The Goderich Signal-Star, 1984-12-05, Page 40Christmas Gift Guide -5
Ceramic gift ideas...
The spirit of
giftgiving
*Christmas Plates & Mugs
•Figurines
•Ceramic Nativity Scenes
AND MUCH, MUCH MORE...
Come in and choose an item you
like, and we will custom paint and
decorate it to your personal choice.
Gift certificates available
At the very heart of the Christmas season
is the spirit of giving. It is a spirit embodied
by Jesus Christ, one which reasserts itself in
many customs, traditions and stories
associated with the holiday which
celebrates the Nativity of He who gave His
very life for all mankind.
In some small way, by giving meaningful
gifts to those we love, and by making
donations to those we do not even know - the
poor, the hungry and the lonely - we echo
faintly His great gift.
We echo also, the Three Magi, who
traveled countless miles to bestow upon Him
tokens of their wonder and their love: gold,
frankincense and myrrh.
The great emotion stirred in them as
having presented their offerings, they gazed
upon the infant Savior, is recreated every
Christmas in a myriad of ways, and is felt as
freshly and as strongly in 1983, as it was in
the year of Christ's birth, as strongly in the
heartland of America as it was in the
manger in Bethlehem, lit by the radiance of
the Magi's guiding star.
The tradition of giving to others has
continued through the ages to be associated
with Christmas and, increasingly in modern
times, with the figure of St. Nicholas.
A fourth century bishop born in Lycia in
Asia Minor, St. Nicholas is credited with
many acts of selfless generosity and good
will, both of which are at the heart of the
Christian religion.
As early as the 14th century, St. Nicholas'
feast day w�s reason enough for giving
presents. At hat time, groups of choir boys
from churc es whose patron was St.
Nicholas would be given a gift of money and
a holiday.
Traditionally, they would choose one of
their number to be a "bishop" and properly
attired, lead them through the streets as
they called their request for "bishop
money" which would be given them by
passers-by.
Of the money they amassed, half would
ouy candy, tile other hall candles for use in
the church.
St. Nicholas Day was also the occasion
when well behaved children attending
convent schools would be rewarded with
little gifts. The mischievous ones, on the
other hand, would come in for well deserved
punishment, namely some strokes with the
birch rod.
Even then, St. Nick was careful to find out
which children were "naughty or nice," and
rewarded them appropriatley.
Eventually,of course, St. Nicolas
became transformed into Santa Claus, a gift
giver whose serious message of generosity
to all is sometimes masked by the fact that,
as preceived in the contemporary world, he
is primarily a figure of jollity, with a sleigh
full of presents, a booming laugh and a
rotund belly which shakes "like a bowlful of
Iell "
But despite the fact that, at Yuletide, a
Santa Claus can be found at virtually every
street corner and in every department store,
the meaning of the season still rings out loud
and cear, strong enough to echo behind
every appy Christmas to all, and to all a
good nig t," a far more essential phrase:
"Peace on earth, good will to men." For,
that is what the Christmas spirit of giving is
all about.
EVERY SANTA
NEEDS
A LITTLE HELP
Let us be your Santa's
Helper with a GIFT
CERTIFICATE from
Silhouette
1441/
ile00200WV.'
•CUTS •PERMS •SETS •EAR PIERCING
Great for a gift or just a stocking quffer
Watch for details on our FREE DRAW
for bus trips with Shpwood Travel
GWEN FISHER PATTY FARNSWORTH •
KENDRA MATTHEWS SUSAN CUMMINGS
5rhotreff
m.we :naxi� Z
40 V ictoria Sf. N., God®rlch
— J
Phone: 5242032
Mac
Campbell...
"Santa's Helper for
Over 25 Years"
suggests...
0
HARE THE
MOMENT.
SHARE THE
SAVINGS.
BACK
When you
buy a 600
series
camera
$4
BACK
When you buy two
packs of either
600 High Speed
or Time -Zero
Supercolor film.
air fa511i any
BOOK NOW FORZy ��,� aSf' ��� 0 44 79
YOUR CHRISyTMAS' HOIRS
( I.OS{D MONDAYS SAP RDATS 9 AM 12 00
APPOINTMENT TI FSDAY - FRIDAY 9 AM 5 30 PM EVENINGS B5 APPOINTMFNT ONL5
Regular Price '49.99
Less Polaroid
cash back '10.00
Your cost only $3999
■
Enjoy the moments and the savings. Today.
Visit us for details—but hurry, offer ends February 2, 1985
Drop in for a
DEMONSTRATION
Today!
"Trust Mac Campbell to have the things treasured
Christmas Memories are made of!"
0
Ca bell' Cameras
it
AND MORE
ROYAL BANK BLOCK, SHOPPERS SQUARE
GODERICH 524-7532