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THE NEWBERRY SUN FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1948 n u n \ i n ■ T’S good to know that Christmas holds the same old warmth, the same note of good cheer and good fellowship, that makes this season the most glorious of them all T ^ Following a custom of long standing, we offer this message of good will in the same old friendliness that comes only i from associations of long standing* y ^ Newberry Creamery •;'wV (TrfT Onr Honse to. Yonr Honse P Bergen Clothing Co. Magi Were Priests Of Persian Religion Along about this time of the year there’s a lot written, said and sung about the Magi. Just who were the Magi, anyway? The Magi were priests of an ancient Persian religion called Zoroastrianism. The Greek histor ian Herodotus gives a very favor able account of them and their influence in a society which existed four hundred years before Christ’s birth. According to Herodotus the Magi were powerful in public and private affairs. They conducted the educa tion of the young princes, and were in constant attendance upon the | king as counselors. This description of a Magi ap- i pears in the sacred writing of Zoro aster: “Thou shouldst call him ; priest, who sits the whole night thru j and yearns for holy wisdom that j enables man to stand upon death’s I bridge fearless and with happy heart, the wisdom whereby he at tains the holy and glorious world of paradise.’’ The three Magi, or Wise Men, who followed the Star of Bethlehem and brought gifts of gold, frank incense and myrrh to the Christ child remain nameless, but they were the first to recognize the importance of the birth of the Prince of Peace. Birthday of Jesus An Uncertain Date It is not surprising that the day and year of the birth of Jesus are uncertain, for methods of keeping track of dates during the era when Christ was bom were not very reli able. For years, eminent scholars have been searching the scriptures, and all possible records, to try to establish an exact date. So far, they have not succeeded. Matthew states that Jesus was bom during the reign of King Herod which helps to establish the period of His birth and this is the starting point from which the scholars at tempt to reckon the year. The statement by Matthew that the wise men from the east, in in quiring “Where is He that is born King of the Jews?” aroused Herod so that he ordered the massacre of all children two years old or less, is ven* significant. It is taken as proof that Jesus must have been born about two years before this infamous decree was issued. No less an authority than the Catholic encyclopedia places the birth of Christ in the year which, by our modem methods of keeping track of dates, would be 7 B. C. Thus, Christ’s birth does not exactly determine the difference between B. C. and A. D. date. Most people, however, do not care if the exact day and year of Christ’s birth arc unknown. What matters most is the deathless vigor of the Christmas Spirit throughout the world. Christmas Quiz How much do you and your fami ly really know about Christmas? Try this one on them when there’s a lull in the fun. Both children and adults will enjoy matching wits and everybody will learn something more about Christmas. 1. The Christmas custom of kiss ing under the mistletoe started in (a) Norway, (b) Russia, (c) Hol land. 2. The story of the birth of Jesus is described in which two books of the New Testament (a) St. John, (b) St. Matthew, (c) St. Luke, (d) St. Mark? 3. The national Christmas tree of America is located in (a) Indiana (b) New York, (c) Washington, D. C., (d) California. 4. Who wrote "The Night Before Christmas”? (a) Longfellow, (b) Guest, (c) Moore? 5. There is only one town in the world named Santa Claus. It is lo cated in (a) Holland, (b) England, (c) Indiana. 6. Tuberculosis Christmas seals originated in (a) America, (b) Ger many, (c) Denmark. 7. The custom of hanging holly In the window on Christmas was originally started (a) to keep witches away, (b) decorate the win dow (c) as an invitation to passers- by to come in. 8. Christmas boxes for the poor originated in (a) France in 1887, (b) ancient Rome, (c) America in 1763. 9. The children of what country get Christmas gifts from a kindly old witch by the name of Befano instead of from Santa Claus? (a) Russia, (b) China, (c) France, (d) Italy. 