The Goderich Signal-Star, 1965-12-23, Page 14Joy unconllnod,, .hbpu
unrestraioed•« , our •
Christmas • wish f oit° you,
tt •
ANDERSON'S
BOOK STORE
'Angels' Hold Advent Candels
Pre -Kindergarten Class On Stage
The 'primary department of Gregg Ferris, Grant Culbert,
North Street United Church pre- Cheryl Ann Munday, Rorie Oke,
sented their annual Christmas Susan . Jeffrey, Earl Raeburn,
Festival in t`he Christian'Educe- TGaPeters;---Laurie- Sti eetei ,-
tic,n hall ,on Sunday evening, Peter MacDonald, Mark West-
Decernber 12. brook, Gerry Horton, Wendy Ir-
win, Julie Sowerby, Larry
Adams, Kelly Stewart, Anne Mc-
Donald, Julie Shanks, Ricky4Raw-
son, Sandra Sheardown, Kelly
Andrews, Darlene Pollock, Karen
Willis, Scott Raithby, Wade
Raithby.
A choral reading was given
by Diane Riley, Linda Hoffmeyer
and John Parsons, and acted by
Patty Little, Diane Oke, Nancy
Davison Connie McMillan Bar -
Youngsters, ranging in age
from three to eight years, pre-
sented an -hour-long program of
Christmas music and plays.
"We feel our program is uni-
que in that it is provided en-
tirely by children under nine
years of age,' <;cbmmented Mrs.
J. R. Walls, director of the ser-
vice and superintendent of the
junior congregation.
"It is the birth of God's Son
we celebrate at Christmas. And'
n -ghat etrildten
grow in their appreciation of
this Christmas festival through
their experiences within a I )r-
shiping congregation. The beau-
ty, the wonder, the mystery of
Christmas can become a signific-
ant experience for children.
"Music, acts of worship and of
service, the observance of fam-
ily customs and traditions—all
can contribute to a deeper mean-
ing of -Christmas. It is our pur-
pose to provide some of these
experienceF for children," ex-
plained Mrs. Walls.
- A modern version of the
. Christmas story was presented
by the kindergarten department.
In a pageant written by Mrs. J.
D. MacDonald, children repre
senting contemporary Christian
organizations presented their
gifts to the baby Jesus. The
story was narrated by Margaret
MacDonald and John Adams.
" Presentation Of Gifts
Members of the kindergarten
and pre -kindergarten depart-
mentspresenting gifts were:
Larry Westbrook, Susan l3tish-
e11, Billy Peters, Cathy Britnell,
`Robert Trebish, Janet Gardiner,
Anita Shrier, Amita Streeter, Ed.
Streeter, Anne McDonald Rob,
tit McDonald, Susan Horton,
bara' Hibbert, Mary Moore as
angels and lteid Aldham, St'
phen Gardiner. Jim Gemmill,
I7�ale---Ni-vens- -and Ian Ross as
shepherds. \.„
Advent candles were lighted
by Mary Willis, Judy Kerr, Jahn
•Hanly, Scotty Miller and Tommy
McGill.
;`The First Creche.," a story of
St. Francis' efforts at teaching
of Christ's birth was read by
Mrs. J. Britnell. St. Francis con-.
structed the manger scene in
the forest and brought villagers
to the creche in order that they
might more fully understand the
significance' of the event.
Cathy Adams and Robbie
Shrier were Mrs. Britnell's child-
ren. Enacting the story were:
servants, Douglas Britnell, .Hugh,
Hanly. Douglas Irwin, Michael,
Jeffrey, Wayne Mahood, John
Shanks; Mary, Teresa Streeter;
Joseph, Robert Youngblut; St.
Francis, • Donald MacDonald;
townspeople, Linda Aldham, Pat-
ty Ball, Peggy Carter, Cathy
Hunter, Leslie Mitchell, Tory
McDonald, Donna Oke, Barbara
Oke and Janet Tucker.
Throughout the program car-
dls were sung by the junior choir
under the direction of Lance
Reed.
Some `people enjoy a White
Christmas, while some people go
swimming or picnicking on De-
cember 25. Some people say
it's traditional to serve turkey
at the holiday feast, while some
people favor a Christmas goose,
and still others contend that
carp or fried eel is the very
thing for a tasty Yuletide dish.
Around the world, Christmas
customs vary, but on one paint
nearly all are agreed. It's a
season to celebrate.
In the United States and Can-
ada, the "melting pot" origins
of the population result in a
medley of Christmas traditions
from all over. • Americans and
Canadians from Central Europe
still prepare their traditional.
Yuletide foods with carp while,
those from Italy might hanker
for some Chi"istmas canitoni,
made with fried eels.
Especially clJtring a severe
Winter, residents of th°e North-
ern G.S. and Canada would be
glad to change places or at least
change weather, with thhse Aus-
tralians, South Americans and
-ethers who enjoy stammer ac-
tivities at Christmas.
On the other hand, North Am-
ericans have made their own
contributions to Christmas
around the world. For instance,
there's Santa, white -bearded and
red -suited, -lho is now replacing
St. Nicholas and other Yule gift
givers in many countries.
In Greece - .»
Young people of Greece fore-
tell their romantic future at
Christmas by tossing olive leaves
on the burning Yule log. ,;.Tradi.
tion " eci !rc ees that if the leaves,
symbtflizing the girl and man,
curl toward each other, the lov-
ers can, expect their happiness
to be long-lived.
If thaaleaves burn apart, their
romance may be frought with
difficulties. The. best result,
however, is if the leaves burn
to a crisp. This means their
love is deep and all -enduring.
holiday in Japan, but you'd nev-
er know it front the colorful
store decoralions and the happy
squeals of youngsters gifted by
"Santa Claus San."
Repartment stores may have
as many as 100 Santa.
. * Y*
In Germany
The celebration of a West
German Christmas is_filled with
tradition, foremost of Which -is
the Christmas tree, dating back
400 years. Until recently, trees
were trimmed with candles, and
although artificial lighting for
tree ornaments has been intro-
duced. the candles are still pre-
ferred by many.
In Russia
Russian children hang up their
stockings on New year's Eve,
in anticipation of Grandfather
Frost's viait.- Though Commun=
fists eliminated the religious cele-
bration of Christmas, they al-
lowed the children's festivities
of the season to remain.