環(huán)球英語 1345 Babushka, a Christmas Legend
Thank you for joining us for today’s Spotlight. I’m Ruby Jones.
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And I’m Joshua Leo. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
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Do you remember the true Christmas story? Have you heard it before? Two thousand years ago, a very special baby was born. He was God - God became human. This baby was Jesus Christ. But God was not born to a King. He was born into a poor family. He knew the most difficult conditions and situations. And this was true right from birth!
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Jesus was born in the ancient city of Bethlehem, in the Middle East. And after he was born, a star appeared in the sky. One of the stories about Jesus’ birth is about this star. Wise men from very far away saw this star. They knew that it would lead them to a baby king. So the Wise men followed it. They travelled from far away to worship the baby Jesus and bring him gifts. The star stopped over the place where they found Jesus.
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These events are recorded in the Christian Bible. And it is a favourite story for Christians in many parts of the world. Many people even say that we give gifts at Christmas because of the gifts of the wise men. But in Russia, there is a legend about the wise men. Legends are stories that can not always be proved true. But these stories are still told as if they were true. This Russian legend does not come from the Bible. But it is also a favourite story there. Have you heard it?
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This Christmas story begins in the land that is now Southern Russia. It was the night when baby Jesus was born. It was winter. Snow covered the earth. Ice covered the tree branches. And the cold wind blew. An old woman called Babushka was alone in her home. She was happy that she had a fire. She could stay warm. She did not have to go out into the cold.
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Suddenly, there was a noise at her door. When she opened it, three old wise men entered her home. They were wearing the clothes of kings. They carried wealthy gifts. They said to her,
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“Babushka, we have travelled a far distance. We have stopped to tell you of the Christ-child who was born tonight in Bethlehem. He comes to rule the world. And he will teach all men and women to be loving and true. We bring Him gifts. Come with us, Babushka!”
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Babushka looked out at the cold night. She did not want to leave her warm room. So the three old men continued on alone in the cold winter night.
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But that night Babushka could not sleep. She kept thinking about what the old men told her. She kept thinking about the wonderful chance they offered - to see the baby Jesus. Finally, she decided that in the morning she would go to see the Christ-child. And she hoped that on her way, she would see the old men.
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In the morning, Babushka filled a container with gold balls, wood toys, and other play things for children. Then she put on her coat and went to see the Baby Jesus. But Babushka remembered something. She had not asked the three Wise men the way to Bethlehem. And now they had travelled so far during the night that she could not find them.
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Babushka decided to continue on. She hurried up and down many roads. And she asked every person she met, “I want to see the Christ-child. Where is he? I am bringing him beautiful play things.” But no one could tell her the way. Each person told her, “Continue on Babushka, keep going.”
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So Babushka kept travelling. She travelled for years and years. But she never found the child. In Europe, they say she is still travelling and looking for the Baby Jesus. And every year, on the night before Christmas, she comes into the towns carrying her container of play things. She enters each house when the children are sleeping. She holds a light close to the little children’s faces. She says, “Is he here? Is the baby Jesus here?” Then she shakes her head sadly. But she leaves a play thing from her container next to each sleeping child. Then Babushka continues on her way.
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Christmas legends are special. These stories are often shared by many generations of people. Some times the details change. But the legends are told every year at Christmas time. These Christmas legends become shared experiences. People who are young and old enjoy the excitement and mystery of these stories.
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Often, these Christmas legends explain how a particular tradition began. The story of Babushka explains how presents appear while children sleep. Many cultures or countries have different legends that explain the mystery of surprise gifts. Some times these stories share the same characters. But often each culture tells a similar story with a different character. For example, Italy has a legend that is similar to the legend of Babushka. But this story has a different ending. It is the legend of La Befana.
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La Befana was an old woman who lived alone. She loved to cook and clean. On the twelfth night of Christmas three wise men came to her door. They were looking for the Christ-child. But they did not know where to find him. La Befana did not know the way either. Before the wise men left, they invited her to join them on their search. But La Befana said no. She had cleaning to finish! So the wise men continued travelling, alone.
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After the three Wise men left, La Befana began thinking. She did want to see the baby! She had made a mistake! So La Befana gathered treats and gifts for the child. Then she ran to find the Wise men. After searching for many hours, La Befana was not able to find the wise men. She also could not find the baby Jesus.
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So La Befana gave a gift to every child she met. She hoped that one of these children would be the Christ-child. Every year on the twelfth night of Christmas, La Befana goes looking for baby Jesus. She stops at every child’s house while he sleeps. She leaves treats for good children and black coal for bad children.
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Christmas is one of the few holidays celebrated around the world. And fun legends like Babushka and La Befana provide simple ways to share culture. They also help pass traditions from one age group to another in interesting ways. Everyone can enjoy the excitement and mystery of Christmas together.
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Christians and many other people will celebrate Christmas next week. They will celebrate with gifts and stories. What legends or stories do you tell at Christmas? What parts of your culture are shared through your stories? e-mail us at radio @ English . net.
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The writer and producer of today’s Spotlight program was Courtney Schutt. The voices you heard were from the United States and the United Kingdom. This program is called “Babushka, A Christmas Legend.”
