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L' 4-C—THE CHRONICLE, Clinton, S. C., Dec. 23, 1970 Greena >nd Garlands The use of greens and garlands to decorate for a festive season goes back a thousand years be fore the birth of Christ. It began with the ancient Egyptians Traditions of pagan festivals were later merged with the cele- hpmmbooopbqbooooopooooopooooooqbmmwmhb bration of Christmas, and ever greens, because they stay green throughout the year. This came to be regarded as the Christmas symbol of eternal life. Santa’s White Beard, Red Suit Come from Cartoonist Who gave Santa his red suit, broad girth, white beard ruddy cheeks and nose, fur- trimmed hat and coat? Surprisingly enough, the donor was a political car toonist. The artist’s name was Thomas Nast, cartoonist for Harper’s Illustrated Weekly, who also created the now- famous symbols of the Re publican elephant and the Democratic donkey. The figure of Santa that Nast drew in 1863, and per haps earlier, has proved to be the definitive one, and even today the figure as drawn by Nast appears occasionally on Christmas greetings. “Nast’s image of Santa was extraordinary,” says Mrs. Jeannette Lee, director of design at Hallmark. “He gave Santa many of the qualities that have en deared him to children ever since, and we wouldn’t dream of tampering very much with them today.” Nast first credited Santa with keeping books on good and bad children, having a Christmas toy workshop and reading letters sent to him by children. Perhaps it was the now- famous poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” by Dr. Clement May the peaceful spirit of the Christmas Season fill our hearts with brotherhood and good will. It gives us deep pleasure to extend fondest wishes for Happy Holidays to all! T. L JONES s SONS Clarke Moore, that inspired Nast’s illustration of Santa. In this children’s classic of 1823, the right jolly old elf, who looked like a peddler with a pack on his back, was first described in print. Nast followed Dr. Moore’s description of Santa in sev eral particulars, but many of his concepts were original. At the time of Nast’s Santa Claus drawings the nation was at Civil War, and fam ilies were separated. In a note to cheer both soldiers and their waiting families Nast drew “Santa Claus in Camp,” for Harper’s Weekly. This earliest Santa was different from any artist’s creations up till then. He was shown wearing stars and stripes of the Union and dis tributing gifts to soldiers. Actually, this Santa might have been meant as a repre sentation of Uncle Sam also. A later, equally moving Nast illustration featured a soldier's Christmas home coming. Born in 1840 in the tiny hamlet of Landau, Bavaria, Nast probably pictured Santa as the long-imagined Saint Nicholas of his childhood. Albert Bigelow Paine, a friend and admirer of Nast, said the artist often revealed to him his love of the Santa illustrations. He later wrote in his biography of the car toonist: “His own childhood in far- off Bavaria has been meas ured by the yearly visits of ... St. Nicholas . . . and the girlhood of the woman who was to become his wife (Sarah Edwards of New York) was intimately associated with brilliant and joyous celebrations. “Nast’s children later re called there was always a multitude of paper dolls — marvelously big and elabo rate, a race long since be come extinct. “And these the artistic father — more than half a child himself at the Christ mas season — arranged in processions and cavalcades, gay pageants that marched in and about those larger presents that could not be crowded into the row of stockings that hung by the family fireplace. “It was a time of splendor and rejoicing — the festive blossoming of the winter sea son— and it was a beautiful and sturdy family that made Merry Christmas riot in the spacious New York home.” In Nast’s day, the idea of some sort of Santa was not new to this country. He was introduced to North America by the early Dutch settlers and his name was St. Nicho las. The annual visit of this kind man, who was thought to have been a fourth-cen tury bishop, was his feast day, December 6th. By 1809, Washington Irving was describing Santa as a small Dutch citizen who looked much like Father Knickerbocker. Irving won dered how the poor old man could get to all the homes in a growing America on his horse, so he invented the fa mous reindeer-drawn sleigh Lively Party Ideas The magical season of Christmas is here. Our best wishes to all. Christmas gatherings just naturally turn into parties friends and relatives drop in with holiday greetings, and all of a sudden it’s a party! Party games designed spe cially for the season can spur on the fun. For groups large or small, parties planned or impromp tu, the following entertain ing ideas are suggested One way to "break the ice," especially when all of the guests are not well acquaint ed with each other, is to play a guessing game. A Christ mas Personality game can be played by pinning a name such as “Rudolph,” “Santa" or “Christmas Angel” on the backs of several guests Then each tries to guess his name by hints others give. Another way to start a party is to start the guests out thinking! Have a little contest and see who can spell the most words with the letters in "Chrismas." Musical (land) (lane A lively combination ver sion of Musical Chairs and Hot Potato makes use of some unbreakable symbol of Christmas festivities a small package, one of the sturdier tree ornaments, a big candy cane. One person who is not play ing puts on a Christmas rec ord. Everyone sits in a close circle and passes the object around. When the music sud denly stops, the person who has the object in his hand is out. This continues until the circle is reduced to one — the winner! Pin the Star Children never tire of ex citing party games, while the adults may need a rest. One game that is loads of fun for kids to play and adults to watch is a seasonal version of “Pin the Tail on the Don key." This one is “Pin the Star on the Christmas Tree " It's easy to cut a large shape of a Christmas Tree out of green construction paper and tape it to a wall or door, making sure it is low enough for the littlest guest to reach the top Each child gets a paper star with tape on the back and takes his turn being blindfolded and spun around The one who can place his star closest to the top of the tree wins HF.I.I.O, I I I I I f ONE” W V's HUE KOIt thi. fumed driving of SiiiiIh, li\ I liom.i- Nii-1 from llarprr'* W eeA/y. Na»l, ;i noled I Oil, eeiilur> polilieal eiirlooni-t, v*.i» (lie lir«l lo illii-lrale Suntii ;i- a bearded, red-no-ed joll\ old man v»lio«e rotund lictire »*u» elollied in a fiir-lrimmed red -nil. aeeording lo re«e.irelier« for Ha llmark. Prepare An Inviting Holiday Tray An inviting Christmas touch is to have a hospitality tray for everyone to help themselves It makes .t easy for you to offer a gift to everyone who comes to visit during the holidays, from the paper hov to a delivery man to the children next door Set it near the front door in a fover or in the living room For festive trav gifts mt nvlon net. in your favorite color, or an assortment of Christmas colors., into 4 inch squares. Put nut and candies that keep well in the center Gather up the corners and tie with gold or silver cord Put these packets on a large tray They art decorative and inviting Pes-er! trays are the good answer for buffet parties Take a platter your largest i (enter it with a gingerbread man and sur round him with an as-rntment of surprises and sweets - hard and soft candies, nuts, fruit and petits fours, ('hrismas cookies, small small pastries The secret liev in having such a lavish display of goodies that even after people have helped themselves once, the trav still looks full ( liri>lniu> Tmt A Christmas Tree that everyone can play is guessing game. In "Christ mas Tree" the person who is "if leaves the room while the other players decide a secret word It must be verb, or a word showing ac tion, such as run, eat or swim When “if comes back tries to guess the word asking questions using ' Christmas Tree" in place the word. He may ask, children Christmas Tree 0 ’ game a on a he bv of Do * if ^ Over the fields and through the snow-covered countryside go our warmest Christmas wishes. In this tradition, we greet our friends and customers, with hopes for your holiday happiness, and with genuine appreciation for your good will. Laurens, LAURENS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC spirit of Christmas is in the air, ringing out joy and good will. We take this time to extend to all greetings and thanks. DEES OIL CO. Maim Street 883-0776