Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 50, Number 302, Decatur, Adams County, 23 December 1952 — Page 13

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 196 * .

Mistletoe Bestows Good Fortune

VERY few people don’t know what a sprig of mistletoe means at Christmas time—especially when there’s a pretty girl standing beneath it! But fbw people realize that this J very pleasant custom has its root in age-old superstitions. The lore of primitive days contains many references to mistletoe. According to an ancient Norse legend, | the sun god | was slain by an arrow fashioned from the mistletoe plant. He was resurrected by his .mother’s tears, which falling upon the plant, were crystallized into pearly berries. Because of this mag* teal healing, it was ordained that mistletoe should grow neither on heaven nor earth, but suspended between. That is the reason, runs the that mistletoe is found

■SKa May the world rejoice again, in Teace on Earth Good-Wilt to Men. T | HALTERMAN’S ■—■•l <i' . i..;^ , i I 'Il'S ! tjk cXol&ag WlsM€s '£l a \ " '^3^To all our friends we wish ! / r- good cheer, not only for Christmas, but for all of ( ’ ■vee' eom ’ n ® New Year. HABEGGER ,- HARDWARE 1: . ; ,_J

Wniimin m<i z 1 1~ h‘ a m ,1, \ vfg* i, : •,,niA — , \ i V; , ( ; i .. s \ ■ ■ rm*[■■■"»"'. !j>' ,!jb i 1 * »7! i !Wmi!a > !uauamffißMawwioa!« i ' i igft.i! s^aJiiggwi'. ■ wynn Bv \ I T «■ \b/ ■< a.aa.a. a. \ W iliiiHl \ I Christinas \W Im ' i Bmk - \ ® we haven t had a chance to wish you ' | I V|\ a Meny Christmas personally, during the; |L\ past few days, may we now say to each \ IIBBSf an< s eve, T one of our friends and patrons. I IHPRF., & J X i t - ■ . y > j jjl 3mA V K 0 &appp Cfjristmas anb 3Fopoug /hto gear* i »\ Us BE& \ i kOB IB > • ' • i. /. aW ,■ I / IWv* KELLY DRY CLEANERS < I •. , ; q ■ j, >’" ' r ' ■ ■ '.- ‘ .". ' J ■'■' ' 1 '■ ' : " ! - |f • • - -.'■ ..

growing on trees. Mistletoe was of special significance to the Druids, ancient pagan priests of England, who cut it off trees with a golden knife used only for that purpose. They believed it possessed wonderful powers of healing and acted as a protection from witchcraft. During the December religious rites, it was Bestowed upon individuals as a special mark of honor. Because of its HUWp»ed sahrtary properties, mistletoe was often hung over the doors of primitive housei as a sign of good-wffl. Beßef hi magic has disappeared, but this custom still remains. And a kiss under the mistletoe still has beneficent effects. Try it and see for yourself! -

w%3a • •pros MAY BE the post office’s • biggest Christmas. The postmaster general estimates that more Christmas mail — packages and cards—will be handled in 1952 than to any previous year. With this in mind, the post office department has hired extra employees and arranged for use of extra trucks for the holiday period. { The post office is Santa Claus* good right arm. It delivers gifts and i greetings throughout the world, and it will do its best to get them there by December 25—if they are mailed on time. Much Christmas mall going overseas is handled in cooperation with the postal systems ot other nations. But in the United States and its possessions, in U.S.-trusteed islands in the Pacific and among U.S. servicemen hi all paris of the world, delivery of holiday greetings is strictly a United States affair. The army takes over, through its tony post office, for troops serving outside the United States, be they in Germany, | Korea, or somewhere on the way. The navy handles mail for its men on ships at sea and at naval stations anywhere on the globe. Best known special Christmas business by any post is that of I Santa Claus, Indiana. Y (l HOLY GLASS . . . This stained window Is in the church of Oberndorf!, Germany, where the beloved Christmas carol, “Silent Night, Holy Night,** was first sung. ' ~ “ _ Christmas Gifts Are Not Always \ i Brought by Santa In America it is always Santa Claus, dashing fr O m rooftop \to rooftop in his sleigh, that brings Christmas gifts to the children. But it is not always Santa who brings the gifts to children in other lands.' In Holland ft is St. Nicholas, dressed in bishop’s robes of black, wearing a k mitre and carrying the Crozier. And he arrives on a white horse. English children look for a Santa ! Claus who closely resembles our -—- I - ■ * ■■' —

c <- ; . DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT, DECATUR, INDIANA

