HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-12-21, Page 32PAGE 32. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1988.
Christmas names explained
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There are many names which
signify the Christmas season.
“Noel” is the French word for
Christmas, with Father Christmas
called, in France, “Pere Noel,” and
the traditional Yule log-shaped
cake, a French creation, known as
the “Buche de Noel.” Noel is related
Christmas Fairies Sandra McNlchol [left] and Jillian Houston had roles in the
Grade One play “The Sulky Brownies” at the Walton Public School’s
Christmas Concert on December 15. The large cast included all the Grade
One students.
to the Italian name for Christmas,
“Natale,” and is derived from the
Latin natalis, or birthday.
The abbreviation Xmas is a
shortening of Christmas. The “X” is
actually the Greek letter “Chi, ”
which is the first letter of Christ’s
nameasitis written in Greek, the
language of the NewTestament. The
use of Xmas is by no means a recent
phenomenon, as it has been common
since the 1100s.
Yule is of Scandianvian origin.
The long northern winters were
traditionally punctuated by the
festivities of “Jul,” a word which
was metamorphosed into Yule when
it passed into the English language.
“Jul” was probably the name of a
season - - approximately winter --
which ran from mid-November
through mid-January. One of the
major parts of the ‘ ‘Jul ’ ’ celebration
was the bonfire -- an image of light
and warmth in a season of darkness
and cold - which eventually became
theYulelog, asymbol of continuum.
Lighted with a piece left over from
the previous year’s log, it was
required to burn continuously
throughoutthe 12 days of Christ
mas, and had to be gathered by the
family in whose fireplace it would
burn.
CHRISTMAS' g
Wishing you the
best of the season
aymond
enovations
Ltd
Bob & Bruce
Happy, happy, happy, happy holidays!
from
Dickson's Auto Repair
BLYTH
i tiolidflys
| Wf enjoyed serving
you in tfie past and
hope to see you
again soon.
From everyone
COOK’S
Division of Parrish &
Heimbecker Limited
WALTON BRANCH
WALTON
887-9261
527-1540