VOL. LXXIV. No. 52
The Greatest Gift
y'/taik'il hristmas means more
a WA? than mailing presents
and opening pack-
ages. Today, as never
before in history, it means
giving something of our-
selves to others.
For that is the
spirit of the Prince
of Peace, whose
birth we cele-
bra * e -
This year more
families in this
community have
given the supreme
gift-the offering
of sons for their country. Stars
on some service flags have
turned to gold. Each week
this newspaper has proudly
recorded the deeds of those
who sene, fight and die, if
need be, that we may be free.
The families of these heroes
know the true meaning of
Christmas. For they, also,
have given a Son.
/I MeWuf,
| Candles— Symbolic of Season |
Christmas candles can take many shapes and forms, many may be
made at home, or purchased on the market, to suit the decorative effect i
desired.
‘Good Tidings to All People’
Christmas literally means “Mass of Christ” and is celebrated to honor
the Nativity of Jesus, Nevertheless, many Christmas customs have origi-,
nated in the folklore and traditions of pre-Christian peoples.
The season of the winter solstice—experts have figured that Christ i
was born during that time of year—has been celebrated as a time of
rejoicing since, and even prior to, the recordance of history.
Peoples of northern Europe celebrated the Festival of Hweol, or the
sun wheel, when the sun—having been at its lowest point in the heavens
—swung its coarse toward the earth once more. Great fires were kindled
in defiance of the Frost King; fires to consume the enmities of the old
year, whose ashes imparted fertility to the soil, and brands, kept from
year to year, were considered charms against the spirits of evil.
The Roman festival of Saturnalia honored the deity of Saturnus, patron
of the agricultural arts. Saturnalia was a season—from December 17
through 25, and merged with the Calends of January—and was charac
terized by revelry, gift-giving, decorations within the home, entertain
ments, etc.
The followers of Mithras celebrated the Feast of Sol Invictus, the
Druids solemnized the cutting of the Mistletoe, the Orthodox Jews com
memorate the Festival of Lights, and the Egyptians dedicated their mid
winter festival to Iris and her symbol the palm tree.
As ancient peoples were converted to Christianity, ancient customs
assumed place among traditions honoring the Babe of Bethlehem who
grew into the Christ and bequeathed to mankind one of the foremost
philosophies of human conduct.
* I —' —" "" ' —■' '■ —— l l ■—
“RuA/’mantf
DOUBLE DUTY
L_BOLLMS_J M
Houston Home Journal
Many of us cannot match such
records of high sacrifice. But
we can give and we can serve
in other ways. We can make
good will and kindness, chari
ty and understanding not
- W -tBSaSli /(1 ' *
homes of servicemen still
far away. We can speed the
day of peace on earth, jus
tice and brotherhood.
In thus giving of ourselves
we will all be far richer. And
we will add inner meaning
and strength to the age-old
but ever-new greeting which
this newspaper extends to
you and yours—
PERRY. HOUSTON COUNTY GA.. THURSDAY. DECEMBER 27. 1945
empty words but
heart-wanning re
alities in our deal
ings with others. 1
We can help the
boys returning to
this community
from the war build
a brave new fu
ture. We can
cheer the lonely
Christmas Customs of
World Accumulation
By ELIZABETH BOYKIN
With internationalism the hope
and prayer of all of us, whatever
our political faith, it is particularly
stirring to think of the internation
alism of our Christmas. It is not
only an international celebration but
the midwinter holiday is one that
man has commemorated since long
before the Christmas era, almost as
far back as we can trace his story.
At first the midwinter holiday was
a celebration of joy that the gather
ing darkening of the days had
stopped and that the days were
growing lighter and longer again.
Early man had a terrible fear that
there might come a time when there
waa no light left on earth.
The Christian era likewise was
ushered in with a symbolism of light
in a dark world and so the celebra
tion of Christ's birthday was set at
this midwinter time in the fourth
century A. D.
But the church regarded as
heathen the use of lights and ever
greens to decorate for Christmas
festivities. A vigorous effort was
made to suppress their use and Ter
tullian writes: “Let the heathen
kindle lamps—they who have no
light. Let them fix to the door posts
laurel branches to be burned, but
thou, oh, Christian, art a light in
the world, a tree that is evergreen.
Make not a pagan temple of thy own
house door.”
Symbol of New Faith,
But the love of man for light and
for evergreens, even to symbol- |
ize his new faith, persisted and dur
ing early American times, efforts to
suppress the idea were still being
made. Massachusetts in the 17th
century enacted a bill reading,
“Anybody who is found observing by
abstinence from labor, feasting or in
any other way, any such day as
Christmas Day, shall pay for every
such offense five shillings.”
