Newspapers / The Chowan Herald (Edenton, … / Dec. 24, 1970, edition 1 / Page 17
Part of The Chowan Herald (Edenton, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
a* - *,- ♦*. *♦ <")** ~A« •„». X' ;H 'Wfl®* * : *■ r V .’V * m •' a 1 - -r* **•'V 5 Y» ' ’IP- '" \'.* M I 0 j, v ® )® Jy ®f v \9 ) f I fv a\ « ‘ l >4gS»db--®BC<V ' cC r®‘A V \ lr I f Christmas Greeting Section “Oh Come, All Ye Faithful, Joyful and Triumphant” IB fMKr v«Hr <BBB3jBHKag ' '. *~ x 3.f >;i— l Telling Story 0£ Nativity “And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. “And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger." Luke 2:15-16. As even little children know, the words of St. Luke tell the story of the Miracle in a manger. Shepherds watching in the fields, herald angels singing these things Christians can picture today because of St. Luke, the physician who be came Christ’s disciple. Traditionally, St. Luke did still more to preserve the spir itual treasures of the Christmas story. He literally pictured the Madonna. According to this tradition, St. Luke was an iconographer as well as a physician, and as such he created the first im age of the Madonna, a painting that became the guide for many icons in later centuries. As legend has it, St. Luke’s icon of the Madonna and his other paintings were the forerunners of the style of artistic expression known as Byzantine art. Oppressed and suppressed in some eras, Byzantine reli gious art has so original and distinctive a style that it re turned again and again, to thrive throughout 12 centuries. Today, it is enjoying a rebirth, through the efforts of dedi- cated iconographers. Showing Images Iconography is a system for representing Christian subjects by means of pictures or images. Originally, the term meant “portrayal,” and applied especially to panels portraying the figure of Christ, the Madonna, a saint or some scene from the Bible, according to the Grolier Book of Art. In the Greek Orthodox Church icon technically means a movable religious painting. However, iconogra phy often refers, more broad ly, to wall paintings and mosaics as well as portable icons. Going Iconoclastic The art of the Byzantine— or Eastern Roman empire first flourished under the rule of Justinian, in the 6th century AX). But trouble loomed ahead. When Emperor Leo 111 came to power, he brought with him a deep hatred of all images, especially icons, say the editors of the Encyclo pedia Americana. As an Iconoclast—hater of icons —Leo forbade the cre ation of religious figures and images, and the Iconoclastic Age began in 726. Paintings on church walls were whitewashed, ivories and mosaics removed, count less works of art destroyed. Comics Get Help When icons returned to favor in the 9th century, the ESTABLISHMENTS SEND GREETINGS - - PATRONIZE THEM THE CHOWAN HERALD Iconoclastic Age had been responsible for the loss of much religious art but it had some benefits. Secular art gained by it, as artists of the monastic schools began to work under the patronage of the nobility. Even modern comic strips owe something to the Icono clasts. The monastic artists who turned to secular work brought with them the By zantine method of telling a story through a continuous series of drawings. Symbolism Rules Surviving wars, crusades and conquests, Byzantine art flourished till the middle of the 15th century. Over the years, Byzantine artists influenced others, but were rarely influenced by others. Though the early Renaissance brought realism, the colorful, decorative and formal qualities of the By zantine style remained vir tually unchanged. In Byzantine art, highly stylized figures appear, with little or no three-dimensional effect. Gold backgrounds sug gest almost no sense of space. Familiar scenes such as the Nativity show painted figures that are allegorical, mystical, symbolic—but never realistic in color or form. For believers of the Greek Orthodox faith and other Eastern churches, the sym bolic nature of Byzantine art Iconography? It’s Part Os Today The ancient Byzantine art of iconography is a contemporary art, too, and very much a part of today. So declares John Papas piliopoulos, leading icon ographer and owner-cre ator of the Byzantine Icons Studio, New York. He points out that the turn of the century Art Nouveau technique, which has influenced much con temporary art, is related to Byzantine religious art. A non-realistic use of color and flattening of perspec tive are typical. As an iconographer, Mr. Papaspiliopoulos leads the development of a “Byzan tine art of the 20th cen tury.” Assisted by the artists of his studio, he has deco rated some 30 churches in the United States. In his native Greece, he has dec orated 19 Athens churches- Like Byzantine artists of centuries past, Mr. Papas piliopoulos works with tra ditionally authentic egg tempera. He makes his own tempera from egg, vinegar and ammonia. To this emulsion, coloring agents are added. He makes extensive use of gold leaf, another tra ditional element in Byzan tine art. His work shows his own personal touch but always follows the pure Byzantine style. has a deep religious signifi cance. Considered solely as an art form, the Byzantine tech nique is renowned for its beauty and decorative char acter. In its symbolic ap proach, this ancient art is closer to the art of today than the representational works of more recent cen turies. There’s Inspiration As in all forms of art, the story of the Nativity has been a source of