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Home My WebLink AboutThe Huron Expositor, 1988-12-21, Page 5THE HURON EXPOSITOR. DECEMBER 21. 1988 — 5A WE'RE OPEN COOPS' SPORT & LEISURE 42 Goderich St. W. (former Medical Clinic) 527-2501 *FULL LINE OF SPORTS EQUIPMENT •CUSTOM SHIRTS *LEISURE WEAR •SKATE SHARPENING �.. ABRA-CA-DABRA - A number of children were beguiled an 1 mystified by a magician -clown who entertained at the Seal, Camegie Library on Saturday: With the utterance of a few magic words, the waving of a wand and some audience participation this I-, • lracter was able to fill an empty coloring book with color, erase in, then strip the pages entirely of all traces of ink. He was at rary as part of a tour of Huron County libraries. McIlwraith Traditions of Christmas It's,ficult to imagine a Christa, „hoot Santa Claus or a Christmas tree, but in many parts of the world the appearance of Santa would pnrle people and a tree would be out of keeping with the Christmas spirit. Roses Inc., representing Canada's Rose Growers, devised a special quiz to test your knowledge on Christmas customs around the world. Read on and see how many cor- rect answers you can score. 1) There's a country where kids don't know about Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve they wait for an old woman on a broomstick to give them presents. What is she called and from what country does she come? 2) In Belgium and the Netherlands, people would gasp if they saw Santa Claus on a sleigh pulled by eight reindeers. How does St. Nicholas travel about in these countries? 3) In another country, people would shudder if someone brought an evergreen tree into the house on Christmas. Instead of the tree, wild flowers are used as seasonal decora- tions. Why, and in what country? 4) Christmas can be a solemn holiday as well as a joyful one, particularly for adults. Italy and Spain are two countries where some grownups don't think singing joyous Christmas carols is the only way to celebrate the 'holiday. How do they celebrate? 5) For centuries it has been a custom in Canada to have a symbol or token of Christmas spotlighted in a place of honor in your home. What are some of those symbols and where are they placed? 6) The custom of giving gifts for Christmas is believed to have grown from a different OMAF holiday that was celebrated before Chris was born. What holiday and in what country did this celebration take place? 7) All of us know that a Christmas tree would not be decorated properly withou twinkling lights. In one country, however flowers are used to decorate the tree. What is the traditional flower of this country and how is it used to decorate the tree and around the home? 8) The generous spirit of Christmas is reflected in one country by Christmas din- ner. Custom in this country dictates that you set one more place at the dinner table than the number of guests who are coming to dine. That way, even an unexpected guest will find a place and a meal for himself. In what country does this tradition exist? 9) Where was the first Christmas tree used? 10)St. Nicholas gives good children presents, but bad children get a whipping with a birch switch in one country. Where is this custom still practised today? These Christmas puzzlers all have relatively easy answers so read on and see how well you did. 1) Children from all around the world love the gifts and the special plans associated with Christmas. In every nation children celebrate the holidays with traditional customs. Canadian children leave milk and cookies by the fire for Santa Claus. Dutch children in Holland fill their wooden shoes with roses so as to please the old woman call "LeBefina." "LeBefina" makes her Christmas rides on a broomstick, leaving presents for good children and ashes in the shoes of bad ones. 2) In Belgium and the Netherlands, St_ Nicholas rides a white horse instead of travelling with reindeer and a sleigh. 3) In Sweden, wild flowers were flowers grown in someone's garden. The most popular and colorful floral choice of most SEASON'S GREETINGS ot WE'RE ®PEN ` y t „„„_,411%:$11, nw o 0 Wed., Bed. 219 am - 9 pmy 11r T. �. Thurs., Dec. 22 9 am 9 pm •• •• a�'!J Fri., Dec. 23 9 an - 9 pm Sat., Dec. 24 9 am - 4 pm t Swedes were roses. Oftentimes irises and fresh holly were also used. 4) Devout Catholics in Italy and Spain often 01 ve a day -long fast which begins at t suaset on December 23. 