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mst acton pros press thursday december 22 1966 origin of christmas customs explained while theesact origin of die practice of kissing under the mistletoe is not known there are several popular stories about it the druids of ancient brit ain paid it more than up ser vice they tbought it could heal disease neutralize poi sons and protect against witchcraftl they wore charm bracelets and rings made of mistletoe and fastened the plant over their doorways to ward off evil spirits i a wrwiilhmnrl tale involves frigga the goddess of love and beauty researchers report that frigga first made mistle toe aa emblem of love and lights on a christmas tree was granted some lucky man a kiss i martin luther walking home beneath its branches begin- one night shortly before christ- ning a smacking good custom of course the christmas tree is a center of attraction in most homes during the yule season a place of honor in cidentally solidly rooted in history for thousands of years before christs birth ev ergreen trees were revered by german tribesmen as symbols of immortality when the pag ans were converted to christ ianity they transferred sheir feelings for me evergreen to the new religion the first perm to put mas the reformation leader felt a strong tie between the starry night and the love of god at home he placed candl es on a little evergreen tree to help his children experience the same wonder of gods hea vens the custom grew and spread through northern eur ope then to america although the custom of dec orating the christmas tree did not originate in america the practice of playing christmas music with feet did less than half a century ago play er piano enthusiasts out such favorites as silent night and 0 little town of bethlehem today with the help of modern players that can be foot powered or used as a regular piano by the ac complished the custom is hav ing a thrilling comeback in thousands of homes across the country aad why swtmt doesnt take long for a pianola to become the centre of your christmas festivities the time honored feeling of togetherness is fos tered by friend and family ga thered around a modern play er singing any one of dozens of universally loved christmas songs along with hundreds of other music roll favorites the combination of lively feet and music continuing to day as people play and sing ar ound their player pianos all over the country began with early carols the word ca rol means to dance in a- ring and the man who popularized the practice was the beloved st francis of assisi to bring the christmas message vividly and directly to his 13th cen- on this joyous holiday celebrating the birth of the holy child we wish that you may be filled with peace and gladness comfortedwith hope and surrounded by your loved ones cmee htppe m4 cjquire fan wear our chriatmaa wisk that your heart shares the blessed joy of tha shepherds k roszell shoppe we pause mid the holiday battle to count our many blessings and to express deep appreciation for the patronage you have given us to you and yours our fondest christmas greetings from henry and george agon motors uuy villagers most of whom could not read he arranged a manger scene using real people and anhnats when the villagers came to see it st francis led them in joyous ce lebration carolling aboot those christmas stock ings the legend says that the original st nicholas who was a charitable turkish bishop taking pity on a man too poor to provide a dowry for ms daughters dropped gold pieces into a stocking hung up by the fire to dry one of the most recent of the popular christmas customs is the christinas card the first one was sent in 1945 by w c dobson one of queen victor ias favorite painters louis prang of boston made the first american christmas cards in 1875 but only during the last 50 years has the prac tice of sending yuletide cards become widespread history records many other christmas customs but in all lands which celebrate this an cient holiday the feelings of reverence and joy are the same welcome window let your picture window welcome holiday guests to vour home place a candle a wreath or a spray of ever green in the window remem bering at the same time that too much of any of these wh spoil the effectiveness of your window the children might enjoy trying a stainedglass ef fect with easily washed off co lorings and artificial snow sprays a real treat jfor child ren is working with jliirmnous paints they enjoy admiring their handiwork on those snowy blowy nights vout mavsmal wo mfllnt 1kn0ni tslm0 a star to guide them on their way woe men canoe bearing gifts today j the wonder glows anew with gifts of joy to gladden every heart may yours be a blessed christmas elizabethlo beauty lounge noahs ark once favorite toy for puritan homes tho oh the wonderful noahs arid it was not found sea worthy when put in a washing- tub and the- animals were crammed in at the roof and needed to have their legs well shaken down before they could be got in even there and then ten to one but they began to tumble out the door which was but imperfectly fastened against