The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, December 24, 1948, Image 19
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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
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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