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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Herald, 1940-12-19, Page 2JOYOUS AND HAPPY HULInAY EA ON jig, Folk -Song Thts Is By Tradition The French - Canadian Farmer's Merrymaking Season They've dusted off the fiddle and rolled back the parlor rug in French-Canadian homes in the back concessions, fear it's the sea- son of jig and folk -song. The Quebec farmer's merry - Taking season by tradition is the last week of the old year and the first week of the new, when winter has brought a lull in his hard work of squeezing a living from the soil. Though the period is one of gaiety in the remote, snow -bound viliges, always it starts with sol- emn celebration of midnight Mass in the parish church Christ- mas Eve. Every resident of every par- ish turns out for the Mass with its blazing candies, the Christ - MSS hymns and the sermon of the sure, in the little stone church that is the hub of rural French- Canadian life, REVELRY AFTER MASS The ae ehy starts after Mass, once the farm folk have returned to their homes and piled wood high in shiny black stoves. There's the dancing and singing, little glassfuls and good things to eat from laden kitchen tables. But in the village homes no presents are given Christmas Day. That's reserved for New Year's. And all the gifts are useful — a new fur cap for the husband, a coat for the wife, blue suits for the sons and dresses for the daughters. ENDS WITH EPIPHANY The farmer's holiday ends with a round of visiting and family gatherings on the Feast of the Epiphany. After that it's back to work — time to start threshing grain sheaves stacked in the barns since the autumn. A Decorated Tree Serves Two Aims If Set Outdoors at Holiday Time—lends Air of Gay Fes- tivity and Provides Food Source for Birds In decorating the outdoor Christmas- t e- a . tvr nonny,,.. • .... festivities, home -lovers might consider combining artistry with usefulness by having the tree also serve as a source of food for the birds. Decorations which cover both these points may be made by scooping out a drying half orange and then fill- ing it with melted suet to which . have been added sugar or honey and one or more of the following ingredients: sunflower seeds, millet, hemp, coarse cornmeal, oatmeal, chopped nuts, chopped saw peanuts, bread or cake crumbs and peanut butter. STRINGS OF CRANBERRIES Brightly painted halves of English walnut shells, scooped clean, fastened to a string or wire and filled with a combination of two or more of the above in- gredients also make pretty de- corations. The some filling may be used in pine cones after they have been expnded by placing near the heat. Strings of cranberries, pop- corn and raisins used as garlands, as well as pieces of apple fasten- ed to branches, all lend color and relish. Christmas Windows Night roofs lie stiffly, row on row; The songless earth is black, And yet these homey squaaes of g Spread joy across my track. The muffled street is widely seethed As chilling snow -whirls dart, But lighted windows, Christmas- wreathed, Sing carols in my heart. —Alan Creighton, Ott "The Oruiclble". The Christ Child And it came to pass in those days that there went out -a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed ... And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Na- zareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem • (because he was of the -house and lineage of David) . to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and Iaid him in a manger; be- cause there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keening watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel (15th Century "Nativity" by Francesco di Pietro Santa, Rome) of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, Lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising Gad and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." ' T was The t . eChriag 'Twas the night before Christ- mas when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all sung in their beds, While visions of sugarplums Banc - ed through their heads, Mama in her kerchief and I in my cap Had just settled our brains for a' long winter's nap; When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, 1 sprang from nay bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window' I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow Gave the lustre of midday to ob- jects below, When what to my wondering eyes should appear But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer, With a little old driver so lively and quick, A knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick. Mere rapid than eagles his cours- ers they came, And he whistled, and shouted and called them by name. "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer! and Vixen! On, Comet! on, Cupid, on, Don- ter atd Blitzenl To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Noes dash away! dash away! dash away all!" As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with en ob- stacle mount to the sky, So up to the housetop the eours- saw they flow, With as, sleigh full of Wove and. Saint Nichales too, Awl teen in a twinkling I heard our the roof . The prancing and peeving of wase& Me /ma— ke e I drew in my head and was 41011'M around, Dow» the chimney St, N'i holes tame with a bound. Re was dressed all in far iia"stn his head to his font. Mag And his clothes were all tarnish- ed with ashes and soot. A bundle of toys he had flung on .his back, And he looked like a pedlar just opening his pack; His eyes — how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry! His checks were like roses; his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up in a bow, And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow; The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircle,! his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf. And I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; Ile spoke not a word, but went straight to his work And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose And giving a nod, up the chime ney he rose. He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle; But I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night," Plum Porridge The original plum -pudding was known as "plum porridge." VMS always the first course et the Christmas dinner, Plum porridge had the prate* of honor at the Yuletide hanquet of George. 