By Yiwei（黄一为） from 2302
“Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.”
Most of you have probably already guessed the topic of my speech today. Yes, it's about Christmas. Hi, I'm Yiwei from 2302.
Christmas originated from the story of Mary, who had a dream about an angel telling her that she would give birth to a child in her womb. This child would be the son of God, and yes, he is Jesus. What happened was exactly what the angel taught, and this is the essence of the Christmas story, in short.
During Christmas, many interesting customs emerge, such as hanging stockings on the chimney, exchanging gifts, and decorating Christmas trees with various ornaments. The stories behind these customs are also intriguing. It is said that Nicholas, a bishop in the third century, was a kind man who secretly threw bags of gold coins into the windows of the poor. These coins landed in the shoes and socks that were drying by the fireplace. His positive Christmas message spread throughout Europe, giving rise to the custom of exchanging gifts.
The idea that St. Nick rides reindeer originated from Norway, where they realized that there were no white horses, but plenty of reindeer. As for decorating the Christmas tree, that tradition comes from Germany. A man named Martin was the first to hang candles in the branches of an evergreen tree in his house. When these customs reached the United States, they were combined to form the Christmas celebrations we see today.
From these various tales and classic stories like “A Christmas Carol”,we can discover the true meaning of this festival: warmth, generosity, and inclusivity. Christmas Day is celebrated as a major festival and public holiday in countries around the world, including non-Christian countries. As international school students, it is meaningful for us to know the history and traditions of this foreign festival and gain insights into the western culture.
That’s the end of my speech today. Thank you all!
