Christmas Story: Once upon a time in the far north

Рождественская история про маленького олененка, который хотел найти себе друзей. Язык истории подойдет изучающим английский на среднем уровне и выше. История пусть и детская, но создает теплую предпраздничную атмосферу как детям, так и взрослым.

Once upon a time in the far north

Once upon a time in the far north, far beyond the Arctic Circle, where a day lasted for months and a night lasted even longer, there lived a little white reindeer named Freddy. Freddy was as white as the endless snowfields around him, where he loved to gallop faster than the wind, and his life was free of worries. The only thing that saddened Freddy was that he had no one to talk to or play with.

One night, while he was out roaming, he heard a strange sound high above him. He looked up and saw a sleigh being pulled through the night sky by beautiful and mighty reindeer. Freddy wondered who they could be and how they learned to fly, like birds, but without wings. The little reindeer made up his mind and stamped his hooves with determination.
“I have to find them,” Freddy said to himself, since, as usual, there was no one around.
“Maybe they’ll teach me to fly and become my friends.”
And so he set out, though he had no idea where to find the sleigh and the reindeer. He walked and searched, asking rare and random rabbits, foxes, and owls along the way about the sleigh and where to find the reindeer, but no one could help him. And then, when he was so exhausted and devastated that he was ready to give up, he saw iridescent lights in the distance. A spark of hope was kindled in his heart, and he sped up.
Soon he came to a village with a maze of colorful houses decorated with garland lights and tinsel. He walked forward, greeting the funny little people in green hats he met along the way because he was a well-behaved reindeer, and the little people greeted him by raising their hats and bowing their heads in return. Freddy smelled the heavenly scent of gingerbread. He had eaten nothing but moss and shrubs before, so he savored the sweetness in the air and blinked with delight. Then Freddy noticed a herd of reindeer. He was sure they were the same ones he had seen in the night sky many days, weeks, or even months ago.
Freddy followed them as they entered the stables full of dried hay, sweet carrots, and juicy apples. He would like to live here, it was a dream come true after the endless whiteness of the place where he used to live. The little reindeer gasped, and others noticed him.
“Who are you and what are you doing here?” One of the reindeer asked Freddy.
“I lived in a very lonely place, but one night I saw you in the sky and I wanted to join you,” Freddy replied.
The reindeer looked down at him.
“Go back the way you came. There is no place for you here. “
Freddy was very sad. He hung his head and was on his way out of the stable when a voice boomed behind Freddy.
“Ho, ho, ho!” The little reindeer turned to see a chubby man in a red suit with a white beard. He was much taller than the others, and his eyes sparkled with mischief.
“I’ve never seen you before, little one.” The man wondered. “Who are you and why are you so sad?”
Freddy told the kind man his story. The man was lost in thought as Freddy finished, humming with a deep frown on his forehead.
“You are too small to pull my sleigh, yes,” he finally admitted.
“But it was very rude of my reindeer to say such naughty things to you, and I’ll make sure it never happens again. There’s a place for everyone in Santa’s Village. You can stay here, little Freddy, and help my elves. There is always work to be done in the village. “
Since then, Freddy has never been alone. He lived in stables with other reindeer, and never again was he teased or abused, just as Santa had promised. In time, the other reindeer even grew fond of Freddy and sometimes took him for a walk, but Freddy had so many chores to do that he never had time to be bored. He was a very hardworking reindeer and helped the elves as much as he could, and in return they fed him gingerbread with milk. He was very happy to finally have a warm home and caring friends.

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Simple Discussion Questions

Here are simplified discussion questions suitable for lower English levels, along with possible answers.

1. Who is Freddy? What kind of animal is he, and what does he look like?
2. Why is Freddy sad at the beginning of the story? What does he want?
3. What does Freddy see in the sky? Who does he want to meet?
4. What does Freddy do to find the flying reindeer? How does he try to find them?
5. What happens when Freddy meets the other reindeer? How do they treat him?
6. Who helps Freddy in the village? What does this person say to Freddy?
7. How does Freddy feel when he finds Santa’s Village? What does he think about the village?
8. What work does Freddy do in Santa’s Village? How does he help the elves?
9. How do the other reindeer change their behavior towards Freddy? Do they become nicer to him?
10. What can we learn from Freddy’s story? What is an important lesson about friendship?

Advanced discussion

Here are some advanced discussion questions based on the text “Once Upon a Time in the Far North”:

1. Character Analysis: How does Freddy’s character evolve throughout the story? What are some key moments that contribute to his growth?
2. Themes of Loneliness and Friendship: What role does loneliness play in Freddy’s initial motivation to seek out the flying reindeer? How does the theme of friendship manifest in the story?
3. Symbolism of the North: What does the setting of the far north symbolize in Freddy’s journey? How does the environment reflect his emotional state at different points in the story?
4. Conflict and Resolution: What are the main conflicts Freddy faces in the story? How are these conflicts resolved, and what does this resolution teach us about acceptance and belonging?
5. Role of Santa: How does Santa’s character influence the outcome of the story? What does his response to Freddy reveal about his values and leadership style?
6. Imagery and Descriptive Language: How does the author use imagery to create a vivid picture of the setting and characters? Can you identify specific examples that stood out to you?
7. Moral Lessons: What moral lessons can be drawn from Freddy’s experience? How might these lessons apply to real-life situations regarding acceptance and kindness?
8. Friendship Dynamics: How do the other reindeer initially treat Freddy, and how does this change over time? What factors contribute to this change in their behavior?
9. Cultural Elements: What cultural elements are present in the story, particularly regarding the depiction of Santa and his village? How do these elements enhance the narrative?
10. Personal Reflection: Have you ever felt like Freddy, longing for friendship or belonging? How did you navigate those feelings, and what did you learn from the experience?

These questions can help facilitate a deeper understanding of the text and encourage thoughtful discussion among readers.