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TIIEHERALDj Wednesday Decembers 1M Holiday season superstitions By MADELINE SANDERSON Now that the holidays are upon us I thought the residents of the town might be interested to know there are a few superstitions con cerning Christinas and New Years For instance in Devonshire England many years ago it was I a custom on Christmas morning for a young girl to look for a rose which she had put away on a sum mers day Should the rose be fresh as it was it was worn to church that holy day whereupon the girls intended husband would take it from her in I the church Not all superstitions were this pleasant In Wales a few centuries ago it was believed that while the Yule log was burning you were to watch the shadows of people on the wall Those shadows which appeared without heads belonged to persons doomed to die within the year What a cheerful game to play at a Christmas party Many of these old superstitions had something to do with the weather forecast In parts of Rutland England it was believed that a green Christmas meant a heavy harvest Also if the sun shone through an apple tree on Christmas morning there would be a heavy crop the following summer I wonder how many farmers were disappointed when this t happen The authors E and A who wrote the En cyclopedia of Superstitions once lived in Lincolnshire England and while there were told that all cows knelt to the Lord every Christmas Eve They were assured this was true by the old cattleman who had witnessed this happen for many years The origin of this superstition would seem to be fairly simple Cows upon rising get up on their knees first and any person aniv ing in the barn at midnight would disturb the occupants The first and automatic action of a cow is to rise to its knees in preparation to move away from the intruder In Yorkshire it was believed if a girl or woman walked into your home first on Christmas mom ill fortune would surely follow It seems a little insulting to that particular person doesntit Another strange and in custom was making certain that ail remnants of Christmas decorations were removed by January 2nd from all churches If any were left behind there would be death in the ly occupying the pew in which a berry or holly was left New Years had many customs which I find quite amusing In the 17th Century it was strongly believed and always practiced that nothing was to be carried out from your house on New Years Day as It meant ill luck This meant that everyone was to keep the ashes from their fires garbage etc and empty it all out on January 2nd It had to be kept indoors until then Whos coming down the chimney ONE OF THE EARLIEST ILLUSTRATIONS of Santa Clans is this one from The Great Pictorial Annual Brother Jonathan dated January 1 The reindeer and sleigh were already part of his image though the great white beard and face full of wrinkles were still to come V An early visit It appears Santa Clans decided to visit a little navigation trouble The truth will be known Georgetown or least this Maple Avenue house a lit come Christmas morning that for certain Herald lie early this year Maybe however Santa is having photo JANUARY 1st STAMP INCREASE BUY 39 STAMPS NOW SAVE THE 7 GST Add 1 Stamps Instead DELREX SMOKE SHOP GE0R6ET0WN MARKET PUCE 8779284 J Learn to Drive Sand Survive 9 Young Drivers of Canada 8533461 Acton Passive Reducing Solon 9 Available 8734907 Beor Entrance Georgetown Willmaftt andtnstattit right 71 Ontario SPECIAL DAY CHRISTMAS PROGRAM DEC pm CHRISTMAS GIFT CERTIFICATES NOW AVAILABLE I 8770751 IF BUSY CALL 350000 GRADUATES RECOMMEND YOUNG DRIVERS OF CANADA 9