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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Star, 1932-12-15, Page 15WINK The Men's Christmas Store Practical Christmas Gifts at Pridham's for Men and Boys at pie; to suit Everyone SHIRTS and NECKWEAR PYJAMAS GLOVES UNDERWEAR BATH ROBES NECK SCARFS HOSIERY UNEN HANDKERCHIEFS HICKOK BELTS SWEATERS BROCK HATS, ETC. •SUITS and OVERCOATS (Nicely Bond) 3frottuituts afVidetthe in Noreign ?Canto% ra 11. CeiHE Norsemen speak of Christ, mos as Jul, while the Scottish 1 peasantry call it Yule. The name in ancient times eorres- ponded to our December, At that time the year consisted of ten months, December, then as now, was the last month of the year, the , tenth month instead of the twelfth. The old Roman word for ten was Decent, and for that reason the tehth Month was called December. Later when the calendar was revised and the months rearranged to form twelve month* instead of tea, December was still kept as the last month of the year It become the twelfth month instead of the tenth month, but the name remained unchanged. When Christianity was intro, &Iced Oclin's Yule was changed to Christ's Yule. There are two distinct celebrations of Yule in Norway, one by the church, which is On* gamed sacred, ond the other chiefly by tire young people for emusernent. The Yule holidays last thirteen days, ending on the.sixth of January (Epiphany). Chttistmas Day and the two following are oecupied in religious services, but the remainder with the exception of Sunday and New Year's is spent in amusement The people, if possible, go to ellUral during An fast three days, or vend the time quietly at home reading the Bible or some religious hooks. At Yule the minister is given one of the three annual offerings, this offering is voluntary, Int the people see that it is a generous one. ' For three weeks before Yule there is great preparation going on in the home, baking, brewing, tailoring, shoe -making, etc., in order that there, may be no interruption in the merry making during the holiday swam. Every member of the family, down to the newest babe, must have something new to wear at Christmas, and every member, if at all possible, most be home at Yule eve, It la considered a time ' for family gathering and great happiness and thanksgiving is experienced when • there has been no break in the family ' etre' le during the year The food usually consists of rice porridge and spare -rib, at least these two things Must appear' on the table: Every Chriitmas Eve the Norse 'peasant fastens a bundleof grain to a long pole, and erects the pole where • the little birds can feast on the grain on , Christmas morn. During the • thirteen Yule .holidays no one enters a home in Norway without being offered something to eat or drink. parents find it a be in keeping their children obedient and good during the year by reminding them that "Christ Kind" will not bring them any. thing at Christma* if they are not good. It is a popular belief that if chitdren look even through the keyhole while the tree is being dressed, something will happen to their eyes, so the children are Very careful to restrain their curious tendencies Inthis matter. It used to be a eastern for German mothers to give their daughter* "wonder -balls." These consisted of ist large ball of yarn, with presents carefully hidden in it as the yarn unwound the presents were disclosed, and gave great pleasure. ' In Poland on Christmaa Day the Galicians first attend Mass, •then sit down to the family supper. The chief dish on the table contains come - crated eggs, which the father distributes. After eatingall eyes are closed and all heads bowed down to the table in the belief that Jacob.; ladder's then descending from Heaven to earth and down the ladder angels are coming t� bless the worshippers; also to carry their earthly trouble" to Heaven. When night falls on Christmas Eve in Brittany and the sound of the Angelus has been heard. the streets of these qgiet towns and villages are the scene of unwonted nob* and animation. Numerous Mendicants men with packs on their backs, women with hoods over their heads, Pa,* along the etreeta with great Clattering of their wooden shoes, meanwhile singing French or Breton songs and carols as they pass from door to door. A quaint custom is observed whereby the people are reminded of the flock e and herds -,- the cattle by whose stalls the Saviour was born, and the sheep whose shepherds first heard the angels' anthem, At the midnight service on Christmas Eve the priest and congregation assemble at the ,extreme end of the church. Standing, on the topmost step, with the choristers around him, the priest says: "God in His mercy, my children, has sent me on this night of the Nativity to bless your cattle and your flocks, because it is only right that the animals that constitute your greatest help and source of prosperity should share in the joy „which fills your hearts. Now lead your flocks past