Page CHRISTMAS DOWNTOWN Wednesday November 1985 Looking back at Christmas past 3AlliS It was and the town fathers were lis cuss prohibition Fresh Christmas trees were 50 cents each and sirloin steak was cents a pound White tradition of Christmas has changed little In 50 years Santas bag of goodies is worth more than ever before The community was just recovenng from the depression and getting ready for Christmas Treasure Island was playing at the only theatre In town and residents were quietly going about the task of Christmas shopping Buyers seemed more practical and spent more of their budget on warm duds for the children rather than a host of toys Boys winter caps were 49 cents apiece and girls flannelette nightgowns went for cents each There were china tea sets for the children at 1 each or simply a cup and saucer for mother for 15 cents each For dad perhaps an electric razor for or a pair of mitts for cents Mens suits with a pair of pants were SO For mom a pure wood coat with a sable collar for About IS years later commercialism reared its head and consumers were hit with a barrage of advertising for the fridge of your dreams a high fidelity phonograph and radio or a musical top jack in tttemuslc box and doll carriage for the children The Last of Pompeii was playing at the cinema and Northern Electric moved into Brampton in the final month of i960 with the promise of jobs for by 1B65 The children would be made happy Christ mas mom in a mechanical shooting tank for or musical plush bear for S3 Electric hockey games wero each and a childs first telephone which doubled as a bank sold for only 88 cents Mens two pant suits had gone up to but girls and womens sleepwear was reasonable at SI 98 for pretty flannel gowns By 1971 games and toys which would be part of childrens Christmas lists for years to come were headlined in local newspapers Kerplunk and Trouble board games were selling for each the the newborn Thumballna which squirmed when her string was pulled sold for Billy Jack was playing at the citys downtown theatre and the Canada Packers plant opened on East Drive supplying new jobs to Artificial Christmas trees were on the market for 99 for the six Toot Scotch pine version The same one which now sells for up to PRINT PUBLISHING MORE THAN JUST A SHOP 3 Beautiful Rooms FULL OF DEAS Remember Rameses when youre looking for a Special Gilt Something different something unique something affordable St HERE ARE JUST A FEW fi EXAMPLES TO FILL YOUR Si GIFT LIST Camo sea our wide of exerting from alt over the world Christmas tree origins its German tradition Historians mention three decorations made by German settlers along the eastern Balt ic In the early lSMs Most credit Martin Luther leader at the Protestant Reformation In Germany for Introducing lighted Christmas trees On Christmas Eve Lutber walked through a forest on a starry Right The sight of stars peeking through the fir branches deeply moved him put a fir tree in bis home and decorated it with candles to symbolise Jesus Christ as the light of the world People in other European countries adopted the German custom A royal marriage brought the Christmas tree to Englapd when Prince Albert the German husband of Queen Victoria decorated a tree at the royal palace In 1M1 German Immigrants brought the Christinas tree tradition to North America The first attempt to place a tree in a church sparked a virtual riot in Rev Henry Schwan placed a decorated tree In bis church In Cleve land Ohio Congregation members said Christmas trees smacked of paganism but Scrwafl held Arm The custom spread like wild tire and other to erect most lavishly decorated or tallest tree Although Pasadena Califor nia la Already famous tor Tournament of Rosea Parade its citizens made history by being the first to decorate a Christmas tree with electric lights In A deep forest somewhere In Germany was the setting for tbe first Christmas tree According to legend the English missionary St Bonif ace used a combination of courage and quick thinking to convert pagan Germans to Christianity and give them a symbol of their new faith On Christmas Eve In Boniface found a group of pagans preparing to sacrifice a boy before a giant oak tree to tbegodThor Boniface struck the oak and it crashed to tbe ground He pointed to an evergreen tree and told the pagans Jesus Christ had sent Iftem a tree of love peace and eternal life Scandinavians also of Germanic stock had a similar legend St a mission ary from the eighth century chopped down an oak tree and a young fir tree miraculously sprung up in place told his converts the green leaves symbolized eternal life The Christmas tree Is only one of many pagan symbols and rituals baptized by the early Christian church when it converted entire nations During tbe Middle Ages Chri stians found a prophecy about Christmas trees In the book of Isaiah The p Chocolate Oil pi cup chopped the prophet Itat foretold the Cream sugar and butter until light and fluffy Add chocolate and vanilla mix well Combine flour ground al monds and mix well Gradually add to chocolate mixture Prcu into a cm rectangle in 13 x 3 pan Sprinkle with chips and chopped almonds Bake2WFIOTCfor4Jto SO minutes Cool cut into ban Makes about pieces Store in airtight container in cool place May be made up to 3 weeks before Ji PRECHRISTMAS SPECIAL HI GLASS CHRISTMAS TREE BALLS HAND BLOWN FNOMOEflMANY OUR SELECTION OF UNtQUEOST BOOKS SPECIALTY BOOKS FOR THE Si SPORTSMAN A v many mote interesting olitiUaa BRIMAX CHILDRENS BOOKS RICHARD SCARV STORIES DOLLS MUSE BOXES DOLLS AU AT MEAT PRICES ATTURIFIC PRICES s RAMESES A jj FOB YOUR XMASSHOPPINO I ORDER DEC 15 ALWAYS A WELCOMED GIFT ASA ABOUT CHRISTMAS SKOALS the tree of Jesse the father of King David who was an ancestor of Jesus Christ RAMESES PRINT A PUBLISHING THE FINEST DINING EVERY iK SERVED 1100 PM EnfUsn Aw ONLY PLUS TAX BOOK NOW FOR OUR NEW YEARS EVE PARTY TICKETS 136 Couple CHAMPAGNE BUFFET FOOD BEVERAGES INCLUSIVE ENTERTAINMENT WOT ft COUNTRY WESTERN COUNTRY ROCK CAli FOR MORE INFORMATION ENTERTAINING THIS WEEK ROUTE 66 THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY of