Two stories surround the

Teens FERN a naa aH Portia Sede egw teh ide = at de Vite LS tang acm es

TWO SURPRISING MYTHS :

traditional yule. ‘season... Pan

cplant, ‘the poinsettia—one ‘a

“charming * ‘partoof: the holie 2 9 03°
day magic; the other 4 myth oo

that: deserves debunking.

-The"first tells of the. little.

; “blind girl who: wjshed: to
~ -show her love. for: the babe
zborm in Bethlehem’s: | ‘man:

’ ger. No precious token

‘could she bring, so she car-

ed'a tender. green plant. in|.

her’ groping: hands, “I can-
“not see it,’’ she: said to the
- mother; “but: “itis. nature’s
- gift- for. the Child, so L know
"it must.be beautiful.” The

infant’ touched ‘the gift and,”
lo? a: lovely red bloom ap:

peared ‘at his tiny fingertips.
; And-that; they said
around ‘the. campfires i in the

hills of ‘Judea, is how. the |

‘poinsettia became’ the
Christmas flower, proudly
bursting into color each
‘year in remembrance.

"The other myth, the un:

‘pleasant one’ that crops up

each ‘year at. this season, has ,
to do. with: the poinsettia’s:

undeserved reputation as an

enemy in the home.
According to extensive

~research on the subject, any

supposed deadly traits:
attributed ‘to poinsettias are -

unfounded and untrue.
The Department of Health,
Education and Welfare has
-- released: this statement: on
the subject :“‘Although there
are a number of reports in-

“.-cluding. the ingestion of
parts of the leaves and

berries, we have yet to find

mention that a child be--

came ill, except for a few
cases where. vomiting . Was
reported.” mes

Of alll the flowering plants
available during the holi-

‘days, the one that says -

“Merry Christmas!” the
loudest is the shaggy leafed
poinsettia, oO

The National Clearing. |
house for Poison Control --

Centers, where statistical
data is collected, has no‘ rec-
ord of any fatality ever
caused by ingestion of poin-
settias, Scientists at Ohio

State University force-fed

large doses of homogenized
poinsetta parts to labora-

tory rats. Result? No mor-
tality ;-no sickness, no he-.

havioral changes. Nimerous

other research compiled by’
‘the American Association of
Nurserymeri has shown the:

same evidence.

Yet the myth seems to
‘pop up every Christmas sea-
son, and now it should be

put to rest, There are a num-

ber of non-deadly things
around the home not mesnt. -

to be eaten, and the poinset-
tia is one of. them, It-is.to-be
seen. and enjoyed:—one.. of

‘nature’ ‘Ss loveliest gifts of. the:
seasons," ;

- make your tree
‘truly dazzling ©

en os ‘Christmas tree, 0
“Christmas tree, how lovely —
‘are.thy branches! " 7

.-. Surely: the heart of holi-
day decorating is the fam- ©

_- ily! Christmas tree. spar-
_ kling with ‘lights and. fes- --

tooned with ornaments.

There are no end to the -
ways. you can decorate a’.

tree and.this could be the

year you'll be inspired to Q
_try something new. |
Make it a family project

to create: a beautiful,

unique Christmas tree

spectacular for your home.
Satin balls: in. all colors,

‘wrapped in ribbons are an.
elegant way to trim'the ~
‘tree, “
Velvet ribbon, . tied in: -
great bows, will colorfully of
. and prettily.adorn, as will
taffeta bows and eyelet rib- ©
“bons.
Cellophane - - wrapped - -

lollipops tied to the tree
will look cheery’ and. the

youngsters will have great ~]..
fun. picking them from the . '].

tree as the: holiday season --
ends, And don’t forget the: ~

candy canes! -

Bits of lace and ribbon ;

can transform - -ordinary

" glass. ornaments into some-
thing really special — and -

for something distinctively
‘ornamental, .

nishthem.°- . -
Make this holiday ‘extra

_ Special by giving your tree .
‘an. extra -Sspecial’ festive . |.

4 look.with- imaginative and
~~ different fimmnings.- :

qyamary reason cme May AEE Pe

med

tee

2S RPO NST BOR EE nubeate METERS

CHRISTMAS EDITION, THE HERALD. Wed. Dec. 2, 2, 176. » )

‘ Our Christmas Customs:

LIVELY STORIES OF CHRISTMAS |

-Christynas, the.commem-

oration” “of the. Holy. Birth,
‘has long-been considered a-
‘lively holiday: and a celebra- .

tion of the. joy of life.

* Yotrvean: add to: the live
“lines ‘of your Christmas cel-*
| ebration by bringing-a little -
life:into-your ‘home and;the : |;
homes: ‘of: your. friends... ‘Tt’s” :
a natural: -thing.to do at this -
season, with lovely, living.
- plants. "and ‘trees, |
“You.can - ‘prolong the:
holiday: cheer in -your own ~
‘home:by getting living.
Christmas. tree. you can"re- ~

plant’in. the New: ‘Year,.

Select'a tree with a-sturdy -”
root bail; and-keep.it moist: -
and: cool jn a shallow: con-;
tainer away. from heat: out:
‘Jets and fireplaces.’ ~~ a

After :the holidays, plant
it as soon as the Ground ; can-.
_ be dug. You can get some

— tips from anursery

garden center or: “from, the a
. American. Association ‘of
“ Nurserymeén:: Next year, “rte tor
‘you'll be able to enjoy dec: ~

orating two Christmas trees,

one inside, one out.

To enliven: -your:Christ-

- mas giving, there are plants
to fit almost everyone on”
your list. For homeowners, a
“ary giving-orname ntal oy
‘Shade trees, or charming
‘ shrubs’.and. bushes... Match
‘plants to ‘personalities—
~~ there -are, flowering - house
. plants; delicate; exotic ferns;
‘businesslike “broad-leaved.
. plants. and: hardy cacti,
“among many others, co
For a child; a: ‘Christmas. a
plant. can be a. learning. a

experience. e‘can get fo.

know ‘more‘about nature:: © -

how ‘plants: grow, what’
“makes them green and what
_ they ‘can do for. us.

2 bake. tree
: cookies, and paint and var-

7

. The * Guséom of sending .

greetings through. -the mail
at Christmas originated in
England: ‘during . the. 18th

“Drive carefully this.

holiday season. We: hope to see y W again
" the next time you need the best i ins rvice.. ‘

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