HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1968-12-12, Page 5-1
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Many of the plant and flower symbols of Christmas are
handed down through pagan influences such as Bacchus, the god
of wine, or the ancient beliefs of the Druids,' Added to these
are the many' symbols which come from many a country lacking
thetraditional original herbs, bushes and plants who have es-
tablished their own Christmas emblems..
The tradition of ipistletoe goes back to Pope Gregory 1,
who after landing in England on his mission to convert the
pagans in the. year 604, wrote .St, -Augustine of. Canterbury
and advised him to encourage popular local 4 customs—but to
give them a Christian interpretation. • . '
The parasitic mistletoe was .held in, veneration by the an-
cient Druids who believed it had ,healing powers, could turn
away evil spirits, make women and ; annuls ; fertile --and defy
witches., . The silver-grey plant with its white berries was so
revered that cif two, enemies found] thebi'sely, ds a under the: nest -
shaped ` plant' hanging from the' branches of a tree, they im-
mediately put down their weapons. '
's was tete beginning of the customT,1 ft ging mistletoe
iri.over 4 oors of ouses to $ rdN,'1 x ' 1 d to Offer'
good 11 r+' those" ho,. enters. '',.To ' the ' 11 ' tletcie is
still today a symbol of love, good faith $afd honesty.
After the heathens of „England. -were, converted to Chris-
tianity, the use of mistletoe ' was permitted by 'bishops but
because of its Druid origin it is seldom seen permitted,,
a church.
The Christmas rose is not like the roses that bloom in
gardens in the summertime. It is a valiant herb -called Helle-.
borus niger that puts forth its blossoms at Christmastime, when
other plants are bar.e. And the blossoms look like stars. -
Legend tells us that a miracle used to take place every
Christmas Eve deep in 'a forest in Sweden. At the' very hour
of midnight, the .snow and ice disappeared, the ground became
a carpet of green, flowers unfolded, berries grew heavy on .the
bushes, balmy breezes blew through leafy treetops, and the
animals. birds and insects went about as they do in midsum-
mer. The miracle lasted until daybreak. Then the forest be-
came frozen and silent again. .
An old abbot was told of the miracle by the mother of
a family of robbers, and she promised to lead him to the forest
to witness , it if he would persuade the bishop to pardon her
husband.' The bishop said he would grant the pardon if the
abbot would bring him a flower as proof of the miracle.
On Christmas Eve, the outlaw family led the abbot and
a lay brother deep into the - forest, where they stood huddled
together in the dark, cold ' night. On the stroke of 12, the
'miracle took place just as it had been described, and the abbot,
clasped his hands in ;ecstacy at God's handiwork. But the lay
brother thought the transformation had to be the work of Satan
and called it evil. At his words, the light and beauty disap-
peared, and icy darkness returned. The miracle had vanished.
Heartbroken, the abbot fell to the ground and died, but
in death bis clutching fingers found a pair of tiny white bulbs.
The lay brother took them back to the abbot's garden and
planted them. Spring came, and summer, and fall, , but they
did not bloom Finally, in Winter, when all else lay bare, they
burst into flower, and the delicate .white star-shaped blossoms
were taken to the bishop who kept his promise and pardoned
the outlaws.
Never again, the legend concludes; will the forest come
miraculously alive. 'But the white flower still. -blooms at Christ-
mastime and is called the Christmas rose.
Holly is another plant symbol of Christmas. In ancient
England, the Druids noted that it was the one bush which re-
mained green, healthy and shining When all other trees and
bushes had lost their leaves. With its all -year-round . beauty,
they respected it as a symbol of the continuing life..
When the Christiah influence came to the British Isles
with its desire both to work with the people and to convert
them, the missionaries used the holly bush to interpret their
own religious thoughts. It was, they said, symbolic of the burn-
ing thorn bush of Moses and the crown of thorns worn by
Christ to Calvary. The red berries represented the blood from
his brow.
With this as background holly came to be thought of in
other ways. To hang it on the door at Christmas kept witches
away, and if unmarried women fattened a sprig on their beds,
they were certain they would not. turn into witches for the
next twelve months.
' One of. the best known English carols is concerned with
holly and Ivy. A stanza says:
"The holly and his Merry men, they dance' and sing,
Ivy and her maidens weep and hands Wring."
