Newspaper Page Text
PAGE TWO
Yule is
Time for
Customs
As the world grows smaller,
Christmas observances in dif
ferent countries grow more
similar. Santa Claus in red su ; t
and white beard drives his rein
deer-drawn sleigh to North, Cen
tral and South America and to
many other countries as well.
In fact, when the first ex
plorer lands on Mars, he should
n’t lie too surprised to discover
that Santa, and even Rudolph,
got there first.
Sharing of Christmas cus
toms, however, only serves to
point up the fact that this is
a holiday for everyone, and a
holiday which draws ideas from
all lands and times, uniting
them in both religious and sec
ular observances of the season.
IN MEXICO
Celebrating the posada is a
Mexican custom focused on the
Nativity.
“Posada” means “lodging”
or “inn,” and for the nine
“posada” days from December
16 to 25, churches, hotels, social
groups and families throughout
Mexico act out the story of the
Nativity.
A procession of pilgrims comes
to the place where the cele
bration is scheduled. They carry
clay figures of Mary and Jo
seph, and they seek shelter from
the “innkeeprs” within.
At first the innkeepers re
fuse, then they admit the pil
grims to feast and rejoice. Fig
ures representing Mary and Jo
seph are placed in a replica
Eve, the figure representing
Jesus is added.
IN HOLLAND
Gifting season in Holland tra
ditionally begins on December 5
and is called “Strooivand” or
“strewing night.” Children place
their shoes by the fireplace, fill
ed with carrots and hay for
St. Nicholas’ horse in the
expectation that on the morrow
the shoes will contain candy,
fruits and toys.
IN SCOTLAND
Christmas feast favorites in
Scotland include shortbread a
rich cake or cookie, and haggis,
a kind of pudding. New Year’s
Eve, or Hogmanay, is the prin
cipal day for gifts and greet
ings, when children go singing
from house to house, in hopes
of a treat. New Year’s visits
are paid —and it’s customary
for the visitor to bring along
a pocketful of coal.
IN PORTUGAL
Christmas is the occasion for
a family celebration among the
Portuguese. Families gather on
Christmas Eve for dinner at the
home of the oldest living rela
tive. After the children have
gone to bed, a crib or creche
is placed before the fireplace,
and around it are grouped the
the same function as Christmas
stockings.
IN BRAZIL
Papa Noel makes the Christ
mas Eve rounds in Brazil, in
a reindeer-drawn sleigh. He
trims the trees with popcorn
and bits of cotton to make
up for the snow that never falls.
Since Christinas weather in Bra
zil is summery, picnics and boat
ing excursions are part of the
celebration.
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS
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Rev. Don Harrison
Man’s Need ... •
Several years ago there appeared a Peanuts cartoon
which expressed a great deal of reality. Charlie Brown
was quite depressed his grades were poor, his par
ents were mad at him, and he no longer had ainy friends.
He poured his heart out to Lucy. Finally Lucy looked
at him and said, ‘tSo what else is new?”
A great deal of the time we are Lucys When it
comes to dealing with those around us. We are so
wrapped up in our own problems that we can’t hear any
one else. Our problems are of an unlimited magnitude.
We find ourselves in a world that is tonn by wars, ra
cial and cultural hatred, and the constant threat of
meaninglessness. We see ourselves as infinitesimal
specks in the universe and yet we long to be import
ant. We desperately seek the love of those around us
and yet we are afraid to love because it means letting
all our barriers down and moving out of ourselves. We
either frantically search for that which is changeless,
timeless, and secure, or we throw up our hands and say,
“To H with it!” Man needs not just an intellectual
answer, but rather that which encompasses his entire
being and absorbs him.
In the midst of this world scene among the wars
and violence and Red-nosed reindeers there comes
the real message of Christmas. “God so loved the world
that He gave ...” He who is at the heart of the uni
verse and all existence He who is transcendent and
far removed has come into our world and shared our
life. He reaches out, embraces us, and first loves us so
that we may be able to love iin return. At this Christ
mas Season we, who are so intimate with man's needs,
are called upon anew to respond to God’s action.
Letter to Editor
Dr. Ingram Congratulates
“Who’s Who” Selections
Dear Editor:
It thrilled me very much to see the fine group of
West Georgia students elected to “Who’s Who Among
Students in American Universities and Colleges.”
I think the group selected by the faculty are most
worthy and my congratulations are extended to each
one.
Most sincerely,
Irvine S. Ingram
President Emeritus
She HJeat deorafem
PUBLISHED 81-WEEKLY SEPTEMBER - MAY
SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EDITION
Editor A1 Cohen
Publication of ihe Siudents of West Georgia College,
THE WEST GEORGIAN
Leo Aikman to
Speak tor VRA
Leo Aikman, whose editorials
appear in The Atlanta Constitu- 1
tion six times a week, will
speak on our campus December
5, at 7:00 p.m. in the day stu
dent lounge. His subject is ‘ Cau
tion People Ahead.”
Mr. Aikman is originally from
Dana, Indiana. He received his
A. B. degree from DePauw
University and his M.A. in His
tory at the University of Michi
gan. He taught in high school
for nine years in the 30’s.
He came to Georgia to work
for the National Park Service
as historian until 1944 when he
became editor of the Cobb Coun
ty Times in Marietta.
He became affiliated with the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution in
1950. Concerning his daily col
umn, Monday through Friday, he
WEST GEORGIA siudents. Eight alt new
mete! style rooms, fireproof, equipped with
iinnerspring beds, tub and shower, automatic
heat, study desk, maid service. Also three
reoms, equipped for six boys with bath,
shower, connecting kitchen and maid serv
ice. West Georgia Reoms, 720 North Park
street, Phone TE 2-3141.
STUDENTS—THIS CAMPUS ONLY!
WINVALUABLE
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MONDAY. DECEMBER 3. 1962
West Georgian to
Host Staff Dinner
The West Georgian staff will
hold a Christmas dinner at the
Carrollton hotel dining room to
morrow evening at 6:00 p.m.
The staff dinner is one of two
such affairs given by the news
paper for its staff members. The
second dinner, in the form of
a banquet, is scheduled to take
place in late April.
says, “I sometimes run out of
ideas but go on writing any
way.” He is also the compiler
of “Joke’s on Us” in the Sun
day Magazine.
Mr. Aikman speaks at many
conventions, schools and organi
zations. His unique humor and
pertinent content makes him an
outstanding speaker. The VRA
invites you to attend the pro
gram on Dec. 5.
Marianne Byram