But eventually the evergreens and
the lights were accepted as a part
of the Christian celebration of Christ-
W't ’ %Ttf ( "~ t
mas and they even acquired a Chris
tian symbolism. The holly ber
ries came to represent the drops of
Christ’s blood, the leaves his crown
of thorns, while the mistletoe berries
became symbols of Mary’s tears.
The gay home customs of Christ
mas are likewise an accumulation of
many lands and many cultures. The
American Santa Claus developed
from Holland’s St. Niclaes while our
Christmas tree came from Germany.
England gave us the tradition of the
flaming plum pudding and many 1
of our most beloved carols. Mexico !
is the homeland of the poinsettia,
and the Latin countries of Europe
gave us the creche and many of the
loveliest of the religious pictures that
we like best on Christmas cards, j
From Sweden we have the gracious
gesture of the sheaf of wheat on the
gate posts so the birds can share
the holiday and the custom of gin
gerbread cakes in animal shapes.
Boar’s Head Rich
In Lore and Food
The wild boar has been revered
from earliest times as having taught
mankind the art of plowing by root
ing into the ground with his tusks.
Pre-christian Druids, celebrating
the winter solstice, offered a boar’s
head to the goddess Froya and, be
cause of its food value, boar has al- j
ways been an important part of fes- I
tive menus.
Once upon a Christmas Day—so
the story goes—a student of Oxford
was studying Aristotle while walking
in Shotover forest. Suddenly a wild
boar rushed at the lad who, in des
peration, crammed his book into the
gaping jaws of the beast.
The student was poor and could
not afford to lose his Aristotle, so
he cut off the boar’s head and re
covered the text book; neither was
a good boar’s head to be wasted, so
it was taken to Queen’s college,
, roasted and eaten. Whenceforth,
elaborate ceremonies attend the
bringing in of the boar’s head on
Christmas Day.
Kiwi
The Kiwi is a native of New Zea
' land. !
MODERN INDUSTRY
SERVES THE SPIRIT
OF OUR CHRISTMAS
In a busy world, the Christmas
card has assumed a definite place
.. , among Christmas
customs and tradi
tion serving the
spirit of friendship,
*■ echoing the prom-
ise of peace and
i£ Reputedly, the
i first Christmas
I card, properly so
il called, was dis
| patched in 1845
when W. C. Dob
son, one of Queen
| Victoria’s favorite
| painters, sent lith
| ographed scenes
inscribed with
........ . greetings to his
many friends dur
ing the Christmas season.
In 1846, John Calcott Horsley, Roy
al Academician, designed a card
for Sir Henry Cole. Thus the cus
tom of sending Christmas cards
seems to have been inaugurated—
although, even as far back as Queen
Anne’s reign, it was customary for
children to write Christmas pieces.
Such “Christmas pieces” were speci
mens of handwriting with elaborate
ly engraved borders designed to rep
resent some current event or subject
studied by the children during the
year, and were sold in shops and at j
bazaars until about 1840.
Christmas cards were introduced
into the United States during the
1870 s by Marcus Ward and Company
of London and for a short while the
English firm enjoyed a monopoly of
the market.
The name of Louis Prang is out
standing in the history and develop
ment of the modern Christmas card
industry. Mr. Prang, an exile from
Germany following the revolution of
1848, introduced the art idea into
American public schools via the
Prang method of education. In 1874,
Prang invaded the Christmas card
field. Prizes were offered for the
best designs and perfected litho
graphic processes.
Switzerland Kept
Xmas for Refugees
Switzerland “kept” Christmas last
year for the 20,000 refugee children
who were being cared for within her
borders as Europe celebrated its
sixth wartime Christmas,
From France and Belgium, from
Holland, Italy, Hungary, Poland,
Czechoslovakia, and far distant
Greece they had come—many of
them orphans, many children with
out a country—traversing Europe by
circuitous routes. Guided by peas-
Toys for refugee tots.
ants, Red Cross workers, Wehr
macht guards, and older children
they arrived on foot, herded in cattle
cars, traveling in groups,
A fraction of the millions of inno
cent victims of World War 11, these
refugee children were supposed to
remain only two or three months
so as to give other youngsters a
chance to recuperate in neutral
Switzerland. But in many cases,
repatriation was delayed—parents
were scattered or dead, battles still
raged in areas whence the children
had come, so they were allowed to
remain and Switzerland, crowding
them to h,:-r bosom, welcomed many,
many others.
American Mistletoe Not
That Specie of European
History or Its Legend
The mistletoe of history and leg
end is a different specie than our
American natives, and is found in
Europe.