This was due 'to the old belief that ivy was associated
with death. In pagan times, it was the badge of Bacchus, the
god of wine, and stood for heavy drinking and intoxication.
Fos' that reason the vine was never taken into an English home.
Such prejudice is now forgotten and ivyis no longer associated
with death.
Wo don't guarantee that our flovekes well step you from
turning Into a witch or that they pooso healing errs. We
wilt guarantee that they s ey will brighten your home for the festive
season. 11 you would like to remember olein sone with a plaits
or cut flower: this Christmas why not call LIWIS MLOWIRS
dial 3573$110 right now. 0
Woe guarantee delivery on the data specified, both locally
or world-wide. Remember for flowers by . wire, N yew order
now It will • saw you the cost of a phone call or telegram.
• iiii FIOWIRI
135 FRANCES, =REET
� &U�Mr � +H+vil�`t�wn Door 1�iwwlw.����
IF GOOD SAINT NICK comes down this
chimney: Christmas Eve he'll probably
want to ,stay awhile. * White gladioli and
bronze . chrysanthemums make an eye-
catching bouquet in a pretty stein—eleq'ant
poinsettias •display their crimson beauty
beside the. blazing Yule log while simple
pine boughs. and cones hang in striking
contrast between gleaming bronze plaques.
Dear Ann Landers: Here's,,,,an
unusual one for you: Uncle Ted
has a new wife. This woman
cannot say one complete sen-
tence without laughing. For ex-
ample: •
Me: "Hello, IneF, how are
you?" _
Inez: "Hello." Giggle, giggle.
"Im just fine." Giggle, giggle:
Me: "I'm sorry to hear you
lost your mother last week."
Inez: "Thank you for your
sympathy." Giggle. "Yes, moth-
er had a great many wonderful
friends." Giggle, giggle. "And
she . suffered so much toward
the end. It was a blessing
when the • Lord took her." Gig-
gle, giggle. k
This senseless laughter is
enough to drive a person crazy.
She gives me a headache. Uncle
Ted is a peaseh and we love to
be around him, but his wife
drives everyone up the wall be-
cause of her continuous laugh-
ing about nothing.
Will you please tell us what
can ho done about it?—AcH-
ING EARS.
Dear Aching: Inez is one of
those unfortunate people who
laughs because she is self-
conscious not because she
thinks something is funny. Ner-
vous laughter is a longtime
habit—one Inez will probably be
saddled with for the rest of
her life.
Be compassionate. It's no
laughing matter.
• * •
Dear Ann Landers: My job
' puts me in contact with dozens
of people efery day. For 'the
past several years I have had
a lot of trouble with my teeth.
Three months ago my dentist
advised me to have all my teeth
extracted, so I did.
The people I work with have
told me my dentures are the
most natural they have ever
seen and they have improved
my , looks 100 percent. Every
day now. someone remarks on
my beautiful teeth. This morn-
ing one man said. "I never
noticed what a lovely' smile
you have. Your teeth are per-
fect!"
I feel like a fraud saying
"thank you` and letting it pass
---especially when my co-work-
ers hear the compliments and
know the truth. Can you advise
me?—ALL SMILES.
Dear Smiles: Accept the comb
Fitments graciously find say
"thank you." The teeth ono
yours whether you bought 'em
or grew 'em. You dent owe
oriyybody a certificate of origin.
* • *
Dear Ann Landers: Everyone
has been faced with •this annoy-
ance at some time or another;
yet, so far as I know, nobody
has come up with a solution. I
refer to people who call on the
phone and start out with, 'Veil,
so you finally decided to hang
up? I've been trying to get your
line for an hour."
I realise such people aro ex-
tremely rude, but they, alwaye .
succeed in putting mep4 the)
defensive and before M, knew it
I am apologizing and even tell-
ing them to' whom I was speak-
ing.
You would be doing me (and
others, I'm sure) a great favor
if you could come up with a
few crisp sentences to put down
the boors. — BLACK CORD
FEVER.
Dear Fever: "Sorry, I'm- fresh•
out of crisp sentences_ but , si-
lence can be More shattering
than any barbed phrase. Try it.
* * *
What is French kissing? Is it
wrong? Who should•set the neck-
ing limits --;-the boy or the girl?
Can n shotgun wedding succeed?
