The Independent-News, Volume 98, Number 29, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 23 December 1971 — Page 4

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—- THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS — DECEMBER 23, 1971

ENGAGED The egagement of their daugh. ter. Terry Lynn, to John P. Zl oril, js announced by Mr. and Mrs. Lawrece Stull. 701 Ohio St., Walkerton. Mr. and Mrs. Janies Zboril. 9157 Fountainbleau Terrace. Cincinnati Ohio, are the parents of the prospective bride, groom. A gradual of John Glenn High school and Voeue School of Beau, ty Culture, the bride elect is employed by Dade’s B auty Shop in Walkerton. Mr. Zboril i< employed by Wm. Guentter and Son Construction Company in Cine nnati. No date his been set for the wedding. CHAMBER DECOR \TION CONTEST WINNERS J ARE (HOSEN The Walkerton Ch mil r of Commerce’s Christmas Decoration congest winners were determined December 18 and 19 from the many beautifully decorated homes in and around Walkerton. Judges f° r the contest were Mr. Steven Smith and Mi. Glen Tobias. John Glenn and Urey Art Instructors. The winners by categories

CIFT-GiVING AROUND THE. WORLD •t • j.. ' . \ ' f, S'lhill 1 Mr z if ^/ii^ I -I F'l I

Gift-giving is as univerSa! as breathing and as old as the first cave party. Lovers, in-laws and business associ ates have ben receiv in g ’ tokens la.ge and small down the cemu .i s and around the globe. The exchange of presents was one of the earliest methods of <b>ing buone-s. Friendlier and more flexible than sale or barter, gift giving eliminated cr ss dickering between armor-maker and hotcross bun baker, encou'aging tach to lie g< m rous. ?.ztccs Il y SA ■ I and n . i ■ Gw. , , all lived by the ;H Is JHA a .(J and got. To ll.i daV, the M Ori tribe ,n < a oi . Zi ,i i d allow no bargaining to mar their genteel swaps. Some South Sea Islanders trade I y flinging birds and cloth at each other’s feet, meanwhile Chanting apologies for the

were: _ £ RELIGIOUS: First Zenon J. Muchowicz. 202 Clark Blvd., and Second — Adam Mann. 1135 Harrison St. TREES: Fir-t — David McKesson, 327 H ckory. and second - - Harold Schwcdcr, 904 Virginia St, SANTA CLAUS: First Del lace Kerr. U. S. 6 East, route 1 second Wilbur Mulbdt. Koontz Lake. WINDOWS: First John Wathen 601 Wa-hington St., second James. H. Payton. 10-1 Maine St. GENERAL: First — Harold Lute, route 1, box 2228, second — Bill Rhodes, route 2. First pl ice winners will receive a SIO.OO ci-h prize and second place w.nner- will receive a $5.00 cash prize, compliments of the Walkerton Chamber of Commerce. who wishes ail a very’ Merry Christmas.

|BOWS|

Monday Night Men’s Final First Half Lemke’s Restaurant 464 25’2 AJBC Coaches 43 29 Kaser’s Auction Serv. 42 30 Community Grocery 414 304 Custom Body Shop 38 34 Reek’s Plbg. & Htg. 37 35 Big C Lumber 33 39 Walkerton Skelgas 30 42 Bob’s Body Shop 29 43 Lambie’s Restaurant 20 52 Tam high series and game: Rizek’s Plumbing & Heating 2608. 965; Bob’s Body Shop 915. Individual high series & game: Mike Kochancnvski 584, 225. Tue-day Night Mm'n Walkerton Ford Sales 44 24 Porky’s Construction 38 30 Jim’s Service 87 31 Star Case 37 31 Frank's Campers 354 324 Waba h Tavern 354 324 Wolfram Insurance 34 4 334

paltry “Present.’’ Even love sometimes succumbs to this “trade and aid’’ method of exchanging gifts. In the Trobriand Islands, a bridegroom can return his bride and get his coconuts back if her family hasn't contributed enough puddings and hand woven napkins. Americans today, at any time of the year, give a w ide variety of gilts from appliances to apparel, from bowling balls to beauty equipment. One particularly popular gift item this year has been the new Lady firming^ ton™ Steam Hollers'^ which free the beauty-con-scious woman from uncomfortable overnight curlers. They give hair professional cuds m just five minutes. Th<-r< magic in the sir im — . i:t 1 di nic gy h« al that Ir. i । i.is limp ti e• • s into >1 ingy I- hour curls. Ymi may 1 w to give a I’ttle th .ght to 11 e periect j . rut, but if you limk you have gift giving piobi-ms, contemplate the plight us il» Fiji I lander: during a certain M ason of the year, he s forbidden to refuse Lu j.ligubwrs anything.

