The Mail-Journal, Volume 5, Number 43, Milford, Kosciusko County, 27 November 1968 — Page 15

Cities Put Up Evergreens Comes Christmas, and cities everywhere renew the tradition of setting up a community Christmas tree — a custom which began eariy in this century. In 1909, citizens of Pasadena, Calif., decorated an evergreen on Mount Wilson as the tree of the city. The year 1912 saw community Christmas trees erected in Madison Square, New York, N. Y., and on the Common in Boston, Mass. Independence Square in Philadelphia, Pa., showed off its first community tree in 1914. President Calvin Coolidge inaugurated the custom of a national community Christmas tree in Washington, D.C., when he was presented with a large evergreen by the University of Vermont, in 1923. JUST A WORD OF THANKS FOR A WONDERFUL YEAR 1968 WE ARE CLOSING AFTER SUNDAY — DEC. l»t FOR THE SEASON We will be open THANKSGIVING DAY November 28 — 12 Noon 'til 8 p.m. CLOSEP MONDAYS EAA EAVE Weekdays—4 'til 10 . IVV and IAT L Sundays—l 2 'til 10 IN WARSAW # wjnßt 1 L •JI i I v-W WJ( 'HI 'I uoliM f tSt fly | W wf J ••• X fiF ‘ ' t Itl ’* Ja \ -f * vlI / ■». JI I t i 1 IW’wV A. H ‘ •d ¥' / A • 'I ' . / 7 WW \ W- • I / ' -StIf feswvv m' 1 W i ‘r > WiicAtewsMi The g ala look 9 f K / ;J> | f ' I dress shops. Pick ; V / 1 ; f a lithe crepe, a ‘ I f I floating chi I / . i a brilliant bro I/t -vrS • I / • W velvet or I f If shape. Many en |jL I sembles too. Pasf [ rs T t els a3 weh as 17- X*. v*' l ' or Jil < bla ’ junior, L I or petite I 7 ¥ | missy ° r F 1 fl s sizes. B °° to 2600 i-

Tree Radiates Yule Meaning

The Christmas tree, a universally recognized symbol of the merriest season, radiates the meaning of the Christy mas story. For many people, the tree recalls the atmosphere of the holiday home and thus reflects the joyful warmth of the season. As a religious symbol, the tree with its lights and greenery represents both the story of the garden of Eden and the belief in Christ as the “Light of the world.” Although only a century and a half old in America, the custom of the tree has a history that is measured in many centuries. The forerunnerof today’s Christmas tree was seen in medieval miracle plays, which were produced as religious instruct tion for the illiterate — in an era when illiteracy was common and the ability to read a rarity. A play about Eve’s eating the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden was enacted with only one prop on stage, a single, apple-laden fir that became known as the Paradise Tree. The play ended with the promise of the coming of Christ and was usually presented just before Christmas. At about the same time, people also decorated for the Christmas season with pyra-mid-shaped frames of light, symbolizing the birth of Christ as the Light of the world. Early efforts to combine the Paradise Tree and the Christmas Light pyramid are recorded in manuscripts from Germany dating to the 16th

Ray Buhrt GENERAL CONTRACTOR Residential & Commercial Building Phone: 457-3431 & 457-2531 Road 13, Syracuse

THIS IS AILEENI SPARKLING, SPIRITED, SPRIGHTLYI AHEAD IN CRESLAN* FOR THE HOLIDAYS Inspired, admired, adored in Creslon acrylic fiber plays up the • fun ’ n timely mandarin striped jSI 1 jacket, peasant pullover with con- * trast trims and print turtles and luflKlk ** I I mock turtles. All looking great v jWf ■HuMT *R. ove r pants and skirts in matching F ' JH/IIhI colorings. Bto 16, S-M-L. f ’ fMW ~ A* 7* HUNTER GREEN t \TROPICAL AQUA \ f\ - HvlX 18.00 > K'"'' ' ' MW X TOBACCO and I I \a CORAL ARE if! I I M : X THE COLORS! /f t V / / hr<\ irn kX LJ z"W I4 IlWv 111 / I Pi I ' « \ \ 10.00 K-si b*l| /1. t I I/\ A ■ Ik I K TF I I wA I \ \ 10 10.00 V \ 1 \\ \ / I \ \ \ M // \ IN WARSAW V