{-■ ffiaHMK— By Lorna Beene NEWY WISiiED bis worn ftioes wouldn’t make so much noise on the cobblestoned alley. In the darkI nebs, he saw the discarded Christmas Jtee standing tall beside a trash barrel and even the rank odors of the alley couldn’t drown out the faint fragrance of pine needles. \ Newy shivered, taking his harids from the dubious protection of his pockets to pull his one mitten on. The tree, his tree! (Just as he hefted it,, he heard a shout.) Someone was coming down path that led from the big house to the alley. For an eleven-year-old Newy was fast, but the shout came again ahd then hard, pounding steps. Then, abruptly, he stopped as a large hand grasped his shoulder, The grip on Newy’s thin shoulder tightened as a loud voice demanded, "Where’re you going yHth our tree?’’ Newy twisted around to face a husky boy in a letterman’s sweater. “You threw it out.” . ! “Does that mean you can take it? You alley kids start young.’’ **lt wasn’t stealing,” angrily, Nevry heard his voice shake. "Tomorrow the trash man would have got it.” The light from a neon sign spot-, lighted them. "You are young.” the boy said, letting him go. ‘•Thirteen,’’ Newy spoke quickly. “Don’t lie,” the older boy count-; ered sharply. “Look, this is my tree . . .’! “AH right, so I’m eleven and 11 know it’s your tree.” h “But today’s the third of Jan-/ uary,” the boy said, in a friendlier voice. "What do you want an old dead tree for anyway?’? Newy wanted to say “You couldn’t understand,” but then he looked at the tree, still green and fragrant even- if the needles were shattering, and spoke carefully. "We • haven’t had Christmas at our house yet and . . . and we need a tree.” “That’s tough,” the boy said, . "how come?” “Reasons.” " I s “Tell me why or I won’t give you this tree.” WTEWY let the tree go, watched it rock back and forth on its standard, and, thinking of his mother, hardened his voice. “Reason we didn’t have a tree is we couldn’t afford it. No job for my dad, no dough. And the reason We didn’t have any Christmas sooner w£s because of my mother. She was in the hospital having a baby. Then n MB * ■■ * Jost as he belted it, he heard a shout. Someone was coining >down the path. they let my mother come home, right' before New Year’s, ’cause there wasn’t anybody to keep care of the little kids ’cept me when my dad was job hunting,” “Tell me the rest,’’ the boy said, “please.” “Not much to tell. Only the hospital kept the baby ’cause it’s premature and they aren’t sure it’s going to live. . But the little kids—there’s five of them—we promised them Christmas and we’re gonna have it. I was going to take this tree home for a starter. Me and my dad have been making presents, but, my gosh, you gotta have a tree! Even they know that.” The boy was quiet a long time. Then, “YoUr brothers and sisters Still believe in Santa Claus?” “Oh, sure. I gave them a story about Santa Claus waiting until my piother got home to come to our house. They’re beginning to wonder though. “Listen,” the boy’s voice was eager, “let me be Santa, will you? We have a suit I could Wear with some pillows. How about it?’’ Nevvy felt the boy’s enthusiasm. “Sure,” he answered, off-handedly, “If you want to.” Inside he was thinking how thrilled the kids would be. “That’ll be keen,” the boy said. “Are you sure you don’t mind?” Newy knew then that the boy really wanted to do it. "Heck, no,” he said sincerely, “they’ll love it. Look, I’ll give you the address and you come down in an hour—l’ll leave the toys outdoors for your pack. Oh, and I’ll have the window --the front one—open for you. It’ll take me awhile to get the tree up.” “Swell," the boy sounded excited. “Merry Christmas,” Newy called after him and picked ’ their Christmas tree up, not caring bow mueh noise his shoes made as he ran down the alley. ' i i''' . I ■ v

J Why You Hang .< Holly at Yuletide < CREDIT THE PAGAN Druids for inspiring one of the nice Christmas customs—decorating With holly. The traditional holly for the holidays is widely believed to have had ts origin in thp Druid practice of iringing holly Sprigs' indoors. The Druids woodland spirits lived in the lolly. * | Indoors, holly gave the spirits a bice warm place in winter. Besides, the lush green holly and the contrast of its red berries provided beauty that could be revered by men ’when the sacred oaks were shorn of their foliage. i The early Christian church frown-, ed on sueh pagan custobns and tried to stamp them out. In due time however, it was felt that some of the customs could be adapted to the new Christmas conception. Some beautiful legends associate the holly with Christ. In fact, it is often called the Christ thorn. One legend depicts the leaf spines as the crown of thorns; oie red berries as the sins of the world and the blood of Christ. Another credits holly with first.springing up from the footsteps trf Christ. The plant is said to remain green all winter as a reward tor once hiding Christ ffom his pur suers. The impact of the holly on thr Christmas celebration is evidence in the traditional holiday colors green and red. The Druids weren’ the only people of old who thoug the holly was , something specie Pliny, the great Roman historia nsisted ho’Vy blossoms caus~d o .freeze. Also, that holly thrown tny wild beast would mhke it < . iown tamely next tri th? brancn i These letjends, forgotten by m?" •leople.- are sr’.d tn-'be the' rpai. .•e decorate w»ih holly.' i_ \ ,

_ —M" -.', 1 ■ ’ • : *..« . , - ' • ; . > • '\ . .' • • ■ ' ■ • ■ . ■ * ’ ' ■ ' .."■■■ 3fflEsßlSwP ■■' - j~ShK3BMgtaorS4-_ Zis-*' 41S ‘i / A wWm>w-. ;. x \ : «iOU > w& w? jMt. jmhH| Itega “*■” x< ijJHßKr fIB’WBW > : • >«>. 1 < ‘ 14' J r4r W> c 3BSI S«®-i .■ - /jflrSK <* jmS. ' J? CJr , . a f '>‘ C i , .. >.* JS x * . .' SSfeOi 7 » ' -J->' : - s&n extending our sincerest greetings to i our friends at this time we find an ever deeper meaning in the spirit of Christmas. - For it is the furthering of friendship and brotherhood with others that brings to us the true joy of living.•• V • !® ■ I ■ ■ I ’ ■ J’ ~ A Merr>* Christmas and a Happy New Year to all. - ■■ i * . ■ , ; ■■ ■ ■ . /■■ - <j\■■’ •• V; L / .' y; ' .pl' ; - ■ . \ •’. ' ■ ■ -. \ ■ .•. . ■! ■ BEAVERS OIL SERVU E < ' \' " ■ ■ ' ' '■ '■ . •

- - —' —- JVecause Christmas time is reserved for very special greetings—we want to take this opportunity to thank our many patrons for their continued friendship and good-wi11... and add, too, in a great big measure— k S h our sincere wishes that the spirit of the season may remain a lasting joy for you and yours throughout the coming New Year. ■ I ■ , . \ X ii > CAL E - I’ETERSO* l ’ ETERSO * ■ CLOTHIER i W ’i w ' I —

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