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-—what do

hristmas is our biggest holi-
day, celebrated by all: church
and state, young and old, rich
and poor; far more than any other
holiday, more than the national
holiday, more than Easter which
is, in theory, the holiest day
for a Christian.

Indeed, Christmas is not one
holiday, but a conglomerate of
different traditional celebra-
tions, each of which brings its own
Symbols and feeling and contrib-
utes to the so-called ‘‘ Christmas
Spirit.’’

Let’s examine the origins and
contents of Christmas.

1. The Nativity and the Festival of

Light.

Officially, Christmas is a re-
ligious holiday, commemorating
the birth of Christ. The .25th of
December was chosen arbitrar-
ily for this celebration and, after
come fluctuations, that date be-
came an established tradition in
the fourth century, although the
Eastern Christian churches still
celebrate Christmas on a dif-
ferent day.

The Bible offers no informa--

tion whatsoever as to the day,
Or even the season, of Jesus’
birth,

But there was a pagan festival
which was widely celebrated
under various names in the an-
Cient world, around the Winter
Solstice (December 22), It was
the celebration of the victory of
Light over. Darkness, as the days
begin to grow longer.

WG <a EHR

The custom of the Christian
Church was not to forbid those

Pagan riuals, but to ‘‘christen’’

them, as it were, by superimpo-
ing a suitable Christian holiday.
an this case the coming of Christ,
‘Light of the World,’’ was chos-
€n to replace the Festival of
Light.

In some parts, the Festival
of Light was coupled with St.
Lucy’s Day (December 13), rath-

er than with Christmas, because

the name Lucy means ‘light’.
This is the origin of the Scand-
inavian ‘‘Santa Lucia’’ festival.

However, even in Scandinavian

| Countries, Christmas has assum-
_ €d characteristics of the Festival

¥ Mas fires,

of Light. The church itself re-
tains-in its ritual some of the
traditional symbols of light, such
as the lighting of candles.
Others are entirely popular and
include Christmas lights, Christ-
Christmas decora-
tions with baubles and scintillat-
ing ornaments. The Christmas
Star, although a purely Christ-
ian tradition, has become assim-
ilated with the symbols of light.

| 2 The Festival of Life.

Most families have a Christ-
Mas tree and never wonder why.
he Christmas tree, with its
8reen branches, is a symbol of
life winning over the apparent
death of Winter, and is a rem-

Nant of an old Germanic cult.

3. The Festival of Children.
Christmas has almost com-
Pletely taken over the Festival of
t. Nicholas, still celebrated in
Germanic Districts on December
+ St. Nicholas was the patron

eee

legend that he brought back to
life three little children murd-
ered by a butcher.

He was also associated with
miraculous presents, because of
another legend in which he threw
gold through the window into the
house of a poor and virtuous
lady who lacked a dowry.

Therefore, on December 6; St.
Nicholas distributed presents to
children who deserved them for
their good behaviour and that is
the origin of our Santa Claus,

The fact that the central char-
acter of the Christmas story is
the child Jesus permitted the
change over, with the added idea
that all presents come from God,
St. Nicholas or Santa Claus be-
ing merely a go-between.

4. The tradition of gift giving.

The ancients exchanged gifts
and good wishes on the first
day of the year, which was at
the beginning of Spring (a more
logical time than our New Year’s
Day). When the beginning of the

year was shifted to Jan. 1 in
the middle ages, the exchange

of gifts and good wishes was

also changed to the new date,
In modern times, the prox-

imity of Christmas, with its al- .

ready existing tradition of giving
presents to children, created a
confusion, The story of the Wise
Men bringing presents to Jesus
supplied the necessary symbol,
and commercial interests did the
rest.

In this country, Christmas has
completely taken over the gift
giving tradition.

5. The Festival of Good Cheer.

Although many wouldn’t admit
it, the main feature of the Christ-
mas holiday nowadays is eating,
(special traditional dishes)
drinking and party going. One
reason, of course, is that the
weather is usually bad at this
time of year and there is not
much else to do. “

Another reason might be that
there is a psychological need for
a time set apart for indulging in
the sensual pleasures. Ancient
religions recognized this need
and organized ritual orgies.

The Romans, for instance, had
Bacchanals and Saturnals (the
latter at the end of December).
The Christian church put an end

eed to be filled.

. .
‘ ‘ Ree eG sted

to all this. There was therefore

Christmas and its origins
weceeprst

Holidays like the Festival of
Fools in the Middle Ages, ar the
carnivals down to modern times,
more or less filled that need,
but they have died out. It seems
that Christmas is in the process
of replacing them.

Our Santa Claus, with his red
nose, fat belly and stupid *‘Ho-
ho-ho’’, resembles Dyonisos
more than the ascetic, venerable
bishop he is supposed to repre-
sent.

Traditions are constantly re-
newed and enriched. If Christ-
mas is to develop in a new
direction, I would like it to be-
come a Festival of Peace.

The legendary element neces-
sary to sustain the idea is al-
ready present in the phrase sung
by the angels: ‘‘Peace on earth
to men of good will,’’ (Such is
the correct translation, not:
‘¢Good will to men."’)

Be ee, Oe met

In the past few years, some
people have taken to sending
peace cards, instead of the cust-
omary Christmas cards.

This is a constructive idea,

and should be encouraged.
—M. Richer

Special prices

on 7-seas books

LL SEVEN SEAS pocket-
books have been reduced in
price. Editions formerly selling
for $1.25 are now 95¢ and those
priced at 95¢ are cut to 75¢.

