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Supplement of The Canadian Statesman, November 21, 1979 19 have yourself an old-fashioned christm as! Regain the Simple Joys of Christmas Has Christmas become "too much of a, good thing?" Do you almost dread the carols on the radio and the jingle bells on every corner? It need not be. If the holiday season seems to be "swallowing you up," resolve that this yeàr you will take a stand. You will deliberately seek the simple, unhurried route, and let the commercial whoop-and- holler pass you by. Invite the simple pleasures of the season by creating the right environ- ment for yourself and your family. Limit the intrusion of radio and television onto the scene. After dinner, have the family gather 'round to listen to "The Nutcracker" ballet by Tschaikovsky. Be spontan- eous! If anyone wants to play the various parts in the magical tale, encourage her or him to do it. There are many other from Dickens' "Christmas Carol" . . . or better yet, let the youngsters take turns in reading passages. "A Visit from Saint Nicholas" by Dr. Clement Moore is an all-time favor- ite to be enjoyed at Christ- mas. In the library you might find a collection of stories and poems from the old "St. Nicholas" maga- zines of 70-80 years ago. They capture the charm of an era to be rediscovered with delight. Christmas is an ideal time to rediscover your friends and neighbors, perhaps people who are a blur in the rush of your pell -mell life-these people have much to offer. They probably would like to know you and your family better, too. If you live not too far from the woods, plan a trip to cut down your own trees. If a friendly farmer does not oblige by offering his bounty, consider choosing trees at special tree farms. friends and neighbors, it's even more fun. For decorating, the tree considered best by many is the Douglas fir. Thick and symmetrical, its branches seem made-to-order for ornaments. Another virtue: it lasts a long time indoors, with proper care and water- ing. You might also con- sider white spruce, Scotch pine and Norway spruce. Making your own tree ornaments is a custom going back several centur- ies. The entire family will enjoy making paper chains, stringing popcorn or cran- berries, folding silver foil into twinkling stars. Left-over wrappings from previous years are ideal for making paper chains-the more colorful, the merrier! Even if you are not a "baking" family, 'tis the season for something lovin' from the oven. Bake gin- gerbread men, "star" cookies, chocolate chip cookies-whatever pleases the family . . . and, don't forget bourbon balls for the grown-ups. All these taste infinitely better than store- bought goodies, no matter how delicious. A Tradition is Reborn: Cutting the Yule Tree In earlier times, it was a tradition to begin the holiday' season with a family trip to the forest, where a young spruce or fir was selected to serve as the centerpiece for Christmas activities at home. But, as the population shifted toward cities and suburbs, Christmas trees became a commercial pro- duct, harvested and trans- ported for sale at neighbor- hood tree lots. Now, there is good news for those who wish to select their own fresh yuletide tree. "Choose and cut" Christmas tree farms are growing in popularity throughout the country. For families who don't mind taking the time to locate a tree farm, the bene- fits can be great. Besides having the 'fun of choosing and harvesting their own tree, the tree will stay fresh longer. Properly watered, a tree can retain its fresh appearance for a month or longer. Tips on Harvesting Holiday Tree musical pieces which lend for harvesting the tree, a themselves to family It's much more fun to lightweight, gas-powered enjoyment this time of the to choose a tree from this 'échain saw is efficientif year. source. The entire family Ce' proper attention is paid to At hedtime. read aloud can participate; with safety. While it's nice to have the family along to select the tree, children and other spectators should be out of the way when the work begins. If the tree has a sizable trunk, a notch cut should be used to keep the bark from splitting. Cut a V-shaped notch on one side of the trunk, then make a single horizontal cut from If You're Caught In the Skating Craze ... Don't panic or faint. A gift of shoe rollerskates is a tribute to your youthful at- titudes and athletic poten- tial. Roller-skating can strengthen thigh, knee and ankle muscles, and improve posture. It also helps build stamina and develop your sense of balance. And if you're into the weight- losing regimen, roller- skating can burn up as many as 400 calories per hour. However, skating is causing a lot of pain in in- juries every day. Don't be a fall guy . . . but if you do lose your balance, try to re- lax and roll with the fall. You want to land on your the opposite side. After the tree has been felled, cut the trunk to form a flat base for mounting. Holiday "loggers' should exercise just as much care in harvesting their Christmas tree as in any woodcutting job. They should follow all the safety tips listed in the owner's manual provided by the manufacturer of their saw. side or derriere. If you fall on your skates, never break your fall with your hands or arms, you can very well end up with casts (and we don't mean the Hollywo- od version.) If you're new at roller- skating, or havén't had a pair on for many years, consider yourself a com- plete novice. Be safe, or at least safer. Take lessons at the neighborhood rink. You might even get lucky and have a free introduc- tory lesson. At Christmas play and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a year. -Thomas Tusser