The Huron Expositor, 1994-12-14, Page 24TIM CUMMING PHOTO
SANTA VISITS SEAFORTH - Santa Claus and helper visited Huron County when he landed in Seaforth
for the Santa Claus Parade.
Santa has changed .over years
Do you know where the word
Santa Claus comes from? It comes
from St. Nicholas. Say the word
several times quickly and you'll see
why. But who was St. Nicholas?
According to Lillie Patterson's
book Christmas in America he was
a Christian bishop who lived in
what today is modern Turkey. He
lived about the fourth century.
He was known for giving gifts to
children as well as helping the poor.
For the people of Holland (and
other European countries) he
became the legendary gift -bringer to
children.
He didn't look all that much like
today's Santa Claus. In fact, he had
a long, white beard, a bishop's robe
and a tall hat. He also carried a
staff, which looks like a long cane,
He would ask children if they had
been good and if they had not been
good St. Nicholas' helper, a small
boy, carried a bag of switches, and
might give them a switch.
In Canada many people put out
stockings for Santa. In Holland, the
people might be more apt to put out
their wooden shoes near the fire-
place for gifts from St. Nicholas.
Christmas Day might include
going to church or having a large
meal.
A common Dutch name for Santa
Claus was Sinter Klaas, which soon
became Santa Claus when said by
English school children.
Santa Claus has evolved over the
years from beginnings as St.
Nicholas, Sinter Klaas, Father
Christmas and Santa Claus.
His evolution owes much to many
different traditions.
His appearance owes much to a
German cartoonist, Thomas Nast,
who drew Santa for Harper's Week-
ly.
He was given the white beard of
Father Christmas and St. Nicholas.
He wears St. Nicholas' red robe,
the fur of Pelsnichol (from Ger-
many) and the peaked cap of the
Scandinavian elves, according to
Christmas authority Lillie Patterson.
Patterson says Santa's pipe, jolly
looks and plumpness come from the
Dutch tradition.
Page 3 - Merry Christmas December 21. 1994
Holiday Greetings!
The best part of the season is
having good friends like you!
Warmest wishes and many
thanks from all of us.
FUTURE'S
HAIR DESIGN
by
Shelley, Trudee & Sara
527-1783
Ho... Ho. Ho...
HOLIDAY GREETINGS
Wishing you and .
your family health,
prosperity and joy.
Thanks for your kind
4174Min iplz 7./74-
0.
.- RIV4 N
1
MERRY CHRISTMAS k
BEST WISHES TO ALL
from
Ruth, Erin, Diane, Carrie, Anita,
Kathy, Sandy, Bob & Family
Christmas Hours:
FRIDAY, DEC. 23 11 A.M.-1 A.M.
SAT, DEC. 24 11 A.M.-5:34 P,M.
SUN. & MON., DEC. 25 & 26 CLOSED
TUESDAY, DEC. 27 11 A.M.-MIDNIGHT
TIM CUMMING PHOTO
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS - Students from Walton Public School portrayed many of the different
Christmas traditions of the woad during their Christmas Concert. The students are (front row) Adam
McKichan, Scott Beuermann, Eddie Sebben, Quina Gowan, (middle row) Helena Unger, Lindsay
McNichol, Matthew Bolton, Dana Smith, lsaak Wall, Robert Johnston, Ricky Pethick, (back row) Dan
Eedy, Krista Shortreed, Nicholas Giller, Erica Dietz, Brian Regele and Mark Wilbee.
Cookie cutter in German tradition
The cookie cutter was a valuable
instrument in the Christmas tradi-
tion of Germany.
St. Nicholas in Germany had a
helper called Nicholas in Fur or
Pclsnichol. An adult wearing fur
would carry a long switch and see
if the children were good, according
to author Lillie Patterson.
Some Germans had gifts brought
by Christkindl, the Christ Child.
You've all heard the word Kris
Kringle, which is sometimes used
for Santa Claus.
You may be surprised to know its
origin. According to Lillie
Patterson, who wrote extensively
about Christmas in txwks such as
Christmas in America and Christ-
mas in Britain and Scandinavia,
Kris Kringle comes from the Ger-
man word for Christ Child, or
Christkindl.
For some German people the
child of Jesus brought gifts to the
homes of boys and girls, not Santa
Claus. This is another of the many
world traditions at Christmas time.
Author Lillie Patterson tells of
one old Christmas tradition which is
now forgoucn...'Barring out the
schoolmaster.'
This popular Christmas tradition
by German children involved
children closing the schoolhouse
door and the teacher, as a joke, had
to buy his way out with promises of
few `switchings', longer holidays
and shorter lessons.
Poinsettia Christmas
tradition from Mexico
You may know the poinsettia as a
reminder of Christmas but did you
know the plant came from Mexico?
In Lillie Patterson's book Christ-
mas in America she says that Dr.
Joel Poinsctt, the first U.S. ambas-
sador to Mexico, saw the plants in
that country during Christmas. The
plant was known as 'Flower of the
Hofy Night' in Mexico and when
Dr. Poinsett sent cuttings to the
United States they grew well and a
tradition was bom.
Let us
do the
cooking!
Call ahead
at
527-0180
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Season/
As we throw another yule log on the fire, our
thoughts are with the many fine folk we've had the
privilege to know and serve this past year.
May contentment and joy warm your heart this
holiday season.
SEAFORTH PLUMBING & HEATING
Bill, Marlene & Staff
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