Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1950 THE NEWBERRY SUN Pj < Christmas Greetings C*UfJa*td'i PukUanl Patuied QliA*i>Unai> /U %>UuqJo*U < 7i*tte " I." V !k It's anybody's guess what the future has in store but the past, particu larly the last year, leaves no need for guessing For us it has been filled with pleasure in serving such swell folks as you . . . Merry Christmas to You! 2 Christmas was outlawed In Eng land by the Puritan government of England in 1643 and, although the restoration of the Stuarts brought a revival of Christmas customs and traditions, Christmas never re gained its former prestige in Eng land. It is observed religiously in the churches and as a day for family reunions and social gatherings, in contrast to the lavish feasting and boisterous merry-making of olden times. Merry-making and gift-giving come in for their share, however, on December 26 which is Boxing 2 * / EYE-OPENEB . . . When the dock strikes midnight on De cember 31. It's time to onmask and greet the New Year with eyes wide open, advises actress Jean Gillespie, suiting her ac tions to the words. In a few days millions of persons will he point ing to 12 o’clock. Before Revolution Russians Welcomed New Year Heartily 2 ft College Street Texaco Station i 1301 College Street Phone 79 Day The origin of Boxing Day ante dates Christmas and can be traced to the custom of gift-giving during the Homan festival of Saturnalia. In Christian liturgy December 26 is observed as the feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and during the centuries when jour neymen and apprentices were in the habit of levying upon their mas ters’ customers, ‘Christmas Boxes’ were collected on St. Stephen's day. Thus, the children receive their presents, in boxes, as do old serv ants. the postman, and everyone else And reminiscent of the Roman Saturnalia. householders dance with the servants and, toward evening, there is revelling in the streets as groups of merry-makers gather on street comers or ride about London-town dancing on the ‘flats’ of trucks. Soap Flake Snow Trimming the Christmas tree with fluffy snow Is easy if you use soap flakes. It won’t melt either. Here’s how it's done: Use three or four cups of soap flakes to one cup of warm water. Beat with elec tric beater or hand beater until smooth and fluffy. Then spread Im mediately over branches of tree, scattering it on with hands. For sparkle, spread on some arti ficial glistening snow. air I |i I VV C NEWBERRY COCO COLA BOTTLING CO. COLLEGE STREET Pre - revolutionary Russia wel comed the New Year with booming cannon—a hundred shots fired at midnight ’ Tlie observance of the New Year on January 1, according to the Gregorian calendar, was Instituted Dy Peter the Great in 1700 The evening of December 31, known as St. Sylvester’s Eve, was the time for great fun and enjoyment In Petrograd (later St. Peters burg. and now Leningrad) the streets were gayly decorated with flags and lanterns, and thronged with merry-makers. After the booming cannon ushered in the 1 New Year, the Csar formally re ceived the good wishes of his sub jects. On New Year’s Day the Winter Palace was opened to society. Fes tivity reigned throughout the city, hospitality and charity wkre the watchwords from palace to cot tage, at least, at New Year's time. The mythical Ovsen was sup posed to be around about this time. He was usually depicted astride a boar, symbolically associated with the pork served for New Year dinner and the symbolism «f Aryan descent. Ovsen's name (so like the French words for oats) suggests his in fluence over matters pertaining to the harvest. Since earliest times, Russian boys were accustomed to go from house to house, encourag ing everyone ’across’ the gulf be tween the Past and Future Year, while scattering oats and other grains in petition for a bountiful harvest. NEW YEAR WM M 1? N EW YEAR’S DAY always has been a red letter day in Jgpan. Japanese bells ring out 108 times at midnight on New Year's five, ushering in 'the New Year and re minding the people of the 168 com mandments of Buddha Among the ancient customs still observed, there is the practice of scattering parched beans about tha By Vera Tarpley sswrOU’VE GOT to" let me do It TJrOl * my way.” Mary spoke quiet ly but firmly. It was she, not Reed, who was the strong one, the un emotional one, now that the dread ed time had come. Reed looked at his wife’s drawn tired face, grown old overnight, and felt the old helpless rage take poaseasion of him. “Don’t you want me there? Don’t you want—?” he broke off as he saw her steady herself in the doorway “Good lord, you can't drive! Let me drive you there, an4 then I’ll go away if you still want