The Independent-News, Volume 97, Number 31, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 17 December 1970 — Page 6

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— THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS — DECEMBER 17, 1970

Uule totems JQate IBatk to Jfourtb Century Metalling plan’s <OOOh J3ccbs tchy do children hang up a stocking? * The first St. Nick was & real person, Nicholas, a bishop in Asia Minor in the Fourtli Century. I According to legend the bishop heard of a poor man who was about to sell his 3 daughters into slavery because he could not provide a dowry for them; this was Dot only customary in those days, but obligatory, to avoid disgrace. St. Nicholas saved them by gifts of gold. Each time, he threw the gift into the house, in order not "to be xecoguized. . f l- i —l—i — * —L. * SMW.tMCb One version tells it that ho threw the gold down tho chimney, where it fell into a stocking hung there to dry, * And so to this day children bang up their stockings for gifts from this real Saint, I A A 4k tchy arc mince pics and plum pudding traditional as desserts? * . Mince pic has been traditional for as long as history records. It is usually full of Spices and fruits, representing the exotic treasures of the East, the home of theWise Men. Originally it was made in a loaf shape, to simulate the manger, ’’ Plum pudding, to the contrary’, signifies the humbler virtues. legend has it that in the early (lays of England a king and his men were lost in the forest on Christmas Eve. Not having provided for tills delay in their journey, the cook threw everything be liad to make one dish for all , , . thus the plum puddingl Were just guessing, but we are sure plums liavo had some good reason to bo part of the name.

!*\ i a i A I » /’ > t ’ •*< ... I / ; ,/ XmK , ..... / ■- * 'if ■F' rfOw ■ 4 /A I * ys Till VLLA-kJ ।J f SfIUWMk V Mr r^T . umK AI r~ I * A ’"xc ■ z WFTJiI a FEirinwiff™ W MilwlP 9rß > JEra r■■ - J . | * liW ; ! ' wJ J’ i " MR X 3-^ II THE MITIOI OF CHRISTMAS...

Christmas time! That man must be a misanthrope in.deed, in whose breast something like a jovial feeling is not aroused — in whoso mind some pleasant associations are not awakened —by the recurrence of Christmas. There are people who will tell you that Christmas is not to them what it should be... Never heed such dismal reminiscences. • • Dwell not upon the past. • Reflect upon your present blessings —of which every* man has many — not on vour past misfortunes, of which all men have some. Fill your glass again, with a merry’ face and contented heart. Our life on it, but your Christmas shall be merry, and your new year a happy oncl Holiday Moon A waxing moon Is more favorable at Christmas than a waning one, according to an old Scottish folk belief*

Christmas, 1608 *\Vind, raine, frost, and snowc caused us to keepo Christmas amongst the Savages, where wee were never more merrie, nor fedde on more nlcntic of good oysters, fish, flesh, wild foule, and good bread, nor never had better fires in England . . • So John Smith wrote of the few days he and his men spent with the natives at tho end of December 160cS when he was seeking provisions of the Indian chief, Powhatan. “Make a joyful noise un* to the Lord, all ye lands.”

i Some say that ever ’gainst that season comes, n X Wherein our Saviour s birth is celebrated. jj n The bird of dawning singeth all night long; u (( And then, they say, no spirit can walk abroad; z V The nights are wholesome; thep no planets strike, n / No fairy takes, no witch hath power to charm; w ( So hallow'd and gracious is the time. \ fl Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 1

Light Ye Candles Then be yc glad, good people. This night of ad the year, And light yc up your candles, For His star it shineth clear; — Old English carol

Dickens Story: Mr. Pickwick's Christmas... by Ciiaiu.es Dickens It was a very pleasant thing to see Mr. Pickwick in the centre of the group, now pulled this way, and then that, and first kissed on tho chin and then on the nose, and then on the spectacles, and to hear the peals of laughter which were raised on every side; but it was a still more pleasant tiling to seo Mr. Pickwick blinded shortly afterwards with a silk-handkerchief, falling up against the wall, and scrambling into comers, and going through all the mysteries of blindman’s buff, with the utmost relish for the game, until at last he caught one of the poor relations; and then had to evade the blind-man himself, which he did with a nimbleness and agility that elicited the admiration and applause of all beholders. 'Wk ' j \/ X yr XJHLJ * \ jKJ Ckw.inc.* Tho poor relations caught Just the people whom they thought would like it; and when the game flagged, got caught themselves. When they were all tired of blindman’s buff, there was a great game of snap-dragon, and when fingers enough were burned with that, and the raisins gone, they sat down by the huge fire of blazing logs to a substantial supper, and a mighty bowl of wassail, something smaller than an ordinary wash-house copper, in which the hot apples were hissing and bubbling with a rich look, and a jolly sound, that were perfectly irresistible . . . Up flew tho bright sparks in mvriads as the logs were stirred, and the deep red blaze sent forth a rich glow, that penetrated into the furthest corner of room, and cast its cheerful tint on every face.