The specie found in the South At
lantic states is called Phoradendron
(Greek word meaning “tree thief”)
fiavescens. It is found most often
on the following trees: tupelo, red
maple, poplar, willow, cypress, juni
per, apple, locust and linden trees.
Occasionally, but not often, it oc
curs in oaks.
The plant in its wild state is gath- ;
ered by collectors for sale during
the Christmas holiday*.
Flys Backward
The humming bird can fly back
ward.
TH6/TAR OF il
| BETHLEHEM ff S |
The little village of Bethlehem, hardly more than a half mile
wide, and only a single street in length, had houses of white stone
with small domes, and were snuggled in the dark foliage of olive
trees. Fig groves and vineyards adorned the rocky terraces
close by. It was a land which hold many sacred memories. There
was the spot whore Jacob had his first great grief, when his be
loved wife Rachel was buried; and yonder were the fields where
Ruth, in the early days of Israel, had come to reap barley and
walk with Naomi, in the evenings, beside a gentle brook. It was
to this land that Joseph and Mary were coming, the early home
of their own great grandfather David, who had kept his father’s
sheep on these very hills and had learned to sing the songs of
praise to God.
w&r aiar jsit?
The ascent to the town, over the dusty glare of grey limestone
hjlls, was the last of their journey and was so steep that Mary
had to alight from her donkey and go up on foot. Presently pass
ing through a low gate, she and Joseph were at last in the moun
tain town of Bethlehem.
In those days, the simplicity of life made the passing wayfarer
welcome in the homos. To bring water at once to wash the trav
eler’s feet, dusty with the Eastern sandals, was an act of courtesy.
Food and lodging for himself arfd hfiT beasts Were provided, and
the traveler was made to feel that he was under the sacred pro
tection of his host. However, when Joseph and Mary reached
Bethlehem kvery house was filled, for travelers had been journey
ing there in great numbers because of the census. Even the Inn,
which was a crude building, consisting of a single empty room,
on the floor of which a traveler could spread his carpet for sleep,
was filled to overflowing.
; m f 4%
Ma 'M m
The only place they could find shelter was in an old stable,
which had been built in a natural hollow, or cave, on the hillside.
The stable was in darkness. The deep breathing of sleeping cattle,
cows and donkeys warmed the chill air. Hay was strewn about
and with the aid of his lantern, Joseph soon made a comfortable
place for them to sleep.
However, the dim light of his lantern was soon overpowered
by a great illumination from heaven. The old stable was presently
filled with light, and beams as radiant as the sun shone all about.
A wonderful thing had happened, a little child had been born and
Mary His mother had wrapped Him in soft swaddling clothes and .
laid Him in a manger. The gentle rustle of wings was heard in
the air and snowy white angels hovered over the manger. With
joyous song they greeted the little messenger of mercy and love
—the Christ Child—whom God had sent to the world; the little
King who had been born in a lowly stable and laid in a cradle
of hay.
4'’*. 41'i. 4’i.
as& ikt \
The sleeping hills were now flooded with celestial splendor.
An angel of the Lord, in an intense sheath of light, came from
heaven and surprised a group of shepherds near the ancient
watchtower of Eder, announcing to them the birth of the Holy
Child. Multitudes of angels sped the sky, spreading tidings of joy
afar. Music rang throughout the land, music of the angel host.
The great gospel anthem fell upon the earth in all its divine beauty
and thrilling force, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace, good will toward men.” The shepherds ran up the steep
road to Bethlehem and seeing the star that God had placed over
the stable, found the King of Glory and worshipped Him with
adoration pouring from their hearts.
Hkf ijfar
The same star that burned over the sacred manger that night
had brought other men from a far off country; Wise Men from
the East. They, too, had seen the sign in the sky, heralding the
birth of a King. The star had guided them over mountain, valley
and parched deserts, till at last they reached Bethlehem. Their
camels walked one by one through the narrow streets, bearing
their rich burden, for these men were kings of great wealth. The
star pointed to the stable; the camels knelt before the open door
and the Wise Men unloaded the treasures they had brought; boxes
of gold, sweet perfumes and rare spices. They laid their gifts at
the feet of the smiling infant in the manger, and fell upon their
knees in fervent worship of Jesus the Saviour,
Radio t'lllows l
In one Australian hospital, pa
tients with head or neck injuries are
supplied with a “radio” pillow.
Containing a very weak loudspeaker
the pillows are made of sponge rub
ber.
ESTABLISHED 1870
Failure Before Success
Cyrus McCormick turned out
many a queer machine that tailed to
work and consequently made him
self the laughing stock of the com
munity before he finally succeeded
in making a reaper that would work.
