The Mail-Journal, Volume 22, Number 51, Milford, Kosciusko County, 18 December 1985 — Page 13
My first memories of Christmas
By PATTY ROBINSON Guest Writer How far back can you remember, celebrating Christmas? I can remember back to the late 19405, but I also remember the stories my parents and grandparents told me. Christmas for my parents and grandparents was quite a bit different from my early memories. Their Christmases weren’t as commercial as my early ones were, and my early ones weren’t like they are today. My parents and their folks usually had Christmas trees which they cut themselves. Their trees were decorated with all homemade decorations; such as strings of popcorn, cranberries, bright colored paper chains and other things that they made. If they had lights, they were usually lighted candles until electricity was the “in” thing.
Their presents were all homemade from the clothing they got right down to the toys. Once in a while they would get a store bought toy. On Christmas morning they would find an orange or apple in their stockings, or if they had been on the naughty side they might find a
I » i Merry Christmas | CHEER! I , g To All! 8 . Christmas 1 m a XiMK EZol a a Sp ~ ial * I T° all of our friends the peace h ■ eeqbi try* & a an< * * oy °* t * l ' s * >eaut^u * sea ‘ | L Alkl 8 It ! I iHSrr sm ’ I elevator l | n I C* . D L« ,NC I /-y W mJESi r » Peoples State Bans i box 236 I the touch of country 8/Ml 'The Friendly Bank' | LEESBURG in 46538 | haircahshopp l I Member S 219-453-4421 or 453-3125 I a 453-3181 Leesourg FDIC S £ Carol Shaw —Owner I il Jackie I' I Joy “g | *!" I ! holiday Ito the f ,h " nk " | /A) I KSmo i i World i 1 , 3$ i \Wj I Lynch's I \ I I / » m£HR T 8 I i service i cHßtsmus m Wishing you a bright and happy holiday « Best Wishes To All Our Customers Who » £ May the splendor of this holy season « season and a beautiful New Year. S Have Patronized This Past Year ’ 2 bring kindness and peace to all men’s B We’ve enjoyed serving you ■ a«n.tt s “S™ 7 1 CIUNEITE ELEVATOR S Iqeipment Selw lIK. » 453-3053 I V. DTK MUtIHLI 8 34 Serving Th. l.nsburg * RR 2 Leesburg & M Insurance Real Estate a Community | 158-2375 | lM<kw« g . «3-SKB g le esburg ’ 858-2281 . 3«jsgT At js’t3Bsajaas»»ajssjß»:w»»s>w»aßa»wdw»*»»»Jßa»a»swsMare«»»»sw«s writes: ■raantMraonomomanmonoa | efhctive fl (I) A(I I | CHRISTMAS jf | I DEC. 19-24 ti/ V W lEESBURG * | Greetings in the spirit of the season C 1 HnMTFI Illi I ■ CtOSE AT 6:00 P.M.I 8 ImMLW- |IMM | I] i I'l fill] li 1 ! Vlsl DECEMBER 24 |fi I I gqill llliiillll llllljhl CLOSED AU DAY | 8 | CHRISTMAS DAY > | | I . COCA COLA I I A®J I S 0 ’ AND 8 PACK I REIATED products botues I f —r— —— i K>NEIESS W o? le sl79 SURPRISE YOUR CAPTAIN I 1 "y z SMOKED HAMS 8W....1 ib. ® fe. . fl f [PEPSI-COLAp WHOLE MILK $ 1 ®’i 1 « \ / 6U,GE ' ,S OOC i trtAle / \ g / 12 pack cans A SOUR CREAM ! 6 .2 z .-.lrV 415 / ON \ B SALE g I \ o ® v Skis I l g gHydro Slides ON "’ R < \ • S Jf * J / CHRISTMAS I i \ Jr ‘ WlndSocks / SELECTIONS J 5 \ (LIMIT 2) / j> Shirts ~ 8 I Boating Vests I 1 HOTDOGS ~ L ? .P . K . I ’• I ECKRICH \ . ® j Trivia I B eckrich _ $159 s>l49 3LB ‘I SNIOK-Y-LINKS > IBoat Cushions I | SMOKED SAUSAGE... Ilb <» bag £ / »Ski Ropes I / Ope „ ¥ EMGE $179 UUt \ S / fib Tub ®» I Ir 9s g OLD FASHION LOAF Ilb /JFJT KG 11 V And More J , Sos EMGE BULK MH I LIAAIT 3 I 3 SLICED BACON I lb. \ additional quantities I > g REGULAR SMOKED HAMS, SEMI-BONELESS HAMS, \ $"119 / m a-An amaw ma • - ee.Z/zLL 9 BONELESS HAMS, TURKEYS, OYSTERS, ROAST CHICKENS \ | p|<G / B PATON A BAY BOAT SERVICE $ 6 DOWNTOWN 453-4331 West Shore Lake Tippecanoe
piece of coal or something else not real nice in their stocking. My first memories of Christmas were somewhat different than the ones I’ve just told you about. We had a Christmas tree which we sometimes bought or cut fresh ourselves. Our tree had both homemade and bought decorations and pretty colored electric lights. You also decorated throughout the house and if you could you had outside decorations too. For Christmas you would find a combination of presents under the tree and in your stocking. Some were homemade, but by now you started getting more store bought things, like dolls, electric trains, tricycles, doll houses, trucks, wagons, and a whole lot of other things. In your stocking you would find candy, fruit, small toys, and other small surprises. As years came and went you saw Christmas changing more each year. People started shopping earlier and earlier. Soon it was nothing to see Christmas items in the stores by late September or early October. Not only did shopping habits change, so did other things, such as artificial trees coming on the
