Christmas Customs

: From Other Lands"

The celebration of Christ.
mas: ‘throughout the world.

thing is constant:. the: joy

that pervades this holiday .

season.

In Italy, ‘the. ‘Christmas
tree gives way to the:Prae-

sepio.. This..is a nativity -
-scene;“created with . love .
- and devotion by Italians:in. -
their homes ‘and in their .

churches. It is ustially con-
‘structed from wood, cork,
plaster, and papier mache,
among ‘other materials,“ A.
. colorful tableaux, depicting

‘mother, Mary, surrounded
- by Joseph, the: Wise Men,

shepherds, angels and even ©

animals, is set in a place of
_honor during ‘the’ holidays.

To the north, in Norway,

a very charming. custom
remembers some of ‘God's

. little creatures. The birds’
Christmas tree is a specially
gleaned sheaf of grain from

- head, appears at this time.

SSt. Lucy,” as she is called,
takes many forms, but.one © ~

carriés ‘a tray with coffee
and a simall cake (baked

‘in honor of. the occasion)

for the occupants of the —

house. This festive break-

'.° fast’signals'the start of the

Christmas season for Nor-
wegians. .

Another repast plays an

important part in Christmas .

celebrations for the Polish.
They observe . December
‘24th as a fast day until the
‘first star appears in the eve-

s ‘ ning sky. It is then that the
the Infant Jesus with His ” Wilia, or Christmas Sup- -

~per, begins. Straw is scat-

- tered under the table, the

- dishes, and tablecloth, pro-
~ bably as a reminder of the
birth in a manger. A vacant:

chair is reserved ‘for the
Infant Jesus.

the fall harvest, bound to... J

. the top of & pole i in Norwe-; fh

* gian front yards. The cattle ~ °°
are also remembered at this.

- tiie, with extra fodder, in: fh,
honor. of their presence cn

the birth. of Jesus, .

In) Sweden,

white; with ‘a bright’ ted
- sash about her. waist. and | a

another oe
charming custom opens the ~

. Christmas’ seasoh . on:. De- .
cember - 13th. This - ‘is. the. a ae
feast day of St:Lucy; who: #-
ushers in.the holiday. spirit. .

- A-young girl; Jdréssed. in:

crown of candles upon, her =

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‘HERE ARE a‘ FEW
‘GUIDELINES FOR

. HOSTING YOUR.GUESTS __

_ THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

- Doh't : wait. “until “party” ae
day to clean- house. You'll” -

“be too tired. for. your
guests.

Don’t get so wrapped up : es :
‘in one: -conversation..that-  #
you forget: your’ other. ei

: “guests:

Don't’ leave ‘the. ‘tele. core |
Vision | ‘on “when. guests ar-" . -
rive. invited, or uninvited.

Don’t ‘force games,

- cards, TV. or® ‘records: on Re

guests,

‘time.

“Do offer everyone some-

thing to eat or drink:

Do leave all'your outside
~ lights “on; especially this
time of year:

_.°: Do personally. talk with - ey
a each ’ guest at | Teast ore:

Do try to draw all ‘guests |

into’ a conversation that’s .

suited. to them.
~ Do put: yourself in their
place, What would -you |
expect at.their house? -

. Just:remember,.a-warm: - - ..
greeting ‘and’ good eating -

"are the ‘two. keys t to suc-

cessful hosting. ee

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ia wae neae te vavayi M ALSYACATAVALAP AM AT

AAT CE AON

The héad of the fanily

takes a thin wafer that has
been blessed, and that fea-

tures Christmas characters

upon it: He prays for the

- welfare of his family and

then distributes pieces of
the wafer to each person
at the table. A traditional

supper is then enjoyed by |
the family, after which yet
another custom is observed:

boys and girls go about the
streets singing carols and

others go about dressed as oa
. strange beasts and other

characters.

Christmas i in French Can- .

ada, as might be expected,

is reminiscent of old French .
"customs. The holiday sea-'
son is commenced with a.
beautiful midnight ‘miass.
| After. this, French Canadi-"_
_ ans enjoy a supper at home,

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‘CHRISTMAS EDITION, THE HERALD, Wed. Dec. 22,1976, 25.

: with a joy ou wu Chrgtnas fi lled with
oe Peace, and é aip piness, Warm thanks...

~The Golden Rule

2- 3238 Kalum St. os

“honor t us with your patronage. a
"Seasons Greetings The. Staff at.

, :
stele erent, Paar) or
TAMATAN ETAT AANA Ee

_ PARK AVENUE REALTY LTD.

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+ AUS ESA ATA AT AT So

635-4971 |

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