December 23, 1971 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
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TOSTEVIN, a member
Community
Association
The commercial and social
of the Christmas season
to obscure the spiritual to
point where the real
of Christmas is lost in
of shopping and
~stoms of foreign lands may
the imagination, and also
to remind us that all nations
observe Christmas in the
~way. Perhaps with this
reness of international
the Christmas Spirit
bye more meaning for all of
The Christmas Tree
countries have legends
the first Christmas tree;
it is generally believed
the decorated pine or cedar,
~opular in America and
today, is of German
The Christmas tree was
into England just after
of Queen Victoria to
Prince Albert. Even
that time the tree had been
to America by German
and the custom was
adopted by the New
settlers of all nationalities.
The Christmas Carol
were first used about the middle
of the nineteenth century in
England. There was great
controversy regarding the first
publisher of Christmas cards, and
in 1884 the London Times finally
settled this by deciding that Sir
Henry Cole originated the idea,
and that the first publisher was
Joseph Cundall, a London artist
and that the date was 1846. The
cards were not immediately
popular and it was not until 1862
that the custom began to grow
noticeably. It is now one of the
most delightful of all holiday
customs.
Santa Claus
Most people are not aware
that Santa Claus is really a native
of New York. Dutch settlers
brought him to New Amsterdam,
as a pale-faced ascetic, dressed in
antique bishop's robes. When New
Amsterdam became New York,
Clement Moore transformed him
into a rosy-checked, plump and
jolly old man with reindeer and
sleigh to bring presents to all good
little boys and girls.
His fame quickly spread to
the homelands across the sea, and
in Holland and Germany, as well
as in England, he instantly
became popular as the secret
dispenser of presents to young
and old.
carol, or Christmas song,
)ular before the fourteenth
and has continued to be
through all succeeding
Over one hundred
survived and are now a
part of most services held
time. The little
song "Away in a Manger,"
has been a delight to
all over the world, is said
been written by Martin
for his small son Hans, for
stmas Eye festival in 1530.
CHRISTMAS IN
OTHER LANDS
Christmas in England
Christmas is celebrated in
much the same manner in
England that we celebrate it in
America. There is the traditional
giving of presents and the singing
of Christmas carols on the streets
as well as in the churches.
December 26, the day after
Christmas, is known in England as
Boxing Day and is now observed
Night, Holy Night", much the same as Christmas Day
'Composed by Joseph Mohr in America. Originally, Boxing
Franz Gruber, to fill a need Day was the time that the village
perfect Christmas song in priest would open the poor box in
Greeting Cards
Christmas cards were
pen-flourishes, simulating
scrolls and flowers with
written ~reetings. These
the parish house and distribute
the money. Now the mail-carriers
newsboys and other public
servants ask for gifts on Boxing
Day, as they make their rounds,
and the custom seems to be
universally understood.
Greeting Drawn by Eileen Clark
6th Grade, Mt. View School
;PITAL
Switzerland
Switzerland is truly Christmas
land, with the heavy white snow,
and the sleighbells ringing as the
horses travel over the mountain
roads.
In many parts of Switzerland,
St. Nicholas has been succeeded
by the Christikindli (Christ
Child), an angelic figure which
covers the land on Christmas Eve
in a sled pulled by six reindeer. Of
course the sleigh is filled with
cookies, fruits, toys and
Christmas trees for all of the
children.
Santa Claus in many of the
country districts, makes his visit
on December 6th, which is the
anniversary of the first St.
Nicholas who gave presents to the
poor and was kind to all of the
children. He is reported to have
lived in Asia Minor and to have
ruled as a Bishop in the fourth
century.
Belgium
Christmas Day is celebrated in
Belgium by the attendance of
religious services and with family
gatherings.
Some homes have Christmas
trees, but it is not a universal
custom; neither is it the custom
to give presents on this special
day. On the evening of Dec. 6th,
the Belgium children place their
shoes by the fireplace and during
the night St. Nicholas leaves gifts
for them.
Christmas to the Belgium
people is a joyous feast day
because of its religious
significance and it is marked by
church services and midnight
Masses.
Italy
Christmas in Italy is a festival
more for adults than for children.