me to.” Mary looked terrified for a mo ment, but she managed a smile. “It’s a little late to start living my life for me, darling.” She said it gently, but Reed felt an underlvine accusation, too. If he hadn’t failed her when the baby had been born two years ago. she would want him there now. to the very end. Mary’s voice sounded far off and unreal., “Millie said she’d come over—when the tiifle came—ahe’s to fix you a cup of coffee, and you’ra to talk with her—and—not think about me, understand? Dar ling, nmj you’ll be all right!” She It waa the harsh jangle of the telephone that would ring In the New Year for Rood. had rushed over to him and was covering him with kisses, but no tears. “Happy New Year!” she shouted back to him as she went out.. ■■ Hiife Reed stared after her, but did not answer. As he heard the car driva off. he couldn't believe it was happening. If only he could have borrowed some of her brava do. Two years ago she had wished him Happy New Year and he had n’t answered her then either. She was lying there in her hospital bed, not yet knowing the baby had died, that something In Reed him self had died with it. But the next New Year she knew it—she knew that they were living in two separ ate worlds, and that she had lost her husband as well. And then came the doctor’s words and It was too late. Reed was jolted out of his selfish grief, only to suffer a new plague—remorse. And.it was too late. When the bells rang out at mid night, Reed jumped up from his chair He couldn’t let It end the way she wanted It to. He would go to her—she would have changed her mind at the last and would be glad to see him. He was putting on his coat ’When the doorbell rang and Millie, their next door neigh bor. came in with a pot of coffea. house, supposedly driving away evil influences and inviting good luck to enter. Firemen always have been -pop ular heroes because the flimsy con struction of Japanese homes involve tremendous fire hazards. So «an other feature of New Year’s Day is the annual dezomeshiki—parade of the fire brigades. The people of Japan still obsarva many age-old customs, with regard to the New Year. “Happy New Year,*’ she said flatly, ns if the words had already grown stale. Reed looked at her without smiling and said nothing. “She wanted it this way, she told me so,” Millie went bn dryly, pouring out the steaming coffee. “I left my party to come over here. Drink some coffee while it’s hot.” Reed set down his cup. ## M Y. JUST LISTEN to them I New Year Observed ' March 25 in England Before Calendar Change Prior to England's adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1752, New Year’s Day was observed on March 25. and of coursa. New Year’s eve was March 24. The English always had a big time on New Year's Eva, and after the Puritan government abolished Christmas and absolute ly forbade any solemnization or celebration thsreof, the people vented all their holiday spirit on the New Year. Even after tha restoration of the Stuarts brought about a re vival of Christmas customs and traditions, Christmas never rest- talned former eminence; but New Year went right along, sur viving Puritanism and later, in 1752, the switch in calendars and the date of its observance. bells, ‘‘Millie went on, “Ring out the old and ring in the new, I always say.” , (But It was the telephone that would ring in the New Year for Read—a harsh jangle that had nothing in It of church bells and kisses and laughter.) Mary bad wondered if she would celebrate the New Year with him, and they had talked of a new life, new hap piness, but neither of them believed in it. And then the telephone rang. Reed broke out in a cold sweat Millie was. the last person he want ed with him at this moment ’’Hello. Reed my boy,” came Dr. Foster’s calm voice. “It’s all over.” The receiver kept slipping in Reed’s sweaty hand. “Is she—is she—” his throat tightened up pain fully. . “She’s doing fine, Reed.” “And—and—?” Reed’s head waa swimming. “It’s a boy—a fine healthy boy.” The doctor cleared his throat and lowered his voice. “I’m not sorry 1 was mistaken when I said she’d never live through another—I guess she knew better than I. It’s the happiest mistake of my career.” “Mine too,” said Read. “She wants to see you now. Read —aha says you forgot to wish her • Happy New Year.” s CHRISTMASTIME ■ Thank goodness, de spite the mad scram ble of a busy season, there is still time to write a message of thanks. We are glad that Christmas allows, us to slow up enough to tell you how we really feel. ThotVwhy saying "Hello" seems so doubly important. Our sincerest wishes for your Christmas happiness. ^ SP0TTS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY ON CUT-OFF