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Hmow the Best-Loved Carol .Was Given to the World Santa, Counterparts Awaited 1Euerywhere The hol hisory'ofvariety, adding to the myth The holehistry ~ and magie of Christmas. Santa Claus and other en- chanting gift-bringers is one Santa Claus himself is of unusual and changing thought to be a fusion o J RETINGS 0F TE S Bringing old-fashioned wishes of Christmas joy. Management and Staff SMr. Roast Beef Res Kwy. 115 and 35 Telephone 987-4891 for Rese I SEAUXN ýfof staurant Newcastle *rvat ions E+ ME-ytePae anE apns e Sao be or oa ae v r a hýuhteNwY r! Maae anEtafo E orsnGt Stto 140 KigS.EE2587 sa Bil EorloPoreo Saint Nichotas and an an- cient Yute God. The Saint was a 4th Century Bishop of Myra, a town in Asia Minor. Patron of saitors.' bankers, and maidens. tegend states that Nichotas saved the three daughters of an impoverished father from a life of probabte prostitu- tion by providîng them with gotd dowries. Hence,. his association with gift-giving. Good Saint Nicholas was not onty wett-wishing. He, and certain other versions of the' Christmas gift bringer, had and sometimes stil have, an accompanying ser- vant to punish naughty chit- dren. Bavarian children look forward to a December 6th visit from "Knecht Rup- prect" carrier of Saint Nichotas' holiday sweets. Candy is distributed to good chitdren, white spankings are received through "Grumbtes," a devitish fig- ure carrying sticks in order to accomptish his painfut task. Format presents are brought by the "Christ Chitd" on December 25th. The Christ Child, oi -Christkindt," is supposed to be a messenger appear- ing on behatf of the about- to-be-born Jesus and is thought of as a girt. In Hottand, St. Nichotas becomes Sante Ktaas. Chul- dren put out before the fire- place a pair of shoes or ctogs fitted with hay, water, and carrots for the Saint's white horse. The next morning, they find the shoes fitled with candy and littte pres- ents, or birch-rods, depend- ing upon their behavior. The Christ Chitd atso rides through the streets, bring- ing 5urprise gifts tco unsus- pecting households. mote Alpine Valley. Kart general of music, Heur Mauracher, who eventualîy Pohlenz, heard the children repaired the church organ,, and invited them to sing the requested a copy of the lovely song before the King song. He gave the carot to a and Queen on Christmas group of child singers, Eve, 1832. Amatie, Andreas, Caroline, The acceptance of the and Joseph Strasser. "Sulent carol, given to the world Night" was among the through the voices of four songsthese children, sang to small children, was imme- attract customers at the diate and widespread. For great Leipzig fair. ail, the beauty of "Sulent Night" remains part of the While visiting the fair, magie and tradition of Saxony's famous dîrector- Christmas. One of the most revered Christmas carols in the, whote world emerged from the smalt village of Oben- dorf in the Austrian Alps. On Christmas Eve, 1818, Father Joseph Mohr listen- ed to Franz Gruber, the church organist, attempt to repair his prized instrument - broken beyond repair. It seemed there would be no mnusic for the traditional midnight mass on Christ- mas Eve. In the U.S.A., "Christ- kindt" became verbatty sturred to Kriss Kringte, and also changed shape into a "Father Christmas" figure - a bearded man with steigh and reindeer bringing gifts and good cheer to att. for my new poem, Franz. Simple music you can play on the guitar. Organ or no organ, we're going to have Christmas Eve music!" That evenîng, the two men, ac- companied only by a guitar, sang the loveliest of carols, "Sulent Night." Soon the song left the re- TO, THE CITIZENS 0F ýNEWCASTLE May this message convey to ail, our best wishes ~fora Christmas that will long be remembered, and brin g yo u peace and happiness in the New Year. The mnayor, members of councilý and the staff of the Corporation of The ToW n of Newcastle. Section Three The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, Decemb- 20,1978 ý il