The Independent-News, Volume 92, Number 30, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 22 December 1966 — Page 16

16

— THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - DEC. 22. 1966

The History Os (hristmas Carols Auha In A Mnnu'M is frequently referred t<« is Luther’s '‘Cradle Hymn ". The-” is more such evidence that a colony of German Lutherans in Pennsylvania was responsible for its origin and wide pi pul arity in this »vUnfn It was supp< «d to have been taken to Engl nd a little later, where it is wr\ pulai today. Its success in A i< rka was ■«> doubt aided by the ass*x'iatioo of the carol with a picture >pi< Un^ Luther md ais lamih *t Christmas in a ' .r< hng book, ,4cr; with th< tit ihat Luther Kas probably < ne of 'he nv t pm tfic d cin ! writer •. Cur’, nt thinl n.: hr it that - n Penn 1“•u . ■ by 1 sss in p r h, h adg hut iial!" to t- >n-' ten into the German sne :h. Lar. uwas comm nl used in the < feur. h servlet s. Thi vi wp int > backed up by the ‘ad that, while it is usai ir.bh in the Coihd States and Endian 1, it is jnu’b'ally unknown in Ge-many, •dad Luther written it, it wi uld 'talnly have be' n used by his fr«<p; through ’he centuries '- ny wit!, his oH v. s< ngs. Although the cards writer is f jJcnown, the m< st p pulai muieat setting seems to come to us J. Il Murray ai >und 18X7. M the many charming manner car. Is and lullabies, this one possibly the most beloved, and ts beautiful flowing melody and appealing pictures in the text eggrst the nx’klng of a cradle. •A is one <>f the purest lullaby arm* gentle in rhythm and quiet tn tone. t Came (|>on The .Midnight tear Co • is one of several carolyau - <>f high rank that is of American origin. The author. Ldmund Hamilton Sears (1810IX76'. was born n the Massa- ■ its Berkshire^ and educated at Ln n College and the HurDivinity school. Ho spent most of his life as pastor at Wayxaj.d, Massachusetts.

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Records indicate that the words of the enrol came to Dr. Scars on a c-M, wintry day in Decemb- t, 1949, as he sat by the fire in his study and watched the snow ( ming d >wn. After completing the stanzas, he sent them to his friend, Dr. M.iriis n, editor of the CHRISTIAN REGISTER in Bost n H< was so impressed by the p -.'m that he used it a! ("hristmas pregrams and pul lished it in his magazine. The tune i.s an nrr. n,”menl by Uzziah C. Bitmap of Ri? hard Store Willis' "Study N •-3 m. Ie in ixzn. Mr. Willis wa- l> in in Bo ton <n February 10. 1819, the . ,n of flu founder of TH! YOUTHS COMPANION, ; I I .11 ar pr; died of the time. Th ng be me wiu« 1. used in .1 h•• t 11;:. .n 1.• -ntinu its m . I .1. It - ,ne o the t : ' n • - l it the fi ,t - '' . 1 n • i ■ • w. tmg ; '■ tum ’ • t"din:iry unr t in the v.al' .'i:, ; wa th” i .di to Fm •' h ■ Slav e law, t » ’> nin ” ,■ 1 I ru 'h to Calib ' !>! • an 1 tli«* ('ivil War I<> uninon th< horizon W-**- . rich a message, it is n ’ ’iip r ing that Dr. Morrison, wh i fir. ‘ printed the p >i-m. could say that n • maltei h< w mediocre he f<lt his Christmas sermon might have been, the singing of his friend's Incomparable hymn, more than made up for any deficiencies in his own message. O Christmas Tree! This beloved traditional carol describes on” of our most charming Christmas customs - the ornamented evergreen tree. The d corated evergreen Is of very early origin, for Virgil (70-19 B c * already tolls us of the magical fairy tree with its nwining toys. At the Roman festivals call' d SATURNALIA, it was customary to have trees laden with decomlions an 1 gUts. During the barbarian invi mns, the G »ths a . .p*. d the cu ’orn of the SATl'ih\'ALIA, including that of the tre. and so brought II into Germane. The tree did n t become a part of the (Tiristian Chdstmas fes-

