Zurich Citizens News, 1969-12-23, Page 18r'"Y
PAGE FOUR
ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS — CHRISTMAS EDITION
Tree Radiates Yule Meaning
The Christmas tree, a uni-
versally recognized symbol of
the merriest season, radiates
the meaning of the Christ-
mas story.
For many people, the tree
recalls the atmosphere of the
holiday home and thus re-
flects the joyful warmth of
the season.
As a religious symbol, the
tree with its lights and
greenery represents both the
story of the garden of Eden
and the belief in Christ as
the "Light of the world."
Although only a century
and a half old in America,
the custom of the tree has
a history that is measured
in many centuries. The fore-
runner of today's Christmas
tree was seen in medieval
miracle plays, which were
produced as religious instruc-
tion for the illiterate — in
an era when illiteracy was
common and the ability to
read a rarity.
A play about Eve's eating
the forbidden fruit in the
garden of Eden was enacted
with only one prop on stage,
a single, apple -laden fir that
became known as the Para-
dise Tree. The play ended
with the promise of the com-
ing of Christ and was usually
presented just before Christ-
mas.
At about the same time,
people also decorated for the
Christmas season with pyra-
mid -shaped frames of light,
symbolizing the birth of
Christ as the Light of the
world.
Early efforts to combine
the Para.dise Tree and the
Christmas Light pyramid are
recorded in manuscripts from
Germany dating to the 16th
century,collected by the
Hallmark Cards research li-
brary.
The first tree was thought
to have been brought to the
United States by Hessian
soldiers during the American
Revolution. These homesick
soldiers and other immi-
grants carried the tree
throughout the country.
A major setback almost
occurred in Cleveland in
1851 when a pastor decorated
a tree in his home. His
parishioners condemned the
BOTH ELEMENTS THAT LED TO TODAY'S Christmas tree —
tlie Paradise Tree and the Christmas Lights pyramid — are shown
in this antique (au•istmas card of the 1880's, The card was pub-
lished by Opbacher Brothers of Munich, Germany, and is part of
the Hallmark Cards Historical. Collection.
tree as pagan, but relented
after an explanation of its
religious aspects:
Conservation -minded
President Theodore Roose-
velt again nearly stamped
out the practice when he
banned trees in the White
House. After one of his sons
sneaked a Christmas tree in-
to the White House, a for-
ester convinced the President
that thinning helped forests.
The tree that is common
today is a combination of the
religious elements. The ever-
green with glass, plastic or
metal balls hanging from it
is the Paradise Tree with its
apples. Lights, tinsel, angels,
a star on top, ornaments and
other "good things" reflect
the Christmas Light,
To you, sincere greetings and
thanks . , . with every good wish that the
joy and delight of the Yuletide will be yours.
LAPORTE
MEAT MARKET
PHONE 236.4962
ZURICH
Santa's Moving
To Take Lead
As Gift -Giver
More and more, Santa be-
comes the favored gift -giv-
er in countries around the
world, replacing a host of
legendary figures who were
said to bring gifts at this
same season of the year.
Gift -giving time, too, is
now more likely to be Christ-
mas Eve, although the tra-
ditional date in European
countries once ranged from
St. Nicholas Eve, December
5th, to Epiphany Eve, Janu-
ary 5th,
Among the many who set
the trend for Santa Claus is
the German gift -giver, Kris
Kringle. The name is a vari-
ation of Christkind—not the
Infant Jesus himself, but his
messenger who came to earth
at Christmastime.
Christkind was represent-
ed by a child dressed in white
robes, with a crown and wings
of gold.
In Japan, the traditional
gift -giver is a native god,
Hoteiosho. Represented as a
kindly old man with a pack
on his back, he is much like
visions of the traditional
Santa.
He is said to have eyes in
the back of his head, the
better to see whether boys
and girls have been naughty
or nice.
In Yugoslavia, Grandfath-
er Frost — "Dede Mraz" —
replaces Santa Claus,
The Yugoslavian trend is
to combine Christmas and
New Year holidays, and cele-
brate them together with
Grandfather Frost Day,
0
HE PRO'TECTEI) ROBBERS
Legends about St. Nicho-
las are many, but .they all
relate in some way to his
reputation for generosity.
Pawnbrokers took him for
their patron, and robbers
looked to him as their pro-
tector. In the MiddIe Ages,
robbers were sometimes
called Knights or Clerks of
St. Nicholas, says the New
Book of Knowledge.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1969
Flowering HolidayPlants
Add Decorative Touches
One of the nicest Christ-
mas touches is decorating
the house, as well as gifting
friends and relatives, with
widely -available flowering
plants.
The poinsettia is the tradi-
tional Christmas flower, but
it has acquired a new look.
Aside from the rich reds and
pure whites, poinsettias are
now grown in soft pink
shades.
Christmas flower gardens
don't have to be confined to
poinsettias. There's a wide
variety of blooms available
in natural clay containers.
Chrysanthemums, in colors
ranging from gold to russet;
azaleas in delicate shell pink;
cyclamen in vibrant shock-
ing pink; colorful Jerusalem
cherry plants and Christ-
mas begonias are among the
choices.
With a little care, holiday
flowering plants can give
many weeks of colorful
blooms. Good light, cool tem-
peratures, draft free loca-
tions and moist soil are
needed.
Since plants need air as
well as water, remove any
decorative wrappings that
may appear around the.•clay
pot container of the plant.
Symbols•
of the
holiday
are as
various
as jpy and
peace. All
mean the
spirit of
Christmas.
Hearty
thanks !
146 tut k you, a May Cialzfritail
HURON AUTO BODY
Stan Rochan
Hensall
callappiness,
kindness,
and tidings
of good will
are what
we wish you
on this
holy and happy
holiday. We send
you our best through
this little message to show our appreciation,
SNELL BROS.', LIMITED
AND STAFF
Chev — Olds -- Chevelle — Chevrolet Trucks
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