Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

The Newberry Sun, Newberry, S. C., Thursday, December 21, 1972-SEC. B, PAGE 7 Old Pagan Traditions Still Honor 12th Night Twelfth Night is the pop ular English name for the Feast of the Epiphany, which falls on January 6, just 12 days after Christ mas. The word “Epiphany” comes from a Greek word meaning “appearance,” us ually used in reference to the appearance of a deity in visible form. The earliest reference to the festival, according to the editors of the Encyclo pedia Americana, was in the later years of the 2nd Cen tury, when Clement of Alex andria, in Egypt, spoke of certain Christians observ ing the 6th of January in memory of the baptism of Jesus. The actual date seems to have been chosen in order to rival some of the popular pagan festivals of that day. By the beginning of the 4th century, orthodox Christians in the East were observing the festival as a triple celebration. It became an all-inclusive feast, hon oring the birth and baptism of Christ, and His first mir acle at Cana of Galilee. Arrival of the Magi In the West, however, the particular commemoration assigned to Epiphany was the visit of the Magi. Dur ing the Middle Ages, the Epiphany festival was wide ly observed by the perform ance of miracle plays in the churches about the Three Kings or Magi. Particularly in England, the day was marked by dramatic pro ductions, though not neces sarily religious ones, and this custom survived into the Elizabethan period. Shakespeare took the popu lar name of Twelfth Night for his play of that title, which was written to be performed on that date. Since Epiphany concludes the Yuletide festivities, and its date coincides with many ancient pagan cus toms, it was often celebrat ed with strange ceremonies in which those customs min gled with Christian rites. Some of these old ceremo nies still exist in parts of Europe, where fixed rituals may have origins, often with an overlay of magic, that are lost in the past. Up-Helly-Aa Is Norse Still celebrated in the Shetland Islands is an old Viking ceremony known as “Up-Helly-Aa.” The name means “end of the holiday,” indicating that the event comes some time after Christmas, actually at the end of January. The ceremony itself is very dramatic, since it takes place at night, by torch light. Men in the old wild Viking costumes, complete with high horned helmets, tow a huge 30-foot Norse longboat through the town, in a torchlight procession... then the boat is set ablaze on the beach. Haxey Hood Game Haxey is a place in Lin colnshire, where they still play this famous old hood game, on January 6. Its ori gins hark back to pagan times, and the “hood” it self is thought to represent the head of a bull. In the game, 13 men take part, one called the “fool,” another the “lord,” and the eleven others, “boggins.” A two-team scrimmage takes place, the object being for each man to succeed in placing a folded canvas hood into a particular goal, one after the other. The very last hood, the 13th, called “The Haxey,” has to be fought towards the final goal — an inn where there are drinks for all. Wassailing the Trees This unusual torchlight ceremony still is observed in certain parts of England on January 17, which is the date of “old 12th Night.” It’s another survival from very ancient times, when prayers were made to the god of trees and fruit. A glass of cider is thrown on the trunk of an old apple tree, while toast soaked in cider is fastened to the tree branches. Then guns are fired through the branches, while the old invocation, or prayer to the tree, is sung. Once the evil spirits have been frightened away by the guns, says the old tra dition, one can settle down to the business of drinking cider — a real “wassail.” AN OLD POEM With holly and ivy So green and so gay We deck up our houses As fresh as the day; With bay and rosemary And laurel complete; As everyone now Is a queen in conceit. Advent Four Weeks Reflect Prophesies The four weeks of Advent preceding Christmas represent the four great prophesies concerning the coming of the Saviour in the Old Testament. The first of the Redeemer was made in Paradise after the fall of our first parents: the woman and her Son would crush the head of the serpent. The second promise is found in the story of Abraham. This patriarch was chosen as the father of a new nation, and in his seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Out of the nation of Abraham the family of David was selected, and out of this family the Saviour of. the world would be born, fulfilling the third promise. Finally, out of David’s family a person was to spring forth, the Virgin Mother of Christ. “A Virgin will bring forth a Son and His name shall be called Emmanuel, God with us.” Evergreen Ball Here's Attractive Hallway Idea The evergreen ball is an attractive decoration for hanging in the hallway, on the porch or in a bay window. This is made by shaping a generous handful of sphagnum moss into a ball and tying it all around with florists’ wire. The moss must not be too hard or the ends of greens cannot be easily inserted. On the other hand, if it is too loose, they will fall out. The stem ends of the greens to be used should be stripped of branches and needles. Boxwood, yew, fir or spruce are good because their wood is rigid and goes in easily. Make the ball to suspend on wire. A 12 inch length can be inserted through the ball and hooked at the end to hold it. If the top end is hooked too, a ribbon may be fastened to this to suspend it. The ball may be decorated with berries, a red bow, bells or mistletoe. If mistletoe is used, it is called a kissing ball. Spicy Apple Eggnog For Child's Party 2 eggs, separated x k cup heavy cream, whipped V\ cup sugar Vz tsp salt Vz teaspoon cinnamon Dash of nutmeg ?3 cup apple juice 3 cups scalded milk Beat egg whites with hand mix er until stiff. Blender-whip cream and set aside. Put egg yolks, su gar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and apple juice into blender; cover and process at STIR until sugar is dissolved. Remove feeder cap and add scalded milk slowly. When well blended, pour over egg whites and quickly fold to gether. Serve hot, topped with a mound of whipped cream. PAPA NOEL Papa Noel, as a Santa Claus is known in Brazil, enters through the window at Christ mas Eve, as many of the houses have no chimneys. Gifts are left for the boys and girls in the shoes which they are care ful to arrange for their con venience. Tn the spirit of the season we bestow on all our neighbors and friends this wish — a blessed Yule, filled with special moments to be enjoyed with the folks you love. Security Corporation Ken Brown Allen Harman Dorothy Cook Harriett Haltiwanger Deborah Millstead Ann Boozer Debra Morris Christie Eargle