me." The shepherds' and herdstnerOhert driVe the aninials slowly past and amid the tinkling of, the cattle bells and the lowing batting of he cows and sheep, may be heard the solemn words of blessing and the chanted "amens" of the choir., Those who have witnessed this scene declare they will never for- get it. * * . In Russia where civilitation had not been allowed to have full away, Christmas is a great season for &vino, tion, and one of the principal modes adopted is to have a large bowl into which the young people drop tokens of various kinds, such as rings, brace- lets, ear rings etc. A eloth is thrown over the bowl, after which the objects ,are drawn out one after another, to the sound of songs from the tenor, of which the owners deduce omens con- cerning their future happiness. . In the south of Russia, boys go around with a star that contains a candle fixed to a stick, and sing Christmas carols, for which they are • rewarded -with all sorts of dainties, while they pass from hand to some- thing, after the fashion of our game of "hunt the slipper." It is also the custom to begin to collect wood for bonfire which is lighted on the feast of Epiphany, twelfth day, the sixth of January. On Christmas, called "The Great Day," various entertainments are° held, certain families having been elected to do the honors of hospital- ity. According to an old established rule the lady. of the house in whose home the festivities are being cele- brated has to choose for each young girl who is her guest, a companion . known aa the, "elected." When all the preliminary arrangements have been completed and the invitations issued, the whole village is on the qui vive waiting the eventful night, • most of the poor assembling to catch a glimpse of the merrytnakings which are usually carried on in a most enthusiastic manner. All over Russia, but especially ia the cathedral towns, there is offered In France the burning of the Yule. log is obeerved. Also it is customary to sing Christmas carols. Turkey graces thefestive board, but we do not hear of pima pudding accompany- ing it. In olden days in France it was customary for the peasantry to reconcile themselves with any enenlY they may have made during the year Any who refused to do this was in a sense excommunicated. In Finland the people celebrated , Christmas in a time-honored way. From Christmas until Twelfth Day they call the "Days of the Three Kings," and they keep up the remem- brance of the circunistaoces con- nected with the Wise Men by a per- forrnance held during all these days. The actors are called "Starbearers," ,and go about from house to house „in the same way as the mummers do in England. Eight persons besides the actors are required to personate the "Star," namely, Xing Herod, his • squire or True Man, the Black King from Morian's land, the Three Wise • Men, the Virgin of Venus, or the god- dess, and the Black King's slave, King Herod acts as the "sweeper up," • being the fiat to enter the liouseand ask permission to perform the pageant He is dressed in dark blue military dress, set off with spangle epaulettes: with a crown on his head. The virgin is dressed in white with a circlet of gold On her head. A chair serves as a throne and King Herod sits on it The whole company sing the following song: "A Merry Christmas to you all, meters and mistress, too: May God preserve us all froth harm, . ourselves as well as you. TWO HEARTS THAT 13EAT AS ONE For Christ is horn in Bethlehem, today at the cock- crow, All sorrow now is fied away, as the Holy Kings shall know," The play consists of three acts, When the serious •part of it is ended they ask for drinks. The Black King pastes his hat, yet wearing his crown, after which they all retire, singing: "We thank you for your charity, the money rang out merrily 'Tis allowed by all your company. • , Receive our thanka—your gift shall he herteeforwarded • in God's Memory, Nor fade from ours till morning light, and so we wish you all good -night." dn Bohemia the festival begins on December 24, which is observed as a strict fast, only Water and bread crumbs being allowed. The legend runs that he, who most Strictly fasts will Se0 the Holy Child ie his dreams that night In the evening the celebration begins with reading aloud, reciting and declaiming eve' tithing connected with Christ's birth. The lights in the home are then extinguished, white the children crowd together in fear. They remain perfectly silent, otherwiee they will not receive the presents brought by the Christ Child and laid at the entrance of the house. The older children, amuse themselves later by throwing heated "lead into water and gathering from the fornt it asaurnes some hint art to the appearance of their future husbands /tad wives. On Christmas Day, in the Morning twilight, the Cbristmas tree is lighted and the presents are distributed. The festal morning meal constitutes the chief repast of the day. In sunny' Italy the Italians devote the day to