The Huron Expositor, 1980-12-18, Page 4214
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PSITOR0 VEGEMBEI3 24 1980
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Correspondent
JAN FERGIA,ON
With the appearance of the
first star on Christmas Eve,
the daylong fast of the Polsih
Wigilia is ended and families
gather around the table to
•
Daniel Ruston , St. Patrick's Sebool, Dublin
Christmas Blessings
May this Holy time bring to all hearts His clear
message of Christmas love.
R.S. BOX
FUNERAL HOME
47 High Street Seaforth 527-0885
honor the Hdly Child.
Before the Ataditional sup- `
per is served, the father of
the house breaks the Opiate -
Id, or Chtistmas wafers,
which are marked with Nativ-
ity scenes and have been
blessed by the, Church. He
then distributes the pieces to
all who are present as tokens
of friendship and peace.
The meal that follows has
12 courses, one for each ,
Apostle. It is always meat,
less, consisting generally of
borsch, fish, cabbage, mash -
rooms, almonds and pastries
made with poppy seed and
honey. In commemorationof
the birds and beasts who..
gathered at the MAnger, the
children dressed as storks,
bears, or,charasters from the
Nativity go, from house to
house singing carols. They .
are rewarded.
In many -homes sheaves of
wheat or other grain from the
harvest are placed in the four
corners of the principal room
on Christmas Eve. Straw is
spreadtn the floor and even
under the white cloth on the
dining table as. a reminder of
the Manger. On Christmas
Eve, too, there are Poles,
Ukrainians and other Slavic
people who put their children
to 'sleep on beds of straw or
hay in imitation of the
newborn Christ.
The great midnight Mass
ovcvoo:clooc. xo:o4
Many Christmas
traditions come
from Germany
Many of the world's cher-
ished Christmas traditions
stem from Germany. It is
with advent that the German
Christmas . begins and the
colourful German Advent
calendars with little windows
to open for each day of the
season are a delight to
children everywhere. In Eur-
ope, from the beginning of
time, evergreen trees had
.been brought into homes
during th enorthern winter.as
symbols of unending life, but
it was here, in the Black
Forest, that they were first
used as a part of Christmas.
The season has a history of
darkness, too. Evil spirits
were once, said to roam free
at this holy time. So on
Knocking Night, the last
Thursday before Christmas,
mummers in grotesque cost-
umes went from house to
house, knocking at doors,
Tattling cans and cowbells,
and cracking whip § to drive
the spirits away. Even old
Father Christmas, himself a
kindly bearer of gifts, was
wise believed to travel with
frightening masked compan-
ions who doled out switches
and punishment to naughty
children. Today in Austria
good Saint Nicholas parades
through the streets in full
bishop's regalia, followed by
a band of Buttenmandlin,
clothed all in straw and
wearing fur masks, they
pounce upon andsqueeze the
young people they meet.
Marzipan, .lebkuchen,
springerle, stollen and other
mouth-watering holiday
treats are of German origin.
New Year's Eve, with its
free flow'ng wine and beer,
its danring and street par-
ades, bring the holidays to an
exuberant end.
or
a04000•040 40.•:04070:
xpEacE
Wishing you serenity and happi-
ness this Christmas and always.
SEAFORTil
JEWELLERS
XSeaforth 527-0270
4
OUT t165
Here's to a sleighful of happiness
this Chrisinas. May you enjoy
Its many pleasures and treasures.
Thanks for your friendthip.
EAST HURON PRODUCE
Dublin
• •
in Poland is called Pasterka*
the Mass of the Sheperds.
And on this most, sacred pure and blameless may see
A
night, according t9 legend,
tflOSP 1010S0 lives have beep
in the Winter sky, where the
heavens li,aire parted, a vis-
ion of Jacob's ladder.
Peace on earth, good will to all, as we
celebrate the miracle of our Saviour's birth.
At this holy time, we give thanks.
Management and staff of
HYDE BROTHERS
FARM EQUIPMENT
0, siNci OUT iN pRAiSE Of ThE PRiNCE Of PEACE! As WE
jOiN TOgEThER iN ThE WARM glow"of His tovE, WE
wish you ThE MAN y blessiNqs of ThE ChRiSTMAS SEASON.
The Management & Staff of
OPNOTCH
TOPNOTCH FEEDS LIMITED
Seaf orth
527-1910