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. B12 Terrace Review — Wednesday, December 20, 1989

suits up:

Santa Claus is a distinctly
North American phenomenon,
but many of the habits now con-
nected with him actually come
from earlier symbolic characters
in Europe. os

_by Betty Barton .

For example, the fact that
Santa Claus enters the house
-through the chimney developed
from an old Norse legend. The
Norse believed that the goddess
Hertha appeared in the fireplace
and brought good luck to the
home, Today, in. North
America, children leave cookies
and milk for Santa to munch on
‘when he comes down the
chimney to deliver toys and
presents on Christmas Eve. And
we wonder why Santa has a ro-
tund physique!
.- The: name Santa Claus also
developed from a European
source. Dutch settlers in New
York called St. Nicholas Sinter
Klaas, American children loved
this kindly man. They called him
Santa Claus. The jolly, rolly-
polly Santa we know today has
become a legend in North
America. And, children wait im-
patiently for his first appearance
in December in a mail or at a
school Christmas party.
- In 1823; an American minister
‘and poet, Clement C. Moore,
first described Santa’s fur-
trimmed suit and his sleigh with
reindeer. He wrote the poem “‘A
Visit from St. Nicholas’’, later
called ‘“‘The Night Before
Christmas’’. Children today
have no trouble believing that
Santa Claus can carry a huge
pack of toys down even the
smallest chimney. This is all part
of the magic of Santa Claus.

Santa. made his 1989 debut in
Terrace at the Skeena Mall Dec.
2. Hundreds of children and
parents gathered in the parking
lot to await Santa’s arrival by
helicopter. They cheered and
waved as he flew over and
landed on the roof. Minutes
later, he was seated in his comfy
chair in the mall.

One of Santa’s first visitors
asked, “Why didn’t you bring
your reindeer?’’ Santa was quick
to explain that they’re back at
the North Pole, resting up for a
hard night’s flying on Christmas
Eve. When interviewed after his
visit in the Skeena Mall, Santa
went on to say he loves this time
of year as much as the children
do. He enjoys working closely
with the elves to build and glue
and hammer the many toys and
other gifts to be delivered at
Christmas; he loves the chil-
drens’ enthusiasm when tliey get
a chance to see him or sit on his

knee. He wants everyone to
know that, whether they’re

young or old, he enjoys visiting

with all his ‘kids’. And he wants -
ther to come and visit him in.
the Skeena Mall, even if they
don’t want a photo taken. San-

ta’s there for rich and poor!

proach him. For those who are

‘face covered with a silky white:

‘Santa takes home to read
-carefully. He tries to fulfill every

And, he’s very cautious and
shy. So you have to make him
feel comfortable when you ap-

frightened of that lovely round:

beard, Santa’s letterbox is avail-
able to receive letters. These,

wish, but it isn’t always possible.
Santa will be in the Skeena
Mall every Friday evening from
7 to 8 p.m. until Christmas,
Saturdays from 11 to 12 and 2 to
3 p.m. and Monday to Friday
from 3 to 4 p.m. Santa won’t be
there Christmas Eve because
he’ll be returning to the North
Pole to load up the sleigh and
hitch up the reindeer.
Santa loves visiting at Christ-
mas -time.. You'll see him at
many childrens’ parties, office
parties and community gather-
ings bringing happiness and joy
to everyone. Santa sometimes
charges for these special ap-
pearances so that he can donate
money and materials. to Juanita
Hatton for her Christmas
Goodie Bags which she dis-
tributes to the needy.
Juanita Hatton, a long-time
Terrace resident, formerly ran
the Golden Rule employment
agency. Juanita is one of Santa’s
most conscientious and hard-
working helpers and so, he helps
her as much as he can. Santa, in-
terviewed after the recent Royal
Bank kids’ Christmas party,
says, ‘‘We don’t advertise that
we do this. People just know.
They call me or Mrs. Claus at
the North Pole and if we can fit
it into our busy Christmas
schedule, one of us will be
there.”
Last Saturday morning, Santa
had breakfast with children at

This E.T. Kenney Primary School Grade 1 class visited the B.C. Access Centre last week
with their teacher, Darlene Davis, to adorn. the center’s Christmas tree with decorations
made in class especially for the occasion. After decorating the tree, the children sang a few
Woolworth. It was a wonderful Christmas songs before learning their work had earned them a special reward. Santa show-
breakfast with English muffins ed up with goody bags for all. =

and jam and bacon. Each child -
who wanted to, sat on Santa’s
knee and told him what he/she
personally wanted for Christmas
and also for other members of
the family and friends.

You'll see lots more of Santa
throughout the Christmas
season, and then, if you’re very
quiet after you go to bed on
Christmas Eve, you might even
by lucky enough to hear him
land on your roof and come
down your chimney. If you
don’t have a chimney, don’t
worry. Santa’s magic will help
him deliver your presents.

Then, once delivery is com-.
pleted, Santa and the reindeer
return to the North Pole. He
feeds them special oats and ap-
ples and hay, covers. them up
with heavy, fluffy blankets and
lets them sleep until they’ve fully
recovered from their strenuous
work on Christmas Eve. Santa
and Mrs. Santa sit in front of the
_fire with cups of tea and a few of
the cookies you’ve left for him
-and lovingly review the season.

continued on page B13.

“MONDAY: Terrace Minor Hockey
é Friendship Society

Kinsmen Club. (Alternate)
oo 8 - ‘Thank youl Have. a Nice day!

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