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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-12-22, Page 4PAGE 4-3ODE'RIC SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1977 milmommoninamimmi 0,A Coderich STAR SIGNAL.- STAR The County Town Newspaper of Huron f minded 1n IN/ and published every Thursday at Goderich. Ontario. Member gf the CW NA and OWNA. Advertising rates on request. Subscriptions payable In ad '17.00 In Canada. .17.•• to U.S.A.. '2111.N to 011 other countries, single copies 30 cents. Display adv , tlsfng rates available on request. Please oar for Rote Card No. 1 effective Oct. 1. 1077. Second classiest! Registration Number 0710. Advertising 1s accepted on the condition that. In the event of typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous Item. together with reasonable allowance for signature. will not be charged for but the balance of the advertisement wnl be paid for at the oppllcoble rote. In the event of a typographical error advertising goods or services at o wrong price. goods or service may not be sold. Advertising Is merely on otter to sell, and may by wlthdrown at any time. The Signal -Star Isnot responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts or photos: Business and Editorial Office TELEPHONE 524-8331 area code 519 P.O. Second Published by Signal -Star Publishing Ltd. ROBERT G. SHRIER — president and publisher SHIRLEY J. KELLER — editor EDWARD J. BYRSKI — advertising manager Mailing Address: BOX 220, Industrial Park, Goderich class mail registration number — 0716 Christmas customs Centuries before Christ, people who worshipped nature brought evergreens into their homes during festival time as proof of continuing life. The ancient Romans decorated evergreens with gifts and or- naments at Saturnalia, a winter festival to welcome the coming spring and the revival of nature's fruit -hearing season. The evergreen tree became part of our Christmas celebration early in the 16th century. Martin Luther. according to legend, was so impressed with the beauty .of the 'tars shining through the snow -laden boughs, that he cut a small fir and took it home, He set up the tree in his house and decorated it with candles to symbolize for ills children the star -filled sky over Bethlehem. Holly, with its brilliant green.leaves and bright red berries was revered by ancient people as a symbol of eternal life. Because it .bore fruit in winter. it was regarded as one of the most highly favored plants of nature. The early Romans believed it possessed medicinal and magical powers. They sent sprigs of holly to friends as a protection from evil and .a repellent for poisons With the spread of Christianity, holly became associated with the promise of everlasting life. A Germa'n'legend claims Christ's crown of thorns was plaited from holly; that before the Crucifixion. the plant bore white berries, afterward its berries w ere blood red. • •1 . 1� • • • Hanging mistletoe is a pagan custom which has survived to become part of our Christmas holiday traditions. Druid priests (.ut mistletoe with a golden sickle and caught it in a white cloth before it could touch the ground. It was then distributed to their followers to hang in their homes. Its magical powers were supposed to' bring happiness, romance and peace.• in ancient Scandinavia, enemies meeting by chance beneath a tree hearing mistletoe were obliged to disarm, embrace in friendship and keep peace together for the rest of the day. Perhaps from this legend comes the English custom of -•kissing beneath the mistletoe. Use of the creche as a Christmas symbol dates hack to St. Francis of Assisi. In 1224, he set up a manger scene in the hills above the village of Greccio, Italy, to dramatize for his parishioners the humble origins of Jesus. He built a real stable, filled with live animals, straw and hay. People dressed as Mary, Joseph and shepherds stood among the cattle near a straw -filled manger containing alifelike wax image of the Christ Child. in Greccio, the manger scene was so loved by villagers that it was repeated year after year at Christmas. Gradually it was adopted by other towns and the custom spread. Eventually, the creche became as important to the celebration of Christmas in southern Europe as the Christmas tree is in the north. The wassail howl which we associate with Christmas celebrations comes from an ancient Saxon drinking custom. The medieval wassail bowl was chosen for its size and beauty and was ornamented with arcs of evergreen over the top. The drink itself was a combination of hot ale, sugar, nutmeg or ginger, decorated with baked apples. Christmas carolers in old England often carried wassail bowls with them when they went caroling. They would go "wassailing" to the house of a friend, sing a carol, and offer a drink to those inside. The most famous of all Christmas carols, "Silent Night", was written in 1818 in the village of Oberndorf, Austria. Two nights before Christmas, while walking in the mountains above Oberndorf, Joseph Mohr, assistant pastor of the church, stopped to marvel at the peaceful scene below. Behind him were the snow covered mountains; below, the tiny village. Overhead the twinkling stars cast a pale Tight over the countryside. How quiet, how peaceful, mused Father Mohr. Bethlehem probably looked like this the night Christ was born. Arriving home he wrote the words of "Silent Night". The following day Franz •iityrily,?'s . srwYr, "�zr� Gruber, an organist and the local schoolmaster, created the music and sang the new hymn to his wife. "We will die—you and 1," she said. "hut this song will live." Santa Claus, the jolly old elf with red cheeks and a white heard, is the American derivation of old St. 