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— r.vG" THE NEWBERRY SUN > ^ /; ^ iW> r-' 'c.r?/ \ r' l HRISTMA3 is one of those rare occasions where cur thoughts turn from the more material things of life to more beautiful ones ... to the happiness we can bestow on others. As an expression, there fore, of our genuine appreciation of your good will, we extend sincere good wishes for Christmas and a hearty thanks for all past favors. Odorless Gleaners 1109 FRIEND STREET TELEPHONE 177 Curioiili}, Mope Qreet Mew y[ear Mand in Mand Curiosity and superstition always have greeted the New Year hand in hand with mankind’s bright hope (or the future. In olden times, families sought a glimpse into the year just begin ning by observing the ‘dipping’ custom. With his eyes closed, the head of the house opened the fam ily Bible and indicated a passage with his finger; the text, solemnly read and interpreted by the family, was indicative of the luck—good or bad—that was in store. Probably one of the most wide spread superstitions concerned the “first-footer,'* the first person to cross the threshold on New Year’s morning. Women and light-haired men were considered unlucky “first-footers." as were people who walked pigeon-toed. In some villages, the superstition was taken so seriously that a dark haired man was given the first footer Job and, going from house to house, he would be the first per son to cross the threshold, thus preserving the good fortune of the community. Anglo Saxons, believing that something might happen when the New Year burst in, often climbed upon the roof on New Year’s Eve so as to have a good view of any such event. And we moderns make as much noise as possible, presumably be cause our primitive ancestors be lieved that noise would keep evil influences at a distance. By Dorothy Boys Kilian Weeded by Scoti On WeuA yea/i'l Coe Nobody goes to bed in Scotland on December 31. There are too many other things to do. It is a great night for the youths who, reminiscent of ancient super- sititions, go about switching the trunks of fruit trees and petitioning the gods of fertility for a “good howling crop.” Before the advent of modern plumbing, teen-agers made quite a fuss about the “cream of the year” which was the first draught drawn from the nearest spring immediate ly after midnight and supposedly entitled the drinker to anticipate a ‘luckier’ year. The Wassail Bowl is, of course, the center of adult festivities. Its origin is lost in antiquity, but tradi tion has endowed the Wassail Bowl with legendary romance. Is is orna mental in design and decorated with branches of greenery. The mixture within is warm and sweet, and wine is sometimes added to the ale and sugar and* spices. After having enjoyed the concoc tion within the home among inti mates at the stroke of midnight, the Scots pile into wagons or sleighs, with kettles full of the Wassail, muns, cheese and other food and set out to tour the community. The party stops at various houses and the refreshments go ’round at each stop Nobody pays the least atten tion to the approaching dawn, be cause nobody goes to bed on New Year's Eve anyway. New Year in Bulgaria New Year’s Day is a great day for Bulgarian children who receive their presents and small sums of money in return for the gifts they ceremoniously present. Teen-agers go visiting and, wish ing neighbors a happy New Year, expect treats and refreshments. But unlike our *trick or treat* of Halloween, should the supply of goodies run short, the situation is accepted graciously. Tht Longest Year The year we now refer to as 1 46 B. C., was the longest year In calendar history. It contained 445 days, and for a very good reason. , Noma Pom pill us supposedly created the Roman calendar In the seventh century B. C. This calendar was revised several times but by Julius Caesar’s time. It was two months behind the sun. When Caesar’s experts de vised the Julian calendar, which went along without revision un til the 16th century, there was the problem of catching up with the sun before the new calendar could take over. So, two months w e r ~ Inserted between the months of November and De cember. Thus, 46 B. O. con tained 445 days. •HIS HOUSEHOLD is in for a lean Christmas, all right," Bill Bobinson said bitterly to his wife who had just come into the the living room, dressed for market ing. Seated in an easy chair, he looked disgustedly down at his still- bandaged leg stretched out straight on an ottoman. Margaret leaned over and brushed her cheek against his “It’s enoup 1 ' for us to see you getting well again, honey. When I first saw you after that auto accident, I was plumb scared for your life.” Bill squeezed her hand. “You’re a brick, dear. But we can’t expect our three- and five-year-old off spring to understand that doctor and hospital bills have completely strapped us Why we can’t even afford a tree, let alone presents ” Margaret was quite for a second. Then . she stood up and. turning toward the door, said, “Speaking of the children. Bill, they're out in the kitchen with their water colors. r —'Tt w \w y- “What a swell bunch of fel lows,’’ be managed to say. and the two little Johnson girls are with them. Mrs.* Johnson had some last minute shopping to do, and 1 knew you wouldn’t mind watching them again.” “O.K.,’’ Bill answered. “That’s the least I can do after the neigh borly way they treated us through all this mess.’’ "I’ll try to be home before your Cub Scout group descends upon you. Seven lively boys are a terrific handful, I know.” ^JOICES FROM the kitchen broky Y into the silence. Judy Johnson was saying excitedly, “I think I’m going to get a doll buggy.” Back came his own little Margie’s answer. “I’m going to get a doll house.’’ “How do you know?’* • “Oh, because I asked for one for my birthday last summer, and Daddy smiled and said probably one would come af Christmas.” Bill winced. It had been so easy, promising things for six months ahead. Just then he he^trd Mrs. Johnson's hearty voice at the kitchen door. “Where’s Mr. Robinson? 