Zurich Citizens News, 1969-12-23, Page 9TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1969
ZURICH
CITIZENS NEWS
--- CHRISTMAS EDITION
NATIVITY SCENE AT PROGRAM IN ZURICI-1 PUBLIC SCHOOL
Christmas Lights Bring Joy and Peace
The lights of the Christmas
tree, most beautiful when re-
flected in the eyes of a child,
will bring peace and joy to
millions of homes again this
season, as they have for centu-
ries.
But how did it begin? Why do
we connect trees and lights with
the birth of the Babe whom
Christians consider the Messiah?
There are several stories about
the origin of the Christmas tree.
People in Scandinavia once
worshipped trees, and explains
World Book Encyclopedia, they
made evergreen trees part of
Christian festivals when they
became Christians.
One legend tells how the first
Christmas tree was shown in a
miracle to the English mission-
ary Winfrid (later called Boni-
face).
More than 1, 200 years ago,
while travelling in what is now
Northern Germany, Winfrid
found a group of heathens at an
oak tree, about to sacrifice a
child to the god Thor.
Winfrid stopped the sacrifice
and cut down the "blook oak."
As the oak fell, according to
the legend, a young fir tree
appeared. Winfrid said the fir
was the tree of life, represent -
in Christ.
he Germans probably were
the first to decorate Christen as
trees. They used stars, angels,
toys, gilded nuts, and candies
wrapped in bright paper, and
later added tinsel and lighted
candles. Scandinavians at one
time trimmed their trees with
little flags. Now they also use
cookies, apples and gilded nuts.
In the United States and C an-
ada, homemade paper ornam-
ents, candy canes, and strings
of cranberries and popcorn were
popular before rhe adventpof
shiny colored balls and the string
of colored electric lights.
Lights at Christmas represent
Christ as the Light of the World.
According to one story, Martin
Luther put lights on his trees to
represent the glory and beauty
of the stars above Bethlehem.
In the United States and Can-
ada, many churches hold cand-
-.;.�t;a
At Christmas, a special prayer:
May mankind be blessed with "Peace on
Earth." Anda special wish: May
your personal Christmas be a most happy one.
E. W. SHANTZ & SONS
RR 3, ZURICH PHONE 23.6-4036
GENERAL AND CONTRACT T12UCXING
All Types of Pit Materials •
lelight services on Christmas
Eve. People in Ireland, World
Book says, leave a candle burn-
ing in the window. In the Ne-
therlands, on the eve of Epip-
hany young men carry the Christ-
mas Star- -actually.a lantern
containing lightedcandles--as
they stroll through the streets
singing hymns and carols.
No matter what the origin the
tree ablaze with lights is some-
thing we remember from our
earliest childhood... and some-
thing the very youngest children
will egin to learn this Christ-
mas.
0
TIIOUC11T OF TIME YEAR
I shall pass through this life but
once.
Any good, therefore, that T can
do
Or any kindness I can show to
any fellow creature.
Let me do it now,
Let me not defer or neglect it,
For I shall not pass this way
again. --- Etienne DeC rellct
0
6 0
O p
Gkrr�sstn�as
Wickes
Please accept these
best wishes for
a Merry Christmas.
We attach our thanks!
HESS JEWELLERY
ZURICH
Mrs. Margaret Hess,
Holly Holds Sway
In Most Homes At
Festive Season
The holly tree and its brightly
berried branches hold an im-
portant place not only in Holi-
day decorations but in the leg-
ends and lore of Christmas.
An old belief in England and
Germany was that there are "he"
and "she" hollies-- the "he"
12ollies with spined leaves, the
"she" hollies smooth -leaved.
PAGE NINE
The varieties Brought into the
house at Christmas supposedly
showed who would head the house
hold for the coming year ---"he"
or "she."
A variation on this custom said
that if the holly was brought in-
to the house in fair weather, the
wife would rule, but if the wea-
ther was bad, the husband would
be master.
Holly was credited with many
magical and medical powers.
It was believed to cure toothach-
es, banish rickets, and even
foretell the girls the names of
their future husbands.
May your
holiday be
blessed
with the
sounds
of joy.
• laughter.
VISI1ES
Heartfelt
thanks for
your
yf loyalty and
friendly
�•t good
will.
.HOTSON PROPANE LTD.
Grand Bend
REMY
CkfRs15
May this holiday season bestow
on you every blessing and happiness.
Please accept our best wishes,
and may we express our gratitude to
you for your loyal patronage. Thank you!
BRAID'S GENERAL STORE
Shirley and Ron Braid
Dashwood