'Nicholas, a wealthy bishop of Myra in Asia -Minor. St. Nicholas was known for his great generosity in distributing gifts and money to the poor, especially children. He preferred to disguise himself and deliver his gifts after dark so that no one would know who had left them. In sea -faring countries, St. Nicholas, also the patron saint of sailors, is especially revered. In Holland, Nicholas is called Sinter Klaas, Dressed as a bishop, with miter and crosier, he rides a white horse. On theeve of December 6th, children leave wooden shoes outside their doors and fill them with hay to feed Sinter Klaas' horse. Sinter comes during the night and replaces the hay with cookies and candies. The Dutch brought their holiday traditions with them to America. Gradually Sinter Klaas became known to other nationalities in the new country and visiting an increasing number of children each Christmas. it wasn't until 1882, when Dr. Clement C. Moore wrote a Christmas poem to entertain his children, that our present-day Santa Claus was born. In "A Visit from Saint Nicholas" Moore pictured him; not as a bishop in formal robes, but as a plump, cheerful fellow carrying a sack full of toys. Instead of riding a horse, he flew in a sleigh drawn by reindeer and jauntily came and went through the chimney of the house. Silent Night By Jeff Seddon BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER A few days ago, 1 received a package of Unchurched Editorials from the United Church of Canada. One of the editorials caught my eye .... and my imagination. It was entitled "'Joseph of Nazareth .....remember him?" It starts out, ''Poor Joseph always gets forgotten at Christmas. The attention focuses on the babe in .she rxlanger`,- -alae mother., t angels,-_thepromise that Wt.:, childwould he the, along awaited Messiah. But Joseph was the fall guy for everyone else's glory. Under the cir- cumstances, who could blame him if he had walked out? The woman he hadn't married yet vias going to have a baby that DEAR READE 9 he hadn't fathered. "If this Jesus is really the son of God," Joseph might well have said, "then let God have the responsibility for bringing Him up." I'd never thought much about it before, but it is true,. Joseph is mentioned at Christmas time every year but he's really on the sidelines. He gets lost in the manger scenes. Even the hard-working man who devoted his entire life to being a good father and a good husband. Remember how Joseph rose up in the middle of the night and fled into another country with his wife and the baby .because Herod was searching for the child to kill Him? That took courage and a lesser man probably would have let the chips fall where eep and.4oats.. et better. --.they- would, Saviour- or no Billing than poor Joseph. Saviour. 'i.,.. }_ _..,: -TS.id you ever think what When you come right down that meant to Joseph? to it, though, Joseph of Leaving his business in Nazareth was quite a guy. He Nazareth, pulling up stakes didn't quit when the going got and going to an entir.r6fy new rough and he didn't abandon country for the welfare of his Mary when she needed him family? It all sounds so most. He was obviously a simple in the Bible story, but imagine how Joseph felt when he was called upon to provide for Mary and the baby under impossible odds. And remember how Joseph took his wife and .Jesus to church? He didn't stay at. home to catch up on the garden chores while the rest of his family made a showing at worship. Joseph knew that as a good father it was up to him to set an example for his family, even though part of the family was the Almighty Son of God:— Even od: _Even now we know that much of a child's behaviour depends on the example set by parents. Obviously Joseph as well as Mary must have given an exceptional pattern to follow for the Bible ells us that Jesus ire.; .1. uisdo and stature, f011 ill lo;e an compasson, 0 u•1 ri'ize tivho poly iced Li- .ia ..ciple• "rend+'r iinde r (Cesar th whIC11 o. ( 1e':..,!' l le,, dcrful f . ,l theugiA Soil. It cert,iirtly ;1pl,e,trs ?f. Joseph did his job .;s a fa4'ttf It is a v. Mrd+'r that too sermons h,ot centre Jrmeph, tl. Who con't tali,: a leis ;ept from ioi.. .•• Ihi,s (hi,am.t; the ho and t','i.il1 unit h diminish +l! in its appeal pe ol.)1e. \k'ho 11.1':n't got number t 'ri, t,:i- cele a 1)re2)i:InL 111 bei^l,`, al 1'rn!ut+'kPi Cat�AV �XV�!'�..Q�.+�r�.