The Citizen, 2004-12-23, Page 27Happy 85th
Birthday
Betty McCall
on Thurs., Dec. 3011'
Come and go tea
2-4 pm
Maple Villa, Brussels
Best wishes only
For safety's sake
Child videotaping took place Dec. 7-9 at Brussels and Grey
Central Public Schools. Students in kindergarten, Grades 4
and 8, as well as new students, were taped. All tapes are
kept with the school in case there is a need by police or
family to locate a missing child. Pictured is Grey student
Alida Swart and Comrade Julie Harrison. (Photo submitted)
vD *•
D
New Year's eve Dance
Friday, December 31, 2004
Belgrave Community Centre
9:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sponsored by the Belgrave Kinsmen
Age of Majority Required
Music by DI
$20.00 per person
,At"--crrgt i 1..P970-‘44 us
The Brubachers of Ethel
4%eatauttant and 113af1ew
REAL Home-cooked meals!
Come and try our cinnamon buns.
Mon. - Fri 7:30 am 'til 6:30 pm;
Sat. 8:00 am - 6:30 pm; Sun. Closed
887-8659 in Ethel
Dec.
24 - 30
aironell at the Theatre or
Give the gift of ... t Certificates Available
Entert '7kagi4 All Around The House
(next door)
.4'409441 „ Gift Certificates
Sexual Content
Crude Content
Not Recommended
for Young Children Meet the Fockers
Closed Fri & Sat
Dec. 24 & 25
Sun - Thur 8:00
(Closed New Years Eve)
Frightening Sconce to 0.25
Not Recommended SOO 101 Young Children •
--A SERIE OF--
JIM CORY
t MON Y IN '<Ail,
Closed Fri & Sat
Dec. 24 & 25
Sun - Thur
8:00
(Closed New Years Eve)
www.movielinks.ca long distance71 -800-265-3438
-646-
PARK THEATRE
GODERICH 524-7811
Monday
February 7, 2005
Blyth Memorial Hall
Tickets Available al:
Blyth Festival
Box Office,
Ernie King Music
(Wingham/Goderich),
Dixie Lee (Clinton)
& Blyth
General Store
Call to Charge:
(519) 672-1967
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2004. PAGE 27.
Victorian Christmas shaped our modern traditions
The word "Christmas" brings to
mind many scenes, but the image of
a Victorian Christmas is especially
celebrated as traditional.
What was Christmas actually like
during the Victorian era? By the
latter part of the 19th century, the
custom of sending cards and
exchanging gifts was well
established.
The robin was a popular motif of
the Christmas card of the time, for
Victorian saw the robin as a symbol
of fire and new life — an appropriate
one for the Christmas season.
Postmen of the Victorian era were
called "robin postmen" because of
their red uniforms.
Prince Albert had introduced the
Christmas tree from his native
Germany to England and the custom
had quickly been adopted. Trees
were fancifully decorated with
lighted candles, glass ornaments and
small toys.
Dickens described one such tree as
"that pretty German toy, a Christmas
tree ... it was brilliantly lighted by a
multitude of little tapers; and
everywhere sparkled and glittered
with bright objects."
Victorian youngsters didn't hang
their stockings over the fireplace,
but at the foot of the bed. There, they
would try to sleep while awaiting the
arrival of Father Christmas, instead
of Santa Claus, down the chimney.
Down the lane, carollers and
handbell-ringers would gather
around a pole from which a lantern
was hung. The sound of tavourite
carols of the day would mingle with
the bustle of carriages and strollers
as snow fell softly on the scene.
At dawn, the youngsters would
rise to see what goodies their
stockings held, and after breakfast,
the family would attend services.
Later, the adults would exchange
gifts, and then-all would sit down to
a mid-day meal, with goose as the
main attraction.
The feast would conclude when
the curtains were drawn and the
Christmas pudding was brought
forth, blazing brightly. The pudding
had been hound in a - cloth and
cooked in a clothes copper; now it
was decorated with holly. Sixpence
were hidden in the pudding, to be
discovered amid much merriment
during the eating of this festive dish.
The kissing ball, or kissing bunch,
was also popular in Victorian times.
It consisted of a bunch of evergreens
and holly berries, with a cluster of
mistletoe suspended from it. The
mistletoe was all the permission
needed for a lad to beStow a kiss
upon a pretty maid. No wonder that
the kissing ball was the center of
festivities at holiday gatherings.
Games were equally popular.
Dickens described them in his
Christmas at Dingley Dell with
appreciation:
"...Mr. Pickwick, blinded shortly
afterwards with a silk handkerchief,
falling up against the wall, and
scrambling into corners, and going
through all the mysteries of blind-
man's bluff with the utmost relish
for the game, until at last he caught
one of the poor relations, and then
had to evade the blindman himself,
which he did with a nimbleness and
agility that elicited the admiration
and applause of all beholders. The
poor relations caught the people who
they thought would like it, and when
the game - flagged, got caught
Stap,p,g 55th
Wedding
annittetaattg
Monday,
December 27, 2004
anaie and Daniel
Melange,
Love and Best Wishes,
Bob, Nancy, Dale, Karen,
Carleigh, Kevin, Kendall,
Kelsey, Courtney
themselves. When they were all tired
of blind-man's buff, there was a
great game at snapdragon, and when
fingers enough were burned with
that, and all the raisins were gone.
they sat down - by the huge fire of
blazing logs to substantial supper,
and a mighty howl of wassail."
Christmas crackers were also
favoured during Victoria's reign.
The cracker was a twist of coloured
paper that gave off a small explosive
• * ,*. " - ti*
"The Kamikaze v'0
Woo Woo's" present their annual
"New Year's Bash"
Same time, same fun...different place!
Seaforth Community
Centre
$20/ticket
bus ride available
lunch included
Age of Majority
Doors open at 9 p.m
For information
please contact
Kris Gemmell 522-0545
.
Kara Murray 451-9728
4 Kelly Boven 523-9060 '
s 11 Lindsay Anderson *
* e 850-4244
/" * * p
sound when pulled. within it were
novelties such as puzzles, games.
printed mottoes or riddles, toys and
other surprises. •
Customs such as these illustrate to
us that during Victorian times,
Christmas was a merry time indeed.