19661222_Cariboo Observer-5.pdf - the Quesnel & District Museum ...
19661222_Cariboo Observer-5.pdf - the Quesnel & District Museum ...
19661222_Cariboo Observer-5.pdf - the Quesnel & District Museum ...
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1 4 - THURSDAY. DECEMBER 22, 1966 - THE QUESNEL CARmoO OBSERVER<br />
Trees Live and Bloom<br />
In Legends of Yuletide<br />
Almost every kind of tree<br />
has a legend relating it to <strong>the</strong><br />
Nativity or <strong>the</strong> life of Christ.<br />
The cherry tree, says "The<br />
Cherry Tree Carol," bent down<br />
its boughs for Mary to pluck<br />
<strong>the</strong> fruit.<br />
The Glastonbury Thorn<br />
blooms at Christmas because,<br />
legend says, St. Joseph of<br />
Arima<strong>the</strong>a, on his arrival in<br />
England, drove his staff into<br />
<strong>the</strong> ground, while he was carrying<br />
<strong>the</strong> Holy Grail, <strong>the</strong> chalice<br />
used at <strong>the</strong> last supper.<br />
The staff took root and grew<br />
into a thom tree.<br />
As <strong>the</strong> Christmas<br />
bells gladden your<br />
heart, we wish<br />
you a Happy Holiday.<br />
Don Randall<br />
CARIBOO<br />
Power Saw Service<br />
Community Greets Cliristmas<br />
With W>rsliip an d R<br />
llltislnilion jrom Ihe Bellm.inii Archht<br />
66. Mat Page 27<br />
TOYS FOK THE CHILDitEN, A CAILY-DEC.OKATED TREK<br />
• • iti-^i., — and uiiii fun iiin fur lor all. aii. This i ms family family Holiday<br />
srene, recorded ahoni 1850, represents many of <strong>the</strong> Christmas traditions most beloved today.<br />
holi<br />
It is more than "an old-fashioned Christmas," for such customs as exchanging gifts and bringing<br />
greenery indoors during <strong>the</strong> winter holidays originated in ancient times. "Modern" Christmas<br />
«elebrations combine traditions of many nations and eras, says <strong>the</strong> Encyclopedia Americana.<br />
In Iceland<br />
Since trees are scarce in Iceland,<br />
families must use <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
ingenuity in creating a Christmas<br />
tree. A pole with branches<br />
of greenery tied to it is <strong>the</strong><br />
solution in many Icelandic<br />
homes. And <strong>the</strong> valuable real<br />
trees are saved for industrial<br />
use. ^ ^ ^<br />
CHRISTMAS CHE]<br />
wHere's hoping Santa's reindeer<br />
delivery comes through with your special<br />
wishes, including all of <strong>the</strong> joy<br />
and cheer that goes with Christmas.<br />
233 Vaughan<br />
PALM DAIRIES<br />
Len Gray - Agent<br />
992-6312<br />
Omens Dim Yule Spirit<br />
"Merry" Christmas? Not always,<br />
according to some ancient<br />
beliefs once associated<br />
with <strong>the</strong> day.<br />
Take, for instance, <strong>the</strong> old<br />
belief that cattle and o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
stable animals were giyen <strong>the</strong><br />
power of speech on Christmas<br />
Eve.<br />
Any person who heard <strong>the</strong><br />
animals speak would die within<br />
a year, so superstition said.<br />
Somber omens of death were<br />
read into still o<strong>the</strong>r Yuletide<br />
legends. When <strong>the</strong> Yule log<br />
burned, bystanders were told<br />
to watch <strong>the</strong> shadows on <strong>the</strong><br />
walls. If <strong>the</strong> shadows of any<br />
persons appeared to be headless,<br />
this supposedly meant<br />
death for those persons, again<br />
within a year.<br />
Salt was also said to have<br />
<strong>the</strong> power of forecasting life<br />
or death, when used in connection<br />
with Christmas. The<br />
test could be made by leaving<br />
a small mound of salt on <strong>the</strong><br />
table on Christmas Eve. If <strong>the</strong><br />
