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The Acton Free Wed Dec The Legend of Christmas Tinsel According to an old leg end a poor peasant woman with many children rated a Christmas tree with such humble trimmings as she was able to gauier mostly berries and nuts and such odds and ends as she had managed to save up during the year She labored far Into the trying to make her as beautiful as she could While she was asleep spiders came and crawled from branch to branch trailing their lacy webs be hind them To reward the woman for her devotion The Christ Child blessed the tree and all the spider webs were turned Into gleaming silver Well of the Wise Men There Is a Well at The Wise Men on the outskirts Bethlehem where cording to legend the three discouraged found their lost star reflected and continued their quest In 1834 a modern candle machine was do by Joseph Morgan no that candles no Ion nor had to be made by a tedious hand dipped process Candles Light the Way Throughout the Ages Feast of Lights in Merrie Old England Although It has been said there was no candle to light manger In the stable at Bethlehem still tram early times people have placed CHRISTMAS GREETINGS Stuckey Photography In many countries any one coming to the door at Christmastime was Invited to enter For tome believed that Christ Himself would appear at a house with a candle concealing his I den to learn the extent of their kindness Candles have inspired men throughout the ages Unking their bright glow with the beauty of faith Research by Hallmark can expert John Bin em re veals that candles were generally used Christ mas time as far back as the Century Until the Century thoy were made from tallow or The latter was preferred as an emblem of Marys purity for wax is the product of virgin bees Many persons believed that bees came from heaven and It was not unusual far glous Institutions to keep swarms of them According to an early writer wax represented Christ body the wick His soul and tho flame His divine nature The religious symbolism of the candle grow through the centuries alter early Christians huddled In the damp chill catacombs of Rome used lighted candles as a source of comfort Materials In a substance from the head of the sperm whale found to be superior to tallow and beeswax Later In 1650 paraffin wax was developed and combined with stearic acid to make candles of the modem type Bayberry candles their delicate scent arc pec I ally popular at Christ inns and they arc said to bring good luck to the home The candle Is uniquely American Bay berry bushes In great abundnnce In the new world and after learning to extract the greenish wax from the wild bay berries the Pilgrims used It to moke candles The Irish place lighted candles In their windows on Christmas Eve as a guide and on invitation to who like Mary and Joseph may be seeking shelter A MERRY CHRISTMAS In the hippy spirit of the holiday cheer that abounds may we offer sincere wishes for a Merry Christmas to all our friends Nielsens Clothing Over 1400 years ago the Council of Tours decreed that the celebration of Christmas should continue on for twelve days through Epiphany which falls on January This day also known as The Feast Lights Is still observed by many churches It became customary the centuries for the reigning King of land to open Twelfth Night revels by throwing dice In the nth century Charles played for high stakes win 1G0 pounds one year and losing 100 pounds the next both tremendous sums for that period Festivities Included lng a Kink Queen of the feast Slices of a plum Cake containing a bean and pea were served and the who got the bean and the woman who got the pea were crowned King and Queen With toasts to the oyal pair the party to full swing Revels Up with final kisses under the mistletoe Before rise all the Christmas greens had to bo taken down Photo from Hal I mo Greeks Have Unique Religious Ceremony to Celebrate Christmas On Christmas Eve of Greek families go the from house to house singing on carols to the ment of tiny clay drums and tinkling steel triangles They ore rewarded with gifts figs walnuts and sometimes money Afterwards there Is a Christmas Eve service which begins at a m and ends shortly before dawn The family then begins feasting with Chris mo oread of Christ a simple cake studded with nuts and small cakes dusted with powdered sugar The Christmas dinner must Include her Id on roast pig In rural house holds these arc fattened for the feast from mldsum mer on If a family cannot afford to buy a pig usually relatives or neighbors pro vide one There are no Christmas trees and no Christmas presents St Basil a Day or New Year Day is the time for exchanging gifts St Basil Vanillas one of the four fathers of the Orthodox church is the Santa Ciaus of a reek of Since Greece has always been a maritime nation It is not surprising that the blessing of the waters Is an Impressive part of the Christmas celebration This takes place on Epiphany Day At high noon on that day the Archbishop or highest ranking priest leads a pro cession from the church to the waterfront Dressed In magnificent vestments he holds aloft before him a crucifix of gold or ebony with a sliver Image or the Saviour Acolytes and lesser clergy also clad In rich vestments accompany him chanting as they march The congregation follows in their wake The procession halts at the water edge The Priest Intones a prayer and then after tying a scarf around the cross hurls it into the water From the and from boats men and boys dive after it The one who from everyone at the ROYAL CAFE year long were grateful for our fine friends and customers At Christmas we re especiaUy happy to express greetings thanks and good wishes MANAGEMENT AND STAFF IGA FOODS