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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.