Families gather on Christmas Eve
around the fireplace to visit while
they watch the Christmas log
burn. There is no meat served at
their evening meal, (Christmas is a
fast day); however, they have a
heavily loaded table of other
foods .which always include a
yellow bread made of corn flour
and raisins. For sweets they have a
hard candy made of almonds and
honey. The evening meals ends
just before midnight when all
attend mass.
As the Christmas season
approaches Italian boys and girls
are thinking about a kind lady
called Befama. There is no Santa
Claus in Italy - because snow and
reindeer, and the scarlet clad.-.,
Santa with his white beard belong
to those who live around the
North Pole, at least in the
thoughts of those who live in the
sunny land of the Mediterranean.
Italian children expect gifts
on Epiphany, January 6th, not on
Christmas. This is perhaps logical,
for Epiphany commemorates the
three Magi who came to the
manger in Bethlehem bearing gifts
of gold, _fran_kincen_se and myrrh.
Finland
In ~very Finnish home the
Christmas tree (always a fir tree)
is set up on Christmas Eve. Apples
and other fruits, candies, paper
flags, cotton and tinsel are used to
decorate the tree and candles are
always used for lighting.
Christmas festivities are
always preceded by a visit to the
sauna, the famous Finnish
steambath, after which everyone
dresses in clean clothes and
prepares for the Christmas dinner
which is served anytime from 5
p.m. to 7 p.m.
Gifts are presented either
before or after dinner, depending
on the wishes of each family. The
The Episcopal Churches of Mason County
Welcome You To The Celebration of Christmas 1971
AINT DAVID'S SHELTON
24th 7:30 p.m. -
Liturgy; 11:30 p.m. -
Eucharist; December
I 1:00 a.m. - Said Service
HUGH'S ALLYN
24th 9:30 p.m. -
Eucharist
SAINT NICHOLAS' TAHUYA
December 26th 11:15 a.m. -
Family Service and Church
School Program
Greeting Drawn by
Staey Whitmore
5th Grade
Bordeaux
children do not hang up their
stockings but Santa Claus comes
in, often accompanied by his elves
(in brown costumes, knee-length
pants, red stockings, red elves'
caps) to distribute the presents.
Denmark
In Denmark, as in all
Scandinavian and other European
countries, Christmas is celebrated
on Christmas Eve. At five o'clock
it is customary to go to church,
and all over the city church bells
are chiming. The beautiful Danish
carols are sung by the
congregations as well as the
choirs.
For the children, the most
exciting moment is when the door
is opened and the Christmas tree
(always spruce, never pine) is seen
in all its splendor, with the gifts
hidden under its branches.
Since no one can be forgotten
during Christmas, all of the poor
and sick are well provided with
food and toys. The hospitals are
gaily decorated with evergreens
and trees.
France
Christmas in France is limited
mainly to the distribution of gifts
to the children and to Christmas
Eve celebrations in the larger
cities where midnight suppers
take the place of the usual
Christmas dinner. The religious
ceremonies are held in the
churches just as they are in other
Christian nations, but the French
exchange their gifts on New
Year's Day.
The first of the year is to the
French what Christmas is to
Americans - the giving and
receiving of gifts. This is a family
time and perhaps the most
cherished of all French holidays.
Greeting cards are sent more
extensively in France at New
Year's than they are in most other
countries at Christmas.
This material is provided by
the Community Library
Association. Additional material
is available at the Shelton Public
Library.
Greeting Drawn by Ralph Kunkle
5th Grade, Mt. View School
f..
ARNOLD
INSURANCE AGENCY
116 No. 2nd St.
7
Tom Roof, Beulah Helser, Art
Nicklaus, Corinne Williams, Art
Mall, Wally Dundas and Art Bakkt
Kim Nicklaus, Dale Bracy, Jack
Nicklaus, Ed Wadington, Roger
Denny.
Vern Workman, Joe Willey, Gib
Lord, Ron Brewer, Las Rodgers,
Tom Bunnell, Jack Denny, Bruce
Willey, Jim Mall.
And may your New Year
"Since/927"
1st and Grove
be happy and
Thursday, December 23, 1971 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Page 13