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6 -- PORT PURRY STAR -- CHRISTMAS EDITION 1974 01d Pagan Traditions SGI Honor 12h Night Twelfth Night is the pp ular English name for the Feast of the Epiphany, which falls.on January 6, just 12 days after Christ- mas: The yord epiphany comes from a Greek word meaning "appearance," us- ually used in reference to the, rance .of a deity +if visible form. The earliest reference to. the festival, according to the editors of the Encyclo- pedia Americana, was in the later years of the 2nd Cen- tury, when Clement of Alex- andria, in Egypt, spoke of certain Christians observ- ing the 6th of January in memory of the baptism of Jesus. The actual date seems to have been chosen in order to rival some of the popular pagan festivals of that day. By the beginning of the 4th century, orthodox Christians in the East were observing the festival as a triple celebration. It became an all-inclusive feast, hon- oring the birth and baptism of Christ, and His first mir- acle at Cana of Galilee. Arrival of the Magi In the West, however, the particular commemoration assigned to Epiphany was the visit of the Magi. Dur- ing the Middle Ages, the Epiphany festival was wide- ly observed by the perform- ance of miracle plays in the churches about the Three Kings or Magi. Particularly in England, the day was marked by dramatic pro- 'ductions, though not neces- sarily religious ones, and this custom survived into the Elizabethan period. Shakespeare took the popu- lar name of Twelfth Night for his play of that title, which was written to be performed on that date. Since Epiphany concludes the Yuletide festivities, and its date coincides with many ancient pagan cus- toms, it was often celebrat- ed with strange ceremonies in which those customs min- gled with Christian rites. Some of these old ceremo- nies still exist in parts of Europe, where fixed rituals may have origins, often with an overlay of magic, that are lost in the past. CHRISTMAS May a peaceful and cheery Yule be yours. Your loyalty is greatly appreciated. ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION BRANCH 419 - -- PORT PERRY Merry Christmas . to All! Fr Be happy and full of good cheer now and throughout the holiday season. HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all our customers and friends NONQUON TRAVEL SERVICE CORNER OF 7A Hwy. AND WATER STREET Up-Helly-Aa Is Norse Still celebrated in the Shetland Islands is an old Viking ceremony known as "Up-Helly-Aa." The name means "end of the holiday," indicating that the event comes some time after Christmas, actually at the end of January, The ceremony itself is very dramatic, since it takes Flac at night, by torch- ight. Men in the old wild Vv Ring. costumes, complete with high horned helmets, tow a huge 30-foot Norse longboat through the town, in a torchlight procession... then the boat is set ablaze on the beach. Haxey Hood Game Haxey is a place in Lin- colnshire, where they still play this famous old hood game, on January 6. Its orl- gins hark back to pagédn times, and the "hood" it- self is thought to represent the head of a bull, In the game, 13 men take part, one called the "fool," another the "lord," and the eleven others, "boggins." A Coptic Customs Ethiopia-is a land which has been Christian for some 1600 years. The Ethiopian Orthodox Coptic Church, which has much in common with other Eastern Rite churches, such as the Greek and the Russian, is the es- tablished church of the na- tion. In its interesting and unusual customs, which are a blend of Christian, Heb- raic, and pagan traditions, there are many unusual rites and ceremonies, cen- tering on the important Church festivals of Christ-. mas and Epiphany. Today, in Ethiopia, cus- toms of the Western cele- bration of Christmas are beginning to find popular- ity, so that Santa Claus is becoming a familiar figure, Christmas trees are being set up and decorated, and gifts are being exchanged. All this is done, however, according to the dates of the- old Julian calendar, .which is the one followed in Ethiopia, so that they celebrate Christmas on January Tth. _ In this connection, it is re know that the year in Ethiopia consists of 13 months, starting on Sep- tember 11, when spring be- gins. There are 12 months of 30 days each, plus a short month of 5 days, known as Pagumen. This comes just before the New Year, . However westernized the Ethiopian Christmas may become, the people are not likely to change their ob- i Ser Jolly Santa Claus and his merry elves are bringing our drum banging...horn blowing greeting your way. Rejoice and be happy. With our fond gratitude . . . Port Perry Chrysler pes Hoping Christmas brightness lasts all year! Your loyalty is great! BRIAN'S SUPERTEST two-team scrimmage takes place, the object being for each man to succeed in lacing a folded canvas ood into a particular goal, one after the other. The very last hood, the 13th, called "The Haxey," has to" be fought towards the final goal -- an inn where there are drinks for all. Wassailing the Trees This unusual torchlight ceremony still is observed in ¢ertain parts of England .on January 17, which is the date of "old 12th Night." It's another survival from very ancient times, when prayers were made to the god of trees and fruit. A glass of cider is thrown om the trunk of an old apple tree, while toast soaked in . cider is fastened to the tree branches. Then guns are fired through the branches, - while the old invocation, or prayer to the tree, is sung. Once the evil spirits have been frightened away by the guns, says the old tra- -dition, one can settle down to the business of drinking cider --a real "wassail." Rulein Ethiopia servance of important reli- gious festivals. In the month of January, known as Tirr, the Coptic Church observes 4 festivals -- the first being Christmas, but even more important is Epiphany, or Timket. 'This has, as its ' main feature, the blessing of water and the sprinkling of it on the assembled fatth. ful'-- a re-enactment of Christ's baptism by John the gi On the previous day, all is made ready. Bells ring, trumpets blow, and drums roll as the priests carry the sacred "Tabot" out from the church to a Sheciy) carpeted tent, where it remains overnight until time for the priests to bring it forth for the ceremony. The "Tabot" is the most sacred object in the church, It represents the Ark of the - Covenant, which, according "to tradition, was brought to Ethiopia from Jerusalem by Menelik, son of King Splo- mon and the Queen of She- ba. The Tabot is really a portable altar holding the sacred vessels for celebrat- ing the Eucharist, and is al- ways carried concealed un- der crimson cloths, on the heads of the priests. Sending Greetings The custom of exchanging greetings at holiday time is older than Christmas. The custom of the Christmas greeting card, however, is a relatively 'new one. Christmas cards originat- ed about 125 years ago, in England. Despite this re- cent start, printed greetings quickly caught the public fancy and are today one of the most popular forms of Christmas holiday traditions. ERT Val moraine I \ JNA SiN We're delivering our season's greetings right to your door. The merriest Christmas from our house to yours. For your loyal, friendly patronage, our gratitude. HYGRADE FUELS LTD. Agent: Arvice Fisher FUEL OIL Peace on Earth On the eve of our Savior's birthday we wish you inner peace . . .-true joy ... and happiness to all our friends. "THE STULEN'S PORT PERRY GREETINGS Santa's on his way with a sleighful of merry wishes for you, plus a hearty "Thank you" from us, tool JOHN RIEGER REAL ESTATE Port Perry representative -- Marion Hopkins aan una WA Sh a # APA OA Rl AK