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4 ae ir SY , Ra A I a ata il a LF we ry RE PEE SROE Eo all ade > ar 0 a bain dot St at rai lit 'i Fl RSA TRA ay Se BL oY wh. a -- - TA oh : » SUPPLEMENT TO PORT PERRY STAR, THURS., DEC, 22, 1966 HOW IT BEGAN--- "Green Christmas" Traces Heritage To Ancient Times A sprig of mistletoe, a holly ¥* ok - wreath, an evergreen tree-- "The Holly and the Ivy". As these and other decorations of the old Christmas carol indi- ener 0 | S . ° YY me gins" hones ot cates, both holly and ivy share "holi ime -- an radition : h . blo y. 4 © an ancient heritage as holiday oms. os 3 es] Voeir + The "green Christmas" is an Frosnaty. Karly sharagistine Heleiit t : tion of holly as masculine and J sto r niver- | . : ancient cusiom,; more Ls Tye! ivy a feminine goes back to sally observed than a "white Spe pagan games, with "the holly Christmas" . and the ivy" in friendly com- In earliest times, at the pag- petition. an winter festivals, evergreens and winter - blooming plants were prized for their promise of spring and the sun's return. For the first Christians, the A later tradition says that spiny-leaved hollies are "he" hollies, while the smooth- leaved plants are "she" hollies. The kind of holly brought into the home at Christmas deter- same greenery symbolized life eternal. May the peace and serenity of this hol- iday season dwell in the hearts of all. To our customers and friends, our greet- ings, good wishes and grateful thanks. "PENTLAND JEWELLER mines whether "he" or "she" will be head of the house for the coming year. ~ * * *® membrance." When Shakes- and. 'white-hearded. s any child can tell You, that's how ar rote this famous line pears wi Ms "| Santa Claus looks. rosemary was not only for re- membrance--it was for Christ- : But the benevolent giver of mas decorating, too. presents has not always been pictured like this, nor has he always travelled by sleigh or brought his gifts on Christmas Eve. In fact, he has not al- ways been named Santa Claus! Rosemary, a fragrant herb that remains evergreen in warm climates, is no longer used as a holiday decoration, but it still retains its legendary connec- tion with Christmas. 4 "oo "Santa Claus" is in truth a The legend says that, during | child's euphonic way of ex- the flight into Egypt, Mary spread the Holy Infant's cloth- ing on a rosemary bush to dry. At once, the bush became sweetly scented, and its pale white blossoms turned to a lovely blue. * * * kolas," or St. Nicholas, says The Encyclopedia Americana. St. Nicholas, ayfourth-century bishop, was later honored, in Europe, as a friend to children. Legend finds him making his rounds on December 5th, the eve of St. Nicholas Day, with gifts to reward children for good behaviour. : ' Mistletoe for Luck. Today, a gneeting beneath the mistletoe 'brings good luck in the form of kiss. : Bes Instead of a jolly red suit, St. Nicholas wore a robe, or tab- ard, and for that reason he really didn't need a sleigh, 'or even a horse. His robe enabled him to travel from place to place, instantly. Ancient peoples believed that mistletoe had-a more positive control over luck, good and bad. A bit of mistletoe hung over a doorway was said to ward off evil. A later belief suggested that mistletoe could bring bad luck. If mistletoe boughs put up for Christmas are not removed by Candlemas Eve (February 1), this belief holds that each leaf will bring forth a goblin to re- main for the rest of the year, harassing the household. said to use a horse for hs jour- ney at night over. the roofs. Dutch settlers brought St. Nicholas to the New World, where he gradually changed his name to Santa Claus and traded his horse and robe for " EE ah = Sub SA SE SI FE ST A ST Se 4 x + CHRISTMAS CHEER * % i aT AY X X : X a : * x * * ¥ ¥ * x ¥* ¥ * x * * ER wx May your TN oy ps holiday be as EAR = cheerful and happy 2 Ran as a child's 3335.c. el O Christmas Eve dreams. G >! " SAL : DOWSON'S His White Beard, Red Suit Are Recent Garb reindeer and a red suit. In more recent years, St. Ni- It was Clement C. Moore,, in cholas in his new guise as San- his poem "A Visit from St. Nick," who rides "in a minia- ture sleigh-desgyn by eight tiny reindeer." * ta Claus has journeyed to many parts of the world, becoming the most widely known of gift givers. . y ! pressing the Dutch "Saint Ni- "In Holland, however, he was] ' J 48 7 . hab IPP RRS ll Bright and happy hearts be happy wishes are and your Christmas coming your way. | From the Wise Men... "They. presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." Thus St. Matthew symbolizes the spirit of Christmas. It is the spirit of giving generously, for the Wise Men i gave of their best -- precious gold, . BE rare frankincense and myrrh, two res- ins prized in the making of incense, Most of all, it is the spirit of wor- ship and rejoicing, for Wise Men and j shepherds alike knelt at the manger, red in the awe and wonder of His birth, Jo the Holy Manger-. oi] "Let us now go even unto Beth- léhem, and see this thing which is come to pass." Luke 2:15 " : Humble shepherds came to behold the Miracle of the manger, and Wise 'Men journeyed from the East, Today, thousands of Christians make the pilgrimage to the hill town of Bethlehem each Christmas, A high point of their visit is the Grotto of the Nativity -- the rock-hewn stable where, traditionally, Christ was born, As Shepherds Watch... * "For unto you is born this day in : the city of David a Saviour, which is a8 Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11 : Bethlehem stands high on a hill, and below it is "Shepherd's Field," where tradition 'says the shepherds heard the glad tidings of the Nativity, The Jerusalem YMCA holds carol services in the Field on Christmas Evé, bi And shepherds, who still tend their by © flocks in nearby fields, come to watch iq and share in the celebration,