The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, December 25, 1969, Image 10
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.