Huron Expositor, 2014-12-17, Page 5Wednesday, December 17, 2014 • Huron Expositor 5
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Maplewood
hosts annual
Christmas
open house
On Nov 22, residents and
their families gathered for
Maplewood Manor's
Christmas open house,
where they enjoyed enter-
tainment by Shakey D, a
visit with Santa and Mrs.
Claus and refreshments.
Paul McGrath, for the
Expositor
Maplewood
staff Betty
Doig, Angie
Glew, Carolyn
Schiestel
and Melanie
McGrath take
a minute out
of their busy
day to spend a
little time with
Santa.
IN THE YEARS AGONE
Christmas customs and traditions from the pages of the Huron Expositor, 1989
The blazing wheel
In one area of Germany, a great wheel is bound with
straw and then taken up to the top of a hill near a river.
The wheel is then set on fire and rolled down the hill. If
the wheel still burns and rolls into the river, it is said to be
a good sign that Santa will come.
No wheels moving
One Christmas tradition of the Norwegians was that dur-
ing that season anything with wheels - wagons, spinning
wheels, etc., was not to move. It was thought a great sin
against the sun to keep a wheel moving during this time
- it could mean that they wanted the sun wheel to move
faster. One wonders what it would be like today if this
custom were still in effect.
Christmas of lights
In the 19th Century, Christmases in Western Europe
glowed with light:
In Spain, children scattered through city streets carrying
lamps on poles to light the way for the Three Kings who
brought gifts.
In Italy, the flames of candles lit ornate church creches.
In Germany, halls were purposefully kept dark so that
children would be dazzled as they burst into a room
where bright candles burned on the Christmas tree.
In Sweden, young girls wore bonnets of candles as they
brought music and hot drinks at 2 a.m. on St. Lucias Day,
Dec. 13.
In France, windows blazed with light on Christmas night
as the yule log was ceremoniously ignited.
The day the bells melted
The American Revolution strengthened the ties among
the American people, but even in its revolt it did not
utterly destroy the traditions of England, its parent
nation.
Many Christmas traditions of England were still kept,
although it felt no longer any obligation to follow the
court fashions.
But the French revolt was quite different. They tried to
reject Christmas along with the monarchy. Worship was
suspended on Christmas Day. Church bells were melted
for their bronze.
Russia celebrates Christmas
No meat was served for 40 days prior to Christmas but the
Russians in the 19th Century.
Then on the day before Christmas, no food was served at
all until the first evening star appeared. After Mass they
feasted on pastrami, geese, duck, quail and pigs.
Tangerines and apples were strung up. Walnuts, dipped
in egg white, and then rolled in sheets of gold foil, were
hung by threads. Dolls were made of candy and dried
fruits.
A frosty Christmas meant a rich grain harvest for next
year to many Russians. If the skies stayed dark, the cows
would be productive and starry skies promised a good
crop of peas.
Sharing a sheaf
It used to be in Scandinavia that not a common person
would sit down to a meal on Christmas Day unless he
had hung a sheaf of wheat or corn to a long pole outside
for the birds. An extra feast of suet was also sometimes
tied to trees.
Christmas eve shoeing
On Christmas Eve, some Tyroleans like to sit on the floor
and kick a shoe over their shoulder, then watch to see in
what position it lands. If the shoe lands upside down they
believe that things won't far so well for the coming year,
but if the shoe lands with its sole down, supposedly good
luck is coming.
The turnip's turn
A special turnip is saved by the people in Labrador for a
Christmas church service. The children consider it one of
the happiest times of Christmas when they are given
small lighted candles that stand in the special turnip. In
past years, the candles were ones that could be eaten, as
well as the turnip - for they were made of deer tallow.
Now the candles are imported and not edible, so part of
the fun is gone, but still the children love watching the
candles as they burn.
Christmas crib
It was St. Francis of Assissi who made the first tangible
form of the Christmas crib that we know today. On
Christmas Eve in 1223, St. Francis constructed the crib
and groups the figures of Mary and Joseph, the ox and
ass, and the shepherds around it. The fact that he used
real animals in the real stable made a bigger impact on
the people.
Soon the custom spread from Italy to Spain, Portugal,
France, the Netherlands and Germany, and then spread
to all the corners of the earth.
Only four hours of Christmas
There are only four hours of daylight on Christmas Day in
Iceland. These four hours are spent attending church
services.
An Irish welcome to strangers
In great percentage of our homes, lights are placed in
windows. This custom originated from an Irish custom.
On Christmas Eve a candle light,
To shine abroad through Christmas night,
That those who pass may see its glow,
And wake from Christmas smile or so.
Candies were placed in windows on Christmas Eve to
guide the way as an invitation to any who might be wan-
dering around, as did Mary and Joseph, tryig to find a
place to stay for the night.
Poor wanderers and tramps are welcomed everywhere in
Ireland. These wanderers are given a good meal, a com-
fortable bed to sleep on and then sent on their way in the
morning after being given a bit of money.
To be continued...