Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE NEWBERRY SUN Now, at the time of the year when gladness and thanks giving are first in the minds of all, we welcome the op portunity to express our best wishes for a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. Newberry Dairy Co-op >s]siES))«»S)3i»9iaiaia)»ata(>ia)>)aiai3iaiatSiai»ai9!3)»i»3!9iX9i»9!a)»aia!»Jii«9i>i»» H I I s * i The friendships and patronage you have accorded us are worthy indeed of our most hearty and INCSHE We pledge our best efforts to serve you during the years to come. May yank Clt/U&tmal Jlafifuj, and you* PJoua fyeG* pnobp&uuU Newberry Creamery Surrounded by myth by primitive peoples, the mistletoe was taken over by Christians who also wove fanciful legends around it. In ancient mythology, the mis tletoe was the instrument of evil. The Druids of Britain believed the plant possessed healing powers. Oth er primitive people thought that mis tletoe found growing on oaks had magical powers. Taken over into Christian tradi tion, the mistletoe was dedicated to the Christ Child. Adopted as sym bolical of the healing power of our Lord, it was used to adorn the altars at Christmas. Monks of the monasteries called It the “wood of the cross” and attributed supernat ural powers to it. The white berries were said to reflect the radiance caught from the guiding star when the Wise Men were led to the manger. Christmas Held Twice Yearly If children instead of their par ents were allowed to choose the family homesite, the tiny fishing vil lage of Rodanthe, N. C., would be come a metropolis overnight. Here's a place they celebrate two Christmases every year. Santa Claus, his reindeer scam pering over the sands of North Carolina's outer banks, makes his first stop in Rodanthe during his annual world tour on the night of December 24. Hardly have the chil dren recovered from their oversup ply of candy and wild duck when Santa returns in time for "Old Christmas,’’ which for hundreds of years Rodantheans have celebrated on January 5. This time, however, Santa is accompanied by a menac ing ogre, known as “Old Buck,” ■ Tfe- who takes care of the bad children while Santa administers to the good. The historical background of-“Old Christmas” is uncertain. It may be a throwback to the Gregorian calen dar or it may have started as a celebration of the Twelfth Nigtjt— when the wise men came to Bethle hem bearing gifts for the Christ child—that somehow got off sched ule a day. Elsewhere the Twelfth Night is celebrated on January 6. But those celebrations are far dif ferent from Rodanthe’s “Old Christ mas,” which only in recent years has been supplemented by the ob servance of December 25. In the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England, the prayer for the last Sunday before Advent began with the words “Stir up.” The people of Peterborough took this to be a reminder that they should start their plum pudding at that time, and everybody in the family took a hand in the stirring until it was ready on Christmas. This indispensable old-time Eng lish Christmas dish was furmety, or frumenty, which according to old- time recipes was “wheat boiled un til the gravis burst, then strained and boiled again with broth or milk and yolks of eggs.” Frumenty was the forerunner to plum pudding. Treating Trees To Preserve Needles Dropping needles or leaves of Christmas trees, which strip the trees of color and litter the floor, long have been a Yuletide bane. Therefore, the discovery of the New Yt»rk State College of Forestry that waterglass spray will prevent the spruce leaves from falling comes as welcome news to family and housewife alike. Besides preserving the foliage, the waterglass spray adds to the decora-jve effect of the spruce by leaving a slight silver sheen to the green c-f the needle-like leaves. The waterglass also has been found to be a good fire retardant. The college found that the shed ding of spruce leaves also can be retarded by placing the base of the tree in a bucket of moist earth, peat moss or water. Users have re ported the success of this treat ment. Legend has it that when Christ was born and Satan died, the bells in the churches were rung. At ex actly midnight the tolling changed to a joyful real, announcing the birth of the Christ. In the dark chambers high above the turmoil and strife of human life, dwelt the Apostles of Peace, whose salutations were never so welcome as at the time of the great winter feasts of Christmas, so William Auld tells in his traditions. ‘The Messiah* Ranks As Yuletide Favorite Best known-of all oratorios Is Handel’s “The Messiah,” a favorite presentation of the Christmas sea son. In almost every community in the civilized world a choir will sing part or all of the oratorio during the Yuletide. People in places too remote to boast a sufficiently skilled choir or soloists will hear "The Messiah's” message by radio. The famous oratorio was written by George Frederick Handel In Lon don between August 22 and Septem ber 14, 1741. The first presentation was in Fishamble Street Music hall, Dublin, on April 13. 1742, under direction of the composer. Ladies were requested to “refrain from wearing hoops”- and gentle men to “leave their swords at home,” in order that a capacity audience might swell the proceeds to relieve needy children and the inmates of debtors’ prisons. “The Messiah” was given its English premiere before the court at Covent Garden in March, 1743. George II was so overpowered by the grandeur of the music portray ing the King of Kings that he sprang to his feet in reverent acclaim at the opening bars of the Hallelujah chorus, an action which led to the modern custom. Norwegian farmers give their cattle tubs of home-brewed ale on Christmas Eve. At midnight of Christmas Eve people in Madrid eat 12 grapes for good luck in the coming year. There are 175 different kinds of holly. Christmas has been celebrated on more than 100 different days in vari ous parts of the world. Christopher Columbus and his men landed on the coast of Cuba on December 25, 1492, naming the point Navidad. George Washington crossed the Delaware and made a successful attack on the Hessian troops at Trenton, N. J., on Christmas Day, 1776. Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan followers abolished Christmas Day in England, banning all feasting and fun. The ban lasted for seven years and was lifted when Charles II became king. The needy are considered in Hun gary at Christmastime, a levy being assessed against richer citizens so the poor may have sufficient to eat and drink. Reduce Christmas Hazards With Care To avoid tragic Christmas acci dents in the home, the Fire Protec tion institute issues these precau tionary tips: —Use a flame-proof compound to spray wreaths and other pine deco rations. —Use materials marked flame proof for tree trimmings and home decorations if they are obtainable. —Inspect Christmas tree lights, and repair frayed wires or loose sockets, —Neve- ’cave Christmas lights burning ^.iless someone is around. —Never unwrap gifts near an open fire or flickering flame. Dis pose of paper and other inflam mable wrappings immediately.