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ANT SI RR La, wr EN SN CHINESE CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE "SHEN Dan Jieh," the Holy Birth Festival, at Christmas, But Santa Claus is on hand, oo, as he is in this scene, typical of a wan Christmas, where he greets youngsters enjoying a ride on a merry-go-round. Photo- graph is from the New Book of Knowledge. C hrigimas Nostalgia Portrayed By America's Favorite Artist Norman Rockwell is perhaps better qualified than any other artist to portray a typically American Qhristmas scene. In this illustration of a trio of quaint-looking musi- clans playing carols in the street, he has captured the flavor of an old-fashioned Christmas in a small town. It is the authenticity in this painting as in all Norman Rockwell's work that inspires such lasting, universal ap- peal. Norman Rockwell never fakes a detail. Local, small town residents posed for the three musi- clans in clothing that had been carefully selected from Mr. Rockwell's huge wardrobe of costumes. The lantern and musical instruments were garnered from antique shops across the countryside. - The painting shown was originally commissioned by Hallmark for a Christmas card. Santa is busy spreading Christmas cheer, and once again i's our time to thank friends and customers for their loyal patronage. SUTHERLAND BROS. LTD. UTICA Here's wishing vou lots of joy and laughter to remember all year. Richard's Beauty Studio The C hristmas tree, a uni- versally recognized symbol of the merrlest season, radlates the meaning of the Christ- mas story. For many people, the tree recalls the atmosphere of the holiday home and thus re- flects the joyful warmth of the season. As a religious symbol, the tree with its lights and . greenery represents both the story of the garden of Eden and the bellef in Christ as the "Light of the world." Although only a century and a half old in America, the custom of the tree has a history that is measured in.many centuries. The fore- runner of today's Christmas tree was seen in medieval miracle plays, which were produced as religious instruc- tion for the illiterate -- in an era when illiteracy was common and the ability to read a rarity. A play about Eve's eating the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden was enacted with only one prop on stage, a single, apple-laden fir that became known as the Para- dise Tree. The play ended with the promise of the com- ing of Christ and was usually presented just before Christ- mas. At about the same time, people also decorated for the Christmas season with pyra- mid-shaped frames of light, symbolizing the birth of Christ as the Light of the world. Early efforts to combine the Paradise Tree and the Christmas Light pyramid are recorded in manuscripts from Germany dating to the 16th century, collected by the Hallmark Cards research li- brary The first tree was thought to have been brought to the United States by Hessian Legend, Lore Of Holiday Takes Varied Forms The belief that Santa has a reindeer-drawn sleigh and enters homes through the chimney may have come from Scandinavia. An old Norse legend about the god- dess Hertha sald that she rode on a reindeer's back. Her appearance in the fire- place in mid-winter was thought to bring good luck to the home. "Silent Night, Holy Night" was written in 1818 by a vil- lage priest in Hallein, Aus- tria. Father Joseph Mohr wrote the words, to an ac- companiment created by his organist, Franz Gruber. Legend has it that the church organ was out of order -- damaged by mice -- and so "Silent Night" was first sung to a guitar accom- paniment. * * * Who invented that popular holiday beverage, eggnog? It has been part of the festivi- ties for so many years that nobody really knows its ori- gin. One possibility is that egg- nog came from the Old Eng- lish hot drink, sack-posset, which was also made of eggs. milk, nutmeg and sugar. . . . Among the earliest Christ- mas tree ornaments were some that resembled the sun, stars and moon, or animals. Using signs of nature as decorations can be traced back to the feasts of the win- ter equinox, when sun-wor- shipping pagans hung simi- lar trinkets on trees. "The cattle were lowing," says the carol, "Away in a Manger," and Nativity paint- ings often show the animals of the manger. Appropriately, tradition says that cattle and other domestic animals should have a special feast on Christmas Eve. It's legend- ary, too, that cattle are given the power of speech for a few monients at this time. BOTH ELEMENTS THAT LED TO TODAY'S,Christmas tree -- the Paradise Tree and the Christmas Lights pyramid -- are shown in this antique Christmas card of the 1880s. The card was pub- lished by Opbaclier Brothers of Munich, Germany, and is part of the Hallmark Cards Historical Collection. SASS , 7, SSF FSIS FSIS Sra soldiers during the American Ky Revolution. These homesick Ww soldiers and other immi- n ( h grants carried the tree » eery throughout the country. IN A major setback almost occurred in Cleveland in 1851 when a pastor decorated a tree in his home. His parishioners condemned the tree as pagan, but relented after an explanation of its religious aspects. Conservation-minded Theodore Roose- » ard " Crete ie, " a "Yr SP the Happiest of New Years DON SKINNER § Prince Albert 3 Some words from Santa simply to say, "Have a wonderful holiday!" Cecil, Joy, Gary Newham Alfred, Carol & Family Greetings for a very Merry Christmas and} President ai Y - Q y, vel L again near 1 y s tam p e d a a a I I FP PIS RFI) ARRRRRRRRRRR out the practice when he banned trees in the White House. After one of his sons sneaked a Christmas tree in- to, the White House, a for- ester convinced the President that thinning helped forests. * ok ok ok Kk In England, Boxing Day, the. first weekday after Christmas is so named from the practice of giving boxes of food, gifts and money to tenants, tradesmen and servants. x ok ok kk The Irish place lighted candles in their windows on Christmas Eve as a guide and an invitation to all, who like Mary and Joseph, may be seeking shelter. and friendship. brightness lasts all year! Your loyalty is great! BRIAN'S SUPERTEST New Year Beare Tie holiday scason is a time for expressions of appreciation Nay peace. jov and happiness be vour gift during this Holiday Season and follow vou throushout the coming Motors Chevrolet