scene. And they no longer were just green fresh cut trees, but there were silver ones, flocked ones, and all white ones. I’ve even heard there were pink ones, too. With all these new kinds of trees, you also found different decorations on their branches. People no longer put homemade decorations on the trees because they now had fancy glass ones. Some people, because of what their trees were made of, could no longer put lights on them. So they came up with a rotating wheel of light with different color sections which passed over a plain bulb and reflected on the tree. They also put as much work into decorating the outside. Soon communities, housing additions and mobile home parks started having outdoor lighting contests. The gifts even started to change. People no longer thought of giving homemade presents as in years past. It was all store bought items and all the “in” things. You had every thing from Barbie Dolls to GI Joe’s and even they didn’t last long as the most popular items. Soon it was Star War items, Cabbage Patch Dolls,
computers and other electronic games and gadgets.
Now as Christmas 1985 rolls around and as in the past few years people seem to be going back to the ways of yesterday . Oh yes, we still have our artificial trees, but many are beginning to buy fresh or go cut their own trees. The decorations are changing back to homemade decorations. They are much more fancier than the early ones. With so many people doing cross-stitch, knitting, crocheting, rug hooking, and woodworking you have a big variety of new homemade decorations. The same goes for some of the clothing one receives. People have even started doing more baking and cooking with the giving of their specials as gift. They include candy, fruit cakes, jelly, jams, cookies, and other goodies. Even the way Christmas Day is spent has changed. It use to be big family carry-in dinners with all the trimmings. There were relatives by the dozens all over the place from aunts to cousins and whatever comes in between.
Now the day is quite different. With the long school breaks, the fast transportation, and people going away from the hometown to work, you don’t have big family dinners and other traditions. Grandparents go to the warmer places for the winters, the college kids want to go to the ski resorts or other places with their college friends. Mom and dad are often left alone or with/just the younger children. They have their day, but it is not quite the same. The families who still hold on to the old traditions often have to rent a place for the get together because homes now are not built for big gatherings. They are together, but not in a home setting. One thing that has not changed is still a big commercial high for business and people still know why we celebrate Christmas and always will. Merry Christmas everyone! Christmas Cards It was just a little more than a hundred years ago that Americans began sending each other Christmas cards.
Elam receives Outstanding YM of A award
Joe Elam of Lubbock, Texas, formerly of Syracuse, has recently been selected as one of the Outstanding Young Men of America for 1985 due to his work in the physical education field. The Outstanding Young Men of America program recognizes the achievements and abilities of men between the ages of 21 and 36. They are being honored for their outstanding civic and professional contributions to their community, state, or nation. Elam, who is a physical education professor at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, was nominated for this award by Ron Holihand, swim coach at the university. While at Wawasee High School, Elam was a diver on the swim team. Upon graduating in 1976, Elam attended Indiana State University where he was, again, a diver. He graduated from ISU with a bachelor of science in physical education and sports medicine and a master’s in physical education. While earning his masters, Elam coached the ISU girls’ swim team. At Texas Tech University, he is the diving coach for both the men’s and women’s swim teams. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Elam of Syracuse. Entertainment dated for senior citizens The nutrition site in Syracuse will be the scene of several programs this week. The first is today when Syracuse first graders under the direction of Jo Butler will sing and present a program. On Thursday, Dec. 19, the Marvin Perry Singers of Syracuse will be on hand to present musical selections; and on Monday, Dec. 23, students from Lee Ann Stuart’s school of dance will present a program. The Christmas dinner will be served on the 23rd. Reservations for the programs, like reservations for all meals, must be made by 1 p.m. the day before. Reservations for Monday’s Christmas dinner and program must be made on Friday. The Nutrition Site is located at the Syracuse Scout Cabin.
