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Zurich Citizens News, 1969-12-23, Page 21TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1969 ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS — CHRISTMAS EDITION Why Pick Chimney St. Nick Has Reasons Why does Santa come down the chimney? Of all the traditions con- nected with Santa, his un- conventional mode of entry might seem the most puz- zling, Surely the magical gift giver, who has the power to drive reindeer through the skies and who can cover the earth in a single night, could find an easier way to enter Yesteryear's Customs Live At Yuletide Candles and carols, trees and treats, gifts and greens — and Santa Claus, of course. Wherever Christmas is cele- brated, these symbols seem to appear. In the modern era of rapid communication, there is a growing uniformity in the ways that people everywhere choose to mark the holiday. Yesteryear's customs, how- ever, still have their place in modern celebrations. It's a case of "the more things change, the more they stay the same," as countries, com- munities and individuals seek to cherish and preserve their own special holiday tra- ditions. Some of these traditions, as treasured in memory or kept alive in holiday ritual, are compiled in the follow- ing paragraphs, according to information from the editors of Encyclopedia Internation- al. * * * It's a Mystery Mysterious things happen on Christmas Eve, say coun- try legends of Switzerland. Young people may foretell the future, if they drink from nine different fountains while the midnight church bells chime. Then, if they hasten to the church steps, their future mates will await them there. Somewhat less romantical- ly, older folk seek to predict the weather for the corning year, using onion peels filled with salt. * * * How Many Holidays? Traditionally, Belgians cel- ebrate three holidays at the Christmas season — begin - a house. Like most of the lore of Christmas, Santa's choice of the chimney has several ex- planations. For instance, leg- end has it that the original Santa, St. Nicholas, present- ed three maidens with gifts of gold for a dowry. Modest- ly concealing his generosity, he tossed the gold down a chimney, in secret. Another theory claims that Santa copied a goddess, who was the first to deliver gifts via a chimney. According to this legend, when the Vikings of Norway celebrated the Yuletide or winter solstice in their great halls, a festive feature of the occasion was the appearance of the god- dess Hertha in the fireplace. As her name indicates, Hertha was goddess of hearth and home, and most appro- priately arrived by way of the chimney, to deliver her Yuletide gifts of good luck and good cheer. Still another explanation takes a practical point of view. Housewives of North- ern Europe, cleaning house for the New Year, used to coax children to help with the chores by saying, "Let's clean the hearth. St. Nicho- las will soon be coming down the chimney." The children willingly set to work, and thus, says leg- end, a tradition was born. Even when he takes to heli- copter or jet plane, Santa de- livers his gifts by way of the chimney! ning with St. Nicholas Day, December 6th, when the good saint brings gifts for chil- dren. Then comes St. Thomas Day, December 21st. It's a sort of "trick or treat" day for school children, who try to play tricks on their teach- ers. The third holiday, of course, is Christmas. * * Baking Cakes If the weather on St. Nich- olas Day, December 6th, is misty, a Dutch legend can explain it. St. Nicholas is baking his cakes. Traditional cakes — Zelten or Klosse — are adorned with different figures. These, chil- dren are told, are the marks made by St. Nicholas' donkey as he steps over the cakes on his way through the mist. 3 r;k.++.•..,.. � ..... nk<yr:i:<�i:5`r'}•k%Nki.,, . .... nYC,t>.,.,Y�....k• glieetioirts cod " s h ?lo .. . Tor a Christmas sparkling bright, fresh and merry, we extend our sincere wishes to you. We'll do our best, always, to deserve your valued good will. If GRAND BEND CLEANERS Thelma and Jack Waldron and Staff PAGE SEVEN Community Greets Joyful Christmas Throughout this community, the Christmas spirit finds expression, as once again, people are proving that this happiest of holidays is a time of tradition, A modern Christmas, just like a good old-fashioned Christmas, calls for gatherings of family and friends, with much merriment, fun and feasting. Gifts and Santa Claus express the mood of the season, es- pecially for the youngsters. Trees and other decorations, music and song, light and laughter set the scene. As a Christian holy day, celebrated in church services and private devotions, Christmas glows with the spirit of good will, and "peace and good will" is the wish and prayer, for all mankind. All of these traditions of Christmas are wrapped up in one. The true spirit of Christ- mas is most happily expressed in the exchange of greetings. "Have a Merry Christmas." That says it all — the heartfelt hope for good things for others, the good feeling that prevails, the happiness of the season rising above problems and crises, the wish to give and to share all the holiday joys and blessings. As a special custom that symbolizes the spirit of Christmas, the exchange of greetings takes many forms. "Merry Christmas" is said person-to-person, with smiles of gladness, wherever friends and family meet. "Merry Christmas" is the message of millions of greet- ing cards which travel across the miles. And "Merry Christmas" is the theme of today's edition of this newspaper, in which businessmen of the community offer their special greet- ings and good wishes, their words of appreciation to patrons and friends. * * * Sending Greetings The custom of exchanging greetings at holiday time is older than Christmas. The custom of the Christmas greeting card, however, is a relatively new one. Christmas cards originat- ed about 125 years ago, in England. Despite this re- cent start, printed greetings quickly caught the public fancy and are today one of the most popular forms of Christmas holiday traditions. * * * Decorating Trees The gaily decorated tree so much a part of Christmas has its counterpart in trees adorned with colorful trin- kets during the ancient feasts of the winter equinox. This pagan custom of dec- orating evergreens became associated with Christmas observances, and legends link it to the birth of Jesus. One such story says that on the night of the Nativity, all the woodland trees burst into bloom and bore fruit. * * * Tracing Santa Santa's source, legend says, goes back to the fourth cen- tury, when St. Nicholas, a bishop of Asia Minor, was noted for his generosity and gift -giving. In some countries, St. Nich- olas still retains his role as gift -bearer. His day is, tra- ditionally, December 6th, and European children await him on St. Nicholas Eve, Decem- ber 5th. A gray horse and a white donkey have each been cred- ited with the honor of trans- porting him on his gift -giv- ing journeys. * * * )lighting the Way Light and Christmas go together, for the deepest meaning of the holiday rep- resents Christ, the Light of the world. From the bonfires and candles of yesteryear to the twinkling electric orna- ments of today, light symbol- izes Christmas. According to Irish legend, a candle should always be placed in the window on Christmas Eve. Each Christ- mas, it was said, Christ wan- ders the earth in search of a welcome,•and a candle should light the way. 11 IT'S TOO COMMON In most of the United States, the poinsettia is a prized Christmas flower, In Hawaii, however, it grows so profusely that it is consid- ered too common for such an important holiday. Potted or- chids, anthurium or the or- ange -and -blue flower called "bird of paradise" are Ha- waiian holiday favorites. Decorated with Hearty "Tha'ak You're the frosting on our cake ... and doing business with you is a real treat. To you, wishes for a Christmas full of goodies. TASTY -NU BAKERY Allan Gascho and Staff We'd like to get down to brass tacks and do two things... thank you for your patronage... and wish you all a very Merry Christmas!