11X, pas east hasey imagine Falun >tiir'o 's f aYor. rte CA appealing to the modern palate, for It wove own/sounded of boiled beef or mutton, brown bread, raisins, cutouts, ts, prom*, mace, and .gingerbread. Christmas Turkey: How to Carve It All Minority Claims In the Family Must Be Satisfied— Here Are Some Pointers Two big problems face pater- familias at this time: How to scrape up enough money to get a turkey or a goose for the Christ- mas dinner and how to go about carving the festive bird so that all "minority" claims are satis- fied and without any embarras- sing incident due to awkward manipulation of the carving in- struments. Carving the turkey is quite an easy matter, says a chef in giv- ing explicit instructions on the proper procedure, if one goes about it the right way, especi- ally speci.ally a very large turkey, for the breast suffices for a number of persons when carefully carved. When this is not sufficient, the tops of the wings, holding it firm- ly with a fork and then the legs severed and carved should be serval. SMALLER BIRD, GREATER CARE A smaller bird of lesser pro- porctions requires greater eaare> Here the advice is to insert the fork firmly in the breast of the bird, and downwards between the body and thigh. Turn out- wards to sever the legs. Keep the to* in the breast while the wings are carved off, cutting Widely to keep the shape of the wings. If the bird is fairly large the breast should be care- erd; otherwise it should be sep- arated from the back by cutting the ins.. The breast Should be cut across into halves, and the legs should be cut lengthwise. Then turn the bird right over and dislocate the back with a knife. To obtain the delicate dark meat around the side bones, the thigh joint sockets should be re- moved, while the bones on either side are cut off. Carve the forcemeat acrcss in thin slices and cut the apron across if the bird is stuffed. Wassail Bowl Hot Spicy Drinks Belong the Holiday Season Legends From Fifth Century Many Traditions of This Sea- son Are Traceable Back to the Time of the Romans • The growth of Christmas tea' clition and legend has never .ceas- ed since the 'Fifth Century, when.. the birth of Christ was first gen-e erally celebrated, Each nation has had its own native custoans and has added those of other countries as well as subtracting and modifying until the complex..., ritual of our traditional Christ- mas has grown tip, perhaps with less religious observance than r. could be wished, but with a holi- nass of a scat 'in the universal happiness and feeling of good- will. SANTA CLAUS Santa Claus, for example, the deity of the child and the syai-.. bol of the adult, bears the name he does in Canada because this is the British version of •the Dutch Saint Nicholas. The orig= inal Saint Nicholas was rBisbon of Smyrna during the Diocletian persecutions and after his death; benne the patron of little child-: ren, merchants, sailors, travelers;' thieves, pawnbrokers and maiden. ladies. The gifts that this kindly* soul brings find their origin in a legend about him which tells how he gave dowries to throe daughters of a poor tradesman,. whence grew the custom of hang- ing up the stockings of little children on the Eve of St. Nich- olas on December 5, the custom later 'being transferred to Cht ! t- uras. The exchange of gifts be- tween persons arises from the gifts of the Three Wise Men. CHRISTMAS TREE STORY The Christmas Tree, decorated • with its glittering tinsel and shining lights, is a more recent addition to the stock of tradition, probabI,y originating in Gee= many. HOLLY AND BERRIES Holly with its thorns and blood - red berries its thought to sym- bolize the crown cf thorns worn by the Saviour; another belief is that the use of holly, comes from the pagans. Wassil bowl, so named from the Saxon "waes hael" (lit. "be in health," according to our "to your health"), carried by • the children' singing carols, owes- its origin to the custom of drinking the health of friends in the 'spiced ' wine drunk at .Christmas time ii mediaeval days. It was a spiced and sweetened drink served in huge bowls' with roasted apples floating in it. Cattle in the Stell I hold no place of high i..,port, Where roars the thronging a art-.- , One of the little ones on c 4rth I do my humble part, With fork and pail and ;table broom in As evening shadows fall In common tasks I tend for hliin The cattle in the stall. Drinks that warm the heart and take the chill off the night belong to the Christmas season. Try these simple and satisfying beverages to the tune of tradi- tional Chrismas carols. • HOT CIDER PUNCH (Serves 12) Two pieces stick cinnamon, 1 tablespoon whole cloves, IV, gal- lon sweet cider, Iii cup sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, lemon peel. Place spices in a bag and add to cider with sugar and salt.. Bring slowly to boiling point. Cool. Remove spice bag. Just be- fore serving, reheat until very hot. Serve with piece of lemon peel in each glass. MULLED GRAPE JUICE One pint grape juice, 1 pint water, 6 egg yolks, I/a pound sugar, 1/3 teaspoon grated nut- meg, 6 egg whites. ' Bring grape juice and water to boil. Beat egg yolks well and add sugar and nutmeg. Beat egg whites to a froth and stir into egg -yolk mixture. Hold boiling grapejuice and water high above bowl and pour elott- ly into eggs, stirring eonstentl r. Pour this mixture from one pitcher to another until thir- oughly mixed, Serve hot. or cold. SPICED TLA Six teaspoons black tea leaves, 6 cups boiling water, d slices lemon, 8 teaspoons whole cloves, 6 sticks of cinnamon, angor to taste. Use 6 glasses. In bottom of each glass place sugar and elite of lemon studded with elms. In a tea kettle, pour boiling water over the tea leaves and stand for 5 minutes. Then pour the hot etxong tea into glasses and itir with . alt- ra.men. +stick, I love the knotted dark a c,ng The heavy rough -beamed r., The cleanly crackle of the straw Beneath the shifted hoof; The woven chorus of conn ,t That drones from wall to Because I love for His den sake The cattle in the stall. For since of old a stable k ew That wondrous Baby's birt , Methinks He loves the catt.e best Of all the beasts of earth. Their kind eyes gave Him wet= come there— They heard His first faint call -- Ob, proud ani I to tend for Him The cattle in the stall! Now conies once more the glori- ous night, The Christmas of the year! They watch -in reverence and awe. The miracle draw near, The Child Divine is born again --- His love is over all --- It rests in benediction on The cattle in the stall! —Nina Moore Jamieson. s.;