tival until early in the sixteenth century. A popular tale credits Martin Luther with introducing it into the home. While he was walking home on Christinas Eve over the sn >wcovered ground, he was impressed by the stars shining through the fir trees to the point of being reminded of the first Christmas Eve. So he cut down a .%mall fir tree and decorated it with candle From Luther's home, the custom spread into the homes in Germany, then into the churches and other countries, until now even tropical countries frequently make adaptations to serve ns decoiated trees, using cactus, p dm - an ! other varieties. Tii i.r.’t d’corated Christinas live in Ln Jan 1 was intr.-mud bv Prince Albert, Geiman b.rn huJi nd < Queen Vk ' Tia C »m---mu n" t r<. . throu h n t the I n l' i States, from the N itional ( iinitniis Tree in Washington, D. C, lighted annually by the Prwid.nt on Christmas Eve to the N tional Christmas tree in General Grant National Park, California, where services are h dd on th” Nativity - bring pleasure and in piration to ail "Oh TANNENBAUM" is the most famous carol about the Christmas Tree and is rivaled only by the lovely "Silent Night’ in popular favor in Germany. The melody is an old folk tune of thy Middle Ages. Yule Log Is Old And Honored Tradition The yule log Is an ol* anl honored Christmas tradition. It has almost vanished from our holiday cebbration. The Vikings introduced the yule log to Great Britain They binned it to honor the Go i Thor. The custom was adopted by the En •- Psh ns part of the Christmas ft stivities. Th” very best log that coul 1 bo found was brought into the h m •• and placed in their large f.i”plac”. The fire was lit and the sonants of the house gathered with their master. The comm of Christmas was ctlebrated with inu”h singing and celebrating. Th • custom of those days was to <• lebrate the holiday sea.son twelve full days and the log burned the entire time. At the end of the twelve days anv fragments of the log that remained were carefully colic* fed to be used again the following year to kindle the new Yule log. Tact allows a man to change the subject, but not his mind. Huhnke's Tire Service Walkerton

Decoration Winners Are Selected The Walkerton Chamber of Commerce Christmas Decorating contest has certainly brightened up the season in the Walkerton area and judging is completed for the winners for the year. A little variance from the original categories was made by the judges as several factors were taken into consideration. Originality, effort and quality went into the decisions of the judges as the wanning categories were somewhat changed. For the grand display, the first prize of $lO.(kJ went to Bill Clark, route 3, at Koontz Lake. Four .' cond prizes of $5.00 were seb' ttd in no certain order with L' o Savoie, Clark Street; Newton Williams, corner of Illinois and M nroi Streets; Adam Mann, Harrison Street; and Everett Ream, Shamrock Street, receiving these prizes. Three categories had only one prize awarded in each with Dr. G. R. Hershberger wdnning the outdoor tree, on Shamrock Street; Warner (Hark, the window on Clark Street; and Dick Adams, the Santa Claus, on Walnut Road just north of Road 23. Each of these wdll receive SIO.OO. Frank Atklsson, route 3, Koontz Lake, was awarded the first prize of SIO.OO in the religious division and the Nusbaum Funeral Home, Rixisovelt and Ohio Street, second in religious displays. The Paddle Wheel Restaurant will be the recipient of the Business Award, the roving plaque. They will have this to display for a year wdth their name engraved on th” pennan'-nt award. The judges forth” year would lik t<> have award ’d many more p’lzcs, but Hmlti 1 funis did n t all w. M my outstanding displays were wifiv m 1 and 'he various display* certainly add much to the season. It is hoped that again next year as many more will decorate for the Christmas se is in. Whether a winner or not, the displays are b< nutiful and appreciated by all w’ho see them. the dajwlfled Ads

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Mistletoe Was Once Symbol 01 Death The mistletoe, once a symbol of death, later became to be considered as a magical medicine, is now a universal symbol of love and peace. A mistletoe arrow, according to Norse mythology, that Loki killed Balder, the sun god, after Balder's mother had obtained a promise from all living things, other than the mistletoe, that they would not hann him. Balder was restored to lite and it was ruled by th” gods that the mistletoe would never again be u.s”d to do harm. Ancient Europeans considered th” mistletoe a magical medicine. They carried it about with them f< r health and luck, and believed it a cure for ulcers and epilepsy as well as charm promoting fertility. The custom today of giving a kiss of love or peace b» neath the mistletoe, although a relatively modern one. is derived from the fact that down through the centuries, the mistletoe has been recognized throughout the whole world as a symbol of lasting peace. I . F. FO.HTKR CTiIW IN NORTH LIBERTY HATI KHAT The 1966 United Fund Poster Child, LeAJin Tor ok, will be in North Liberty Saturday to help Santa Claus with treats fur the children when he arrives at the Fire Station Saturday at 1 30 for his annual visit. This visit is made possible through the North Liberty Fire Department, Lions Club and Wells Union. DIXIE WALKER DANCE (M B A nice crow’d turned nut Friday night for our Christmas dance. Th” gvm was all decked out in ("hristmas trimmings and the tables were very prettv for our pot luck after the dance. A gift grab bag was entoyed by nil. Many of the peopl” taking the n< w lessons came to the dnnro and all seemed to have a very good time. The New Year's Eve dance will be from 9 to 12 o'clock.