Zurich Citizens News, 1971-12-23, Page 15THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1971
ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS
Holiday Biends
Many Customs
"Anybody found feasting
or observing Christmas day
in any way shall pay a fine
of five shillings."
And so, throughout New
England Pilgrim, settlers had
to treat Christziias as just
another working day. Gover-
nor Bradford noted that "no
man rested all day" on De-
cember 25, 1620, say the edi-
tors of Encyclopedia Ameri-
cana.
Today, in the United States
and Canada, Christmas cele-
brations are a colorful blend
of customs from many lands.
The main features of the
holiday festivities are much
the same everywhere—Santa
Claus, Christmas trees, gifts,
greetings, feasting, family
visits, carol singing.
Each of these customs has
its own history, and for the
student of holiday lore and
legend, the fascination lies
in the variety of traditions
brought by settlers from
other lands and assimilated
into what is now a truly
American, or truly Canadian
Christmas.
Displaying Tree
The custom of the Com-
munity Christmas Tree be-
gan in the early 1900's with
the people of Pasadena,
Calif., who decorated a tall
evergreen on Mount Wilson
with lights and tinsel.
Madison Square in New
York and the Common in
Boston were the scene of
trees set up in 1912. In 1914
Independence Square in
Philadelphia had its first
holiday tree.
Around each of these trees
choirs gathered and sang
carols.
The custom of lighting the
National Community Christ-
mas Tree in Washington, D.C.
began in 1923 when the Uni-
versity of Vermont sent a
large tree to President Calvin
Coolidge.
Add Special Touch
In Quebec, customs from
France lend their special
touch to a Canadian Christ-
mas.
France gave Canada the
"creche," gatherings after
midnight Mass with family
and friends, savory pork pies
called "totlrtieres," collecting
gifts from door to door for
the less privileged persons of
the community.
After mass on Christmas
Eve, the people of Quebec
gather at homes of loved
ones to participate in a
night -long feast called "re- '
velllon."
Performing Pageant
From Germany came the
Nativity pageant, and the
first play of this sort in the
U.S. was performed at the
German Catholic Church of
the Holy Trinity in Boston,
in 1851. Children dressed as
Oriental shepherds offered
gifts to the Christ Child at
the altar, singing carols at
the same time. The gifts were
later distributed to the poor
of the parish.
Play Delights
A hybrid Spanish -Indian
play, called "Los Pastores,"
introduced by Spanish
monks, may still take place
in the backyards of San An-
tonio, Tex., at Christmastime.
With no props, curtains afid
a cast of amateurs, it yearly
delights with its spiritual in-
novations.
It runs from Christmas to
Candlemas, in homes located
in out -of -way places so only
the initiated can find it. The
object is to prevent the mere-
ly curious observer from
watching this spritual mira-
cle play.
Decorating with Cards
Can Be Yule Project.
When children need a
change from the toys on
Christmas day, a promising
project could be to let them
see what they can do with
the family greeting cards.
Here are some suggestions
from Jeannette Lee, art di-
rector for Hallmark.
Tape or staple cards to
lengths of ribbon and hang
them on walls or doors.
Make a Christmas wreath
by attaching cards to a circle
of cardboard.
"Frame" cards with con-
struction paper.
Decorate a screen with
cards,
/n appreciation of your patronage .. .
Best wishes to customers and friends
for a holiday filled with the happy
sounds of laughter. Merry Christmas.
MERNER'S MEAT MARKET
Ron Merner
Dashwood
Lighted Trees
Cause Excitement
Tice story is that Martin Luther
created the first lighted Christ-
mas tree- our most cherished
symbol of the Yule season next
to Santa Claus.
Looking out of a window on
Christmas Eve in a castle where
he was a guest, he saw the stars
shining brightly through the
boughs of a giant fir tree. One
very bright star stood in the
firmament at the top of the
tree. So Luther chopped down
a small fir in a forest near the
castle and brought it inside. Ile
secured candles which he put on •
the tree with the largest one
at the top --rhe Star of Bethlelcen
Today, Christmas lighting is
parr of our Canadian way of life
and we have a huge variety of
lighted decorations from which
to choose.
The modern trend for Christ-
mas tree lighting is away from
the bright and somewhat garnish
effect when brilliant, clear
bulbs are used. The tendency
now is to use subdued "cool"
colours in the larger bulbs.
Recently introduced are the
"midget" type lamps and these
have become enormously popu-
lar across Canada. These are
about the size and shape of the
sharpened end of a lead pencil,
conte in a full colour range and
give a beautiful effect on the
tree.
More and more homeowners
are using the new artificial trees.
These are most realistic looking.
They make no muss of needles
and can be folded up and scored •
for use year after year. Besides
coining in the natural green
they are available in a number
of pastel shades. They are made
from vista which is fireproof --
an added advantage.
And for the safety of your home
and fancily be sure that your
Christmas tree lights are equip -
PAGE 15
ped with a safety fuse plug.
These strings have outlets at the
free end into which other strings
may be plugged and the safety
fuse also protects these.
At Christmas, a special prayer:
May mankind be blessed with "Peace on
Earth." And a special wish: May
your personal Christmas be a most happy one.
C. G. FARM SUPPLY
RR 3, Zurich Phone 236-4934
The beauty of the Christmas countryside fills
hearts with warmth and good cheer. We take this time
to share with you the traditional greetings
of the season, and to thank you for your loyal support.
GERALD, PEARL and ENTIRE STAFF
GINGERICW LTD
"FURNITURE AN it APPLIANCES"
ZURICH TWO LOCATIONS SEAFORTH
KUVIV