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THE NEW TANNER TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2008 10 To our Customers & Friends we extend our sincerest best wishes for a Happy Holiday Season & a prosperous New Year Dennys Insurance Service since 1958 Tel: (519) 853-0150 Toll Free: 1-800-294-6886 Fax: (519) 853-0176 15 MILL STREET WEST, ACTON ONTARIO L7J 1G3 To all our valued Customers & A Happy New Year Seasons Greeting s The Acton BIA wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year. A special thanks to all those who donated to the Sharing Tree. It was a huge success. Carols always special part of Christmas Most people in Canada find the singing of carols part of the Christmas sea- son but according to the Canadian Gage diction- ary carols are songs or hymns of joy and dont necessarily have an asso- ciation with Christmas. Christmas music, es- pecially the carols, is still a very special part of Christmas celebra- tions around the world. Caroling is a Christmas tradition that allows the beauty of music to be shared. Many anc ien t car- ols were composed to commemorate or retell the stores and customs surrounding the Christ- mas celebration, before books were printed and before most people could read them. Some of them were dance forms, from which the word carol derives. There are two categor- ies of carols traditional and religious. Examples of the former evolved in England during the medieval period. Traditional carols were sung in the language of the people, rather than in Latin, and were less religious. They were derived from traditional drinking feasting or folk songs, straying from the religious themes found in music of the church. In the early days, carols were sung by waits, or bands of men and boys singing outdoors, usually for money. By the 14th century these traditional carols, often accompan- ied with dancing, were firmly entrenched as part of the festivities surrounding Christmas. Caro l s , o r hymns , are still very much an essent ia l par t of the ca ro l ing r epe r to i r e . Some of this devotion- al and inspiring music has been composed by world-famous compos- ers such as Handel (Joy To The World), Bach (How Brightly Beams The Morning Star) and Mendelssohn (Hark! The He r a l d Ange l s Sing). Their lyrics gener- ally focus on the birth of Christ as told in the Gospels of St. Luke and St. Matthew. Martin Lu- ther wrote the words to Away in a Manger. What is probably the most authentic Canadian Christmas carol was ori- ginally called Jesous Ahatonhia composed by Jean Brebeuf, Jesuit mis- sionary to Huronia, in the 1640s, with Huron words and a French tune. It has since been translated into French as, Jesus est Nee, and in English as, The Huron Carol. No matter where they originated or how many times they are played or sung, Christmas carols never seem to lose their appeal , even though shopp ing mal l s and plazas play them well before the Christmas season. During World War I, German and British troops faced each other over ter- rain terraced and destroyed by trenches and shell holes, soldiers on both sides are said to have taken up the carol Silent Night started by one lone German sol- dier, his heart no doubt back in his native Bavaria. The war was forgotten and there were dreams of heav- enly peace. Christmas movies and specials never lose their wide appeal What would the Christ- mas season be without the endless stream of movies and specials on television? Some of the movies never seem to lose their appeal even after dec- ades of viewing. Favourites include: National Lampoons Chr is tmas Vacat ion (1989) - Those zany Griswolds are up to their antics again! Led by an all-star cast includ- ing Chevy Chase and Beverly DAngelo, the Griswold family Christ- mas should be merry, but naturally turns into a hilarious disaster. Look for appearances by Julia Louis-Dreyfus (formerly of Seinfeld) and Doris Roberts (of Everybody Loves Raymond). A Christmas Story (1983) You wont want to miss this classic of the 1940s Americana which was partly filmed in To- ronto. Young Ralphie has his heart set on a Red Rider BB gun for Christ- mas, but it seems like Mom, teacher and Santa are certain hell shoot his eye out with such a gift. Will Ralphie find his hearts desire under the tree? Watch to find out. Its a Wonderful Life (1946) Many versions of this movie have been made throughout the years, but the original outshines them all. When distraught George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) meets a compassionate angel, he learns what life would have been like if hed never existed. Holiday magic wins out in the end. M i r a c l e o n 3 4 t h Street (1947) An- other classic that cant be missed! When a man claiming to be Santa Claus is deemed insane, a young lawyer and a headstrong young girl come to his rescue. A Christmas Carol (1951) Yet another movie that has spawned a series of more recent remakes. This one stars Alas ta i r S im as Mr. Scrooge, a bitter, miser- ly man who doesnt give a bah humbug about the holiday season. But will a haunting by three ghosts change his mind and ill will? A Cha r l i e B rown C h r i s tm a s ( 1 9 6 5 ) Charlie Brown is de- pressed and cant find the Christmas spirit. When he is put in charge of the schools holiday pa- geant and comes in with a meager Christmas tree, the school kids ultimate- ly learn about the true meaning of Christmas.