The Independent-News, Volume 106, Number 27, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 11 December 1980 — Page 6
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- THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS - DECEMBER 11, IMO
Peace on
Plants of the Season Add To Festivities One of the loveliest Christmas traditions is that of adorning homes and churches with flowers and greenery that we associate with the season. Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without the festive holly, for instance. Actually, the use of holly as a decoration goes all the way back to the Druids. They believed that the plant sheltered spirits of the woods who were threatened by harsh, winter weather. The Romans also considered the holly to be festive; branches were sent to friends as Saturnalia gifts. In time, the pagan use of the plant became Christianized so that now holly and the holiday season are synonymous. Another traditional Christmas plant is the poinsettia, known as the flor de noche buena (Christmas Eve flower) in its native Mexico, where it was noticed by Joel Roberts Poinsett. The American minister to Mexico was so taken with the colorful flower that he brought the plant back to America, where it became associated with the holidays around the turn of the century. Today, the spectacular poinsettia is a familiar decoration in the home and around church altars at Christmas time. Gifts of the plant, which are now cultivated in pink and white, in addition to the spectacular red, are also popular at Yuletide. W < Vr* mc Still another plant that is synonymous with Christmas is the mistletoe. Like the holly, mistletoe traces its popularity back to the Druids.
'! \W# - 'Mi ’ \ ' WO&i fw r /A r A J S etew ■« Anb tl^erc foere in ttye same country sljepl|£rbs abtbing in tip? fielb, keeping fnatcl| oner t^eir flock by niglft. A«b the angel of the 3£orb came upon them anb tip glory of the ^Corb slpne rounb about them: anb tljey fnere sore afraib. Anb the angel saib unto fl|ent, ^ear not: for belplb, 3 bring you goob tibings of great joy, inhicij shall be to all people. 3For unto you is born tips bay in tip city of ^9aVib a Saviour, tolpch is Cfpist tf^e ^Corb. LUKE 2:8-11
The ancient Romans honored the plant as a sign of hope and peace. When a Roman met an enemy under
a tree with mistletoe, he felt bound to drop his weapons and salute the other with a kiss on the cheek, according
to the custom of the time. Today, the mistletoe serves a more romantic purpose.
We All Love The Music of Christmas! What would Christmas be like without music! Can you imagine Christmas Eve without the strains of “Silent Night” to evoke thoughts of the lender mother and the Holy Child? Indeed, music has been a part of the holiday tradition ever since the angels performed the first Christmas “concert” for a group of awestruck shepherds. Since then, simple carols and great oratorios alike have expressed humanity’s joy and wonder over the events of Christmas. Interestingly enough, many early carols were actually folk songs without Christian content ... so today’s newer, secular compositions have a tradition of sorts behind them. But, the most meaningful Christmas music is, of course, religious in context. Handel’s Messiah has inspired generation after generation since it was first performed before George II in 1743. I 11 Not all Christmas music is as awesome, however. The simplicity of Franz Gruber’s M Silent Night” has made it one of the most loved Christmas carols. Joyful hymns such as “Adeste Fideles’’ and “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” arc other Christmas favorites.