University of South Carolina Libraries
\ S FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1948 THE NEWBERRY SUN Nothing expresses bet ter the true sentiment of the occasion, than to say -M€RRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY N€W YCAR To which we add our appreciation for your trust and confidence as manifest by the patronage that has been ours. Plampin’s Service Station iV~ -2 L- y t) MX All Good Cheer May we send you our sin cere good wishes for C glorious, happy Christmas. Yours is a friendship we value highly, and we look forward to a pleasant continu ance of these associations. Martin Service Station ON THE CUT-OFF Now, at the time of the year when gladnesf, 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. Ritz Theater Our Christmas Date Started By Romans The first celebration of the birth of Christ on December 25 took place in the fourth century. Before that date the commemoration of Christ’s Nativity and Baptism was held on January 6. The first mention of Christmas is found in a Roman document known as the ‘‘Philocalian Calendar” in the year 354, and the first time the festival was celebrated in Britain was in 598, when St. Augustine bap tized 10,000 converts In the year 567 the Council of Tours declared a twelve-day festival from Christmas to Epiphany, and in 991-1016 the laws ordained that all strife should cease at Christmas. Christmas was established in 813 in Germany and in Norway in the year 950. Thousands of Bulbs On Largest Tree Three thousand multi-colored elec tric bulbs and tons of Spanish moss decorate the world's largest Christ mas tree located in Hilton Municipal Park at Wilmington, North Carolina. The giant, 300-year-old water oak rises to a height of 275 feet and its branches spread 110 feet. Its magnificance has been en hanced by a radio station construct ed beneath the spreading limbs from which emanates Christmas musi’c that reaches the crowds from loud speakers concealed in the branches and an apparent voice from the heavens that comes from a speaker mounted atop a nearby gi ant water tower. Throngs of people gather around it each night during December to listen or join in the Christmas caroling. The tree won its title as the largest Christmas tree in a contest held sev eral years ago. ■‘DEAR SANTA” . . . Thia calls for a lot of deep thinking. You mustn’t ask for too much, but you hate to ask for too little. (£cftufY0V,$ He was born in a manger under the Star For lack of room elsewhere, But the homes of earth may be glor ified By His gracious presence there. He built no temple with stately walls, Yet there are many today Where weary men may adore His name As they bow their hearts to pray. He wrote no book, but His message of truth Pervades the tongues of men,' He left no riches, although in His name The wealth of His friends is given. He founded no kingdom, made no laws Yet the world will learn some day. That only those nations can endure Which follow His matchless Way. Tree Decorations Symbolize Myths You may not realize it, but most of the ornaments on your Christmas tree are symbols of myths and leg ends that were popular three thou sand years before the birth of Christ. At that time the Aryian race, liv ing in the foothills of the Himalaya mountains, saw in the rays of the rising sun, bent as they passed through the humid air, the image of a gigantic tree. These sun poets added to the tree image suggestions from the more distant heavens; the sun, the moon and the stars be came the golden fruit that hung on the branches. The larger clouds suggested birds, swans and doves flying in and about the tree. The golden flash of heat-lightning be came the mystical flower that grew on the tree, the celestial mistletoe-. The showers that watered the tree came from the streams at its base. From these fragmentary old leg ends in folklore we get the tree it self, the golden tinsel to represent the rising sun, the golden fruit for stars and the moon, swans and doves for clouds, mistletoe for light ning and showers or streamers of silver tinsel for water. Nut-Bowl Filled From Many Lands Nuts from all over the world go into your nut-bowl at Christmas. Like Christmas traditions, the nuts so popular at this time of year are a mixture of many varieties and different histories. The English walnut, for instance, is not English at all. It originated in Asia centuries ago and was called “the food of the gods.” The round little filbert and the almond came from the Old World. Other nuts, so familiar at Christ mas, the hickory nut, the black wal nut and the chestnut, to say nothing of the pecan, are strictly American. The pecan is native to America and is found nowhere else. Two other American nuts worthy of mention are the chestnut and the butternut. Although many nuts originated in other parts of the world, almost ev ery variety known is now grown on American soil and experts are con stantly searching for more kinds of nuts to transplant to this country. The keeping of Christmas or saint’s days, and the making of mince pies were illegal in the early Massachusetts and New Haven col onies. The strict religion of the Pur itans banned observance of holy days. Cannon Fire Hails Christmas in Rome A cannon fired from the historic Castle of San Angelo at sunset on Christmas Eve proclaims the be ginning of the Hily Season in Rome. By nine o’clock everyone is in church to witness the colorful and solemn processions of ecclesiastic dignitaries which precede the elab orate midnight Mass. Since everyone has fasted for twenty-four hours, festive banquets are in order after the religious solemnities. It is a gala after-mid night in Rome; hotels and res taurants remain open, families and friends gather around sumptuous tables in gaily decorated homes; and in anticipation of the festivities, many people attend church dressed in formal attire. Between Christmas and Epiphany, the Calabrian shepherds—Pifferani —revisit the homes where they were most cordially welcomed during Advent when they came down from the hills to play their Italian bag pipes before the shrines of the Vir gin. The Pifferani play for their Advent hosts during the post-Christ mas holidays and receive gifts of wine, dried figs, and small sums of money from their hosts. Christmas makes glad the hearts of all and we are truly grateful for an occasion that makes each of us more considerate of our fellowman. Too often we neglect to tell our friends and loved ones the kind thoughts we have for them. All too often we fail to express our thanks for the many blessings and favors that come our way. Christmas, then, is doubly welcome. We are each mindful of the deeds and thoughts of others and we find it appropriate to ex press the finest wishes to those about us. Would that each of us would sustain this a attitude through the days to come. As for us, we pledge to strive for that goal, today, tomorrow, and every day. . A delightful Christmas to you, friends. Kendall Mills Oakland Plant Mollohon Plant Newberry, South Carolina