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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1968-12-24, Page 4ingharn Advance -Times, Tuesday, Deco 24, 19681 • F .q I `r e AL In this wonderful • • holiday seaeon, may you • . he joyful: rFr. — "1" r ter * JOUWSMA MARKET GARDENS , 0 • 1-2s our homes resound ,with the joys. of the holidayf, ' let us give thanks for all our many blessings. B. H. MOFFAT BLUEVALE - ONTARIO GREETINGS FOR. hiejs - To you, sincere greetings and thanks . with every good wish that the joy and delight of the Yuletide will be yours. IDEAL SUPPLY CO.. LTD. WINGHAM ONTARIO appraness, kindness, and tidings ';•�.::�'' �;"'`'} . of good will • �I ° •� , ., ,.�� are what I ' we wish you on this holy and happy , holiday. We send you our best through this little message to show out appreciation. Your CIA Agent 53 Maple St., Wingham, 3573730 WinOsern, Whitechurch end Lucknow Districts Elmer I. Parrish recalls the. rural- school The Christmas season is, the 9tirne of year that brings, joy into the lives of boys and girls all over the world where the Christ- ian Religion is known, The celebration of the birth of Christ is a most fascinating story to everyone and the giving and re- ceiving of gifts has been part of the celebration. To those of us who are old- er, memories of the past years bring back conditipns that are quite different than we know at the present time. One of these is the Christmas concert in the local school which no longer exists. The preparation for this con- cert entailed many days and nights of hard work as well as many hours of enjoyment in the rehearsals by both teacher and the pupils, as we 11 as the"older boys and girls in the cpmmun- ,ity because usually a dialogue or skit of a humorous nature made up part of the programme. There were no cars in the country in those days and even if there were, the roads were not plowed and the people in the school section could not travel farther than the local town for a place of entertain- ment. It was therefore up to the people in the community to co-operate with the teacher to create their own enjoyment. Preparing the school four . this enjoyable occasion also, took considerable work. An extend- ed platform had to be built. The younger people in the sec- tion usually did this. planks were brought in and put in place Someone, or a group, went to the swamp and procured a large Christmas tree Whia wait placed at the front of the school on the platform. This tree wat3 decoated with paper bells and paper ribbons. Tinsel decora- tions like we use today were not available, or if they were, money to purchase them was not. In any case this was a lo- cal effort and artificial decora- tions would have added little to the occasion. The night of the concert this tree would be load- ed down with presents for the pupils, placed there by the par- ents and friends to bring joy to everyone.. When the gala night arrived, everyone in the neighbourhood attended. The dads usually hiatsed the team in the sleigh wiii had been made ready by Cothmunity Joyful C Throughout this community, the Christmas spirit finds expression, as once again, people are proving that this happiest of holidays is a time of tradition. A modern Christmas, just like a good old-fashioned Christmas, calls for gatherings of family and friends, with much merriment, fun and feasting. Gifts and Santa Claus express the mood of the season, es- pecially for the youngsters. Trees and other decorations, music and song, light and laughter set the scene. As a Christian hply day, celebrated in church services and private devotions, Christmas ows with the spirit of good will, -and "peace and good will" is the wish and prayer,. for a116 mankind. All. of these traditions of Christmas are wrapped up in one. The true spirit of Christ- mas is most happily expressed in the exchange of greetings. "Have a .Merry Christmas." That says it all ,— the heartfelt hope for good things for others, the good feeling that prevails, the happiness of the season rising above problems and crises, the wish to give and to share all the holiday joys and blessings. As a special custom that symbolizes the spirit of Christmas; the exchange of greetings takes many forms. "Merry Christmas" is said person-to-person, with smiles of gladness, wherever friends and family meet. "Merry Christmas" is the message of millions of greet- ing cards which travel across the miles. And "Merry Christmas".. is the theme of today's edition of this newspaper, in which businessmen of the community offer their special greet- ings and good wishes, their words of appreciation to patrons and friends. ISHII\IG YOU ALL THE JOY'S Or AN OLD FASHIOIan MORRISON'S GARAGE WHITECHURCH - ONTARIO 111! MERRY CHRISTMAS Here comes Santa to brighten your holiday. Merry Christmas! And thanks for your patronage. 