Hopefully St. Nicholas Doesn't Get Shot So He Can Share Christmas Joy
Children in Ukraine hope that Christmas present carriers will not be hit by artillery fire. Families in the US are likely to be flooded during Christmas. Whatever the circumstances, Christmas cheer is always sought.
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The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Semoga St Nicholas Tidak Tertembak agar Bisa Berbagi Keceriaan Natal
Christmas decorations at Kyiv Central Station, Ukraine, on December 21, 2023. Ukraine has been celebrating Christmas amidst Russia's invasion for two years now.
For most people, Christmas will arrive in a few hours. From war zones to peaceful cities, children are anticipating Christmas joy in their own way. Meanwhile, visitors anxiously hope for the possibility of travel without disruption.
On Saturday (23/12/2023), the United States media, CNN, cited a letter from some Ukrainian children to St. Nicholas. In some parts of Eastern Europe, instead of Santa Claus, children know St. Nicholas as a figure who distributes Christmas gifts. The letters were collected by UNICEF.
The quoted letter comes from Tymofii (6), who is currently seeking refuge in Munich, Germany. The war has prevented him from being with his grandfather in Nova Khakova, which is located in eastern Kherson, Ukraine.
Also read Pile of ”Letters to Santa Claus” at the Swedish Post Office since 1890
In his letter, he hoped that St. Nicholas would bring peace, family, Ukraine, father, and God. His letter reflects the things that have been missing from his life for the past 1.5 years.
While 12-year-old Katya uses ChatGPT to formulate this year's wishes, the child living in Kyiv acknowledges the fact that Ukraine is routinely attacked by Russia. In order to counter such attacks, Ukraine regularly fires its anti-air defense artillery.
Therefore, in his letter, he hopes that St. Nicholas will not be shot by the Ukrainian arhanud. If he is shot, St. Nicholas will not be able to distribute Christmas gifts for the children.
Visiting traditions
Meanwhile, the President of the United States, Joe Biden, and the First Lady of the United States, Jill Biden, continued a tradition dating back to the era of President Harry Truman. On Friday (22/12/2023), Biden visited the National Children's Hospital in Washington DC.
US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden visited the National Children's Hospital on Friday (22/12/2023), in Washington DC. The visit is part of the Christmas tradition for First Ladies of the United States.
The employees, patients, and families were both surprised and happy with the visit. "This visit is truly meaningful for our patients and their parents," said the President Director of the National Children's Hospital, Michelle Riley-Brown.
Actually, since Bess Truman, hospital visits have been done by the First Lady. Biden changed that since becoming president. He always accompanies Jill when she visits hospitals before Christmas. "We are grateful that President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden continue this tradition during this holiday season," said Riley-Brown.
yang mengunjungi gedung putih bersama keluarganya dalam Kunjungan National Cancer Survivors Day. Biden berbicara dengan penuh semangat dengan Arunkumar dan keluarganya, menekankan pentingnya dukungan keluarga dalam melalui masa pemulihan dari kanker. Jill Biden juga ikut terlibat dalam pembicaraan dan membantu merangsang semangat dan harapan pada Arunkumar. Kunjungan ini menunjukkan perhatian dan dukungan Biden terhadap pasien kanker dan keluarga mereka.
Also read: Everything is Simple in Many Countries to Celebrate Christmas
Just like the 2021-2022 visits to other hospitals, this visit also included, among other things, sessions where Jill read stories to children. Patients and their families gathered to listen to Jill, who continues to teach at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) despite her husband becoming vice president and now president.
Biden also joined in listening to Jill read a story. At the National Hospital for Children, Jill read the story "Twas the Night Before Christmas" written by Clement Clark Moore.
After the storytelling session, Biden and his wife talked with the hospital staff. Biden thanked the staff for their efforts in treating patients and keeping their spirits and their families' spirits up. "Perhaps next Christmas, I will meet you at the White House," Biden told the children.
The First Lady of the United States, Jill Biden, read a story during a visit to the National Children's Hospital on Friday (22/12/2023) in Washington DC. The visit was part of the Christmas tradition for the First Ladies of the US.
Biden and his family are scheduled to celebrate Christmas at Camp David. The location is one of the places where US Presidents often rest.
Travel
Many US citizens also choose not to be at home during Christmas. Others try to visit homes located in different cities from where they work.
The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recorded that 2.6 million people flew from US airports on Thursday and Friday. The number is expected to surge on Saturday.
Also read: Bad Weather Can Destroy Vacation Plans
Atlanta resident, Robert Lake, was one of the passengers who experienced airport congestion early on Friday morning. "I arrived at the departure gate a few minutes before the flight took off. And I left home hours before," he said.