1 have something here for him.” “Oh, a Christmas tree!” The shrill voice of a child exclaimed. M RS. JOHNSON was laughing as she appeared at the living room door. “Did you hear. Bill? Yes, I went shopping for our tree, and picked one up for you folks at the same time. It isn’t so very tall, but it’s big enough to cheer you all up Mrs. Johnson went on talking,, to cover Bill’s embarrassment. “I’ll take all the youngsters over to my house for awhile.” And she was gone. “Some neighbor!” Bill glowed. “Still.” his face clouded over, "That tree may only point up the lack of much under it—” A loud commotion at the front door drew his attention. “Come on in, the door’s not locked,” he called, recognizing the voices of hia Cub Scouts. ' A whirlwind of blue-clad boys swept into the room, their eyes sparkling with happy mischief. “Oh, Mr. Robinson,” the smallest one shrieked. “We’ve just finished all the—” “We’ve been working after school every day at my house, making toys for your children,” a second Cub burst in. “You should see—a doll house for Margie, and a doll bed and a kitchen cupboard!" “And for little Bill, guess what!” The smallest boy couldn’t keep quiet “A wooden sled, and a garage for his little cars and some big blocks, all sanded and waxed and everything!" Bill tossed his head to get rid of the drops of mist in the corners of his eyes. “What a swell bunch of fellows,’’ he managed to say. “But why—** “Wby not?” the biggest Cub said happily. “You’re the one who taught ua how to use tools in the first place, aren’t you? And besides, we just like the Robinsons!” He stopped auddenly, embarrassed. “Well, lellows,” Bill said, after a deep breath, “I certainly didn’t think so a while ago, but this is going to be one of the happiest Christmases of my Lifel” When Father Carved the— BOAR’S HEAD W HAT ROAST TURKEY is tc Christmas dinner today, the boar’s head was to the Yuletide feasting of Medieval England Preparation for the feasting be gan during September or October when the boar’s flesh was at its best. Hunters tracked the animal down with well-trained packs of boar-hounds and it was dangerous sport, attacking the ferocious beast with spears or surrounding him and driving him into a net. His ear was his most vulnerable spot, but before the dogs could get a grip on It and pin him down, his sharp teeth dften wounded—some times even killed—the hunter and hia doga. Nevertheless, the pluckier the boar, the louder his praises were sung, the merrier the feasting, when his head was borne to the Christmas table. World's Christmas Legends Numerous Mistletoa Has Corns Long Way Since Days off Druid Worship FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 191 Christmas Mass Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve la the event of the year la Rome. Every Roman Catholic church In the Holy City Is crowded with men, women and children anxious to see the processions of church officials hi their splendid robes. The larger the church, the more beautiful the sight. And, of course, the ser vice at St. Peter’s Is the most magnificent in the world. At St. Peter’s all the men present are required to wear evening clothes and the ladies must O'* Jressed in Mack, thus offsetting the brilliant beauty ef the robes. Even the guards on duty are attired in elegant red' and white uniforms. my -. — Multitudinous Legends claim in numerable origins for the Christ mas tree. One better known legend concerns an early Christian mis sionary, sometimes identified as St. Wilfred, who once came Upon a group of Druids preparing to make a human sacrifice under a large oak. He had the oak cut down and. as it fell, a young fir tree sprang up in its place The missionary seized the evidence and made the fir tree a symbol of the new faith: henceforth, the tribesmen were to set this symbol of immortality in the hails of their lodges at Christ mastime and surround it with feasting and love and the laughter of children. The legend of the Faithful Pine which sheltered the Holy Family during the flight to Egypt is less well known perhaps, but so very charming and touched by the mys ticism appropriate to the Nativity theme. With Herod's soldiers in pursuit, Mary simply had to rest awhile and sought shelter within the hol low trunk of a huge fir tree. As the soldiers approached, the tree bent its branches to conceal the huddled little group. When the danger had passed, the baby Jesus blessed the old tree. And if you cut a pine cone lengthwise at Christmastime, you can still see the imprint of His little hand. Nor has legend overlooked tha bright baubles which bedeck our modern Christmas trees. The first Christmas tree was really an ap ple tree, according to legends col lected by Florence B. Robinson. And, although the fir tree long since has supplanted its predeces sor for Christmas use, the popular tinsel bauble of today is the repre sentative of the fruit which for tha early Christians symbolized tha fail of man in the Garden of Eden and his reclamation by tha birth of the Saviour. wi **y, <#) to om Frimd$ md Customers SAM COOK’S Beer Parlor s The mistletoe has coma • long way from the days when It waa worshiped by the British druids to its present status as a criminal killer of forests. However, its use as a symbol of love, peacemaking and goodwill survives to this Christmas intact from tha pre- Christian days of the ancient Scan dinavian light god. Balder, whose palace stood in the Milky Way. The beloved Balder, to the myth goes, was slain by a mistletoe ar row but was restored to life at the intercession of the other gods. Cus tody of the mistletoe plant was then entrusted to the goddess of love who ordained that henceforth anyone passing beneath its bough should receive a kiss in token of love, not vengeance. As long as th£ mistletoe was held high It could never be used as a power for evil. r° SI FI =» 1 a’ ' L IV iM s May Christmas bring plenty of good things your way — and may you enjoy them for many days to come. our firm in the past. Phone 14 -. *■- •- i/ TV ' V Thank you for your courtesy to Newberry Creamery