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Now, the
Special English program "Words and Their Stories". |
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Our
expression today is "Santa Claus". Santa Claus is someone who will
remain in the hearts of children forever. He is the make-believe
person who brings toys and other gifts to children at Christmas. To grown-ups,
he is a special symbol of goodwill and selfless giving. Santa
Claus also has some other names: Saint Nicholas, St. Nick, Kris
Kringle, Pelznickel. |
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will remain: permanecerá; forever: para siempre; make-believe: ficticio, imaginario; toys: juguetes; gifts: regalos; to grown-ups: para los adultos; goodwill: buena voluntad; selfless giving: entrega desinteresada; also: asimismo; |
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Two of his
names – Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas – both come from the
Dutch who settled in New York long ago. The Dutch believed Saint
Nikolas gave gifts to children. They honored this kindly saint
with a yearly festival on December sixth. |
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both come from: ambos provienen de; the Dutch: los holandeses; settled: se instalaron, se afincaron; long ago: hace mucho tiempo; honored: homenajeaban; kindly saint: santo bondadoso; yearly festival: celebración anual; |
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The
English-speaking people who lived nearby greatly enjoyed Dutch
festivals. And they brought the saint and the custom of giving
gifts into their own celebration at Christmas time. The Dutch
spoke the name "Saint Nikolaas" very fast. It sounded like "sinterklaas."
And so, when the English said this word, it sounded like "Santa
Claus". |
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who lived nearby: que vivía en las cercanías; greatly enjoyed: disfrutaban enormemente; brought: trajeron [bring / brought / brought / bringing ]; custom: costumbre; into their own: en su propia; the Durch spoke: los holandeses pronunciaban; very fast: muy rápido; it sounded like: sonaba como; |
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West of
New York, in Pennsylvania, many German farmers had also heard of
Saint Nikolas. But they called him Pelznickel. This word came
from "pelz," meaning fur, and "nickel" for Nicholas. And so, to
the Germans of Pennsylvania, Saint Nicholas or Pelznickel was a
man dressed in fur who came once a year with gifts for good
children. |
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west of: al oeste de; German farmers: granjeros alemanes; fur: piel; dressed in fur: vestido con pieles; who came: que venía; once a year: una vez por año; |
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Soon,
people began to feel that the love and kindness Pelznickel
brought should be part of a celebration honoring the Christkindl,
as the Germans called the Christ child. After a time, this
became Kris Kringle. Later, Kris Kringle became another name for
Santa Claus himself. Whatever
he is called, he is still the same short, fat, jolly old man
with a long beard, wearing a red suit with white fur. |
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kindness: amabilidad, buen corazón; should be part of: debería formar parte de; celebration honoring: celebración en honor de; Christ Child: Niño Jesús; after a time: más adelante; this became: éste [el apodo] se convirtió en; for Santa Claus himself: para el mismo Santa Claus; whatever he is called: como sea que se lo llame; he is still: él sigue siendo; the same: el mismo; short, fat, jolly old man: anciano bajo, obeso, jovial; with a long beard: de barba larga; red suit: traje rojo; |
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The
picture of Santa Claus as we see him
(check it up above) came from Thomas Nast. He
was an American painter born in Bavaria. He painted pictures for
Christmas poems. Someone asked him to paint a picture of Santa
Claus. Nast remembered when he was a little boy in southern
Germany. Every Christmas, a fat old man gave toys and cakes to
the children. |
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as we see him: como lo observamos (ver la imagen de arriba); came from: provino de; born in: nacido en; in southern Germany: al sur de Alemania; |
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So, when Nast painted the picture, his Santa Claus
looked like the kindly old man of his childhood. And
through the years, Nast's painting has remained as the most
popular picture of Santa Claus. |
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looked like: se parecía a; kindly old man: anciano bondadoso; of his childhood: de su niñez; through the years: a través de los años; painting: cuadro; has remained: se ha mantenido; as the most popular picture: como la imagen más conocida; |
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Santa can
be seen almost everywhere in large American cities during the
Christmas season. Some stand on street corners asking for money
to buy food and gifts for the needy. Others are found in stores
and shopping centers. It is easy to find them by the long lines
of children waiting to tell Santa what they want for Christmas.
If one took a vote among children to learn who their favorite
person was, there is no question who would win – Santa Claus. |
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almost everywhere: casi en todas partes; in large: en las grandes; Christmas season: temporada navideña; some stand: algunos se paran; on street corners: en las esquinas; asking for: pidiendo; for the needy: para los necesitados; others are found: a otros se los encuentra; by the long lines: cerca de las largas filas (colas); waiting to tell: esperando decirle a; what they want: lo que desean; if one took a vote: si emitiéramos un voto; among children: entre los niños; to learn who: para saber quién; their favorite person was: es su persona favorita; there is no question: no cabe duda; who would win: quien saldría ganador.
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This VOA
Special English program "Words and Their Stories" was written by
Marlilyn Christiano. I'm Bob Doughty. |