5) Many families have a beloved Madonna and Child—a print, a painting or perhaps an old icon or triptych they bring out during the Christmas season. It's.a happy custom that tells the true meaning of Christmas. 6) The custom of giving gifts for Christmas dates back to the ancient Roman Mid - Winter Festival. 7) In the country of Austria fresh roses plac- ed in water tubes were used to decorate the tree. Roses when placed on the tree were felt to symbolize the birth of life and the rewards of a new year. 8) The country where they place an extra plate at the Christmas table for unexpected guests is Poland. 9) There are numerous stories explaining the origin of the first Christmas tree, but the following is the most popular. In the Eighth century, St. Boniface, then a missionary to Germany, was attempting to stamp out the pagan custom of making human sacrifices to oak trees. At yuletime he led his followers to an evergreen tree and told them it pointed straight up to the Christ Child. "Take this tree into your homes as a sign of your new worship," he told them. "Celebrate God's t power no more with shameful rites, but in the sanctity of your home with laughter and love." 10) The country is Germany. Santa arrives on December 6th, instead of Christmas Eve, punishes bad children and rewards the good ones with special treats of candy, books and colorful clothing. No matter what the tradition or country, Christmas is always a time to reflect and remember good days gone by and the pro- mise of a bright future. LAST MINUTE GI.FT *IDEAS, Gift Certificates Available 03 Vacuum Cleaners aft .i• lam .11 Shavers Oil Lamps Drills & Saws Bird Feeders Musical Teddy Bears Mini Juke Boxes& 11 Shop Vac - Wet & Dry Horseshoe Kits Ceiling Fans & Lights Micro Furnaces Microwave Ovens Stands & Accessories Desk Lamps Touch Lamps Vision Ware J Coming Ware Clocks • Toasters Air Cleaners Humidifiers CHRISTMAS UGHTS AND DECORATIONS — STOCKiNG STUFFERS — HOCKEY STICKS SILLS HOME HARDWARE A Hardware OU**GOODS WTTH QUAUTY SERVICE Main St. Seaforth 527-1620 • from page I dinary last summer," he said. Mr. Carroll expressed appreciation of the ministry's efforts in preparing their report, and said he supported the recom- mendation that OMAF be approached to address the issue. "I really regret that no one else had the courage or stupidity to come forward with their complaints," he said, adding he has encountered hostility in certain quarters since making his complaints public. "I'm not interested in being a bad friend of agriculture, and I hope we can work together somehow to solve this problem," he said. "I'm quite prepared to put up with the smells of a normal farming practice - for two to three days when a farmer cleans out his barn etc...- but when it goes day after day to the intensity and duration of this summer, then it becomes a problem." Mr. Carroll noted too, that this odor pro- blem is a new one. "It hasn't been a part of my first 12 years in Seaforth. It has not been a part of the ongoing problems of the dynamics of agriculture in the past. I think the serious offenders are those with open liquid manure pits, and I support any changes in practises that intrude into the way of life in the urban sector." Have your Hair Fashioned at . for New Year's Eve and receive FREE MAKE-UP NEW YEAR'S EVE 527-2180 HAIR DESIGNS by 15 East William St. Seaforth For AH Your Insurance and Investment Needs GIC's 11% 2 - 5 Years subject to verification SECOND SET FREE! BRING IN YOUR FILM FOR REGULAR PROCESSING AND RECEIVE A SECOND SET OF PRINTS RRSP'S subject to verification DON HAMILTON REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE LTD, Agent Kevin Varley Seaforth 527-1876 Ustowel 2913501 FREE. OFFER VALID FROM DEC. 27 -JAN. 2 APPLIES ONLY TO C41 PROCESS. .QUALITY IS OUR CONCERN CANDLELIGHT STUDIO OF PHOTOGRAPHY 55 MAIN ST. 527-1193 SEAFORTH The leder va -1;joce1t TONING CENTRE WNW i 1 THE PERFECT PRESENT FOR MEN • WOMEN • ELDERLY FREE INTRODUCTORY SESSION GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE 28 Main St. Seaforth 527-2473 In the true holiday tradition may the old, but ever new spirit of Christmas bless you and yours with happiness. The Staff and Management A