Send for a copy of the booklet,
"Teen -Age Sex Ten Ways To
Cool It." Write to Ann Landers
in care of this newspaper, en-
closing 50c in coin plus .6c for
postage and a long; self-address-
ed; un -stamped envelope.
All letters or requests should
be addressed to Ann Landers.
c/o Advance -Times, Wingham.
They are forwarded from this
office unopened. Be sure to en-
close a long, self-addressed un-'
stamped envelope and 6c for
postage, and the necessary coin-
age for the booklet requested.
Chancel light
is dedicated
BELGRAVE--Recently a
chancel light, donated to the
church by the descendants of
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Leishman,
was placed in Trinity Anglican
Church and on Sunday a service
of dedication was held to con-
secrate this light for use in
divine worship.
Mr. and Mrs. Leishman were
pioneer citizens of East Wawan-.
osh. They lived on a farm near
"Marnoch where they raised a
large family. Only one of
their children is now living,
Henry Leish neon of Huronview, ,
Clinton, but many of their
descendants dwell across Cana-
da from. Ontario to the pacific
Coast of British Columbia.
Four generations were rep-
resented. Menibers of families
living at Niagara Falb, Milton,
Paris and Clinton were present
for the service.
Rev. W, R. Craven of God-
erich conducted the rvice,
and a'solo was sung by Miss
Margery Procter. both the
service and the sermon were
very appropriate for the occa-
sion, and were .greatly appreci-
ated by those presdnt, '
Life of nursing
home patient ..
an inspiration
WROXETER--The. United
Church Sunday School held'
White Gift Sunday in the^church
auditorium. Garry Chambers
• led in'the service' and :Srealda
Townsend read Scripture.
Mrs. A. E. Martin .directed
the juniors choir iii°the`alhthem,
"The Christmas Babe". As the
offering was received they
sang" two carols, . "Shepherds,
Shake off Your Drowsy -Sleep"
and "0, Come Little Children".
Rev, George Sach centred
the children's story around love,
relating a story which happened
in Germany. A farmer who
didn't produce enough paid by
having,his son taken away to
work and his farm confiscated.
He went to the government for
help and while he was away
his farm and home were strip-
ped. He and his wife flew to
the woods, always fearing the
'future. His message to the
children continued through
events to suggest that one must
always do his best.
His meditation, also based
on a true incident which hap-
penedtwo years ago in Saska-
tchewan just before white gift
Sunday, was about a minister
who thought he would speak on
"Small Gifts with Big Mean-
ings". �One day,he visited at
a nursing home where John Day,
part Negro and Indian resided.
He had arthritis., diabetes and
was losing his sight. Lecal
church people were too busy to
visit him. One day John gave
the minister $5.00 to help some.
ore in need. It was all the
money he had but he wanted to
give it to rpissionary work. John
shuffled around the hospital
cheering others, straightening
the crooked blankets.,
Mr. Sach pointed out that
we could all learn from the
colored man --share our gi fts
from God and make the world
a happier place in which to
live.
The collection and gifts of
food presented at the service
will be sent to a mission.
SURPRISE SALAD
For a surprise salad, prepare
tomato jelly or well -seasoned
plain aspic jelly and half fill
individual moulds. When ,felly
fs partially set, arrange balls of
well -seasoned but not too moist
turkey 'salad in centre and cov-
ez.with additional Jelly and
chill until set. Serve unmould-
ed with -a topping of salad
Ikeuing garnishedith a sprig'
Of paisley or strips �f green pep'
per.
If desired, this Jelly may be
made in a large ring mould,
but be sure to spate balls of
turkey salad evenly on the par -
daily set jelly.
tq'
Mrs. J. M. Coshes
Iights candles
at unit meeting
BELGRAVE--The, afternOe
Unit of ihe U C, i , met• in the
church basement last Want*.
day. M. Earl Anderson pre-
sided and openeddetrotion$ with
hymn <and prayer.. Reports were
given and then offering was re-.
cetved and dedicated. Eleven
answered roll call, Visit; to
abut ins and hospital were re-
-corded with 19 home* and ll
hospital visits. It was decided
to hobo meetings the se`Oond
Wednesday of the Meath.
