The story of Santa Claus begins with Saint Nicholas.

Complete the paragraph with the past form of the given verbs
die, be, raise, inherit, assist, live, become, use
Saint Nicholas _________ in the 4th century. He __________ a priest at a very young age.
His parents __________ him to be a devout Christian. Unfortunately, they __________ in an
epidemic while Nicholas __________ still young. When he __________ his parent’s wealth,
he __________ it for charity. He __________ the sick, the needy, and the suffering.

Put the sentences in the correct order

______ This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts
from Saint Nicholas.
______ When Nicholas heard of his plight, he went secretly to the man’s home at night and threw three
bags of gold through the open window.
______ He had three daughters and no dowry to offer, so he could not find husbands for them.
______ The bags of gold are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry.
______ Becoming desperate, the man was ready to sell his own daughters for money.
______ A wealthy man in Nicholas’s parish had lost all of his money.

Complete the paragraph with the help of the definitions

Nicholas _______________ (1) his life to serving _______________ (2) and as a
young man he became _______________ (3) of Myra. Bishop Nicholas became
well-known for his _______________ (4) to those in need and his love for children.
While he was bishop of Myra, Christianity was forbidden. Soon Bishop Nicholas was thrown into
_______________ (5), chained and _______________ (6). He had to suffer for his _______________ (7).
The prisons were so full of priests and bishops there was no room for the real _______________ (8). Later
when Constantine came to power as an _______________(9) Nicholas was freed.
1. to give a lot of your time and effort to a purpose because you think it is important
2. the being or spirit that is worshipped and is believed to have created the universe
3. a senior priest in charge of the work of the Church in a city or district
4. willingness to give somebody money, gifts or kindness freely
5. a building where people are kept as a punishment for a crime
6. to hurt somebody in order to punish them or make them tell you something
7. strong religious belief
8. a person who commits a crime
9. the ruler of an empire

Complete the paragraph with the help of some given letters

Dur_____ the rest of his lifetime Sai_____ Nicholas performed many mira_____, hea_____ the sick
and helping pe_____ in dist_____. Saint Nich_____ died December 6, AD 343 in My_____ and was
bur_____ in his cath_____ church. The anniv_____ of his de_____ became a day of cele_____, St. Nicholas
Day, De_____ 6th.
Nicholas is known to ma_____ as Father Chr_____ because of his l_____ for chil_____ and his
gene_____ spirit.
 The story of Santa Claus begins with Saint Nicholas.

Saint Nicholas lived in the 4th century. He became a priest at a very young
age. His parents raised him to be a devout Christian. Unfortunately, they died in an
epidemic while Nicholas was still young. When he inherited his parent’s wealth, he
used it for charity. He assisted the sick, the needy, and the suffering.
A wealthy man in Nicholas’s parish had lost all of his money. He had three
daughters and no dowry to offer, so he could not find husbands for them. Becoming
desperate, the man was ready to sell his own daughters for money. When Nicholas heard of his plight, he
went secretly to the man’s home at night and threw three bags of gold through the open window. The bags
of gold are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of
children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas.
Nicholas dedicated his life to serving God and as a young man he became Bishop of Myra. Bishop
Nicholas became well-known for his generosity to those in need and his love for children. While he was
bishop of Myra, Christianity was forbidden. Soon Bishop Nicholas was thrown into prison, chained and
tortured. He had to suffer for his faith. The prisons were so full of priests and bishops there was no room for
the real criminals. Later when Constantine came to power as an emperor Nicholas was freed.
During the rest of his lifetime Saint Nicholas performed many miracles, healing the sick and helping
people in distress.
Saint Nicholas died December 6, AD 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church. The
anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, St. Nicholas Day, December 6th.
Nicholas is known to many as Father Christmas because of his love for children and his generous
spirit.