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*7 k. % Christmas Joy Rejoice, it’s Christmas. To you, glad greetings, with gratitude for your kind patronage. Pitts Men's Shop 111 N. Broad St. 853-0603 Clinton, S. C. ■//# Christmas Blessings "Christ the Saviour is bom!” The glad tidings of this age-old story ring out anew, and the message of the Nativity brings joy and blessings. TRULUCK Printing Co. 104 Woodrow Dr. 833-1751 7 9V I2$fe5se& (3^ri$tr«a5 Thn inspiration of that Holy Night livs anow. May all its spiritual blastings ba yours, at this Christmastida. Pool#'* Sedan 18—THE CHRONICLE, Clinton, S. C„ December 26, 196» Chistm^ Gifts Tree Radiates Yule Meaning O WOF^ WTien Santa Kurosu (.Japanese for Santa Claus) opens his bag on Christmas Eve., a strange smell may fill the air— for some Japanese villagers consider it extremely good luck to give fish as Christmas presents' In Spain gifts are exchanged on January oth in honor of Epithany, to celebrate the arrival of the Three Wise Men at Bethlehem. Adults in France exchange gifts on New Year’s Day, but the impatient young fry are visited by Pere Noel on Christmas Eve just like their American cousins. The German child finds candy and nuts in his stocking, or a potato. . depending-upon his "report" to Santa. Italian children put out their shoes to eagerly await pres ents from a female version of Santa Claus called La Befana who, riding a broomstick, brings gifts to good children and ashes to bad ones. While waiting for Befana, who comes on Jan. 6th Italian child ren and their elders draw small gifts on Christmas Eve from a jar called the "urn of fate" In Sweden, the feast of St. Lucia on December 13th ushers in the Christmas season. Each community chooses a lovely Lucia Queen to represent the voting girl martyred for her religion centuries before in an cient Rome. The chosen Queen is feted and entertained royal ly. In families with daughters, throughout Sweden, the pret tiest is traditionally chosen as Lucia. Her "gift" is to wait on everyone else for the day. The systematic British long ago established December 26th as "Boxing Day"—on this pugilistic sounding occassion, servants and tradespeople all over England are given boxes of money in token appreciation for their services. "Christmas isn't Christmas without presents" said a con cerned Amy in the classic "Little Women" and tradition bears her statement out. What ever the amount spent, what ever the present, Americans cer tainly agree with Amy’s sent iments. Studies show that 27 billion dollars were spent on Christmas presents in a re cent vear. Afmdi, 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 Paradise 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- Quick Southern Pecan Pie 1 cup sugar 3 well beaten eggs 1/4 cup melted butter 1 cud pecans 1/2 cup corn syrup 1 unbaked pie shell Mix sugar, syrup and butter; add eggs and pecans. 1 our into pie shell. ' Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes; reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake 30 to 35 minutes longer. Serve either hot or cold. Decorate pie with pecan halves as a bor der. As an added delight, top with slightly sweetened whipped cream. C 68- MAT PAGE 28 T BOTH ELEMENTS THAT LEI) TO TODAY'S ChriMma* — llie Paradise 1 ree and the ( hri-lmu* I.iylit' pyramid — are »Iiohn in this antique ('.hristmas eard ijI the 1880’s. The card nas pub lished bv Opbueher Brothers orMunirh, Germain, and i' part of the Hallmark Cards Historical Collection. grants carried the tree throughout the country / x A major setback almost occurred in Cleveland in 1851 when a pastor decorated a tree in his home. His parishioners condemned the 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. < VKOl INC EVEin W HEBE In every country where Christmas is celebrated,carols are a part of the celebration i CHOOBIAJO A Oinstmas * Card in th■ laao’B TREE LAND Christmas Trees Accord ing to the University of Cal ifornia Agricultural Extension Service California produces about nine hundred thousand Christmas trees a vear. TOYS—VICTORIAN ERA Christmas toys for children of the Victorain era were meant to amuse as well as instruct. The popular mechanical banks were interesting to watch and also inspired thrift. # ‘ \w T- \ % Christmas ©reetings Here’s wishing you a merry old-fashioned Christmas. And to you, warm thanks for your confidence and trust! It has been a pleasure to serve you. J. C. THOMAS, Jeweler Clinton “It’s Time Thot Counts” Joanna A Erench Legend tells why the Christmas rose—the only rose that b lo o m s at Christ mas—sometimes has a bit of pink on its white petals. A small girl who was accompany ing the shepherds on their way to visit the Christ Child, was unhappy because she had no gift to offer the Infant. The Angel Gabriel appeared to her and was so impressed by the little girl's sincerity that he touched his staff to the ground, and a rose—more beautiful than any other sprang from the frozen earth. The rose was originally white, or so the story goes, but when the little girl gave it as a gift to the Baby Jesus, the Christ Child reached out His hand to touch the bloom, and its petals were suddenly tipped with pink. There would not be the cos mopolitan variety of cards that we have today. Hints at what was around long ago are shown in collections of that era. The designs have a charming quality. Flowers and birds, children and pets. Some times a star or a bell, but sel dom a Santa Claus. Then, as now, however, the cards’ intent is the same; to convey good will, good wishes, the hope of happy times to come. % v <.T: / rM 1 A >:• lotuish qou the joqsof : <*x. % i 4, ^ I Id the fine and happy tradition of the holiday season we wish to extend our greetings to our customers, old and new. May you enjoy the festivities and delights of' this special time as your families gather in joyous celebration. Thank you for your loyal trust and support. Your warm friendship makes us feel very proud. Merry Christmas. D. E. TRIBBLE & CO (Effrlatmaa ta Ut tiff air ramjmljrrr! Jamtlg anh frtrn&a fnitt tc rrtoirr. trrra arr bring trtmmrb, rarola arr aung, gifta rxrlfangrh, brlla ring nut a mrrrg tunr anb Ifrarta arr fillrb mitlf prarrful ffappinraa. ullfrar arr tiff nrrg agrrial toga nt tlfr araann. Hlag rarff anb rurrg nnr br gnura. Anb ror abb nur gratrful tijanka aa tnr mialf gnu a flrrrg CUffriatmaa. 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