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THE NEWBERRY SUN FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1948 with all good wishes for a glorious Holiday Season Laird Radiator Works m: n, " c (5hank %u” is the most sincere expression we know of to convey our apprecia tion for the friendships which have been *o important to our mutual benefit during the past twelve months. May we extend to yon and yours our best wishes for a joy ous Christmas Season. L. A. Wilson & Son dlO'We'tA' \/lANY unusual and picturesque tales have been told about the modern usage of Christmas flowers, although they are legendary, the carefully spun bits of folklore pro vide a colorful background for pres ent day flower decorations which »re used during the Christmas sea- ion. Holly, with its red berries, dark green leaves and needle-like spikes (s a light-hearted symbol of friend- ihip and good will when December irrives. According to legend, though, dolly originally was used as an in strument of cruelty. The crown of .horns which Christ wore was fash ioned from holly. Prior to the Cruci fixion the plant bore white berries out after the Crucifixion the berries turned a bloody crimson. Mistletoe, s close associate of holly, is said to have been the wood from which Christ’s cross was made. One of the most beautiful legends woven around Christmas flowers their recent introduction. In the beginning of the last century the poinsettia was introduced by J. R. Poinsett, an American politician and diplomat. For years evergreens have flour ished in homes at Christmastide to create a woodsy, outdoor atmos phere. In the aged line “hang up the holly, the box and the bay” it is significant to note that two of the plants mentioned, box and bay, are mentioned in Holy Scriptures as thriving on the mountains of Le banon in the Holy Land. Because of its symmetrical leaves, bay has been used for design throughout the ages. The Greeks used it on their coins and the Ro mans, too, favored it as a beautiful show piecg. Today bay shrubbery graces the entrances to many Amer ican homes at yuletide. Cedar, which furnishes greens for Christmas, likewise existed in Le banon. The people of Lebanon re- concerns the Christmas rose. While en route to Bethlehem the Wise Men crossed*the path of a little shep herdess named Madelon. Enrap tured at the wondrous tale about the birth of Christ which they re lated, she was heartbroken because she had no gift to offer. While she was crying she detected a sweet-smelling aroma and looked up. Standing next to her was an angel who inquired the reason for her sadness. Madelon explained that while she wanted to pay homage to the newly-born Babe, she didn’t even have a single, beautiful flower such as grew in the fields in the summer to give Him. The angel waved her arm and a stunning bunch of gorgeous, snowy white Christmas roses appeared. Madelon gathered her precious gift in her arms and hurried off to Bethlehem where the Wise Men had gone. After the Wise Men’s offerings of gold, frankincense and myrrh, she humbly preferred her flowers to the tiny Infant, who stretched out a hand to touch the roses. His fingers lightly brushed the immacu late petals and immediately they changed to a delicate pink. Poinsettias which head the popu larity list of Christmas flowers, iron ically enough do not have any leg ends attached to them because of garded cedJr as a symbol of endur ance, strength, life and eternity. Recognized by its characterirtic, pleasant aroma, cedar also was an emblem of purity because its tree- tops were frequently covered with snow during a large part of the year. An old-time favorite of sailors who visited Mediterranean ports was Rosemary because of the aromatic perfume the plant yielded. Familiar to most Americans as a st'aggling hedge plant, Rosemary droops in massive festoons 12 feet long in its native Italy. Legend has it that the flowers were colorless until the Blessed Virgin, during the flight into Egypt, hung the clothes of Jesus on Rosemary bushes to dry. Thereafter, Rose mary bushes blossomed forth with their sparkling blue flowers. The Hawthorn bush with its white or red flowers originally was the May tree of the Old World. Pecu liarly, the bush never blooms in May. According to historians, Jos eph of Arimathea went to England and on the completion of his pil grimage at the Abbey of Glaston bury he pushed his staff into the ground where it burst forth leaves and flowers. Since then the Haw thorn bush always flowers at Christ mastide, which is out of its regu lar season. THE*'*'; I<£| £ V; Think the early Amcricm Puri tan pioneers for your Christmas turkey and cranberries. It was they who discovered what could, be done to nice, fat turkey and cranberries to make a delicious December 25th feast. Since then turkey and cranberries have been the basis of the American Christ mas dinner. Santa Claus, holly, mistletoe and the custom of giving gifts were also brought from the Puritan homeland. Christmas dinner tables are load ed with food • and old supersti tions, too. If a guest refuses mince pie, there’s bad luck in store for him; cat apples at midnight for good health; be-surc to have plum pudding leSt you lose a friend during th?year. The feeding of animals, sending cards, singing carols and paying Christmas gifts are all in superstitious tradition of things to do for good luck.. / omA U)iaIui6 * I • ' , tf! -Tu, I > ,< , 1 •, f V, - ' \\'< l • , ' ^oliolcitj Sjiabon. y SMITH MOTOR COMPANY DODGE & PLYMOUTH DEALER G E APPLIANCES ■JMm SEASOH OF C000 Wil WKCOMEO HOF! A SPtClAL M.IVMV j/i#' rS the aKodouH of Ifco 'UlETIDf A' VI THE KEYNOTE OF CHR#TMAS mmz V tfcr W •* Wok Our SUctrt Bern *uhri] W'ExuU -.Sr * taton / ‘CH— J ^ ^ ' accept a-re with .Be *ee«n 9 ‘ i wtth wHcK U U American Legion Post 24