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SEC. A, PAGE 10—The Newberry Sun, Newberry, S. C., Thurs., Dec. 25, 1969 A youth group at Aveleigh Presbyterian made the orn aments for, and decorated this Chrismon tree during its Sunday evening meetings. The tree was placed in the ves tibule of the church to be enjoyed by all attending the Carol Service Sunday night. ^ (Sunphoto). real person, Nicholas, a bishop in Asia Minor in the Fourth Century. According to legend the bishop heard of a poor man who was about to sell his 3 daughters into slavery be cause he could not provide a dowry for them; this was not only customary in those days, but obligatory, to avoid disgrace. St. Nicholas saved them by gifts of gold. Each time, he threw the gift into the In Observance of CHRISTMAS THE CITY OF NEWBERRY Office will close Wednesday, December 24th at 12:00 P.M. and reopen Monday, December 29th at 8:30 A.M. The offices will also be closed January 1, 1970 for New Year In case of emergency, please call 276-0311 Pule Customs! Bate Pack to Jfourtl) Centurp detailing Jfflan’S <@oob BeebS why do children hang up a stocking? The first St. Nick was a house, in order not to be recognized. One version tells it that he threw the gold down the chimney, where it fell into a stocking hung there to dry. And so to this day children hang up their stockings for gifts from this real Saint. £ & & why are mince pies and plum pudding traditional as desserts? Mince pie has been, tradi tional for as long as history records. It is usually full of spices and fruits, represent ing the exotic treasures of the East, the home of the Wise Men. Originally it was made in a loaf shape, to sim ulate the manger. Plum pudding, to the con trary, signifies the humbler virtues. Legend has it that in the early days of England a king and his men were lost in the forest on Christmas Eve. Not having provided for this delay in their journey, the cook threw everything he had to make one dish for all . . . thus the plum pud ding! Were just guessing, but we are sure plums have had some good reason to be part of the name. Festival of Lights Reflects Old Traditions Since the dawn of recorded history man has observed that there is a period during the year when “the days be gin to lengthen and the cold begins to strengthen.” It is the Winter solstice when the sun began to rise over the world with renewed vigor and power for fertil ity, after a period of low ehb. The people of the North considered the sun as a wheel which alternately threw its glow upon the earth and away from it. This sun wheel was known as “hweol” and perhaps this* is the origin of our word yule. To the Jews this period was the Festival of Lights or Dedication, called Han- ukkah. According to their history, in 165 B.C. a force of Maccabees met and van quished an army of Syrians. Judas Maccabeus entered Jerusalem with his army and found it desolate and in ruins. He began the work of purification; on the 25th day of Kislev it was finished and a sacred light was lighted. In their destruction of the temple the sacred oil was almost depleted. However they did find a jar which they estimated would bum for one day. Miraculously, it burned for 8 days. There fore every year the Jews de cree that the 8 days prior to December 25 be celebrated. The first night two tapers are lighted. One is called the torch. The second night a third candle is added and so on for each night until the 8th day. This explains why the true Jewish Hanukkah candelabrum has nine arms. (£) SCW, INC. When we place the figures of little donkeys, cows, sheep and lambs in our Christmas creche, let us pause to real ize what important parts they played in that first Na tivity scene, almost 2000 years ago. NEW YEAR S BREAD New Year’s Bread (VasUo- pita) is served at the stroke of midnight in Greece. The Greeks bake a coin inside this anise- flavored, sesame — sprinkled bread. Father cuts a portion for each family member in order of age — whoever gets the coin will enjoy a year of good luck. 'Zfuletide pieetityt ta one Met edlf TJtcuf yaccx kolideuft filled yladneM. HAMM HARDWARE CO. Prosperity, S. C.