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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1974-12-23, Page 8PAGE 8 ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1974 a lovable legend, bringer of gifts Throughout history, Santa Claus has had many names, many origins: He has as many personalities as fertile imaginations through the ages can dream up. The symbol of Santa Claus and other magical bringers of gifts is infin- itely variable. In Europe the chief gift -bringers are St. Nicholas on his saint's clay, the 6th of December; his Anglo-American de- scendant is Santa Claus; in parts of Scandinavia dwarfs and goats take his place; there is the Christ Child of the Ger- man Xmas Eve ; the white -robed girl Kolyada in pre -revolutionary Rus- sia arrived by sleigh on Christmas Eve with at- tendant carol -singers; and the Epiphany gift -bearers associated with the Magi — such as the Befana of Italy, Babouschka of old Russia, and the Tres Reyes Magos of Spain — all parade down through the centuries with essen- tially the same function — to bring gifts to good little boys and girls. Santa Claus himself is composed of many ele- ments; ,he is half Saint Nicholas and half ancient yule god. St. Nicholas, the original, was a bishop of Myra in Asia Minor in the fourth century. He is sup- posed to have wrought miracles; certainly he was a good man. Many stories evolve from legends con- cerning the Bishop. One which is not as well known is told which introduces his connection with chil- dren. Three boys were mur- dered by an innkeeper, cut up, and the pieces pre- served in barrels of vine- gar. St. Nicholas found these truncations, fitted them together with a prayer, and brought the boys back to life. To our 2uth century minds this may seem a most macabre way to begin a legend's as- sociation with children! In Holland, St. Nicholas becomes Sante Klaas. The children put out a pair of shoes or clogs filled with hay, water and carrots for his white horse; these are placed before the fireplace, and the next morning the shoes are found filled with either sweets and little gifts — or, depending on past behavior, birch rods. Santa's arrival by chim- ney in America 'probably has an origin of anteced- ent significance. Hearth - gods and gods of the Yule - log went in and out by chimney — also witches, adherents of the old and earliest religion of the horned god only much. later made into a satan- ic Christian devil -figure. (Shades of an exorcist!) These people used hallu-- cinu,ory drugs and used ointments like belladonna that made them feel 'like they were flying. v4s we rejoice in the story of the first Christmas, may the happy spirit of the holiday Tight up your home with peace, good will. "42 YEARS SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY" V. L. BECKER & SONS "Your International Harvester Dealer" Phone 237-3242 — Dashwood �c--��.��»rr�-•��c--t�hc-auc=.,w^c-� .a --ter. �c-..•.S��n-r��t.�-�.ec�w-�ct��r-�7 At this Glorious and Holy time, we wish for all mankind the great gifts of peace and joy, faith and love. May our spirits be uplifted, and our hearts filled with happiness and contentment, as we cherish anew the glorious message and meaning of Christmas. For the confidence and loyalty of those whom we are privileged to serve, we wish to express deepest gratitude. THE MANAGEMENT and STAFF of ainion ORIGINAL OLD MILL IN SIXTH SINCE 1894 At The Railway Tracks . , . . �.oT�" e � "-•sae—'",�e�4^� � , Meo:�'-4r'SIC�'o�:�� � , �v�n. _'" � ;9c.:t,�a.:�r'c�'i�.�Kv,E ©td mea i,(109Y Oul��. W0101. LEATHER PRODUCTS An Authentic Old MITI 170.1'