Slate of officers: President,
Mrs. Earl Anderson; secretary,
Mrs. Carl Procter; assistant,
Mrs George Martin; treasurer,
Mrs. Elizabeth Leslie; litera-
ture, hiss. George Martin; pro-
gram, Mtn. Walter Scott;
Christian citizenship and :social
action. Mrs. Walter •Scott; .
coimnunity friendship, visiting
and membership, Mrs, Harold
Procter; dial, Mrs. `Herson
Irwin; supply, Mrs. Willard
Armstrong; press and publicity,
Mrs. Carl Procter; piano; Mrs.
J. M. Coultes.
The study book for 1969 will
be on Communist China.
Mrs. Stewart Procter conduc-
ted the Christmas program with
Mrs. J. M. Coultes lighting
the candles. The theme was
"To Come and Worship the New
Dorn King". The magniicat
was read in unison. The first
candle was lit for good will and
friendship for the: Jews of Cana-
da. "0 Come All Ye Faithful"
was sung. Second candle was
lit for the friendship of the Ca-
nadian Indian and Eskimo. The
third candlewas for the Frerfch
Canadian.- This was followed
• by Luther's Cradle Song, "Away
in a Manger". Fourth candle
lintwas for the friendship that
came from other countries fol-
lowed by the Polish carol "In-
fant Holy, Infant• Lowly; The
fifth candle was for fellow Cay-
nadians who came to Canada
because their former homes
were -destroyed. A Canadians.
carol was sung, "Gentle Marry
Laid Her, Child". The last tall
candle lit to honor tthe, doming
of the 'Saviour. Jesus Christ, `to
obey lois command to love thy '
neighbor as thysel>
Mrs.. William Coultes sang,
"There was No .Room in the
rk.the11Pr4.1dyAn ls"
was sung and .the meeting
closed with the mizpah bene-
diction. .
FORGETFUL FELLOW • _
Waiter: "Mr. Brown left
the umbrella" again. I believe
he'd Dave his head if it were
loose. "
Waitress: "He sure is for-
getfuL I heard him say yester-
day he was 'going to Arizona
for his lungs. "
Wingham Advaace-Tfma. Ted,
features from
The Work! of Wom
--Mrs: Scott Reid, who had
be -en a heapital patient in Lon-
don for several weeks, returned
bome,last Thursday..
. * .
--Mr, and Mrs. Stan Smith
Of Guelph. spent the `week -end
with her sister, Miss E. Mus-
grove.
--Dr. and Mrs. Row Howson.
of Galt visited on Sunday with
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Howson and
had dinner with Mr. an d Mrs.
Art MacDonald of Teeswater.
--Mrs. L. Lamb left this
week for Streetsville and Toron-
to to visit with friends for the.
next three weeps.
and Mrs. Paul Coyle
and fatiiily of Grimsby spent
the week -end with her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Colvin.
--Mrs. Martha Baker of Min-
nie Suet ¢ , 0440suitaEec, ct 4th,
rec'<afagy, • [Pow , ti4e - :
her daw ghtex, .1\' . Elmer Gilc=
of ArJc na.
--Mr, Harry Bateman of
Turnberry underwent surgery ,ill
Victoria HOspital. London, on
Tuesday of last wed
--A reception wee; held on
Saturday evening in the Auburn
Cornna8nity Hall for the newly-
weds, Mr. and Mrs. 1<efth ab, `J
lnson of Toronto.
-lir. F.. A. 'Parker is no,r a,
resident of BrookhavenNgtng
Home after being a patlear h
the Wingham and District -
paital for several =Whs.
• *•-Mi. . and Mrs. Elwell Web
;tl r left last Tuesday for.. Lake-
land, Florida to sped the wint.
er' months.
f
S PA 1'N
7be,pedre Mgr:�-
. u$inlitakably Spanish..
annuStakably. "you.
Ii/00 - $2.75 - $5.50 $9.00
C stprk"rtr't with 4tLOClM1101
,. WAY, NW, BATH OIL. HUNTING POW.=
TRIANGLE
IJIac0.0
PATENT HED/C/NES • COSMET/C'S • •'t2BA CCr 5
towevecta
THE TRUE BLEND OFCHRISTMAS.
SPIRIT ---
Begins with a
HOOVER
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THE NEW HOOVER
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the following outstand-
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*6 cup capacity
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CHRISTIE MINSTRELS
PERCY FAITH
THE UNION GAP
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LOUIS ARMSTRONG
ANDY WILLIAMS
RAY CONIPF
AND MANY MORE
WI.NGHM