He chose an early morning flight hoping that there would be fewer passengers. However, it took him more than three hours to report to the airline counter before he was finally able to board the plane. This was because the passengers were still crowded. "I almost missed the flight," said the man who was heading to Florida.
Amidst the surge, 70 flights were forced to be cancelled and 3,480 others were delayed.
The TSA, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), airport management, and airlines have recruited thousands of additional personnel to prevent flight disruptions. However, there are still some flights that are delayed or even cancelled for various reasons.
One part of Charleston, a city in South Carolina, United States, was flooded on Sunday (18/12/2023). Instead of snow, some parts of the US became slushy and inundated due to heavy rain.
US residents go on vacation for various reasons. What is clear is that one reason they won't get is a snowy Christmas. "Some people may get their dream at the last minute, a snowy Christmas," said Judah Cohen, Director of Verisk Atmospheric and Environmental Research.
The leaders of the weather research institution stated that it is unlikely for snow to fall in most parts of the US this weekend. Various regions in the US actually have a greater chance of being wet and flooded due to heavy rain.
The US Weather Monitoring Agency also shares Cohen's opinion. The difference is that NSW offers relief. "At least there is a small chance that weather could disrupt flights and travel," said the US NSW statement.
The institution suggests snow enthusiasts to come to Alaska if they still want to enjoy a White Christmas. This year, the thickness of snow in some parts of Alaska could reach 70 centimeters. (AFP/REUTERS/AP)
US First Lady Jill Biden accompanied President Joe Biden as they read the Christmas story "Twas the Night Before Christmas" at the National Children's Hospital in Washington on Friday, December 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Three days before Christmas, the President of the United States (US) and First Lady Jill Biden visited the national children's hospital. They wanted to share the Christmas spirit with parents of patients, child patients, and hospital staff.
Visit to the National Children's Hospital in Washington took place on Friday (22/12/2023). Biden's visit, which began in 2021, was a surprise to the staff, parents, and patients at the hospital. Visiting children's hospitals before Christmas is a tradition that has been going on for more than 75 years.
Initially, that tradition was initiated by First Lady Bess Truman, wife of former President Harry Truman from 1945 - 1953. At the time, Bess Truman visited children who were being treated for polio. She shared the joy of Christmas with the young patients so they could feel as if they were at home.
Also Read: Back to Childhood in the White House
Furthermore, the tradition was continued by subsequent US first ladies. However, citing from Spectrum News NY1 edition on December 23rd, 2022, since becoming the US President in 2021, Biden, together with First Lady Jill Biden, has also visited pediatric patients and hospital staff.
During their visit in 2022, the Director of the National Children's Hospital at the time, Dr. Kurt Newman, revealed that President Biden was a surprise guest during their 2021 visit. "At the end of the visit, I asked President Biden to start a new tradition. He agreed. Thank you," Newman said at the time.
The tradition is happening again this year. "This visit is very meaningful for our patients and their parents," said Michelle Riley-Brown, CEO of the National Children's Hospital.
"We are grateful that President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are continuing the tradition during this holiday season," said Riley-Brown.
Sumukh Arunkumar, 10, stood next to President Joe Biden as he spoke after First Lady Jill Biden finished reading the Christmas story "Twas the Night Before Christmas" to patients at the National Children's Hospital in Washington on Friday (22/12/2023). (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
In the official statement from the hospital, a 10-year-old myeloid leukemia patient named Samukh Arunkumar welcomed the arrival of Joe Biden and Jill Biden.
Just like her previous visits, the visit was marked by Jill Biden's agenda of reading Christmas stories. Children patients and their families gathered near the Christmas tree to listen to her.
During this year's visit, Jill Biden read a Christmas story titled "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clark Moore. Meanwhile, President Biden, who was sitting next to Jill Biden, waved and smiled to the children and their families.
Also Read: Simple things in many countries to celebrate Christmas
After the story reading, President Biden thanked the hospital staff for their hard work. He also praised the efforts of the staff in instilling hope in pediatric patients and their parents to "maintain faith."
"Next Christmas, I may meet you at the White House," said Biden to the children.
President Joe Biden spoke after First Lady Jill Biden finished reading the Christmas story "Twas the Night Before Christmas" to pediatric patients at the National Children's Hospital in Washington on Friday (22/12/2023).
After visiting a hospital on Saturday, President Joe Biden and his family are scheduled to travel to David Camp, Maryland, the retreat for US presidents, to celebrate Christmas. (AP)
