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PAGE 6—The Newberry Sun, Newberry, S. C., Thursday, Dec. 24, 1970 Yuletide Customs Spread Around Globe Mistletoe, Santa Claus, letters to Santa, Christmas customs galore — where did they all begin? The customs of Christmas come from many lands and many eras. They evolve from pagan ceremonies into Chris tian rituals. And they stretch from West to East, from North to South, as each country contributes something special and traditional to the celebrations of the holiday. When seasonal gaiety rings out in Canada, the merriment is echoed in Mexico. When North or South Americans gather for Christmas festivities, the people of Sweden are doing the same — and so are the peoples of Holland and France and Italy and Spain and countless other European countries. In the far East, Christian communities spread the customs of Christmas, which mingle with the year-end ceremonies observed by those of other faiths. That the legend and lore of Christmas knows no boundaries is illustrated in the following round-up of Yuletide customs, based on information provided by the editors of the Encyclo pedia International. In England From the north of England comes the happy custom of the kissing bough. A large hoop, twined with greens, is decorated with apples and candles. And in the center there's mistletoe—signal for exchanging kisses. In Austria Custom of writing letters to Santa Claus may have be gun in Austria, where, long ago, it was an Advent tradi tion for children to write let ters containing lists of what they’d like to receive on St. Nicholas’ Day. In Italy From Italy comes a most poetic addition to Christmas lore. For three weeks during the Christmas season, chil dren traditionally go from place to place reciting Christ mas poems. They expect coins in return, to buy holiday goodies. In Switzerland A Swiss custom that dates back to the Middle Ages is to start the New Year free of debts. December 6th, the feast of St. Nicholas of Myra, the first Santa Claus, is the day set to meet all monetary obligations such as rents and mortgages. In Germany A procession which blends pagan and Christmas cus toms is part of the legend and lore of the holiday in Ruppin, Germany. A rider on a white horse, symbolizing the horse of the pagan god Wotan, leads the parade. He is followed by Father Christ mas, who is decked with rib bons and carries candy and fruit. In Sweden An ancient custom that is still observed in some Swed ish households today is that of “dipping bread into the pot.” Each person dips a piece of bread into pork and sausage drippings and eats it for good luck. In Holland For St. Nicholas season, it’s traditional in , Holland to make flat cakes called Klass- jes. Once exclusively made in the form of the bishop, St. Nicholas, Klassjes now take any form of bird, beast or fish. In France At Salers in central France, old-time tradition calls for a king and queen to rule over Christmas festivities. Rulers pay for the privilege, since they are “elected” by bidding at an auction held on the church steps. CHINESE CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE “SHEN Dan Jieh,” the Holy Birth Eeslivul, at Chri^mas. But Santa Claus is on hand, too, as he is in this srene, typiral of a Tainan Christinas, where he greets youngsters enjoying a ride on a merry-go-round. Photo graph is from the New Book of Knowledge. USE CHRISTMAS SEALS SEALS IN FRANCE, TRADITION HAS IT THAT shepherds should take their lambs to ehurch on t'hristnias day. Freneh shepherd pietured here is taking part in a speeial holiday eelebration whieh has been a tradition in the town of Baux for more than 10 eenturies. Photo graph is from the Eneyelopedia International. IN MEXICO, GAILY-DECORATEb PINATA — an earthenware jar filled with goodies — is a Christmas ehallenge for the young sters. Blindfolded, they attempt to break the pinata, whieh may he suddenly lowered or raised out of reach. Success brings a shower of toys and sweets. Photo from Encyclopedia Internatinal. What’s Ahead This Year, This Decade? The year 1971 comes bright and fresh to a world that is ac customed to change. It is part of a century which has recorded and will yet record great scientific achievements. It closes out a decade which sjmwned both economic and social changes. We can guess, perhaps, what this New Year will bring. Let us hope that it brings peace among nations, brotherhood among men, a sound economy, a national prosperity, and in creasing national patroitism. It is much to hope for, but it is worth the wishing. The course of events, internationally, nationally, and within the community, will have some bearing on the conduct of our individual lives during 1971. In a personal sense, the New Year offers a new and precious handful of time. We are rich in our possession of it. We have time for doing. Time for ihinking. We have time to consider the lessons of yesterday, to evaluate the problems of today. We can use this time to defeat age, fear, disillusionment and the decay of too little understanding. We have time to do our part, to work for a better world in which to live. The County Agents Column One thing we all can strive for—that is let this Christmas be a safe one due to fire ha zards; don’t let a Christmas season fire tragedy strike in your house. Now, Christmas trees, lights, decorations, and wrappings are all potential fire hazards that can quickly elimi nate the happiness from your Christmas season. We can be come more safety conscious if we start at the beginning of the Christmas season by bring the whole family including the • children into a discussion of safety. Now the best time we can think of to do this is a- round the dinner table; there- all members of the family can suggest possible hazards and ways of how they maybe eli minated. All members of the family should keep in mind these safety Highlights—always be aware that a dry Christmas tree is flammable. Buy or se cure a fresh tree and keep it fresh. Don’t just bring it in and put it in the exits. Stand its base in a water container and keep the water resupplied. We should never use lighted can dles near trees or other decora tions. Make sure that you in spect light sets for worn insu lation, broken plugs and loose bulb sockets. Another good safety measure is to buy all sets having a Underwriters Laboratories or Canadian Standards Association approved labels. We should never use sets of lights on Metallic artificial trees. Indirect spot lighting maybe used satisfactory. Don’t leave your indoor tree and other de corative lights when leaving the house for a period of time or after retiring at night. Time should be minimize that lights are left on the tree and other decorations. Lastly lets be sure to discuss a family escape plan in case you have a fire emer gency—Then make sure all fa mily members know about it. Children should never be left alone without proper supervi sion. We should dispose of all wrappings off presents by put ting them in a trash container. Never ' burn them in a fire place—All trees and decora tions should be removed after Christmas as soon as possible, and dispose of in a safe man ner. Remember with these precau tions and "some common sense" can help make this Christmas a safe, happy and a most en joyable one. EVERGREEN SHRUBS AND COLD DAMAGE You know the most damage to evergreen during sustained cold periods occurs as dessica- tion or drying out of the plant, leaves and young branches. The damage tends to be worse where plants are out in the full sun; being out in the sup causes the leaves to give off water into the air, but if the ground is frozen roots can not take up water. An essentiial factor is not to let the soil allow to dry out during extended cold sea sons. Plants such as azaleas, came llias, and hollies tends to be conditioned to cold, therefore damage is less serious, usually cold damage occurs in early fall when a severe cold weather follows a mild period. In our areas we can combat damage and keep it to a minimum by securing plants that are most adapted to our area and locate them in the proper places.