salt melted during <strong>the</strong> night,<br />
that, too, meant death within<br />
12 months.<br />
If <strong>the</strong> salt remained unmelted,<br />
<strong>the</strong> forecast was for a<br />
long and healthy life.<br />
ejoicm<br />
By ANNA MANG<br />
"Deck <strong>the</strong> halls with boughs of holly; 'tis <strong>the</strong> season to be<br />
jolly." Christmas is for joy and laughter; Christmas glows<br />
with merriment. Throughout this community, families are<br />
putting <strong>the</strong> finishing touches on plans for holiday get-toge<strong>the</strong>rs.<br />
Hideaways bulge with mysterious packages; kitchens<br />
are fragrant with <strong>the</strong> scents of special treats; homes are bright<br />
with gala decorations. Schools and clubs prepare <strong>the</strong>ir annual<br />
Christmas programs. Holiday party plans go forward. It is,<br />
indeed, <strong>the</strong> season to be jolly.<br />
"Silent Night, Holy Night, all is calm, all is bright." Christmas<br />
is for prayer and peace; Christmas gleams with <strong>the</strong> light<br />
of <strong>the</strong> Star that shone so brightly, nearly two thousand years<br />
ago. And throughout this community, <strong>the</strong> deep spiritual significance<br />
of <strong>the</strong> holy season spreads comfort and cheer. In<br />
churches, <strong>the</strong> hours of worship reflect <strong>the</strong> coming joy as, during<br />
<strong>the</strong> weeks before Christmas, <strong>the</strong> story of Christ's coming<br />
is <strong>the</strong> subject of study, sermon, song and prayer, all building<br />
toward <strong>the</strong> special services of Christmas weekend.<br />
Uniting in Joy and Prayer<br />
Christmas is a joyful season; Christmas is a prayerful season.<br />
Since <strong>the</strong> earliest celebrations of this Christian holiday,<br />
it has ever been so.<br />
The twin spirits of Christmas — festive celebration and<br />
reverent worship — are woven toge<strong>the</strong>r in all <strong>the</strong> lore of <strong>the</strong><br />
season. History says that when <strong>the</strong> time now celebrated as<br />
Christmas was designated, in <strong>the</strong> fifth century A.D., early<br />
Christian leaders felt that <strong>the</strong> traditional winter merrymaking<br />
of pagan festivals such as <strong>the</strong> Roman Saturnalia<br />
might be hallowed by association with <strong>the</strong> Nativity.<br />
Thus, pagan peoples who had once looked to mythical sun<br />
gods as <strong>the</strong> source of <strong>the</strong> rebirth of life began to turn to religious<br />
observances of <strong>the</strong> Saviour's birth. Christmas lights<br />
symbolized faith, hope and life eternal.<br />
Today, <strong>the</strong> glow of <strong>the</strong> tiniest candle — or <strong>the</strong> twinkling of<br />
<strong>the</strong> smallest electric bulb — still reflects, however humbly, <strong>the</strong><br />
People Plus<br />
ProblemsAdd<br />
Holiday Lore<br />
Friends who visited <strong>the</strong> Robert<br />
Reilly home last December<br />
got a real Christmas surprise.<br />
In this Grants Pass, Ore.,<br />
household, <strong>the</strong> Christmas tree<br />
"gre>y" out of <strong>the</strong> ceiling — or<br />
at least, was suspended <strong>the</strong>re,<br />
upside down.<br />
Will it start a trend? Will<br />
more and more families hang<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir Christmas trees from <strong>the</strong><br />
ceiling? Only time can tell!<br />
Christmas customs start<br />
with people and, often, with<br />
problems. In <strong>the</strong> case of <strong>the</strong><br />
upside-down Christmas tree,<br />
<strong>the</strong> problem was, "Where to<br />
put <strong>the</strong> tree?" and <strong>the</strong> humorous<br />
