The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, December 24, 1970, Image 6
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.