eating and and drinking and -enjoyment. Olive oil and macaroni are tlie, chief components in theit cookery for the Christmas feast. German people make ,much of Christmas; they call it Wein. achten (The Holy Night). Long before it, arrives great preparation is made in the homes, as well as in the douches and business ptaces. All believe in preporiag gifts for their loved 'ones and gotta cheer for their homes. One of the principal festivitle.s for Christmas in Germanyis in regard to the Christmas tree. The custom of having a tree h so •uniVerSal that feat householders front the places to the tiniest homes are Without one, Likewise the parents remember their children generously; indeed every member of the household finds *Ms on the tree bearing their name. instead of speaking of Santa Claus mus we do„ they believe that "Christ Kind" dresses the tree, and in all the churches, amid glorious -fringing and with every kind of ecclesiaetical pomp, a solemn thanksgiving for the deliverance of Itussia from the French in 1812. etirtotnitto lihno3onto OME of the old Christmas legends are fast being forgotten, among them being the once * popular story of the miraculous thorn -tree of Glastonbury Abbey, in Somersetshire. • Traditiort has it that St. Joseph of Arimathea came to Britain, landing near Clastonbuil. After waIldng a little way he paused on a hilltop to rest, and struck his staff—a dry hawthorn stick ---into the earth beside him. This grew, and budded regularly everiChristmas. .• Even so late as 17'53, it is said that people came to Glastonbury on Christmas Day to see the mir: . (mulatto blossoming. They were disappointed,' but this was ascribed, not to any loss of vigor on the part of the tree, but to the change in the calendar from old Style to new. And on January 5—Christtnas Day, old style—we are informed that the blossoming occurred as usual. •4111rio1ntuo @tut Allegat arakl„„ 04k. 41.54,v • $9 eta: W. C. PRIDHIAM SON West Stele of Square ,00-1001104;atar Xitaantillatatarbia00114.10110104XatatItNa-Na0a3VOILW. v.X44 ' VIIICVMSOVIttleottWOCCRS•liVCOCOCKKKVISItitlegtOttst . Isms 0 F otwear for ITHOUT doubt Christmas is the most popular festival of the year. It is the time when, above all others, the family circle makes att extra special effort tosomplete It' • is a time of peke and , Yet there is actually a period in Englishhistory tvhea the strong arm of the law latervened to put down what was described as "superstitious festival," and all Christmas festivities were for. bidden. The holly and mistletoe were ordered tO be destroyed, root and branch, as "plains of the evil one." •• " • It was Oliver Cromwell—q reformer in many ways—who tried to suppress the observance of Christmas, ordering' that the "hurtful custom," as lie styled it, shot& be ignored in the principal towns. In order to attain this end he enacted that all markets should be held on December 25th. But the Protector could not edam the abandonment of such is thne-honoured and popular cuitorn, and his. coxnmand was honored more in the breach than the observance. Once, %heti 13Iult Xing Hal by very ill, in December, and the nation was anxious about his recovery, by e•OmMon conSent it WAS decided to have is silent Christmas,, without bells, carols, or merry. making. 404411401470410610/010060A1P4M016040010106000.1001014016000.6601000g naitA '-':)drAr''<ZYrt'":"4"7 Sia0)*****1000)14 —NOOK Christmas 10ES AND SUPPERS ARE THE MOST, ATTRAC- TIVE GOT YOU CAN GIVE.THEY:ARE ALWAYS NEEDED The various' kintita we have -rank MO usehd memento. meet,the extra demand this season we are prepared to offer a large variety. of Holiday Novelties in Boudoir Slippers for Women and Children, Comfortable House Slippers for Men and Boys. Shoes, Oxfords. Purrips and Strap Slippers are here- at the most moderate prices. - Hockey Shoes, Badminton Shoes. Oil Tan Moccasins, all styles of Goloshes and Rubbers. You are invited to inspect our stock. See our win- dow display and let us quote you our, prices. The Selman's GreetierWe Extend to All ,GEO. Ma*VIcAR "The Practical Shoe Man" • Mirth S. e Square Goderich .!;04-,e.i",•11,11-WatiSiDatiel*INS.ItiTisii24142! ItARDZSZOOOille0204401.1:74.1a2611 Forget there was such a year as .1932 . . friends. It's about gone and that's that. Now for looking forward ,to twelve months of Better Times! . We wish you a Merry Christmas and sincerely hope 1933 will be , a year of many blessings for you and yours.' 14 5 '4. H. Wood & Son Ford and Studebaker cto•cttvzcz.vzr.e't:-tt,,I.'V-t.V•CZ1CC'VaitttC,C.e.telf.:tatVt'rt't°Ye:.,r:.:',.--„ 7.30flikl*11.101.7alkasIraa.V.It.t."2:73/1-.X.11,A)11:1t/..1:E.2•,,litikr.z..110101.VA10.1a Get Your Personal Greeting Christmas Cards from The Star our sampies of beautiful designs without delay. Prices to nit all purses. Designs to suit all tastes. Rotuma Orti Etqt NATII.S.W. arta. 2/vat svn,..) 15. tItY elobt stMiwirtott '%v the 0 -•4**! -11 • It Is * Itstrtotr ratriotlsok, *he *IA ti-Te•e-011 r`Isto