g cnristnids r, f S. ( ) X jS ir A 'B I* 1 r JWr With many good wishes for the Holidays and the coming New Year. "A Sincere Tfcank-You" . To Our Customers!" Baker's Farm Market Open Veer Round MSRI3S 457-4041 Syracuse ■
Wed.. December 18,1985 — THE MAIL-JOURNAL
!«■» Bl 11 sadß- ; Mm ’ T ■WIIWW-) ' t. ■MO ■■ m 'jßr Ml I 'lb . •
TRADITIONAL CENTER OF TOWN TREE
In honor of the season
By CARLA GAFF Guest Writer “In honor of the Christmas season, I killed a tree for you,” said a young man near me as he handed a small tree to the lady in front of him. Have you ever wondered about the strange Christmas tree custom we have of cutting down healthy evergreens and watching them dry out “in honor of the season?” Why do we do it, and who started this anyway? The custom didn’t start in America as most of us would have assumed. Thinking the settlers all went out on a warm (not cold) snowy night and cut their tree out of the nearby woods — dragging it to their log cabins and near a roarihg fire. It started in the 17th century in Strasbourg, France. It then spread through Germany and into Northern Europe.
However, in 1841 Prince Albert introduced the Christmas tree custom to Great Britain, and from there it accompanied immigrants to America. But why do we participate in a custom that started nearly 400 years ago? That’s something each of us can answer only for himself. But here are a few thought provoking ideas. First let’s travel back to the settlers with their fresh cut tree from the green woods. They may have cut their tree on Christmas Eve or just a few days before, as their homes were too small to have it up for very long. And, there was always the fear of trees and the open flame. They decorated their trees with handmade ornaments —a few strings of popcorn and cranberries, a bit of dried flower garland, and crocheted and sewn items. If they were very fortunate, or well to do, they may have had a few shining ornaments that had been handed down through the family for many generations. A little later in time, as the New England states and the southern plantation owners became more sophisticated, extravagant Christmas trees came into being. No more strings of popcorn, but garlands of lace, big bows, and small candle lights. The trees that were cut during this time were often much older and taller. . The tree shown here perhaps became a tradition in the center of towns, such as San Francisco, during this time —a tradition that is still carried on there today. However, there are many towns near us that have their own Christmas tree customs, such as the lights strung in a Christmas tree shape that towers over Leesburg as it sits atop of the mill. Customs and traditions may be the reason we have a Christinas tree in our homes, or it may be because it gives us a change in our everyday living. Or, we may simply like the challenge of decorating. In this, each of us is able to express our likes and dislikes. Some may even collect ornaments from all over the world and use their Christmas tree to display them. So, your Christmas tree may be as tall as a building or small enough to sit on a table, it may be simply decorated or extravagant, but whatever you chose, it’s unique to you and you’re starting your own Christmas tree tradition. Sesquicentennial calendars to be available The Milford Jaycees has announced that souvenir sesquicentennial calendars will be available this weekend for Milford residents. The calendars, featuring old photographs from Ted Baumgartners photo-album, can be purchased at Campbell’s IGA, where a table will be set up from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, and all day Saturday, Dec. 21. Toys for Tots, a program initiated by the Jaycees for the benefit of area needy children, will also be continued until Dec. 20. Area residents are urged to donate a good clean new or used toy for a boy or girl in the community this Christmas. Drop boxes are available at Campbell’s, Doll’s Decorating, Walter Drugs, and the community building. Persons with large items may call 658-9843 or 658-4197. Sir Isaac Newton Scientist Sir Isaac Newton was . born on Dec. 25, 1642, in Woolsthorpe, England.
13