solution was reached when<br />
<strong>the</strong> family just couldn't decide.<br />
Creating Pudding<br />
Many well-established traditions<br />
had <strong>the</strong>ir legendary<br />
beginnings in <strong>the</strong> inventive<br />
reaction of people to problems,<br />
large or small.<br />
Take plum pudding, for example<br />
— as many people do at<br />
Christmastime! The very first<br />
plum pudding was an answer<br />
to adversity, so legend says.<br />
An English king and his<br />
hunting party were lost in <strong>the</strong><br />
forest on Christmas Eve, Commanded<br />
by <strong>the</strong> king, <strong>the</strong> cook<br />
prepared dinner, using <strong>the</strong><br />
foods he had on hand — some<br />
meat from a stag, some bits of<br />
wild game, flour, birds' eggs,<br />
sugar, dried plums, ale and<br />
brandy.<br />
Light that Christ brought to<br />
<strong>the</strong> world.<br />
Bringing Gifts<br />
At <strong>the</strong> heart of <strong>the</strong> holiday<br />
fun and feasting <strong>the</strong>re glows<br />
<strong>the</strong> spirit of giving. The Wise<br />
Men sought to honor <strong>the</strong> Christ<br />
Child with rare and precious<br />
gifts — gold, frankincense and<br />
myrrh. Thus, to give of <strong>the</strong><br />
best at Christmas is a timehonored<br />
tradition.<br />
All may rejoice in <strong>the</strong> opportunity<br />
to give generously, to<br />
please family and friends with<br />
"just what <strong>the</strong>y wanted," and<br />
to share with <strong>the</strong> less fortunate.<br />
Yet <strong>the</strong> best Christmas gifts<br />
are still those that come from<br />
<strong>the</strong> open heart as well as <strong>the</strong><br />
open hand, and <strong>the</strong> warmth of<br />
a friendly smile, <strong>the</strong> words of<br />
a cordial greeting add priceless<br />
meaning to <strong>the</strong> most elaborate<br />
of gifts.<br />
Singing Carols<br />
"Glory to God in <strong>the</strong> highest,<br />
and on earth, peace, good<br />
will toward men."<br />
Across <strong>the</strong> years since shepherds<br />
flrst barkened to an angelic<br />
chorus, Christmas rings<br />
with <strong>the</strong> sound of voices raised<br />
in joyful song.<br />
Carol singing at Christmas<br />
is both a tradition and a<br />
source of tradition. Much of<br />
<strong>the</strong> legend and lore of <strong>the</strong> season<br />
is known today only because<br />
it has been preserved in<br />
song — in carols passed on<br />
from generation to generation.<br />
In Liberia<br />
Liberians use an oil palm<br />
in place of <strong>the</strong> traditional fir<br />
as a Christmas tree. The palm<br />
is decorated with red balls,<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r palm leaves and ferns.<br />
Yuletide Beauty Is Reflected In<br />
Legends of Flowers and Greens<br />
Flowers<br />
Flowers<br />
bur.st<br />
burst into<br />
intn<br />
bloom<br />
KI^^.,, . weeds at <strong>the</strong> foot of a statue<br />
and trees and shrubs were<br />
representing <strong>the</strong> Virgin and<br />
Child. Instantly, <strong>the</strong> weeds<br />
became scarlet blossoms and<br />
thus, so <strong>the</strong> legend saySj <strong>the</strong><br />
poinsettia was created.<br />
green with new leaves on <strong>the</strong><br />
night of <strong>the</strong> Saviour's birth,<br />
so legend says. Down through<br />
<strong>the</strong> ages, certain flowers and<br />
greens have held an honored<br />
place in <strong>the</strong> lore of Christmas<br />
— <strong>the</strong> holly and <strong>the</strong> ivy, mistletoe,<br />
rosemary,-<strong>the</strong> Christmas<br />
rose, <strong>the</strong> thorn tree.<br />
Ancient peoples believed<br />
that mistletoe had powers to<br />
ward off evil or cure a variety<br />