10. The word “Noel” means (a) new, (b) holiday, (c) bom. Christmas Quizz Answers: 1. a 6. c 2 b-c 7. a 3. d 8. b 4. c 9. d 5. c 10. c t/ S ANTA CLAUS is one of the most precious wonders of childhood. American mothers overwhelmingly agree that he should be portrayed as the spirit of generosity, kindli ness, and gift-giving. Although the modem conception of Santa Claus is American, the Spirit of Santa Claus is neither modem nor American. The real Saint Nicholas lived in Asia Minor and ever since his death in 343 stories concerning him have been repeated around the firesides of Europe. The children of Lapland and northern climates naturally picture Santa dressed in fur and dashing through the snow in a reindeer- drawn sleigh. But in central Europe, St. Nicholas first appeared on his liturgical feast day, Decem ber 6, and he was a thin, austere churchman who rode a mule and carried gifts for good children and a bundle of birch rods with which to switch the naughty. Under Dutch influence St. Nich olas lost his solemnity. The Dutch colonists who brought him to Amer ica were very practical people and they decided against two gift-giving days in the same month. Thus, Sinter Klass started coming around only at Christmas time. Santa Gets a Sleigh. Eventually, ancient legends were woven into American Christmas traditions. Washington Irving sent St. Nicholas flying through Christ mas skies in a reindeer-drawn sleigh in 1809; Dr. Clement Moore’s poem "The Night Before Christmas,” written in 1822, gave Santa ‘ , . . . a little round belly that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly;” and a series of drawings in 1868 by Thomas Nast added much to the traditional pictures and ap pearance of the Santa we see today. In every youngster’s life there comes the time when he begins to suspect that the various be- whiskered gentlemen, so numerous during this season, are not exactly*! | the real Santa Claus. Wise parents advance the "helper” theory as soon as they are asked questions and teach their children to make the Christmas dreams of less fortunate tots and their families come true. Thus, the real Santa Claus isn’t Just myth or legend. He is the Spirit of Christmas who lives in the sparkling eyes of children and in the hearts of all grown-ups who strive for peace and good will among men. The minstrels played their Christ mas tune. Tonight beneath my cottage eaves; While, smitten by a lofty moon, The encircling laurels, thick with leaves. Gave back a rich and dazzling sheen. That overpowered their natural green. Through hill and valley everybreeze Had sunk to rest with folded wings; Keen was the air, but could not freeze. Nor check the music of the strings; So stout and hardy were the band That scraped the chords with stren uous hand. And who but listened? till was paid Respect to every inmate’s claim; The greeting given, the music played In honor of each household name. Duly pronounced with lusty call, j And “merry Christmas” wished to all! —William Wordsworth. CHRISTMAS ‘MOTHER’S DAY’ In Yugoslavia, the second Sunday >efore Christmas is celebrated as Mother’s day. While mother pre- ends not to notice, one of the chil dren slips in cautiously and ties her feet to the chair. The other chil dren rush in shouting, “Mother’s day! Mother’s day! What will you pay to get away!” The mother then buys her release with Christmas gifts. Parents Can Spoil Children’s Play Here’s a Christmas resolution for parents. It’s one that ought to be made before New Year's resolutions are even considered. It goes, “I will keep my hands off the chU- dren’s toys all day on Christmas.” It’ll be a hard one to keep because Mother likes to fuss with Ann's doll. She pretends she is showing Ann how to put on the bonnet, but she's actually having a grand time play ing. And once Father gets his hands on the train, or the auto that winds up, the ooys can’t get near them. It isn’t fair. The children are cry ing for a little peace and freedom. After all, adults can play with toys for the next 364 days if they want to. CHRISTMAS About this time every year old Santa has packed his sleigh full of presents for everyone, hitched up his reindeer, and set off for all parts of the world to distribute a bit of Christmas Cheer everywhere. Our wish for the season is that Santa may give you a joyous Christmas. PURCELLS CAROLYN LONG BEN P. STEWART E. B. PURCELL KEITT PURCELL TROXELLE F„ SENN SARA B. FRANKLIN ¥ $ 'M a d t o v' PP1 I U“l rc o Ci-iRisTm ft s Spartan Grain & Mill Company