Legion Post 365 30 4 374 La Porte County Imp. 26 42 Mill Creek Sales 20 48 T<ani high series and gnane: Wolfram Insurance 2852; Walkerton Ford Sales 982. Individual high series & game: W, Harbaugh 550; J. Clark 213. □ l? CAR D S O F THA NK S Q O For the kindly visits, cards and flowers after surgery and convalescing at home, I thank my friends and neighbors. Loretta Kaercher Salvation Army Drive Successful Walkerton’s Salvation Army dr ve for the year concluded on Saturday with a collection of $175.00 to bring the three day total to $510.34. This will tie used locally, most of it during ■ Z HAPRY ■ Z HOLIDAY ■ B "Your Auction er" a a ■ Aichie Schultz “ ® Route 2 a ■ Pymouth. Indiana B Phone 784 2745 ■ .■■■■■■■■■■l?

WHERE DID YOU GET THAT CHRISTMAS I

Ever wonder, as you deck the branches of that prize pine or spruce, who trimmed the first Christmas tree? Or when folks first “discovered” the existence of Santa Claus? Or who sang the first Christmas carol? Hung up the first Christmas stocking? Chose a strategic spot for the first holiday mistletoe? First distilled that classic wassail bowl ingredient, George Dickel Tennessee sour mash whisky? Some Christmas customs are surprisingly recent, while others date back even beyond the earliest Christians. But , the Yuletide we’ know—• ■ complete with gifts under the tree, friends calling to admire decorations, and family reunions—has existed only for the past 200 years. To our ancestors who celebrated “Christes Masse” (The Mass of Christ) several centuries ago, Christmas was a time of solemn rejoicing and deep religious dedication, with little of the modern gaiety. The New England Puritans actually forbade joyous Yuletide demonstrations. New Englanders and other Americans eventually followed the lead of New York’s Dutch settlers and succumbed to the charm of j ‘‘San N icolaas’‘—better known as Saint Nick or Santa Claus. But the jolly gent had ! a flourishing career long j before he reached our shores. ; More than 1,600 years ago there was a St. Nicholas—a Turkish bishop whose countless works of charity made him a legend in his own lifetime. Martyred in 342 A.D., he became the patron saint of children and of three nations: Greece, Holland and Belgium. People pictured him on a white horse ascribed to by old Turkish tradition. But his fame spread to Scandinavia, whose citizens felt more at home with a Saint Nick who rode a reindeer-drawn sleigh. They also gave him his red suit, a hand me-down from the ; aci( it Norse god, Thor. As for the rosy cheeks, white beard and jolly-jelly belly, they come from the famous poem “'Die Night Before Christmas,” whose author, Dr. Clement Moore, modeled Santa after an old Dutch gentleman he had once met. About those Christmas I stockings: one legend says | that the original St. Nicholas, I taking pity pn a man too

this holiday season. The committee would like to thank ail who donated and especially the members of Lions

SOME FUN! rn~iWw! HEMS / H I DON’T KNOW WHICH ONE I LIKE BEST!"

■ I’ H — i ‘OB

poor to provide a dowry for his daughters, dropped gold pieces into a stocking hung up by the fire to dry. Actually, the custom of hanging up Christmas stocking probably originated in Germany. What do the world’s children find in the stockings, or shoes left out for Santa? In Italy, good children find gifts in their shoes, but the naughty ones discover only ashes. The German Santa enters with candy and cookies for the good youngsters, an empty potato sack for the bad ones. America’s “bad ‘uns” may discover coal in their stockings, but others find gifts ranging from toy guns to harmonicas. No matter how many gifts under the tree, the tree itself is still the center of attraction in most homes—a place of honor which is solidly rooted in history. Thousands of years before Christ’s birth, evergreen was revered as a symbol of long life and immortality. German tribesmen brought fir trees into their homes to please the god -like “spirits” they thought to inhabit the trees. When these pagans were converted to Christianity, they transferred their feelings for the evergreen to the new religion. The first person to decorate a Christmas tree may have been Martin Luther. Walking home one night shortly before Christmas, he felt a strong tie between the starry night and the love of God. At home, he placed candles on a little evergreen tree to help

Club American Legion, Cham l of Commerce and Jaycees wi participated in the bell ringii Without you this isn’t possible

STOM?

his children experience the same wonder of God. The custom grew and spread through Northern Europe, then to America. The mistletoe has an equally ancient background: primitive Britons called it “all heal” and ascribed to it the magic power to heal disease, neutralize poisons, protect against witchcraft, and bestow fertility on humans and animals. If a young couple sealed their betrothal with a kiss under the mistletoe, they would have good luck for the rest of their lives. One recent Christmas custom in the United States is sitting around the living room with family and friends and partaking of good, relaxing conversation accompanied by fine liquor such as George Dickel Tennessee sour mash whisky, first distilled by Dickel himself in the 19th century, which often helps provide the ultimate in conviviality. Next time you hear “Deck the halls with boughs of holly” remember the origin of Christmas carols. The word “carol” means to “ dance in a ring,” and the man who popularized the practice was the beloved St. Francis of Assisi. To bring the Christmas me<sage vividly and directly to his villagers, most of whom could not read, the 12th century saint arranged a manger scene using real people and animals. When the villagers came to see it, St. Francis led them in joyous celebrations—in “caroling.”