The Story of St. Nicholas Day
St. Nicholas Day, celebrated on December 6, is dedicated to St. Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop known for his acts of generosity. He was known for giving away his wealth to those in need, inspiring the tradition of gift-giving on this day. Different parts of the world celebrate this day in unique ways. European children place shoes outside their doors on the night of December 5, hoping that St. Nicholas will fill them with gifts by morning. In the United States, the day is not as widely celebrated, but is often marked with gift-giving and festivities. The celebration of St. Nicholas Day and its practices have influenced modern Christmas traditions. The figure of Santa Claus as a jolly, gift-giving man is derived from the image of St. Nicholas. By understanding St. Nicholas Day, we can gain a deeper insight into the spirit of giving that is characteristic of the holiday season.
Question 1
Who was St. Nicholas?
A 4th-century bishop
A famous painter
A Roman emperor
A Greek philosopher
A British king
Question 2
What is the figure of Santa Claus derived from?
The image of St. Nicholas
A popular cartoon character
An ancient Greek god
A character from a Shakespeare play
The image of the Easter Bunny
Question 3
What tradition is associated with St. Nicholas Day?
Giving of gifts
Hiding of Easter eggs
Carving of pumpkins
Shooting of fireworks
Dying of eggs
Question 4
What do European children do on the night of December 5?
Place shoes outside their doors
Put stockings on the fireplace
Hang wreaths on their doors
Light candles in their windows
Bake cookies for Santa Claus
Question 5
What does the celebration of St. Nicholas Day provide?
A deeper insight into the spirit of giving that is characteristic of the holiday season
A chance to dress up in costumes
A break from school and work
An opportunity to go trick or treating
A day to spend at the beach
or share via
Assign the ReadTheory pretest to determine students' reading levels.
