Zurich Citizens News, 1974-12-23, Page 15MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1974
Word 'Manger'
Has 2 Meanings
The Bible tells us that
the newly -born Christ -child
was "wrapped in swaddling
clothes and laid in a man-
ger," a word derived from
the French "mangeoir" or
frame to hold animal feed.
It is interesting that the,
other common English word
for a cattle -feeder, crib,
which is derived from the
German krippe, also means
a baby's bed.
Even the French word
creche, which is often used
to describe the nativity
scene displayed in churches,
homes, and other places at
Christmastime, has the
double meaning of "man-
geoir" and a public shelter
for the care of infants.
Christmas
Trees For
Ecology ... .
Many people believe
that the cutting of trees
for Christmas "robs"
nature and destroys a
portion of our forests
each year, but the truth
is that nearly three-
quarters of such trees
are raised specifically
to be cut at Christmas-
time, Most of the re-
mainder are "thin-
nings"—young trees cut
in forests to improve
the growth opportuni-
ties for other trees.
Forestry experts and
nurserymen point out
that young, growing
trees give off more ox-
ygen and absorb more
carbon dioxide than
mature ones, so that the
cultivation of Christ-
mas trees actually helps
the ecology. In contrast,
they say, the manufac-
ture of artificial trees
uses up valuable energy
and natural resources,
which are not recover-
able.
After Christmas, dis-
carded trees can be
used in various ways
to benefit the environ-
ment. Even if you live
in a city, ecologists sug-
gest, you can help by
getting in touch with
a local conservation or-
ganization or commer-
cial nursery.
ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS
PAGE 15
Letters to `Santa'
Overflow Mailbox
THE MOST I'A111OuS RESIDENT in the town of Santa Claus,
Indiana, population 300, is Santa Claus himself who re-
ceives well over 100,000 letters annually from children
across the country and around the world. As Santa CIaus
in costume and Jim Yellig out of it, a 42 -year career has
been devoted to making sure letters are answered.
There's something special
about Santa Claus in a
small southern Indiana
town where the famous
Christmas legend has be-
come somewhat of an every-
day reality.
This town with a popula-
tion of about 300 year-round
residents, and a family of
deer, is the jolly old gent's
namesake home — Santa
Claus, Indiana — as well as
the home of his helpers, and
the location of his overflow-
ing mailbox.
A unique landmark at
Santa Claus is the U.S. Post
Office near the intersection
of Indiana highways 162
and 245, and next to the
entrance to Santa Claus
Land.
There is nowhere in the
world where you can find a
post office like this one. Its
architecture is that of a
stone -fronted fairyland
castle in design and while
the community has but
slightly more than 300 year-
round residents this post
office each year is flooded
with about four million
pieces of mail. The bulk of
C1,111.11$ M
g
May the warmth of good friendship
glow in your hearts throughout this joyous
time of love and brotherhood.
THE MANAGEMENT AND STAFF
a r k of Montreal
Canada's First Bank
ZURICH BRAMi
all this mail comes around.
Christmas time to receive
the cherished Santa Claus
postmark. Still others arrive
addressed simply to "Santa
Claus, 47579."
Letters addressed to
"Santa Claus" represent the
tens of thousands of chil-
dren's "want lists" that
foretell visions of Christ-
mas morning, promise cook-
ies and milk, and extend
best wishes to Santa, Mrs.
Claus, and Rudolph. And,
to the delight of children
everywhere, all of these let-
ters receive an answer from
Santa Claus.
This unique practice dates
back to the late 1920s when
Robert L. Ripley popularized
the town by featuring it in
an article in his "Believe It
Or Not" column. After the
article appeared, mail began
to mushroom, especially
letters addressed to "Santa
Claus."
Tourists with children al-
so started to arrive and
make visits to the post office
with their Christmas mail,
following in the steps of
Ripley who also sent -his
Christmas cards through
the office here as proof that
there was indeed a Santa
Claus — as verified by the
postmark. For over 40 years,
children have met Santa
himself, played by Raymond
Joseph "Jim" Yellig.
Besides taking up the role
of Santa Claus at the Santa
Claus Post Office in the ear-
ly 1930s, Yellig also em-
barked on a project that
now involves much of the
community of the Santa
Claus, Ind. area. He noticed
that the incoming, letters
were being stored away be-
cause there were too many
for the postmaster of the
day to answer and took pan
in hand, along with his wife,
to make sure children who
cared enough about Santa
Claus were answered.
CNRIs,.
Adevr.
4
To Our
FRIENDS and RELATIVES
a
MERRY CHRISTMAS
and Best Wishes for
the New Year
DON, BONNIE & KATHY
SCHENK
May all the good
things Christmas has
in store be yours —
peace, joy and serenity. We are
forever grateful for your kindness.
E.W. SHANTZ
General Trucking * Pit Materials
R.R.3 ZURICH 236-4036
_et's all sing a carol
of peace, serenity
and goodwill, this
special holiday
season. Many thanks
to all our friends for
your loyal patronage.
flffke
Fu en N and Ambulance Servs
ZURICH