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Campus Mirror
Published During the College Year by the Students of Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia
\()L. XIX DECEMBER. 1942 NO. 3
Christmas at Home and
Abroad
Evangeline Few, '46
Although Christmas is a universal holiday,
the celebration in each country has char
acteristics which distinguish it from that of
any other country. In Scotland there is an
ancient legend that Christ was born at mid
night and performed the miracle of changing
water to wine during the same night. Mid
night of December 25 is, therefore, a sacred
moment to the Scots.
In Scandinavia an ancient legend accounts
for the numerous candles placed upon the
Scandinavian trees at Christmas time. There
the Christmas tree was first known as a
“service tree”. The legend states that this
tree sprang from the soil where two lovers
had been killed by violence. On certain days
<luring the Christmas season, tongues of fire
were said to be seen among the branches.
In Egypt the people decked their houses
with branches of the date palm, the emblem
of immortality. The old Greek celebration
was characterized by “the feast of lights.”
This ritual is descended from the “Feast of
Dedication". Watchers of the temple tended
the flames of sacred candles throughout the
the night.
Just as America is the great melting pot
of the world for religion, nationalities, and
racial groups, so the American Christmas is
the result of the blending together of the
customs of many peoples. This mixture of
customs makes a celebration unlike that of
any other country; the American Christmas
is striking for its composite individuality.
This year the American Christmas cele
bration has been altered by the war. .Many
of the men and boys are away from home in
camps. The government is making an effort
to arrange for all the men in the service to
be at home sometime during the Christmas
season. In some homes, nevertheless, where
there is a member of the family serving his
country abroad, there will be a vacant place
at the dinner table. The traditional family
reunion will not be completed; but the mem
bers of the family at home need not think
that the member abroad will have no oppor
tunity to take part in a Christmas celebra
tion. for wherever American soldiers are
stationed there will lie an observance of
some kind. Although each nation celebrates
the birth of Christ in its own way, the cele
bration of the day. somewhat altered per
haps, will lake place this vear as in previous
years at home and abroad.
Annual Concert of Christmas
Carols Held, 16th
Presentation
Clara Yates, '46
The annual Christmas Carol Concert held
its sixteenth presentation on Friday and Sat
urday nights, December 11 and 12, in Sisters
Chapel. The chapel was appropriately
decorated in holly and ivy, and an impressive
candle-lighting service was held. 1 he pro
gram featured as student soloists John Tur
ner, Morehouse, 43; Joseph Brooks, More
house, '44; Priscilla W illiams, Spelman, 44.
and Mildred Saffold, Spelman. 43.
In addition to the familiar numbers there
were many new selections. The chorus of
seventy voices under the direction of Mr.
Harreld introduced to the audience: “Good
Evening." a Swedish spiritual, arranged by
Kenneth G. Kelly : “Las PaseuaU an eight
part Spanish chorus arranged by Deems
Tavlor. distinguished \tnerican composer and
critic; “I pon My Lap My Sov'reign Sits.
a beautiful chorale of medieval England by
Martin Peerson; and a very special number,
"When de Star Shine, an eight-part Negro
jubilee arranged by Noble Cain. The new
offerings of the Morehouse Glee Cluh, also
under the direction of Mr. Harreld, included
a Slovak carol arranged b\ Korentz entitled
"Carol of the Sheep Bells, and "Wasn't That
\ Mighty Day." a Negro jubilee arranged by
John W. Work of Fisk l niversity and dedi
cated to Mr. Harreld. The Spelman Glee
Club, of approximately one hundred voices,
under the direction of W illis Laurence James,
introduced "Slumber My Dove," an Usatian
lullaby arranged by Fitzgerald, and a Welsh
folk tune, “Deck the Hall with Boughs of
Holly,” arranged by Mr. James.
Professor Kemper Harreld was in charge
of the concert; lie is director of music in the
\tlanta I niversity System. He was assisted
in this presentation by Professor Willis
Laurence James, director <>f the Spelman
College Glee Club, and Mt>. Naomah William
Maise, who served as accompanist.