?

Did you use to leave cookies and milk for Santa as a child? If yes, who used to eat it?

Has an actor in Santa's costume ever visited you at Christmas? Was it your relative?

watch the video

https://youtu.be/OO6a6Ue2z5I

read the definitions of the words

gifted

secular

having exceptional talent or natural ability

not connected with religious or spiritual matters

dimpled

pagan

having cheeks withlittle 'holes' in themwhile smiling

holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions

read the definitions of the word

grand

to give credit

praise someone who deserves it

important; excellent;impressive; large

to associate with

commission

to formally choose someone to do a special piece of work

to connect something in your mind with something else

watch the video again and listen to sentences with the given words

secular, gifted, pagan, dimpledgive credit, grander, comission, associate with

secular, gifted, pagan, dimpledgive credit, grander, comissioned, associate with

fill in the blanks with the correct word

1. Santa was portrayed as a jolly, _____ elf with a twinkle in his eye. 2. It's really because of the efforts of two very _____ New Yorkers. 3. He created lots of things we _____ Santa Claus as for example the list of naughty and nice. 4. New York city has shaped modern _____ Christmas we now celebrate. 5. We should also _____ to another New Yorker, Thomas Nast. 6. In 1862 a magazine _____ Nast to draw its Christmas illustrations. 7. The illustrator transformed the jolly, old elf into someone taller and _____. 8. Odin, the _____ god, flew through the sky on the eight-legged horse.

Check your answers.

1. Santa was portrayed as a jolly, dimpled elf with a twinkle in his eye. 2. It's really because of the efforts of two very gifted New Yorkers. 3. He created lots of things we associate with Santa Claus as for example the list of naughty and nice. 4. New York city has shaped modern secular Christmas we now celebrate. 5. We should also give credit to another New Yorker, Thomas Nast. 6. In 1862 a magazine commissioned Nast to draw its Christmas illustrations. 7. The illustrator transformed the jolly, old elf into someone taller and grander. 8. Odin, the pagan god, flew through the sky on the eight-legged horse.

Answer the questions according to the video.

Clement Clarke Moore - who was it and what did he do for today's image of Santa?

Thomas Nast - who was it and what did he do for today's image of Santa?

What 2 legendary Christmas figures of the old world were the inspiration for Moore's Santa? (0:42-1:11)

Name 4 differencesbetween Moore's and Nast's Santa. (1:50-2:01)

Well done!

Ho, ho, ho!