Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-12-21, Page 36PAGE 36. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1988. Do you know where Christmas traditions started? It’s pretty difficult to imagine a Christmas without Santa Claus or a Christmas tree, but in many parts of the world the appearance of Santa would puzzle people and a tree would be out of keeping with the Christmas spirit. Roses Inc., representing Cana­ da’s RoseGrowers, devised a special quiz to test your knowledge on Christmas customs around the world. Read on and see how many correct answers you can score. 1) There’s a country where kids don’t know about Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve they wait for an old woman on a broomstick to give them presents. What is she called and from what country does she come? 2) In Belgium and the Nether­ lands, people would gasp if they saw Santa Claus on a sleigh pulled by eight reindeers. How does St. Nicholas travel about in these countries? 3) In another country, people would shudder if someone brought an evergreen tree into the house on Christmas. Instead of the tree, wild flowers are used as seasonal decora­ tions. Why, and in what country? 4) Christmas can be a solemn holiday as well as a joyful one, particularly for adults. Italy and Spain are two countries where some grownups don’t think singing joyous Christmas carols is the only way to celebrate the holiday. How do they celebrate? 5) For centuries it has been a custom in Canada to have a symbol or token of Christmas spotlighted in a place of honor in your home. What are some of those symbols and where The life and times of Santa Claus Santa Claus began his career as Saint Nicholas. A fourth century bishcp from Lycia in Asia Minor, St. Nicholas was credited, after his death, with many acts of selfless generosity andgoodwill, someof them miraculous. On one occasion, St. Nicholas brought back to life three small boys killed seven years earlier by a cruel butcher. Another time, he saved a town from famine by diverting a shipment of grain to it. The grain then miraculously reproduced itself, so that the merchant to whom it belonged lost nothing. The most famous of the legends about his good deeds tells how St. Nicholas bestowed dowries on three sisters who were destined, because of their father’s poverty, to lives of privation and possible slavery. On three successive nights, St. Nicholas secretly tossed a bag of gold down the chimney of the girls’ home, providing them with the means to marry. In commemoration of this good deed, in the Netherlands three oranges were traditionally left out in a dish on St. Nicholas’ Day, December sixth, tosymbolize his golden gifts. By the 14th century, St. Nicholas Day was an occasion for giving gifts. Over time, because of the gift-giving tradition and the proximity of his day to Christmas Day, St. Nicholas became associated with Christmas. Thomas Nast, an American illu­ strator, popularized the name Santa Claus (which is probably derived from the Dutch Sante Klass, or Saint Nicholas) in the 19th century. Nast’s illustrations depicted San­ ta as we ktiow him today: A fat, jolly man in a fur-trimmed red suit. Nast also was the first to locate Santa's home at the North Pole. are they placed? 6) Thecustom of givinggiftsfor Christmas is believed to have grown fromadiffe*- ..i holiday that was celebr-’k-u before Christ was born. What holiday and in what country did this celebration take place? 7) All of us know that a Christmas tree would not be decorated properly without twinkling lights. In one country, however, flowers are used to decorate the tree. What is the traditional flower of this country and how is it used to decorate the tree and around the home? 8) The generous spirit of Christ­ mas is reflected in one country by Christmas dinner. Custom in this country dictates that you set one more place at the dinner table than the number of guests who are coming to dine. That way, even an unexpected guest will find a place and a meal for himself. In what country does this tradition exist? 9) Where was the first Christmas tree used? 10) St. Nicholas gives good chil­ dren presents, but bad children get a whipping with a birch switch in one country. Where is this custom still practised today? These Christmas puzzlers all have relatively easy answers so read on and see how well you did. 1) Children from all around the world love the gifts and the special plans associated with Christmas. In every nation children celebrate the holidays with traditional customs. Canadian children leave milk and cookies by the fire for Santa Claus. Dutch children in Holland fill their wooden shoes with roses so as to please the old woman called ‘ * LaBefina. ” “ LaBefina’ ’ makes her Christmas rides on a broomstick, leaving presents for good children and ashes in the shoes of bad ones. 2) In Belgium and the Nether­ lands, St. Nicholas rides a white horse instead of travelling with reindeer and a sleigh. 3) In Sweden, wild flowers were flowers grown in someone’s garden. The most popular and colorful floral choice of most Swedens was roses. Oftentimes irises and fresh holly were also used. 4) Devout Catholics in Italy and Spain often observe a day-long fast which begins at sunset on December 23. 5) Many families have a beloved Madonna and Child - a print, a painting or perhaps an old icon or triptych they bring out during the Christmas season. 6) The custom of giving gifts for Christmas dates back to the ancient Roman Mid-Winter Festival. 7) In the country of Austria fresh roses placed in water tubes were used to decorate the tree. Roses when placed on the tree were felt to symbolizethebirthoflifeand the rewards of a new year. 8) The country where they place an extra plate at the Christmas table for unexpected guests is Poland. 9) There are numerous stories explaining the origin of the first Christmas tree, but the following is the most popular. In the Eighth century, St. Boni­ face, then a missionary to Germany, was attempting to stamp out the pagan custom of making human sacrifices to oak trees. At yuletime he led his followers to an evergreen tree and told them it pointed straight up to the Christ Child. “Take this tree intoyour homes as a sign of your new worship,’’ he told them. “Celebrate God’s power no more with shameful rites, but in the sanctity of your home with laughter and love.’’ 10) The country is Germany. Santa arrives on December 6, instead of Christmas Eve, and punishes bad children and rewards the good ones with special treats of candy, books and colorful clothing. Brussels Public School’s Grade Three students [from left] Jenny Gowing, Heather Douma, Lesley Elliott, Becky McLaughlin and Sherry Verstoep performed the delightful “Christmas Spelling” skit at their Christmas Concert on December 14. Besf wishes during this Christmas Season Karen Van Soest If SCRIMGE RTV. BLYTH KWICHUl 4° BRUSSELS 5c TO $1.00 STORE BRUSSELS 887-9072 ^Wishing yotQ the special gifts' of Christmas .. .joy, peace and love. . Draw at 6 p.m. on Dec. 24 Its Christinas! Joyous wishes to you and yours, os we express our appreciation for your very special friendship. Christmas throughout the world, it’s meant to be shared by all. WARMESTTHANKS for your patronage KEITH, DOUG, MARY & RITA Cardiff & Mulvey Real Estate & Insurance Ltd. BRUSSELS MCDONALD Brussels Homehardware /887-6277