HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-12-14, Page 7THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2017. PAGE 7.
The history of hanging stockings
Rocking to Christmas tunes
Hullett Central Public School's Christmas concert was
scheduled for Wednesday night, but The Citizen got a
sneak peak on Monday. Above, Lucia Dale and Rylan
Brown groove to some Christmas tunes. (Dennyscottphoto)
Did you ever wonder where the
tradition of hanging stockings on
Christmas Eve came from? There
are many legends behind the
practice.
One story tells of how a nobleman
lost everything when his wife died.
He and his three daughters were
forced to live quite poorly in a small
cottage. They had lost all hope of a
better life. The story goes that one
evening after washing their clothes,
the girls hung their stockings on the
fireplace to dry overnight. Passing
by the cottage during the night and
seeing the stockings Saint Nicholas
was inspired to give them a little
anonymous help. Somehow he
managed to get three bags of gold
down the chimney and into the
stockings where they were found
next morning by the daughters.
Naturally, the family lived a much
better life thanks to Saint Nicholas.
There are as many variations of
the stockings as there are cultures.
Other traditions involve boxes,
shoes, clogs and containers filled
with food, treats or gifts during the
Christmas season. Many traditions
also include leaving treats for
someone else as well — Santa's
reindeer, camels, for example.
And although the reasons for
hanging Christmas stockings may
still be vague they add a beautiful
festive touch to the season.
It occurs to me that as we and
various groups give of ourselves to
fill boxes and stockings for the less
fortunate at this time of year we are
following in the footsteps of Saint
Nicholas. Like the nobleman and his
daughters, we may be making a
significant anonymous impact on
someone else's life.
By the time you are reading this,
Bruce Bergsma will be halfway
through a round of radiation
treatments driving to London each
week day. And, to complicate life for
them, at the same time, Marie has
had cataracts removed from both
eyes. Please keep them in your
thoughts and offer a supporting
word or two.
It seems to me that there are a
United Church faces financial uncertainty
On the second Sunday of Advent,
Rev. Fletcher lit the candle of peace
at Londesborough United Church.
Appropriately the senior choir sang
the anthem, "Light the Advent
Candles".
During the children's time, Rev.
Fletcher drew their attention to the
morning's order of service. On the
front of the pamphlet was a picture
of the angel telling the news of
Christ's birth to the shepherds. He
questioned the children as to whom
they might run if they had good or
important news to tell. They might
consider their parents, the prime
minister, the police or the media. But
the angel told the news to very
ordinary folk because their news
was meant for the ordinary people of
all the ages.
Rev. Fletcher reminded the
children that Jesus was born for each
of them and for each of us. Rev.
Fletcher also told the boys and girls
to share the news to people they
meet and be a fitting friend for
Christ.
"Born for Us" was the title of Rev.
Fletcher's message to the adults. His
supporting scriptures were Isaiah 9:
6-7; Luke 2: 8-14 and the responsive
psalm was Psalm 46.
On Christmas Day, the angels
sang about `peace'. Since then the
world has never been truly at peace.
Is peace, in the context of war, even
possible? Rev. Fletcher went on to
explain that, of course, the Bible as
we read it is a translation and as such
the meanings of the words or
phrases can be misread and the
meanings skewed.
The peace of the story of the birth
actually means peace of mind for the
road to salvation has come. Christ, in
the form of a child, is the road to
salvation.
Unlike dead-end roads, the road to
salvation is meant to be travelled by
all who have heard the Christmas
story. The birth, as the angels told
the shepherds, meant new life to
earth, peace of mind and salvation.
The birth is proof that God cares
about all of US. Christians need to
help redeem our times and share our
lives and the story of Christmas so
others can travel the road to
salvation.
In spite of the 'good news' of
Christmas, the official board of
Londesborough United Church finds
itself in financial straits and has
published a letter outlining the
situation for all its members. They
ask that you give thought to the letter
before year's end. All offerings from
the Christmas Eve service will be
designated for the current account
unless otherwise noted on the
envelope.
significant number of homes in the
village with dogs. I know these
families need to walk their dogs at
various times of the day or evening.
I would like to encourage all of them
to remember to wear light clothing
or some item with reflective tape for
safety's sake — both for the walker
and drivers.
Last week's Clinton News -Record
contained a letter to the editor
informing area folk of the "Open
House Coffee Tree Social" at the
Huron County Residential Hospice.
The community is invited to attend
and have a look around the facility.
It is, of course, a fundraiser. To
attend they ask for a $10 donation.
Unfortunately no date was included
in the letter. Daryl Ball tells me the
event is happening every Tuesday
evening until Christmas from 5-7
p.m. You will still be able to drop by
on Dec. 19.
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A singing snowflake
The older Primary students tackled the tale of Slurt - that
brown mess of snow, slush and dirt that accumulates on
the side of the road after snow plows go by, in their part of
the Hullett Central Public School Christmas concert. Above,
Lillian Oakes croons a tune about how individual and
unique snowflakes really are. (Denny Scott photo)
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