Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1952 J .GOOD CHEER ...and HAPPir;e5S for Christmas i to you — our friends FRANK WILSON SEAT COVERS I 1515 Martin Street Newberry Let’s not forget old friendships at Christmastime We are grateful for yours and wish you The happiest Christmas of them all. ■ “ >"■ • / V . BEN F. DAWKINS for evermore Glory to God in the high est, and on Earth Peace, Good Will toward men. Luke 2:14 ★ ski We wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS State Farm Mutual Automobile iurance Co. George E. Tyson, District Manager Joe H. Welbom PhUip T. Kelly Kenneth Cook Bill Leaphart, Prosperity David Ringer, Pomaria r J Why You Hang J %' Holly at Yuletide $ i /CREDIT THE PAGAN Druids for ^ inspiring one of the nice Christ mas customs — decorating with holly. The traditional holly for the holidays is widely believed to have had its origin in the Druid prac tice of bringing holly sprigs in doors. The Druids woodland spirits lived in the holly. Indoors, holly gave the spirits'a nice warm place in winter. Be sides, the lush green holly and the contrast of its red berries provided beauty that could be revered by men when the sacred oaks were shorn of their foliage. The early Christian church frowned on such pagan customs and tried to stamp them out In due time, however, it was felt that some of the customs could be adapted to the new Christmas conception. Some beautiful legends associate the holly with Christ. In fact, it is often called tile Christ thorn. One legend depicts the leaf spines as the crown of thorns; the red ber ries as the sins of the world and the blood of Christ. Another credits holly with first springing up from the footsteps of Christ. The plant is said to remain green all winter as a rew&rd for once hiding Christ from his pursuers. The impact of the holly on the Christmas celebration is evidenced in the traditional holiday colors, green and red. The Druids weren’t the only people of old who thought the holly was something speciaL Pliny, the great Roman historian, insisted holly blossoms caused wa ter to freeze. Also, that holly thrown at any wild beast would make it lie down tamely next to the branch. These legends, forgotten by many people, are said to be the reason we decorate with holly. Christmas Gifts Are Not Always Brought by Santa In America it is always Santa Claus, dashing from rooftop to rooftop in his sleigh, that brings Christmas gifts to the children. But it is not always Santa who brings the gifts to children in other lands. . In Holland it is St. Nicholas, dressed in bishop’s robes of black, wearing a mitre and carrying the crozier. And he arrives on a white horse. English children look for a Santa Claus who closely resembles our own and gifts are tied to Christ mas trees. In Finland, Santa has elves who passes : out gifts for him. In Italy there is no Santa Claus. Instead, they have a beneficent old witch, Befona, who sails through the air on a broom stick on Christ mas Eve. Brazil has Papa Noel, very much like Santa. He wears a red suit and travels in a sleigh drawn by reindeer. However, he enters the house through a window. Spanish children place their straw-filled sleeves on the window sills so that the Magi may feed their horses while they leave gifts. The older ^people fill an Urn of Fate from ^hiqjb. gifts are drawn on Christmas Day. THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS . . J Much of the Joy of Christmas for mothers and fathers is watching the thrill children get from find ing toys under the tree. These children express their Joy on Christmas morning. Mach of the Joy for the children is the anticipation «of and mystery in Santa's visit and the gnawing about what oM fellow will bring. Christmas Trees Can Be Put to Many Uses After New Year's There are a number of things you can do with your Christmas tree after New Year’s besides burning it. If it is a fir, for instance, it can be anchored in the back yard— perhaps in a corner of the gar den—and used as a bird feeder the remainder of the winter. Pieces of suet and little feed bags may be tied to the branches. A container of water should be placed beneath the tree and kept filled so the birds will have a drink every day. Or, cut off the branches and place them, curved ends up, over flower beds when the ground is ex posed. An evergreen mulch helps prevent the soil from heaving dur- -V.** ing alternate freezes and thaws. Long branches may be built into little lean-tos to protect tender shrubs from sun scald. The needles of a Christmas tree can be sprinkled beneath acid- loving plants such as laurel, an- dromeds, rhododendron and blue berries. If the needles on the tree are still firm, use the branches in an outdoor windowbox. Moisten the soil in the box. Then push the cut ends of the branches down to the bottom and tamp the soil firm around them. This will generally give you greenery all winter. If you must bum your Christ mas tree, don’t toss it into a fire place. Cut off the branches and bum them safely one by one. And remember, a Christmas tree tossed into the street can be come a fire hazard if playful chil dren pick it up and make a bon fire of it in a vacant lot. Select Toys to Fit I Child's Age Level A child’s Christmas toys should be chosen with as much care as you would buy his clothes—to “fit” his age level. If the child is just learning to walk and climb, give him play materials to stimulate these ac tivities. He needs his first picture book when he begins to talk, house keeping toys at about three when he begins to want to help mother, and crayons and scissors when he can begin to handle them. Parents, aunts, uncles and cous ins should consider what the child is ready for as regards physical growth and mental and social de velopment in selecting toys. If toys are selected with some relation to the child’s growth, and needs, they will be toys which stimulate self-reliance. Most children, it is believed, can fare better with fewer but carefully selected toys. Santa's Little Helper Was Scandinavian Elf Where did Santa’s Little Helper come from? In the Viking age in Scandinavia, long before Leif Eriksen discov ered America, the little North Children believed that a little elf with long white whiskers—Jul Tomten—lived in the stable. He saw that the earth was abundant with good food and that the ani mals and birds were taken care of. After the pagan Vikings be came Christianized, little Jul Tom- ten became the giver of presents —like our Santa Claus today. The children left a bowl of porridge on the kitchen table for which Jul Tomten would exchange gifts for the good boys and girls. Trav elers brought back the legend of Tomten and he has come down to us as the busy jolly, good little elf who works in Santa’s work shop. THROUGH THE HOOP . . . Flippy, a trained porpoise >at Marine Studios, Fla., gets into the holiday spirit by leaping through a Christinas wreath sus pended ever the water tank. oo m WE WISH EACH OF YOI W J' mM A As the Holidays grow closer, we want to pause and say, “Thank You.* 9 Whitaker Floor Coverings Paul W. Whitaker Mrs. Alan Caldwell Mrs. Paul Whitaker James W. Moates Melvin Attaway 1011 Caldwell St ' Newberry . ,3 i. rank Lominack Hardware 1403 Main Street f Newberry . ■ * v: :> * ."'-i W Peace On Earth... Goodwill Toward All Men Let these words guide us in our celebration of the Christmas season. Let us keep this ** spirit with us always. RUFF IMPLEMENT CO. Raymond H. Ruff J. Isadore Ruff Ralph P. Zobel Betty Ann Fuller David Griffen (Col.) / NCE again the festive Christmas Season. * awakens in us \ the gladsome spirit of joyous living. So, we greet you on this U 'm Y4 Esl grand and happy occasion merry ^HRISJMAS Carters Flowers and Gifts 11Q9 Caldwell Street Newberry ■. 5:;. ' . New Year May Christmas happiness and good cheer be yours on every day of the New Year, and for many years to come. May we con tinue to enjoy your friendship during that •time/ HI RABIN’S SHOES Main Street * Newberry 1 \\&dj Health... Happiness... Prosperity May we join the happy snowman in sending Yuletide greetings to all our friends. . .here’s hoping the new year brings yon much hap- iness and may we continue to be good friends. Buzhardt 1323 Main St. • . it •: m *,