Seven Seas is an attractive
pocketbook with glossy soil-proof
cover, fully competitive as to de-
sign and format with any pocket-
book produced in North America,
with this difference: alltitles are
high calibre by ranking progres~
sive authors on challenging them-
es collected from many count-
ries,

Some sample titles: Following
the Sun - 17 tales from Australia,
India and South Africa; The Man
Who would be God by Haakon
Chevalier; The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain;
Poetry and Prose by Walt Whit-

man; Adventures of a Young Mar.

by John Reed: Spooks in Your

Cupboard - a collection of 19th

Century ghosts and ghouls.

James C. McIntosh is founder

of the National Youth Orchestra
and editor and publisher of the
magazine, The Performing Arts
in Canada. The article below is
reprinted from that magazine.
. It should be of particular inter-
est to Vancouver readers, in view
of the recent dispute between the
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
and ‘patrons” who have spon-
sored it in the past

NCE upon atime a Ca-
nadian businessman ofthe
highest social calling invented
the game called ‘*Canadian
Cultural Monopoly.’’ As a
game it is not like Monopoly;
however, as a monopoly it is
no game and so our cultural

In the very early stages our
illustrious inventor hadto find
other equally acceptable busi-
nessmen to give his new in-
vention both the desired inte-
grity and prominence in the

would give the players un-
heard of social prominence!

This all took place around
the time of Confederation but
I understand the movement
was relatively local in char-

acter. ‘
Today the invention has

gained national prominence.
Canada has more players for
Cultural Monopoly than any
other country in the world.
While other nations spendtime
and money in the development
of art and artists we have sur-
ged ahead to perfect the
‘¢Board of Directors’’ who are
by the way, also the players.

The game is simple - the
qualifications are not, The
object of the game is to give
as little money as possible
while gaining national pres-
tige.

The qualifications?
plex, to say the least.

You must first have caught
the attention of at least three
social editors in your com-
munity assuming, of course,
that your community has three
papers. You should own your
own home ina fashionable dis-
trict, drive a Lincoln, Cadil-
lac or better, and vacation in
Florida at least once every
two years with the odd trip to
the Bahamas in the interim.

So much for the qualifica-
tions of the players. Now for
some pertinent facts about the
game,

It is somewhat like chessin
that the artists and/or per-
formers are pawns and not un-
like jazz there is a lingo, or
terminology, peculiar only to
those on the inside. f

For example, in jazz
‘*bread’’ means money and
**nad’’ is home, sweet home
Here then is a glossary of
terms for players - with tips
for newcomers.

Patron - Preferably the
Queen; work from there down
to retired Army officers. Do
not go lower.

Distinguished - ofter used
in conjunction with Patron.
Use with discretion.

Authority - Not to be con-
fused with expert.... Usually
a man who knows those on the
inside, i.e., pressure groups
that think for the experts en-
gaged by the various organi-
zations.

Com-

Canadian
Cuitural Monopoly

business community. Thegame

often replaced by less deter-
mined individuals, Must have
excellent social contacts and
substantial Bank account.
Preferably third generation.

SSDS

se

0;
ret

Founder - often idealistic,
seldom comes from good
home, should be watched
closely. MUST be disquali-
fied when the project becomes
financially sound. Try to
stick him with an overdraft
at the Bank.

Publicist - Group or indi-
vidual with tremendous influ-
ence on the local press. Fail-
ing this, any writer will do.

Social Convener - Highest
possible calling for female of
the species. Outside patio
should measure at least 60 by
100 feet.

Dilettante - Not to be con-
fused with debutante, althoug!
some families can afford both.
Good mother and daughter
team can evolve from this
set-up.

Officers - Wives of wealthy
men and/or husbands of weal-
thy women. : BI

Committees - You cannot %
have too many committees. If
necessary have sub-commit-
tees. Beware of individuals
with an ability to work things
out for themselves,

Auditorium - Showplace for
latest fashions (arrive fash-
ionably late).

Artists - A reasonably good
excuse to play the game of
Canadian Cultural Monopoly.
Ofter amusing at parties, re-
ceptions etc. Use sparingly.
Do not contaminate with finan-
cial security.

Artistic Director - Often
imaginative, even intelligent,
and well read, Must be placed
in position where his annual
**resignation’’ can be counted
on. WARNING: Never listen
to him at Board meetings - *
logic, such as creative people *
are capable ofexpressing, can : :
spoil the game by doing away =
with superfluous rules, etc, Bs
Try to have a “‘big business- *:
man’’ insult him at the first
meeting...this will keep him
in his place,

The main function of the
game is to collect as many
directorships as possible. As
a ground rule, one should
never confuse Canada’s cultu-
ral monopoly with the needs
and desires of the general pub-
lic. :

Too many players without :
the qualifications mentioned
earlier will spoil the game for
generations of dubutantes - or
is it dilettantes?

It should be noted here that %
some wayward individuals *
play this game without being =:
fully aware ofthe groundrules *
and some even contribute, by Be
accident or choice, to the
growth and development ofour *
artistic undertakings.

A word of caution to those ES
who wish to keep this game
the sport of Kings - kings, that
is, in the financial kingdom.
Beware of merchants, who
purchase old or even relative-
ly new theatres.

They may, by devious
means, encourage teenagers
to forego rock and roll long
enough to hear West Side
Story. It is even rumored :
that some honest impresarios
harbor thoughts of givein away
soda and pop and the like at
intermission.....

Beware, also, of critics.
They are a crafty lot andhave %
been known from time to time BS
to side with the artist. Bs

SESESEESE:

Sos

SESS OO SOS SS

3, 1963—PACIFIC TRIBUNE—