Chapter- 4.6      Papa Panov’s Special Christmas


1. When does the story begin?

Answer: The story begins on Christmas Eve. It was still afternoon, but the short winter day was almost over, and people in the village were already preparing to celebrate Christmas.

2. What kind of village was it?

Answer: It was a small Russian village where people lived simple lives. The houses and shops were close together, and the villagers were busy preparing for the Christmas celebration.

3. Why were lights appearing in the shops and houses?

Answer: Lights were appearing in the shops and houses because the villagers were getting ready to celebrate Christmas. Since winter days were short, people lit lamps and candles early in the evening.

4. What was the winter day like?

Answer: The winter day was very short. Although it was still afternoon, darkness was already approaching because winter days end quickly.

5. What were the children doing?

Answer: The children were very excited about Christmas. They ran quickly indoors to their homes, probably to enjoy the celebrations with their families.

6. What sounds came from the closed shutters?

Answer: Soft and muffled sounds of chatter and laughter came from inside the houses. These sounds showed that families were happily talking and celebrating together.

7. Who was Papa Panov?

Answer: Papa Panov was an old shoemaker who lived in the village. He owned a small shop where he made and repaired shoes for the villagers.

8. Where was he standing?

Answer: Papa Panov was standing outside his shop. He had stepped outside to look around the village before closing his shop for the day.

9. Why did he step outside?

Answer: He stepped outside to take one last look around the village and enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas preparations.

10. What reminded him of past Christmas times?

Answer: The sounds of happiness, the bright lights in the houses, and the delicious smells of Christmas cooking reminded him of the Christmas celebrations he had enjoyed in the past with his family.

11. Who used to be with him during past Christmases?

Answer: In the past, his wife and his little children used to celebrate Christmas with him. They spent happy times together during the festival.

12. Where were his wife and children now?

Answer: His wife had passed away, and his children had grown up and gone away to live their own lives. So Papa Panov was now living alone.

13. What was Papa Panov’s face usually like?

Answer: Papa Panov’s face was usually cheerful and friendly. He often smiled, which showed that he was normally a happy and kind person.

14. What was near his eyes?

Answer: There were laughter wrinkles near his eyes. These wrinkles showed that he had smiled and laughed many times in his life.

15. How did his face look at that moment?

Answer: At that moment, his face looked sad because he was remembering his wife and children who were no longer with him.

16. What did he do when he went back inside?

Answer: When he went back inside his shop, he closed the shutters to shut out the cold evening air.

17. What did he put on the stove?

Answer: He placed a pot of coffee on the charcoal stove so that he could have a warm drink on the cold winter evening.

18. Where did he sit afterwards?

Answer: After preparing the coffee, he sat down comfortably in his big armchair to rest.

19. What did Papa Panov not do often?

Answer: Papa Panov did not read very often. Reading was not something he usually spent much time doing.

20. What did he read that night?

Answer: On that special night, he took down the big old family Bible and began to read it.

21. How did he read the Bible?

Answer: He read the Bible slowly and carefully, tracing each line with one finger to help him follow the words.

22. What story did he read?

Answer: He read the story of Christmas, which tells about the birth of baby Jesus.

23. Where were Mary and Joseph going?

Answer: Mary and Joseph were traveling to the town of Bethlehem.

24. Why were they tired?

Answer: They were tired because they had traveled a long distance to reach Bethlehem.

25. Why could they not stay at the inn?

Answer: They could not stay at the inn because it was already full and there was no room left for them.

26. Where was the baby born?

Answer: The baby Jesus was born in a cowshed because there was no place for them to stay in the inn.

27. What did Papa Panov say after reading this?

Answer: Papa Panov felt very sorry for Mary and Joseph and said that if they had come to his house, he would have welcomed them and helped them.

28. What would he have given Mary and Joseph?

Answer: He said that he would have given them his own bed so that they could rest comfortably.

29. What would he have used to keep the baby warm?

Answer: He said he would have covered the baby with his patchwork quilt to keep the baby warm on the cold night.

30. What did he read about afterwards?

Answer: After that, he read about the wise men who came from far away to visit baby Jesus and brought him beautiful and valuable gifts.

Answer by Dimpee Bora