The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

6 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, December 1, 1992 "SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE™ History and legends of the Christmas tree Visit the festive Santa Claus Parade in the Miniature Christmas Village. A Christmas Yradifion GOSIVIL orllAMIS Sat. Nov. 14 to Jan. 3/93 10 am to 10 pm Daily 1-800-461-1821 300 Taunton Rd. W., Whitby ) 1) ie, EEE YT By the Christmas Tree Growers Association of Ontario, Inc. Each year three million Cana- dian families bring a natural Christmas tree into their homes to become the warm and glow- ing ceptre of their Christmas celebration. The tradition en- dures year after year, but how diditget started? Historians have traced count- less roots that grew into our present day custom of usin ga Christmas tree: Legends tell of the decorated tree in winter cel- ebrations long before there was a Christmas. Egyptians brought palm branches into their homes in late December as a symbol of growing things. Romans trimmed trees with trinkets and topped them with an image of their sun god to celebrate Sa- turnalia. Druid sorcerers hung golden apples and lit candles on oak trees to celebrate the winter solstice. In the middle ages, the feast of Adam and Eve was held on December 24. A fir tree hung with red apples called the Para- dise tree was its symbol. Itis generally agreed, howev. er, that the use of an ever tree as part of the Christian Christmas celebration started Brooklin Business A Sssociation Wishes You A Signs PE pc Bulletin Graphics, Billboards, Custom Signs, Business Cards, Magnetic Signs, Fax. Display Advertising Specialists Since 1964 76 Baldwin St., Brooklin 655-4434 or Fax 655-3715 Flowers by Dini T1 1 T 44 T ~~ Pe i BA 3 ; ) MNN Sa AEH ACC : et ob Sam : + x rr -- Flowers & Gifts 51A Baldwin St. (Hwy. 12) Brooklin 655-3963 Only A Phone Call Away "We Deliver" Goods -- ty ot oe I o~ & ~~ Barb's Brooklin Deli & Baked Ma . Py oy Cnday Season 10 min. rom the 401 on Brock St N. Home of Cora's Gourmet Butter Tarts & the Old Bakery Craft Gallery 655-4951 Town Centre Brooklin You've Got A Friend at [Jo D)o/2\ Brookiin IDA Pharmacy Brooklin Open Moni 9-7, Sat 9-5 655-3301 Marigold Travel 655-5400 51 Baldwin St., Brooklin Caroline Martinolich, Manager 9 Campbell St., Brooklin 655-3205 S. Stuart Antiques Brooklin (416) 655 - 3158 Wilson Auto Centre Tune-ups * Snowplowing * Towing ner teint sly oe | 72 Baldwin St., Brooklin | 655-4581 WBrooklin Will age Shoppe JFine Xangss: (lachiers 57 'Baldwin St., Brooklin 655-3474 Movies make great gifts! 76 Baldwin St., Brooklin 655-4229 Come experience shopping in a relaxed atmosphere - comparable prices with a personal touch and home town country charm. Unique Christmas promotions in individual shops. 400 years ago in Germany and spread to most of northern Eu- rope by the 19th Century. e Christmas tree custom was first introduced in Canada in 1781in Sorel, Quebec, by Bar- on Friederick von Riedesel. The Baron, who brought the custom from his native Germany, cut down a balsam fir from the dense forest surrounding his home and decorated it with white candles. A few years later, in the 1790s, the custom spread to On- tario. After the War of Indepen- dence in the United States, many German-speaking set- tlers, including Mennonites, re- mained loyal to King George be- cause of his German connections. They headed to Canada, bringing the Christ- mas tree custom with them to their settlements in Kitchener. Toronto was the next to adopt the custom when in the late 1790s a group of Lutherans, Pennsylvania "Deutsch" and Mennonites helped found the communities of Markham, Uni- onville and Stouffville and, of course, made the Christmas tree the focus of their Yuletide celebrations. For many Canadian families, . that celebration now extends beyond the home to the tree farm where pny Pa and cutting their own tree has be come a fun-filled tradition. Warmed by the anticipation of the days ahead, they enjoy the Process of searching the woods or that perfect tree amid the music, festivities and good cheer of the tree farmer. The enduring evergreen is a symbol which embraces all mankind. It remains a firmly es- tablished part of our holiday customs, bi not only our senses of sight, touch and smell, but also our sense of tradition ond the spirit of Christmas ast. Music and books are still popular Christmas gifts Giving the gift of literature is still a popular trend at Christ- mas time. Many Colours in Port Perry is seeing high sales of the Polar Express, which is a book and tape combination. Prancer is another popular choice. Other older Christmas books such as The Nutcracker, The Night Before Christmas, Yes Virginia There Is A Santa Claus and The Huron Carol are still popular. A new title which has been selling out is The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. Not a Christmas tale, but selling fast. Of course Toronto Blue Jays World Series books are also sell- ingout fast. Charles Dickens' A Christ- iad Carol and cookbooks are ar this time of year at popul Galore, as well as chil- | dren's books such as Calvin and Hobbes and Dr. Suess. As for music Irwin Smith says the old standbys such as Bing Crosby do not sell like they used to at Christmas time. Reta McNeil was popular last Christmas 'and a new Garth Brooks release is expected to be a big seller this year. He said country music is the biggest seller at Christmas time. Singers such as Willie Nelson, nny Rogers, Anne Murray and Lee Greenwood put out Christmas albums and they are the ones that sell.