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Custom first began In Great Britain The stocking were hung by the chimney with care In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there So wrote Clenwnt Moore in 1831 And so it will be in most homes this Christmas Eve at least where there are small children at least In Norm America and even though St Nicholas has become Santa The custom seems to come from Great Britain There too children bang their stockings by the fireplace hoping that Father Christinas will fill them with Christmas treats In other lands the customs vary Early In Belgium and The Netherlands people exchange gifts on Dec St Nicholas Day A man dressed in the rich robes of a bishop represents the saint World Book Encyclopedia says He questions the children about their behavior during the year and promises to return during the night with sifts for the good children In Holland the children fill wooden shoes with cookies and candles for the saint and leave them on the doorstep He takes the goodies and leaves toys and other gifts In France children put their shoes on the doorstep on Christmas Eve so the Christ Child or Father Christmas canflll them In Italy on the eve of Epiphany or Twelfth Night a sort of aged fairy queen named La Befana comes down the chimney with gifts for the children Different versions Most children in South America believe that the Wise Men bring mem Christmas gifts Children in Brazil find gifts in their shoes on Chrtatmas morning On the eve of Epiphany some people leave water and hay on the doorstep for the Wise Men s camels Christians in China and Japan observe Christmas customs that are familiar to us The Chinese version of Santa Claus has a Chinese name which varies according to the dialect And in Japan Santa is called Santa magic Ancient followers of the Druid religion were the first to regard mistletoe as a sacred plant say the editors of The New Book of Knowledge They supposed it to have virtues in warding off everything from witches to disease Each year about the time Christmas is celebrated today there was a ceremonial rite In which Druid priests using a golden sickle cut the mistletoe leaves from the sacred oak and distributed them among the people The Saxons also valued this they were to call it mistletoe To them mistletoe symbolized everlasting peace CHRISTMAS GREETINGS TO OUR FRIENDS and NEIGHBOURS EDWIN Tho Free Press Tuesday Urge introduction interim tax billing in Esquesing SANTA CLAUS had a huge fluffy bear in his bag of goodies for the holder of the lucky ticket at Tyler Transport s annual Christ mas party at the Acton Music Centre Ted Tyler Jr and wife Dolores helped Santa make the draw Staff Photo A tra we cannot face Fire Bureau urges safe yule Christmas Is the easiest time year to have a fire In your home according to Acton Fire Chief Holmes chairman of Halton County Fire Prevention Bureau It Just unfortunate that such a happy time of year can be quickly marred by a fire tragedy says Chief Holmes But the happy sounds of jingle bells children s laughter and seasonal hymns are easily drowned out by the wall of a fire siren Work year round Our Christmas fire safety campaign Is probably the most important battle we wage in the course of says the chairman of the county wide Bureau Our year round campaigns cover spring grass fires en hazards fire prevention week and a hundred and one other things related to fire butChnstmashastorankas number one Fire is grim at any time of the year yet at Christmas tune fire is a tragedy we just cannot face The Bureau annual Christmas campaign is launched early each December when fire departments around Halton distribute free Christmas tree tags to tree dealers and service club outlets In the count These tags are stapled to a branch of the tree and carry a six point message of safety Into prac tically every home In Do and don ts Don put the tree up until a week before Christmas Dont place it near any exit or heating Don place the tree in container Don t use other than approved decorations Don leave tree lights on when retiring or going out Don use other than IS amp fuses in lighting circuits Whj stress fire safety with Christmas trees Chief Holmes says evergreen trees are dangerous it owners don take precautions to keep them dry as a dry tree can be reduced to ashes in 18 seconds The newer metal or plastic synthetic trees can also be a hazard If they are not properly wired for lighting And any tree Is a hazard If combined with smokers frayed elec trical wiring or a pile of discarded gift wrappings Safety wish Hie Bureau also distributes a large colorful Christmas poster to churches offices and public buildings each Christmas It features a holly wreath and the message Wishing you a IRESAFE Christmas Member fire departments in