�1w�yt�+`+�. Gullible Dear Editor. Why don't the French people recognize , Rene Levesque . for what he is, before it's too late; trying to promote the senile ideas of a once -great leader, General de Gaulle, who was making a last stance for the limelight during his few remaining years. Monsieur Levesque,. by sneaking,,,nut of (Quebec_ over - to France, to gain sympathy from the leaders of that country, brings hack to my mind the devious tactics that were portrayed by leaders of DEA France during the war, who had the confidence of the French people. The names of these two traitors are well- known to the French, Mar- shall Petain and Pierre Lavelle. If the French people of Quebec continue to pursue the support of such a man, who more than likely, has some ulterior motive for his ac- tions, it would only mean complete economic disrup- tion and total chaos. Down through the annals of history, it is a well-known fact that division always foreshadows defeat. United they stand, divided they fall. From a surprised citizen at EDI the gullibility of the French- Canadians. Mrs. Norman Minaker. She's cross Dear Editor, it makes me cross! At an estimated'cost of .$211,000,000- the Provincial Goverr`iment was returned to office in :tune. This Gt7o:over- nnlent, 110m is the provincial auditor, ovt•rsaw the loss of $115,800 worth of linen over a three year p+ rioci; paid $9,000 worth of moving -expenses for ;in education official to relocate in '1-ornnto, from Hamilton. DR We paid $2,000.000 for this Government's royal com- mission study of violence in the commurtjcations in- dustry, of that total, $46,000 went to Europe, where ac- commodation costs during a seven day trip for one com- missioner were over $150 per - day; other extravagances include $658 to transport four laeople from Toronto to Kingston by limousine on one occasion,' and $474 (plus a $50 tip) for limousine service in Los Angeles. The auditor's report revealed many more questionable expenses, but for the sake of brevity and blond pressor, only a feta listed hers". But, whist makes me reall cross is the possibility th this very same Gnvernn)e will not lend its finarci support to Hoorn County Faro ilyand (Ilt,.tree Servic to (tinte11ne• tic pritgra -aimed ` at p' 'tentinC` chih abuse lu tlt� '+imty weal<I 111) it :110th r t,-znc worker eol;I e h,' lnl'.'• rc'dttce r,:' C.' 1 —tiv pt oe.t'itrn A Sittnii rll;en v guilty last ,,,.k .d ria h• slaughter nl the death r 19 -month ,lt.l t hill. Inrtiicn of child aha t• ,uen't th torn th pi ge i 1311 s!'`VRb�`'�"?>�de'�r`+!'`�bl"R+Xaa✓+u.-.'1+r<r:.-C:tk"QR�rt4.�k+r'C 75 YEARS AGO The steamer Laura Grace arrived in port on Friday from Fort William to take up a winter berth. During her stay she will have her engines . compounded and her machinery improved, the Goderich Engine Company having the job. The train and mail service all over Ontario is very im- perfect, the difficulty in getting the regular coal for the engines, it is said, being largely the cause, aside from the rush of the holiday trade. Clinton has a coal famine to such an extent that a limited supply is being secured from Goderich. The price delivered by team in Clinton for hard LDDKING BACK coal, runs all the way from $10 to $12 a ton. Our young citizen, Fred Egenep, who is attending the Stratford Business College, was on the program for the holiday entertainment of that. institution. The painters are nearly throdgh at the new depot and it only needs furniture and the fixing of the ticket office to make it ready for the opening, which it is expected will take place in two weeks' time. 25 YEARS AGO Members of the Goderich Volunteer Fire Department were guests of the Town Council at a turkey dinner in the Bedford Hotel on Monday evening in honor of three retiring members. Fire Chief George Beacom, William Doak and Charles Bissett, were presented with wrist watches on behalf of the corporation of the town of Goder ech. The occasion marked the end of 49 years of service for Mr. Beacom, 40 for Mr. Doak and 38 for Mr. Bissett. A pleasing and dignified ceremony took place on Sunday morning in St. Peter's Church when the pastor, the Rev. .T.P. Gleeson was honored on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of his or- dination to the holy priesthood. Nick Duhick who returned to his old left-wing spot for Samis Pintiacs on Friday night, when he scored four goals to spark their victory over Mount Forest is glad to be hack in Canada after a stint with Fife Flyers of the Scottish Cup Le•ague.. 5 YEARS AGO Hon. C.S. "Charlie" McNaughton had two pleasant duties to perform in Goderich last Saturday af- ternoon and managed to fight his way through a snowstorm from his Exeter home to this municipality to do them. He officially opened the new Standard Auto Glass plant on highway 21 south. He also unveiled pi clinlinar.y plan for a 237 lot i,xtensinil Suncoast Estates smith Bennett Street in town. Cable Television serviato Goderichrand rlrClinton en niity the one step . wit week as work ine1l Blue water (able Frieveseo started iiiittinit tip th mea reception towers firs liulmcsv isle. The Goderich residents to receiv the service should he co nected in e,trly',ianuary The Goderich branch plat of a peedel, a lllvrsr0nted Textron (•anadd Lim celebrates its first hirthda' as of January 1 191 and WI look back on a very sue cessful first ,.e.ir operatic locally. uror ry ran aunt ted out ti eat depi un n es at SE