Zurich Citizens News, 1974-12-23, Page 23MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1974
ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS PAGE 23
`Christkindli' of Switzerland
Reappears at Holy Season
Christmas has unique
significance in the German
and French speaking re-
gions of Switzerland be-
cause the "Christkindli," or
Christ Child, is believed to
walk on earth during this
season.
Instead of Santa Claus,
the "Christkindli," repre-
sented as a beautiful, radi-
ant, angel -like being with
wings carrying a _magic
Wand and wearing a shining
crown, distributes Christ-
mas gifts and. Christmas
trees glittering with fanci-
ful decorations,
Although the "Christ-
kindli" is commonly be-
lieved to personify the
Christ -Child, he is some-
times represented as an
angel bearing a light or a
star just as an angel her-
alded the birth of Christ
ENTERTAIN SENIOR CITIZENS - Last Wednesday the Bay-
view Tourist Inn on Highway 21 entertained a group of the resi-
dents of the Bluewater Rest Home to a Christmas dinner, an
annual event sponsored by the eating establishment. On hand to
entertain the group during the dinner were the five daughters of
Mr. and Mrs, Joe Miller, R.R.1, Dashwood. Back are Carolyn
and Dbnna, while the three younger girls in the front are Valerie,
Colleen and Angela.
PHONE 524-7811
AIR CONDITIONED
CJ / errl , Christmets
and (6ficank`u
THEATRE CLOSED
DECEMBER 24 and 2 5
THUR., FRI., SAT.
DEC. 26, 27, 28
PLUS MATINEE
THERE'S
A (love) BUG GOING AROUND
WALT DISNEY
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PRODUR10y✓ 'Y+
RIDES AGA
SAT. DEC. 28 """' TECHNICOLOR•
SUN., MON., TUES., DEC. 29, 30, 31
ADULT ENTERTAINMENT
RICHARD HARRIS • OMAR SHARIF WED., THUR., FRI., SAT., JAN. 1, 2, 3, 4
BRONSON
tLSOWEpT
ADULT LIV ULLMANN
ENTERTAINMENT JAMES MASON
PLUS JD.L iaeLAND
DEATH MULE S
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at Bethlehem. On the other
hand, the "Christkindli"
has some of the character-
istics of a sprite, as sug-
gested by the wand and the
wings, which can be linked
to pre -Christian beliefs.
Some suggest he may stem
from the pagan custom of
representing the New Year
as a radiant and beautiful
child,
Like Santa, the "Christ-
kindli" also arrives in a
sleigh drawn by reindeer,
so there would appear to be
some intermingling of
Christmas legends here,
St. Nicholas is represented
in several ways in different
parts of Switzerland. In
some, he is called Father
Christmas and comes with
his wife, Lucy (representing
St. Lucy whose feast day is
December 13) to distribute
gifts. He wears the tradi-
tional Santa Claus costume,
while Lucy wears a round
cap over her long braids, a
laced bodice and a fancy
apron.
In the central part of
Switzerland, St. Nicholas is
represented more realisti-
cally in his bishop's regalia
complete with mitre and
crosier. On St, Nicholas'
Day, which falls on Decem-
ber 6th, there is a magnifi-
cent parade in which white
bearded masqueraders,
clothed in long white shirts,
carry huge three-foot
mitre -shaped lanterns over
their heads. These lanterns
are perforated in intricate
religious designs, similar to
church windows, and when
the candlelight shines
through them, as their
bearers execute a stately
dance, they are an impres-
sive sight indeed,
In the village of Urnaesch
in the Canton of Appenzell,
the men and boys go "Santa
Clausing." Some wear red
Santa Claus costumes with
jingling bells while others,
dressed and masked as "la-
dies," wear enormous, elab-
orate picture hats decorated
with panoramas of Alpine
scenes. Starting early in the
day on New Year's Eve, the
group proceeds through the
village with an unusual
hopscotch gait, stopping at
each farm to share their
merriment and partake of
refreshments. When dark-
ness falls, they all head for
the Valley
Tips to Make
Yule Brighter
The Christmas card made
from a photograph of chil-
dren or family group is
highly popular as a means
of bringing a sense of to-
getherness to relatives and
friends when geographical
separation makes the real
thing impossible.
The best time for such
pictures, naturally, is when
presents are being opened
and the family group is
together, sharing and show-
ing their joy in Christmas
surprises.
A good second' opportu-
nity may be found when the
family is gathered at the
table for Christmas dinner.
Other possibilities include
"stockings hung by the
chimney with care" and
children playing, indoors or
out, with new gifts.
Whatever subject you
choose, better do it today —
tomorrow may be too late
to capture the best "shots"
to share with others.
* * *
In most cases, Christmas
cards become waste paper.
Before you consign this
' year's cards to the trash
can, consider removing per-
sonal messages from them
and turning them over to
a church or other group
whose members devote their
time to creating attractive
scrap -books with the cards.
Many beautiful and col-
orful cards, carefully se-
lected and arranged in
these inexpensive and easy -
to -make scrap -books,
Feasting is an integral part of the Christmas celebra-
tion, symbolizing not only rejoicing at the coming of Christ
but, also, the spirit of sharing and brotherly love which
is characteristic of the season. Like so many other aspects
of Christmas, it is a blend of Christian and pre -Christian
traditions, strongly influenced by local customs,
In Italy the dishes of the Christmas feast vary widely
depending on the region, In the north, for example, the
meal may begin witn cappelletti ("little hats")„ stuffed
with meat or tortellini, a sort of ravioli, followed by a
plain dish of meat, which may be anything from roast
turkey with chestnut stuffing to zampone, a pork sausage
packed in a pig's leg smothered with lentils,
In the area around Rome, the traditional dish of Christ-
mas Eve is "capitone," a large female eel, roasted, baked,
or fried, following a religious tradition which prescribes
a meatless dinner on Christmas Eve, the Vigilia, or Christ-
mas vigil. In accordance with this tradition, the Roman
fish market, held the night of December 23rd, is a peculiar
feature of the Christmas observance.
In the south of Italy, the feasting usually begins with
macaroni with meat and tomato sauce, followed by chicken
or meat in jelly.
Particularly characteristic of Christmas feasting in all
regions are sweets: fruitcakes of various types (panettone)
and other sweets in which nuts and honey figure promi-
nently.
� ARROW >
Christmas Draw
$50. WINNER - MRS. M. McKINNON
$25. WINNER - ZURICH PRO HARDWARE
$20. WINNER - HAROLD PECK
CASE OF VALVOLINE MOTOR OIL WINNERS
1, Bill Steckle
2. Clarence Farwell
3. Glen Neeb
4. John Twynstra
5. Russell Grainger
WINTER JACKET WINNERS
1. Logan Cleave 3. Orval Schilbe
2. Carl Oesch 4. Pat Oesch
BOTTLE OF CHEER WINNERS
1. Gary's Appliances
2. Robert Westlake
3. Bill Wagner
4. Don Oke
11>ur warmest wishes
for the holiday. It's a time to
be joyful and to say, "thank you".
LORI and ADDIE JUTZI
.AI D THE STAFF
AT
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VANAS"T'RA