Zurich Citizens News, 1965-12-23, Page 2PAGE TWO ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 19651
ed4AWI —
Christmas in Bethlehem
Canadians who dream of a white Christ-
mas with Santa Claus popping down the
chimney to the tune of "Jingle Belts" can
thank assorted writers and poets and the
northern climate. Christmas in the land
of Christ"s birth, however, is another
matter.
What is Christmas like in Bethlehem?
There's generally no snow, for one
thing, for winters are mild in the Judean
Hilts around Bethlehem, reports World
Book Encyclopedia. No Santa Claus listens
to children's pleas, for he's an American
invention based on a European saint, And
there's probably no decorated Christmas
tree in the village square; that custom
originated in Germany.
Instead, the focal point of Christmas
in Bethlehem is the Church of St. Mary of
the Nativity, supposedly built over the spot
where Jesus was born. Here pilgrims from
all over the world gather together on
Christmas Eve, First, there is carol sing-
ing in the square facing the church. Then
all enter for the solemn midnight mass.
After the service, an image of Christ is
carried in a procession down into the grotto
and is placed in a manger where it lies
until January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany.
After this ceremony, some may wander
into the fields outside the town, where
perhaps shepherds long ago heard the news
of the 'birth of Christ.
All this takes place, of course, on the
eve of December 25. But that's not the end
of Christmas in Bethlehem. For the East-
ern Orthodox churches celebrate the holi-
day on January 6, and the Armenians ob-
serve it on January 18, which is January 6
according to the old style or Julian
calendar.
The Meaning of Christmas
Once again Christmas day — the anni-
versary of Christ's birth is upon us. Except
for the occasional picture or the sound of
the familiar carol, the idea of our Saviour's
birth would elude us. What we do see,
however, is the feverish decorating of our
houses, stores and streets with trees, and
bells and tinselled streamers.
By radio, television and paper we feel
the tremendous pressures urging us to buy
this or that gift for friends and loved ones.
It would seem to be the very essence of
"Christmas" to buy and to give. Parades
of beautiful floats go up and down our
streets announcing the arrival of "Santa
Claus". He is to be seen in every store
cajoling little children, encouraging the
buying public. We grown-ups too are ex-
tremely busy buying gifts, mailing cards
and decorating our houses.
In vain would "Our Man from Mars"
seek any relation between these activities
and the beautiful story of Christ's birth
as described by the Evangelists. The gos-
pel narratives describing the birth of
Christ are unsurpassed in beauty and sim-
plicity. They describe the circumstances
of the birth of the One who "will be great,
and will be called the Son of the Most High;
and the Lord God will give to him the
throne of his father, David, and he will
reign over the house of Jacob for ever;
and of his kingdom there will be no end".
Yes, the Evangelists tell us that the Mes-
siah, the Son of God, our Redeemer was
born in a stable, near a little town of
Bethlehem, recognized and worshipped only
by Mary, Joseph and the humble shepherds.
Yes, the Evangelists tell us the story
of the coming of the promised Messiah,
the Son of God our Redeemer. The most
important event in the history of mankind.
It means that God's work of the redemption
of man from the bondage of sin has begun,
the atonement for sin about to be offered
to God, the right to heaven soon to be re-
stbred, and the way to eternal salvation
opened to us by the example and teaching
of Christ. This is what Christmas really
represents, this is the event we should be
celebrating. • How far we have wandered
from this truth; how oddly we commem-
orate it?
Let us as Christians, i.e,, believers and
followers of Christ's message, be motivated
by true Christian charity in our greetings
and gift giving. Let us — at least in our
homes — emphasize Christ's story by giv-
ing prominence to the crib or picture of
the Christ Child, by reading again the story
in the gospel narrative, and telling it again
to our little children. On Christmas day
let each and every one of us attend services
in the spirit of thanksgiving, gratitude and
love for the tremendous blessings given to
mankind through the coming of Christ.—
Rev. Louis H. Batte, C.R.
SUGAR
AND SPICE,
by Bill Smiley
BENEATH THE TINSEL
Are you one of those birds
who goes around in a perpetual
grump at this time of year?
Whether we like it or not, the
celebration of Christmas •has
changed drastically in the last
generation or so.
Many people resent this and
regret it. They feel that com-
mercialism has taken over the
festive season, that the true
meaning of Christmas has been
smothered in a swirl of elec-
tronics and gimmickry, of ad-
vertising and noise and vulgar-
ity and pure greed. I don't
agree.
Admitted, Christmas is no
longer a simple observance of
the birth of Christ. In a com-
plex and neurotic age, it has
become complex and neurotic.
Physically, the holiday is ex-
hausting, and financially it is
crippling.
But it's a little too glib, and
certainly naive, to suggest that
the spirit of Christmas has been
lost.
Certainly, Santa Claus and
Rudolph are pagan figures.
Certainly, some of the "Christ-
mas" songs are nauseating.
Certainly, many Christians are
utter gluttons at this season.
Certainly, many of the decora-
tions and card and gifts are in
poor taste.
But these are only material
things, the outer trappings of
the great festival. Beneath
these gaudy robes, the bones of
Christmas—the grand old car-
ols, the s i m p 1 e, enthralling
story—are as strong as ever.
And the great heart of Christ-
mas—the real desire for peace
and goodwill—beats as warmly
as ever.
Brownies and Cubs go carol-
ling to homes for the aged.