B igujbr ■HmM Imt hvi . . Hfl HI Barg Wi iIMM BOTH ELEMENTS THAT LED TO TODAY’S Christinas tree — the Paradise Tree and the Christinas Lights pyramid — are shown in this antique Christmas card of the 1880’s. The card was published by Opbacher Brothers of Munich, Germany, and is part of the Hallmark Cards Historical Collection.

century, collected by the Hallmark Cards research library. The first tree was thought to have been brought to the United States by Hessian soldiers during the American Revolution. These homesick

soldiers and other immigrants carried the tree throughout the country. A major setback almost occurred in Cleveland in 1851 when a pastor decorated a tree in his home. His parishioners condemned the tree as pagan, but relented after an explanation of its religious aspects. Conservation-minded President Theodore Roosevelt again nearly stamped ' out the practice when he banned trees in the White House. After one of his sons sneaked a Christmas tree into the White House, a forester convinced the President that thinning helped forests. The tree that is common today is a combination of the religious elements. The ever-

green with glass, plastic or metal balls hanging from it is the Paradise Tree with its apples. Lights, tinsel, angels, a star on top, ornaments and other “good things” reflect the Christmas Light. Santa’s Moving To Take Lead As Gift-Giver More and more, Santa becomes the favored gift-giv-er in countries around the world, replacing a host of legendary figures who were said to bring gifts at this same season of the year. Gift-giving time, too, is now more likely to be Christmas Eve, although the traditional date in European countries once ranged from St. Nicholas Eve, December sth, to Epiphany Eve, January 5 th. Among the many who set the trend for Santa Claus is the German gift-giver, Kris Kringle. The name is a variation of Christkind—not the Infant Jesus himself, but his messenger who came to earth at Christmastime. Christkind was represented by a child dressed in white robes, with a crown and wings of gold. In Japan, the traditional gift-giver is a native god, Hoteiosho. Represented as a kindly old man with a pack on his back, he is much like visions of the traditional Santa. He is said to have eyes in the back of his head, the better to see whether boys and girls have been naughty or nice. In Yugoslavia, Grandfather Frost — “Dede Mraz” — replaces Santa Claus. The Yugoslavian trend is to combine Christmas and New Year holidays, and celebrate them together with Grandfather Frost Day. COST WAS HIGH When Christmas greetings cards first came into their own in the United States, about 1875, some of the more elegant cards were encrusted with blown glass frosting and sold for as much as three dollars each.

Wed., Nov. 27, 1968 — THE MAIL-JOURNAL

g THANKSGIVING g g: We’re thankful for a God above :$ :$ Who always understands, Who will listen to our troubles $: And will take us by the hand, :$ We're thankful for each ray of sun, $ £ The rain, the snow so deep, g That on our tables we have g Bountiful food to eat, - £ g: We're thankful for good health, Strong bodies and minds, For every friend and neighbor g :v Who is loving and kind, $ We're thankful for little children $: The patter of their feet, To hear their cheery voices $ So beautiful and sweet, $: g We're thankful for our teen-iagers Each one's a precious gem, g g May each one be a Christian $ And never be condemned. g We're thankful for our country church :? The love-lights ever glowing, And the cup of joy and peace S Is often overflowing. ?: Have not our blessings been very great, •x And hardships really small :>• £: In comparison to God's grace To His love to all. There are so many things, 0 God, g g That we are thankful for, g But most of all we're thankful i$ For a home forevermore. $: g: Kathryn Ann Beer S

Singing Hoosiers Appeared In Warsaw The Singing Hoosiers presented a program Saturday evening, Nov. 23, at the Warsaw high school. This musical group is well known throughout the state as it has made numerous appearances at

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the state fair. The Beta Zeta Chapter of the Delta Theta Tau Sorority sponsored the program for which a small admittance charge was made. The proceeds were used for a charitable enterprise. There are about 30 members in the local chapter of this national sorority.

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