it conrider the noble fly a size or two smaller than the elephant the ladybint the butterfly all triumphs of art consider the goose whose feet were so small and whose balance was so indifferent that she usually tumbled forward and knocked down all the ani mal creation i consider noah and his fa mily like idiotic stoppers and how the leopard stuck ta warm little fingers and how the tails of the larger animals used gradually i to resolve themselves into frayed bits of string thou charles dickens recall ed in one of his charming christmas memoirs that old- time christmas favorite toy noahs ark it was a favorite through several centuries in europe for good reason it was appoved as a sunday toy in those homes where the sato- bath was observed strictly with strict austerity the kite the cockhorse spinningtop horn lead soldiers bat and ball doll whirligig and other playthings- had to be put away the noahs ark alone could be tolerated in puritan homes for it was deemed religiously educational after the family had gone to arduous service in church and had its dinner the ark looking remarkably like a canal boat such as the children had seen in nearby waterways came to rest up on a mount ararat in the par lor camels boos horses all manner of creatures were brought forth or tumbled out unceremoniously if parents werent watching closely to be arranged in pairs and paraded in the drama of the flood af ter father or grandfather op some other elder had given a blessing to this proceeding on the sabbath with a pertinent reading from the old testa ment originally the figures of the pairs of animals of afr and mrs noah shem ham and japheth were carved from wood the craftsmen in such woodenware as shop signs trenchers howls spoons moulds candle stands and trays also carved the figures for noahs arks some were so expert that the animals were truly a work of art they were regarded with the awe accord ed idols among aborigines in whose religion animals figure importantly it is stated la toys through the ages by dan foley putt by chilton press noahs ark carvings tweame objects of barter among natives of afri ca and were equally popular in the indies and america among the native tribes the austrian town of ober- ammergau which was famous for its carvings of religious fig ures in wood produced noahs arks distinguished for the fine- first greeting card in 1843 it was the golden age of christmas the personal ex change of good wishes visiting homes to toast a friends good health carol singing bringing in the yule log and great fam ily dinners were all in vogue a new book was published that year it told of christmas goose and plum pudding and of happy family parties it pre sented ebenezer scrooge bob cratchit and tiny tim the book was charles dickens a christmas carol and the year was 1843 f appropriately during this xjolden age of christmas the now universally popular custom of sending christmas greeting cards began the very first card author ities now agree is the celebrat ed coleflorsley designed and printed in london in 1843 on ly a dozen of the original 1000 copies are known to exist sir henry cole a wealthy london gentleman and found er of the victoria and albert museum asked his friend john c horstey noted artist and member of the royal aca demy to design the now fam ous card as an unusual means of expressing his kind wishes to friends at the holiday sea son k- x if christmas cheer way ymr aobday be as cnscrsl and happy at a eww christmas eve dreams loans u to 5000 6ac intonatronal finance corporation ltd nessof the wo ex amples of these are prized to day few complete sets exist because of the natural wear and tear individual pieces suf fered at the hands of one or two generations of youngsters in sunday play noahs ark pieces were abo made from tin lead paper- xhtausitioni and ceramics la modem times they are found moulded from plastic and the animals also a and sold as barnyard play sets specialist collectors have found dozens of v one collector is credited with hav ing over ijooo different pairs of noahs ark animals while ids bobby may appear somewhat childish toothers he can take satisfaction in the fact that his collection is respected by the curators at historic essex institute salem mass and many other museums which have noahs arks among their exhibits these sunday toys are subjects of prime attention in such internationally circulat ed tomes as the english leslie daikens historical study childrens toys through the ages toys in america by mar shall and inez mcclintock daniel foleys toys through the ages historic des jouets by henri rene 0ailemagne i the earven of noahs ark animals also were makers cf jumping jacks that these were not so acceptable as sun day toys is understandable considering that they were re garded originally as demonic only slightly less evil than the jackinthebox the latter rep resented the devil ever ready to leap out and pounce upon the unaware cubriy fights for potential smafl mouth some fights are bbw bw switch off the christmas tree lighting when you go to bed or whenever you leave vour home year long were and customers at to express our iga