0 C. WILFORD CASLICK Representative trial : Life Assurance Co. .50 PATRICK STRUT - WINGHAM out with As voices ring d Ills holiday cheer, we e,. them in wishing to loin Merry Christmcs' you o MacBee Car Wash Sending Greetings The custom of exchanging greetings at holiday time is older than Christmas. The custom of the Christmas greeting card, however, is a relatively new one. Christmas cards originat- ed about 125 years ago, in England. Despite this re- cent start; printed greetings quickly caught the public fancy and are today one of the most pop ar . forms of Christmas holiday traditions. *** Decorating Trees The gaily decorated tree so much a ,part of. Christmas has its counterpart iiitrees adorned with colorful trin- kets during the ancient feasts . of the' winter equinox. This pagan custom of dec- orating evergreens became associated with Christmas observances, and legends link it to the birth of Jesus. One such story says that on the night of the Nativity, all the woodland trees burst into bloom and bore fruit. * * * Singing Carols With voices lifted in har- mony for "Silent Night," "The First Noel" and other beloved songs, .today's carolers carry on a Christmas custom that originated centuries ago. In the fourth century A.D., St. Basil was praised with a musical poem in honor of the fight for Christianity over the Byzantine emperor °Jul- ian. Later in Greece, legends of St. Basil were set to music and sung at Christmas and the. New Year. St. Francis of Assisi led the villagers of Grecchio in sing- ing hymns of praise to the Christ Child when in the 13th century he created a manger scene in this Italian town. * •* * Tracing Santa Santa's source, legend says, goes back to the -fourth cen- tury, when St. Nicholas, a bishop of Asia Minor, was noted for his generosity and gif t -giving. In some countries, St. Nich- olas still retains his role as gift -bearer. His day is, tra- ditionally, December 6th, and European children await him on St. Nicholas Eve, Decem- ber 5th, A gray horse and a white donkey have each been cred- ited with the honor of trans- porting him on his gift -giv- ing journeys. * * * Giving Gifts Like greetings, gifts are synonymous with Christmas, as part of a custotti that probably has its beginning in the Wise Men's presentation of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the Christ Child. Some researchers trace the giftgiving tradition to even earlier, pre -Christian times. During pagan holidays ob- served at about the same time' as the modern Christmas, ancient Romans and Britons exchanged Rifts in token of the season. plying a good padding .of hay in the sleigh b9x. hoards or planks were put crossways for seats, buffalo robes and horse blankets or bed' quilts were used for wraps because everyone would be going from the youngest baby to grandma and grandpa, and it is possible that it could be storming, but that wala<ld crake no difference. This was a once in the year occasion. On: arriving at the school the whole family would vacate the sleigh and the team would be taken to one of two or three farms close by and tied on the barn floor until the concert was over. The farmer would co- operate because he too., wanted to play a part to make the con- cert a success. When the crowd was assem- . bled the school would. be pack- . ed with everyone from the school section. The chairman would likely be someone chosen by the teacher. Possibly the chairmanof the trustee board, a member of the township, council, the local preacher or one of the pupils. During the concert everyone attending school had a part in the programme. There would be school choruses, dialogues, duets, quartets, solos, recita- tions and clown acts by the pu- pils, and of course, a play or skits by the older boys and girls in the.neighbp_urhood. The presentation included the shy little boys and girls who could scarcely be heard and also the child who stood up stiff and bold and shouted at the top of his voice Some parents were disappoir>lted at the way Johnny. would say his piece and some were proud at the way their Jane sang her solo, but every- one enjoyed,it all. The concert concluded, the, sound of sleigh bells would be heard approaching, and while the reindeers were missing the ' sleigh would be present bring- ing the jolly gentleman who has been the hero of the chil- dren for hundreds of years, Santa Claus. He did not come • down the chimney but entered by the front door, the only one in the school, aha after his joi- f:r . f a. as concert ly laugh and who ho" pru eeded With some help to distribute the presents that were'liangiug from the large Christmas tree. The next thing was to load up the sleighs and cutters with tired and happy children and adults. These occasions are pleasaalt memories to those of us who are older. and may give our M 'grandchildren some idea of the �I pleasant tunes we had when we were young. To 'all our fine friends, we extend our very best wishes for a most joyous holiday and offer our appfeciation for your patronage. MACHAN HARDWARE May all the holy joys of that first Christmas night abide with you and your loved ones during the holi-_ day season, bringing the same peace and tranquility that shone upon the earth on that Night so long ago. READMAN' CLQ NERS Men's- and Boys' Wear J4oping Christmas brightness . lasts 'all year! Your loyalty is great! McGILL. If:WM. OM • Our wish is simple but sincere ... May you enjoy a Merry Christmas Christmas is a ik winter wonderland, covered by a blanket of pure white snow. We send you our sentiment during this brisk season through our warmest wishes and a Merry Christmas. • r g