Acton Georgetown Milton Oak ville and Burlington also back the Bureau Christmas Ire safety campaign with local programs designed to ensure a firefree yule season Their programs include advertising on radio and in newspapers and often floats or fire pumpers bearing safety messages En the local Santa parades A letter from the Department of Municipal Affairs read at last week regular meeting of council urged council to take steps to reduce the township tax arrears figure to a more reasonable level letter claimed the tax arrears situation has remained static for the past eight years Introduction of an Interim tax billing system advancement of due dates for tax payments and Imposition of a penalty of one per cent per month for late payment assuming final date for payments is before September 18 arc three recommendations contained in the letter outstanding Councillor Ken Marshall estimated the amount of taxes outstanding at the present time at about Council Is considering of the Interim tax billing system Sitting as a court of revision earlier In the morning council passed a motion that unpaid taxes In the amount of be written off Reasons for writing them off varied from minor office errors to lack of assets for businesses who have ceased operations Borrow Council later authorized the borrowing of from the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Georgetown to meet expenditures until oil 1070 taxes have been collected A total of 728 had already been borrowed last January Explaining the of the loan clerk treasurer Delmar trench pointed out payments of 1011 to the county and 5 to the town of Georgetown far fire protection must still be met In ancient Germany the Yule log was known as the One belief held Unit If the charred log was placed In a cornbin It would act as a charm to ward off mice If the weather turned stormy tht was quickly brought back to the fire While It burned superstition said the house was safe from lightning council okays payment Authorization of payment of accounts took up a good portion of the business at the last meeting of A WALKING doll was just what young Deborah Main wanted for Christmas De borah was one of many youngsters who received gifts at Building Products employees Christmas party Staff Photo council for 1970 Ac counts approved for payment included legal fees to the firm of Barnes and Langdon township solicitors to reeve George Currie for attending meetings of the County Industrial Committee during 1970 to deputy reeve Tom Reminders of old days E Ferryman whose wedding anniversary was celebrated recently enjoys keeping reminders of the old days He brought to the Free Press this week his father s old cash book recording his salary with W Storey and Son dated 1895 On week salary was indicated as 10 or five days salary at He also has his parents wedding certificate for Thomas Ferryman and Fanny Christie dated June 1879 In the village of Acton with witnesses H Storey and Agnes Ferryman Council are still awaiting a grant ways but Mr French said the In the neighborhood of grant may not arrive until the from the Department of High- new year girl That Claus hadfor A BIG present for a That what Santa Claus had for petite Mochell Woodman at Building Products employees annual Christmas party Staff Photo Hill and councillor Ken Marshall and to former clerk K for service on Acton fire area committee each to councillors Wlllrid Leslie and Russell Miller for service on Georgetown fire area committee 438 to George Herrington for dog catching services during the months of October and November 95 to clerk treasurer Delmar French for mileage during The township municipal levy from the County Board of Education in the amount of 133 15 340 to Georgetown Fire Area for fire protection 11 70 to Milton Fire Area for fire protection Reeve George Currie 1970 salary in the amount of 1 Council also authorized Mr French to pay road accounts as submitted by roads superintendent Bud Snow on December 1970 Greetings lib a wishing you the fulfillment of all your dreams for Christmas MANAGEMENT AND STAFF THE BANK OF MONTREAL JOHN BOUGHTON JEWELLERS A Christmas Prayer VYloy the beautiful meaning Christmas living through the age to inspire men everywhere continue to lire In your own heart and m And may your Christmas be filled with Discount Shoe Store 28 Main St N GEORGETOWN FLOWERS CHOOSE FROM OUR SELECTION Cyclamen Chrysanthemums Tropical Plants Cactus Gardens Azalea MANY OTHER VARIETIES CUT FLOWERS OUR SPECIALTY We Wire Flowers Anywhere Open 7 m till 7 Phone Caroline fewer Garden Shop O Holy Night Each at Christmas the sacred story lives anew As we reflect upon that holy time of a Quid born id Bethlehem may we find inspiration in His life to guide on way Sincere greetings to all MAYOR AND COUNCIL Of THE TOWN OF ACTON