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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1952-12-25, Page 7HIRONI'eLE,S A 1NGERV�. C'la,e.ndol.Inc C) Cie, A HAPPY CIMISTMAS TO YO (1 ALL 1 To everyone who reads this column, that is my sincere wish. And to all those who never even look at it -1 wish them a very happy Christmas too —even though they won't wen know it, Having writ ten those few words I paused , .. and wonder- ed. If my wish to you is to be fulfilled what would you consider a happy Christmas to be? Hap- piness is a relative quality — it can mean many things to many people, and no two people have the same idea as to what con- stitutes happiness for them. So I began making inquiries. 1 said to Mrs K.—"What is your de- finition of a happy Christmas?" ivlrs. K. found it a difficult ques- tion to answer, "Actually 1 hard ly know," she said, "but thinking back 1 am sure my happiest Christmases were when the chil- dren were small and we all went to church on Christmas morning and then on to Mother and Pad's for the rest of the day 10 sisters were there with their families and we really had a wonderful. time." I put the same question to a farmer—who has more land, more cattle, and more worries than he knows how to handle—so he says, "What would I consider a Happy Christmas? Well, now, this is easily answered. I would consider myself happy if I had just a small farm of my own, with enough work to keep me occupi- ed; enough money to live com- fortably, and "enough leisure so that I could have my family around me and make their Christ- mas happy too." Both answers, you may notice, were tied in with family gather- ings. For, starting with Joseph and Mary, and the Infant Jesus, Christmas is essentially a family season, don't you think? The lonely folk are those who have ne, family to visit them, or no :family circle to which they are likely to be invited. But there is another form of happiness --individual happiness. The joy we feel when someone we love, and did not expect to see, comes home for Christmas after all, Or a wire or a telephone call announcing the arrival of an ex- pected baby, Or those wonderful words— "She is out of danger"—when someone very dear to us has passed a crisis. A Christmas card •— just to know one is remembered—often brings great happiness. But don't forget—the Christ- mas cards one sends, the friendly call One makes, the little unex- pected kindnesses one passes along, they, too, bring happiness to the giver. "All who joy would win; must share it—for happi- ness was born a twin." Perhaps that is actually the secret of the Christmas joy that we feel but cannot explain —the spirit of kindliness and good fellowship once to another, At no other time of the year are there so many people doing so much for other folks' happiness. Isn't it a pity Christmas doesn't last for ever? What a lovely world this would be if everyone, every- where, was trying his or her best to bring happiness to others. No more wars, no more starving peoples, no more back-biting, no more hurt feelings, no more trying to put over a smart deal. And, I hope, no more foolish, ex- pensive presents—spending $5 on a present for Mabel because we happen to know that Mabel's pre- sent to us last year must have cost $5 at least. If it were not for that we hadn't planned to spend more than a dollar. But how do we know Mabel spent $5 anyway —it may have been a white elephant Mabel was passing along. It is more than likely far more love and thought went into that piece of handmade pottery that Isabel gave. The best Christmas giving is from the heart and not the pocket. Children, we know, would be far more content with simple gifts if they were not surfeited with more expensive toys. And yet we continue to load them down . Poor old Santa Claus has a lot to answer for. Too often expensive gifts to our friends cause more embar- rassment than the pleasure they give. So don't let us worry if we cannot give as much as we would like to. If the present we offer is to someone whose friendship we value it will be accepted as a loving token of our esteem. And so, dear friends of this column, I wish you once again a HAPPY CHRISTMAS with your family and friends about you. 1 ani quite sure most of you have been working hard to bring joy to others so I know there is lots of happiness in store for you. `c:wgifiVs•Z YtdMk.dtaNa • Bay and Rosemary Christmas Tradition Bay and rosemary have also been represented among our Christmas plants from time lin- memorial. An ancient writer says: "Rosemarie and Bates that are most faire were stuck about th houses and the churches at the time of Christmas." Accoring to tradition it was the bay tree, with its lance - like leaves and purple berries, that sheltered the holy family during a thunder -storm. Accord- ingly it was believed that light. ing will never strike a bay tree. The association of the rose- mary plant with Christmas also goe sback to the early child- hood of our Lord, namely to the flight into Egypt to escape the wrath and jealousy of King Herod. Its branches are said to have held the little garments of the Christ -Child that were placed upon them by the Vir- gift Mother. Originally, its flow- ers were supposed to have been white, but the plant changed the color of its blossoms to lav- ender so that they might bear the hue of the cloak Mary was wearing at the time. Why You Hang Holly At Yuletide Credit The Pagan Druids for inspiring one of the nice Christ- mas customs—decorating with holly The traditional holly for the holidays is widely believed to have had its origin in the Druid practice of bringing holly sprigs indoors. The Druids wood- land spirits lived in the holly. Indoors, holly gave the spirits a nice warm place in winter. Be- sides, the lush green holly and the contrast of its red t w provided beauty that could be revered by men when the sac- red oaks were shorn of their foliage. The early Christian church frowned on such pagan customs and tried to stamp them out. In due time, however, it was felt that some of the customs could be adapted to the• new Cruist- mac conception. Some beautiful legends asso- ciate the holly with Christ. In tact, it is often called the Christ thorn. One legend depicts the leaf spines as the crown of. thorns: the red herrie, as tree sins of the world and blood of Christ. Another credits holly with first springng up from the footsteps, of Christ. The plant is said to remain green all winter as a reward for once hiding Christ from his pursuers. The impact of the holly On the Christmas celebre ton is deuced in the traditional holiday colors, green and red, The Druids weren't the only people of old who thought the holly was something special. Pliny, the great Roman historian, insisted holly blossoms caused water to freeze. Also, that. holly thrown at any wild beast would make it lie down; tamely next to the branch. :k o'.'^.eCtri::m`xA;ai+k`m':s.N.cTAaratrite`tra a%M:r1+WOSI The Birth of Jesus . And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn, The Visit of the Shepherd And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord. shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward amen. And it carne to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shep- herds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they cause with. haste, and found Mary, and Josephs, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart, The Visit of the Wise Men , . . Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east of Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship hint. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be horn. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judo, art not the least among the princes of Duda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Iierod, when he had privily called the wise men, en- quired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found hint, bring me word again, that T may come and worship hits also. When they had heard the king, they departed and. lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young' child was. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell dower, and wor- shipped him :. and when they had opened his treasures, they presented unto hint gift=: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. x;YY,Mlia;SfC.:�inWh. 4!!.: gikeeeKVii. w°e%C"wet v>"on'"•fi'..-.md:;: arat,ts..nz.rti:'s:rat.4st Xmas 'Open House Early Saxon Custom At Christmastide, the geas0 hall 01 the Saxon lord wt thrown open to peasant and noble alike—all mingling dean, - erotically and exchanging gtfM and hearty cheer during a great* feast and festivities composed eg dance and song. With a tremen- dous burst of shouting, the Yule Log was dragged into the hod and placed upon the open l str pit, These democratic Christman festivities lasted until the lent dying embers 0f the log. in, the south, prior to the Civil War, the slaves, following th1 Saxon custom, would soak a ice in the cypress sWamps to extend the length of their Christman freedom. This unrestrained friendsh4 between the Saxon lord and hitt serf at Christmas time has coma down to us in the form Of elan hospitable "Open House."