So my friend has asked me to write to you… I have to confess it’s been hard to know what to say. Mainly because like most adults I feel preposterous asking anything of you because our time with you is surely done. Now we get our own presents, control our own fates, take responsibility for our own actions, and live in the world we have created… so it’s not for us to turn around and plead for your help with the environment, the migrant crisis, the NHS, education, food banks, human rights, fundamentalism and wars. Though God knows we need all the help we can get with all these man-made problems and more.

And it’s not that you aren’t compassionate and full of joy. You’re great. In spite of you being changed into different colours for corporations and being bastardised to represent materialism gone mad – despite probably originating in some season based pagan druid ritual a million thought miles from requests for spontaneously combusting hoverboards… Kidadults cynically pointing this out after having their moment of belief in you are wasting everyone’s precious time. Because you are not for them. You are for the children. Children who need some magic in a world where the borders between innocence and responsibility, playful imagination and cold, adult obstacles are continually shrinking.

This is what I’d like to ask you to help with. A little more time for children to be children. Stretch the moment of magic and playfulness. Distract them from the realities of a world gone mad so that they can laugh with their breath rather than sob with their tears. Especially those caring for family members, or suffering illness, hunger or poverty. Especially those hiding in buildings as bombs rain down, or being handed shaking with fear or cold into a boat to escape environmental disaster or war. Please help to light up their worlds with a moment of joy and hope.

When I think about it you’ve got it tough this year… And when I really think about it I’m not sure that asking you for a lightsaber and getting one (not that I ever did by the way) is equatable with controlling the space time continuum and making the good of childhood last a little longer.

But you do inspire wonder and awe amongst those that write you letters and go to sleep hoping there might be a new object in their possession come dawn. You inspire good behaviour and, at least in my memory, some desperate last minute attempts to redeem bad behaviour so as not to be overlooked. Spare a thought too for those millions who want to write to you but through illiteracy can’t. Hear their words and help to give them the time and chance to learn how to read and write so they can better their lives and escape their impoverished beginnings.

I feel a little sorry for you. And I guess I’ve done exactly what I said I wouldn’t… Asked you to help with adult problems and solve some of the greatest worries we have for our children. I promise to leave some extra port and mince pies for you!

Lots of love

Benedict x

P.S. Please could I have that lightsaber now?

source: Huffington Post

Father Christmas has different names in different countries. Can you match the names with the countries?

Key

1. c.

2. a.

3. e.

4. b.

5. d.

6. g.

7. f.

An Instagram hashtag is allowing parents around the world to share their children’s weird and wonderful letters to Santa, with requests including everything from ‘two packs of gum’ to ‘a princess castle’.

The festive tag #lettertosanta also showcases a number of notes from kindhearted youngsters whose only wish this holiday season is for those less fortunate than them to receive something nice from Santa.

‘Finally I have been waiting for Christmas to come all year,’ one young girl called Maddy wrote in her letter. ‘I hope that the poor people will be safe.’ She later asks Santa to send her ‘a maths book with problem solving’.

One young boy called Christian, who clearly has incredibly expensive taste, lists a variety of ornate jewels and precious gems on his list, before asking Santa Claus to help make his sister feel better. I want crystals and diamonds and a big gold ring with red rubies and a big blue crystal and a big bit of gold. ‘This is what [I want for] Christmas,’ he writes. ‘Crystals and diamonds and a gold ring with red rubies and a big blue crystal and a big bit of gold and blue rubies. And I hope my sister gets better. And an electric guitar and a saxophone. Love from Christian.’

In an adorable letter to Father Christmas, one youngster asks that he find a friend for his stuffed animal Terry.

‘What I would like most for Christmas is a friend for my stuffed animal called Terry who’s a penguin,’ the letter explains. ‘Because Terry feels a bit lonely. He would like a friend who looked similar to him.’

Others are much more specific about what they would like to find under the Christmas tree this year, with one young girl requesting nothing other than ‘new bows’ in her letter.

‘Dear Saint Nick, hello!’ she writes. ‘I hope you have the most excellent Christmas. This year, I need some more bows. First of all, some of my bows don’t even match my clothes. That is a big deal to me. I had bows since I was a baby. I believe I need some more bows.’

Another eager letter writer has made Santa’s job even easier, listing just one simple item on his Christmas list: a magazine. Other children are happy to give old Saint Nick the chance to be a bit creative with his gift giving, asking him to choose something that he thinks they might like.

‘St Nicholas (Santa),’ young Bianca writes. ‘I want to wish you a Merry Christmas… May I have two packs of gum and other sorts of stuff.’ She signs off at the end of the letter: ‘Love you silly boy.’

Then there are the children whose letter come with very strict instructions about how Santa should deliver their gifts – and there are even those who include warnings about what will happen to him should he fail to get them what they ask for. One child explains: ‘Dear Santa Claus, I have a stocking. It is new. If you bring a lot of stuff, use the big stocking. If you bring not so much, use the little one.’

Rather surprisingly, a number of the letters featured don’t include any requests at all – but rather include lovely stories and anecdotes which the authors wanted to share with Santa in order to brighten up his holiday – or in some cases to explain away any bad behavior which might land them on the naughty list.

Young Mia wants nothing more than to ensure anyone without food is given some at Christmas Another child adds: ‘Dear Santa Claus, how are your reindeer? How are you feeling? I have been very good this year. Sometimes my brother and I fight but we love each other!’

source: Daily Mail

Can you give the English equivalent of the following words?

1. Mikulás

2. rénszarvas

3. Északi-sark

4. karácsonyfa

5. karácsonyi (ajándék) lista

6. harisnya

7. Boldog karácsonyt!

Key

1. Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Nick, St Nicholas

2. reindeer

3. North Pole

4. Christmas tree

5. Christmas list

6. stocking

7. Merry Christmas.