of illnesses. Druid priests of<br />
Britain, long ago, believed that<br />
mistletoe should be cut with<br />
a golden knife, <strong>the</strong>n hung over<br />
doorways as a protection<br />
Rosemary, <strong>the</strong> symbol of<br />
constancy, was at one time<br />
widely used in England as a<br />
Christmas decoration. During<br />
<strong>the</strong> Victorian era, it lost popularity<br />
and is now seldom, if<br />
ever, seen as part of <strong>the</strong> Yuletide<br />
greenery.<br />
An old story says that <strong>the</strong><br />
fragrance of rosemary was<br />
given to it when Mary placed<br />
<strong>the</strong> Christ Child's garments on<br />
this shrub.<br />
Like mistletoe, <strong>the</strong> brightlyberried<br />
holly was early credited<br />
with magical and medical<br />
powers. It could even, legend<br />
from evil. The Greeks, too,<br />
used it to ward off evil.<br />
One of many legends surrounding<br />
<strong>the</strong> poinsettia tells<br />
of a poor Mexican girl who,<br />
having no gift of value, hum- said, tell girls name of<br />
KKT,, l i . vUl ^ l ' - — ^ 1 »«»uc, iiuiii- - - - aaiu, ten gins <strong>the</strong> n<br />
bly placed some roadside <strong>the</strong>ir future husbands.<br />
C M S T # ^<br />
LADIES & TEEN TOGS LTD.<br />
onto rings<br />
his bell<br />
to send<br />
very best<br />
wishes for a<br />
fun-filled<br />
Holiday<br />
to all.<br />
163 Barlow 992-6113<br />
HOrS DEPARTMENT STORE<br />
201 Barlow 992-2144<br />
With thoughts<br />
of <strong>the</strong> many,<br />
beautiful things<br />
connected with<br />
this season, we<br />
send wishes to<br />
everyone for a<br />
peaceful, blessed<br />
Christmas<br />
RUDGE<br />
ELECTRONICS<br />
143 Carson 992-7133<br />
A Christmas greeting<br />
appears below <strong>the</strong> angel when you c mplete this puzzle<br />
1. opposite of you<br />
2. opposite of he<br />
3. a Christmas colour<br />
4. to make a mistake<br />
5. organs of sight<br />
6. frozen water<br />
7. a Christmas shrub<br />
8. opposite of wet<br />
9. a present<br />
10. we celebrate His birthday<br />
11. part of<strong>the</strong> forest<br />
12. mischievous child<br />
13. ano<strong>the</strong>r name for saint<br />
14. a December event.<br />
The cook not only created a<br />
delicious emergency dish, he<br />
also invented plum pudding,<br />
which tradition says must contain<br />
<strong>the</strong>se same ingredients if<br />
it is to be <strong>the</strong> "real thing."<br />
Lighting <strong>the</strong> Tree<br />
A pleasant problem with a<br />
happy solution led to <strong>the</strong> custom<br />
of decorating <strong>the</strong> Christmas<br />
tree with lights.<br />
Martin Lu<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>the</strong> Reformation<br />
leader, returned from a<br />
Christmas Eve walked under a<br />
starlit sky, inspired by a wish<br />
to reproduce <strong>the</strong> heavenly<br />
scene for his family.<br />
How to show some small reflection<br />
of <strong>the</strong> glory of <strong>the</strong><br />
heavens on <strong>the</strong> flrst Holy<br />
SBunsijqo BiuBS 8T duii z\ aa^l IT snsof oi lji3 6 Night? Lu<strong>the</strong>r solved <strong>the</strong> problem<br />
j by lighting candles and<br />
/?jp 8 ^^^^o^ i 301 9 soy?3 g jjg poj g g auj<br />
placing <strong>the</strong>m on <strong>the</strong> boughs of<br />
SHaMSXV an evergreen.<br />
To our many friends and patrons who have made<br />
this Christmas so grand for us, we wish <strong>the</strong> Merriest /~><br />
of Christmas of all.<br />
O<br />
FORSTERS AUTO<br />
SUPPLY LTD.<br />
Ester, Gordon and Peter<br />
To <strong>the</strong><br />
entire<br />
Community<br />
we wish<br />
a<br />
Happy<br />
and<br />
Healthy<br />
Holiday<br />
QUESNEL & DISTRICT<br />
CHAMBER of COMMERCE