HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1969-12-23, Page 10CAGE
ZURICH CITIZENS 'NEWS CHRISTMAS EDITION
Merry Christmas
Throughout Area
"Merry Christmas!" In these
two familiar words, often heard
and often repeated, there lives
and glows the meaning of the
first of all Christmases, on that
Holy Night nearly two thousand
years ago. As the happy day
approaches, this community,
like many hundreds of thousands
of other towns and cities around
the world, proclaims the spirit
of the season in ringing bells and
happy carols, in gleaming lights
and festive decorations.
Through all celebrations
community, church, family --
the simple words of greeting run
like a glowing thread, weaving
together into one joyous whole
all the many glorious things that
Christmas stands for. "\Merry
Christmas!" The words remind
that Christmas is traditionally
a time of merriment, a time
for family and friends to gather
together.
Merry Christmas!" The words
remind that Christmas is, indeed,
more than merry. The lights and
the laughter, the fun and the
feasting are but the surface sym-
bols of all Christmas truly means.
It is a time of giving and sharing,
a time of year to remember
others, not only family, friends
and neighbours, but all mankind,
and especially the less fortunate
among us.
As gaily wrapped packages
make their way to Christmas
trees around our town, the gifts
once again recall the spirit of
giving that began with the gold,
frankincense and myrrh of the
Wise Men, and the fragrant
evergreen trees represent the
message of the Christ Child, the
inspiration of life eternal,
"Merry Christmas!" we say,
and with the words we seek to
share our reverent wonder at the
age-old story, our joy in ever-
present blessings.
HOW CELEBRATIONS BEGAN
"Merry Christmas I" The words
axe simple, familiar, even old-
fashioned, yet.they still contain
a newness and freshness, a sig-
nificance to thrill the heart of
mankind.
When did they come, these
familiar words? As a holy day
and a holiday, Christmas means
both festive merrymaking and
prayerful worship, and both
meanings are expressed in the
traditional greeting, "Merry
Christmas."
Christmas, commemorating
the birth of Christ, derives its
name from the medieval "Chr-
istes Masse, " the mass of Christ.
Yet, in the first centuries of
the Christian church, there
was no celebration of the birth
of Christ, no Christmas.
ELIZABETH DEICI-IERT-AUNT AGATHA
BARRY HESS -UNCLE HAMMERWOOD
Sad Christmases in England
Under Oliver Cromwell
(by Susan Cooper, Humber
College News Service)
English Christmases were any-
thing but merry between 1649
and 1660, when Oliver Crom-
well ruled fvith iron- fisted Pur-
itan morality. There could be
no laughter, no carols, no
merrymaking of any kind.
His government passed ordin-
ances forbidding the observance
of Christmas as a feast day and
his austere Roundheads policed
the country, ruthlessly enforcing
the laws.
"This year, God by His prov-
idence, has buried this feast in
a fast, and i hope it will never
rise again, " asserted one grim -
faced legislator of the time.
Soldiers tramped around Lon-
41ere's wishing you the
fulfillment of all your dreams for
Christmas. Thank you for your patronage.
YUNGBLUT'S MEAT MARKET
Earl Yungblut Ivan Yungblut
ZURICH
don on the morning of Christmas
Day, to seize any meat sizzling
in the fireplaces of unsuspect-
ing citizens.
The traditional boar's head,
roasted peacock, sweet meats,
hot spiced broths and plum pud-
dings were frivolous luxuries
that Cromwell would not allow.
History tells of Christmas Day
in 1657 when soldiers raided a
celebration of Holy Communion.
The dour Cromwellians trium-
phantly took the names of some
of the "offenders" and rounded
up others for treatments as
common criminals.
"When I came before them, "
wrote one of the worried wor-
shippers, "they took my name
and abode, examin'd me why,
contratie to an ordinance made
that none should any longer
observe ye superstitious time of
the Nativity (so esteern'd by
then-), I durst offend, and part-
icularly be at Common Prayers."
Every precaution was taken
then to keep Englishmen from
enjoying any gaiety at Christmas,
Common ordinances prohibiting
other cherished customs were
enforced more stringently on
Christmas than at any other time.
Pastimes such as cock -fighting
bear -baiting, horse racing,
betting,and gambling were re-
garded as serious offences.
As on the Sabbath, recreation
work and walking anywhere ex-
cept to one's own church were
forbidden. Unsmiling faces and
drab clothing were the dictated
style.
Cromwell closed hundreds of
the alehouses, the tune -honored
English meeting places.
And people didh't like it.
The first Cromwellian Christ-
mas resulte.d ii riotsand civil
disobedience. ..
In Canterbury, rioters attacked
the mayor and dragged him
through the cobbled -streets, ran
the magistrates out of town,
seized weapons from the town -
hall, and broke into the homes
of the most fanatical Puritans.
In London, officers sent to
arrest lawbreakers, instructed
to pull down the sutomary ever-
greens, holly, rosemary and
aay, were chased from the
streets.
Family Affair
The traditional Yule log sur-
vives today more in art, song
and story than as an actual
"blazing Yule." After all, not
every home has a fireplace
nowadays, and even when a
fireplace exists, its proportions
are usually far from sufficient
to accommodate the Yule logs
of yesteryear.
During ancient times in Eng-
land, however it was a solemn
family ritual to select the log,
dry it and burn it according to
!fd
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1969
custom. Logs from fruit -bearing
trees were prefetied..
The whole family went along
to select the log, as this was
thought to bring good luck for
the coming year, and to fright-
en away any witches..
If the log burned out guickly,
or did not burn brightly, it
meant bad luck ahead,
On Christmas morning, the
children of the household beat
upon the log and called for
gifts to come forth. They were
scolded by their parents, sent
outside and, after a time,
called in to open the gifts,which
had been set near the log.
all the joys and blessings
of this glorious holiday season .. .
is the tradition we treasure. Merry Christmas.
DASHWOOD HOTEL
STAN HOLUBOWICZ, Proprietor
hristmas
rettings
Here's -wishing you a merry..
old-fashioned Christmas. And to you,
warm thanks for your confidence and trust!
It has been a pleasure to serve you.
V. L BECKER & SONS
"Your International Harvester Dealer"
Phone 237-3242 -- Dashwood