Service clubs and church groups
and women's organizations hus-
tle around with boxes of cheer
for the sick and the poor. Fire-
men and legionnaires repair
toys and wrap gifts for under-
privileged children.
Almost everyone, however,
temporary it may be, begins to
glow with a genuine desire to
give, to love, to be one of a
great human fellowship. No,
don't tell me the true spirit of
Christmas is disappearing.
Come now, all you Scrooges.
Admit it. You enjoy giving at
Christmas, even though you
grumble a bit and even though
you have to do without things
yourself. Until next June.
And one of the great things
about Christmas, the real
Christmas, is that the gifts that
really count don't have to be
wrapped, and don't cost a Cent.
What finer gift can we give
our children than the teaching
of the lovely carols, the telling
of the thrilling story? And
what greater gift can they give
us than the look of wonder and
delight in their eyes?
Think of all the other incom-
parable
ncom-
parable gifts for which no
charge account or credit card is
involved:
An invitation to Aunt Martha
to spend Christmas Day with
you, even though she's 86, deaf
as a stone, belches like a Hot-
tentot, and always carries a
crock in her purse.
A warm smile for your hus-
band on Christmas morning,
and the heart -felt statement
that you always have liked
Christmas trees leaning at a 45 -
degree angle.
A warm smile for your wife
on Christmas morning, and the
fervent remark that she's never
looked lovelier, even though
she resembles a camp -follower
in the Crimean War.
A simple announcement from
your wife on Christmas morn-
ing, in the twentieth year of
your marriage, when your kids
are in high school or college,
"Guess what, dear. We're go-
ing to have a baby".
A sincere, sympathetic phone
call to your neighbor or Christ-
mas morning, when you discov-
er that his front -lawn display,
featuring Santa Claus and the
Seven Dwarfs, has blown down
in the night. Interspersed, of
course, with a few jolly "Ho!
Ho! Ho's!", in the spirit of the
season.
There are the gifts that give
real joy, whether you're giving
or receiving, if you Have the
true spirit of Christmas. Now,
wait a moment, Don't rush
back to the stores with your
wife's mink stole or your kids'
toys. Just in case . , .
Zurich
e41,c News
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Health Unit Holds
Farewell Dinner
The Huron County Health
Unit staff and board members
held their Christmas banquet at
the Hotel Hensell. Dr. R. M.
Aldis, medical officer of health,
and W. L. E'mpey, chief health
inspector, both of Goderich,
were in charge of arrange-
ments.
Dr. T. R. Melady and Mrs.
Melady, of Goderich, who are
leaving this district, were hon-
ored with the presentation of
gifts Dr. Aldis presented the
Gift on behalf of the staff, and
John Morrissey presented the
gift from the board of health.
0
Omens Dim
Yule Spirit
"Merry" Christmas? Not al-
ways, according to some an-
cient beliefs once associated
with the day.
Take, for instance, the old
belief that cattle and other
stable animals were given the
power of speech on Christmas
Eve.
Any person who heard the
animals speak would die with-
in .a year, so superstition said.
Somber omens of death were
read into still other Yuletide
legends. When the Yule log
burned, bystanders were told
to watch the shadows on the
walls. If the shadows of any
persons appeared to be head-
less, this supposedly meant
death for those persons, again
within a year.
Salt was also said to have
the power of forecasting life
or death, when used in con-
nection with Christmas. The
test could be made by leaving
a small mound of salt on the
table on Christmas Eve. If the
salt melted during the night,
that, too, meant death within
12 months.
If the salt remained unmelt-
ed, the forecast was for a long
and healthy life.
Zurich Lions Club
Entertain Wives
At Special Event
The annual "ladies' night"
for the members of the Zurich
Lions Club and their wives was
held in the Dominion Hotel on
Wednesday evening, December
15.
President Don O'Brien opened
the meeting with the Lions
grace, after which a sing -song
was conducted by Mrs. Beatrice
Hess, with Hubert Schilbe and
Leroy O'Brien as song leaders.
A delicious turkey dinner,
with all the trimmings, followed
the singing.
After the singing of the Na-
tional Anthem, a very fitting
toast was given the ladies by
the newly -elected MP, Robert
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Garbage (ollecdonI
F'1Iday, December 24, 8:00 a.m.
F'rida'y, Deter~ Ibex° 31, 9:00 a.m. gi
. ,.;r •l ..t' .dr f,,n1 ° 4.rr. l 1 r -' may'°,
McKinley, and Mrs. Hubert
Schilbe graciously replied to
Lion Bob's appropriate remarks.
Charles McQuillin, guest
speaker of the evening, was in-
troduced by the convenor of
the ladies' night committee,
Gordon Hess. The local teacher
showed picturesque slide's Of
his two trips to Alaska. One
trip was taken via the Alaska
highway, the other by the inner
passage. These pictures and
commentaries proved very in-
teresting and enjoyable.
Lion Claire Geiger thanked
Mr. McQuillin for his contri-
bution to the program.
Santa and Mrs. Santa, travel-
ling incognito as Louis Willert
and Clement Jeffrey, pleased
the ladies with gifts of bud
vases filled with carnations.
Lucky draw winners for the
evening were: Mrs. Howard
Klopp, Mrs. Milford Doerr, Mrs.
Robert Westlake, Mrs. Don Oke,
Mrs. Russell Grainger, Mrs.
Herb Turkheim and Mrs. Doug
O'Brien.
DO YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AT
Hess, the Jeweler
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E. L. Mickle & Son Ltd.
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