inspiration to iconographers through the ages. The Madonna and Child have long been favorite sub jects for icons, while Byzan tine trlptychs often showed Christ, Mary His Mother and John the Baptist. Other early iconographers turned to St. Nicholas, bishop of Myra, as a subject worthy of attention. The good bishop is known In legend as the forefather of Santa Claus. Edenton, N. C, Thursday, December 24,1970 ■ s ,v-. ImHH JppS <£%/'”'*”'’■ Holiday Blends Many Customs “Anybody found feasting or observing Christmas day in any way shall pay a fine of five shillings.” And so, throughout New England Pilgrim settlers had to treat Christmas as just another working day. Gover nor Bradford noted that “no man rested all day" on De cember 25, 1620, say the edi tors of Encyclopedia Ameri cana. Today, in the United States and Canada, Christmas cele brations are a colorful blend of customs from many lands. The main features of the holiday festivities are much the same everywhere—Santa Claus, Christmas trees, gifts, greetings, feasting, family visits, carol singing. Each of these customs has its own history, and for the student of holiday lore and legend, the fascination lies in the variety of traditions brought by settlers from other lands and assimilated into what is now a truly American, or truly Canadian Christmas. Digplaying Tree The custom of the Com munity Christmas Tree be gan in the early 1900’s with the people of Pasadena, Calif., who decorated a tall evergreen on Mount Wilson with lights and tinsel. Madison Square in New York and the Common in Boston were the scene of trees set up in 1912. In 1914 Independence Square in Philadelphia had its first holiday tree. Around each of these trees choirs gathered and sang carols. The custom of lighting the National Community Christ mas Tree in Washington, D.C. began in 1923 when the Uni versity of Vermont sent a large tree to President Calvin Coolidge. Add Special Touch In Quebec, customs from France lend their special touch to a Canadian Christ mas. France gave Canada the “creche,” gatherings after midnight Mass with family and friends, savory pork pies ■ W/' S I / Mm^'-'i\' called “tourtieres,” collecting gifts from door to door for the less privileged persons of the community. After mass on Christmas Eve, the people of Quebec gather at homes of loved ones to participate in a night-long feast called “re veillon.” Performing Pageant From Germany came the Nativity pageant, and the first play of this sort in the U.S. was performed at the German Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity in Boston, in 1851. Children dressed as Oriental shepherds offered gifts to the Christ Child at the altar, singing carols at the same time. The gifts were later distributed to the poor of the parish. Play Delights A hybrid Spanish-Indian play, called “Los Pastores,” introduced by Spanish monks, may still take place in the backyards of San An tonio, Tex., at Christmastime. With no props, curtains and a cast of amateurs, it yearly delights with its spiritual in novations. It runs from Christmas to Candlemas, in homes located in out-of-way places so only the initiated can find it. The object is to prevent the mere ly curious observer from watching this spritual mira cle play. Decorating with Cards Can Be Yule Project When children need a change from the toys on Christmas day, a promising project could be to let them see what they can do with the family greeting cards. Here are some suggestions from Jeannette Lee, art di rector for Hallmark. Tape or staple cards to lengths of ribbon and hang them on walls or doors. Make a Christmas wreath by attaching cards to a circle of cardboard. “Frame” cards with con struction paper. Decorate a screen with cards. Paintings Show Sacred Message Lives Anew YESTERDAY AND TODAY, Byzantine icons tell the Christ mas story. Like that sacred story, the style of Byzantine art is unchanging through the cen turies, as these paintings illus trate. * ♦ * BYZANTINE ART of yesteryear appears in the painting (far left), “Virgin and Child En throned with Angels/ 1 By an unknown Byzantine painter, it is executed in tempera on wood, with a gold ground. From the Metropolitan Museum of Art, gift of Lizzie Bliss, 1931. * * * NATIVITY SCENE (near left) shows how iconography con tinues the ancient Byzantine style, with symbolic feeling. The Madonna and Child are central figures, Joseph and a shepherd appear at the left and the man ger is shown, with historical ac curacy, as a cave in a rocky hill side. This icon is the work of John Papaspiliopoulos of the Byzantine Icons Studio. * * * PAST AND PRESENT meet as artists turn to a beloved subject, the Madonna and Child. Out of the past comes the painting at top left. In a Byzantine style, it's by an unknown Russian painter in tempera on wood and is inscribed in Slavonic, “Our l>ady of Kaza/ 1 (From the Met ropolitan Museum of Art, gift of Mrs. Henry Morgenthau, 1933). How the Byzantine style continues today is shown in the icon at top right, created in tempera by the contemporary iconographer, John Papaspili opoulos. ABOUT WISE MEN Except for the words of St. Matthew, legend accounts for the little that is known about the wise men. One of the legends says that the star appeared to them once more, near the end of their lives. Churches Grace Greeting Cards As jubilant bells ring out the good news of Christmas, churches of this community stand as symbols of the true spirit of the season. Landmarks in the history of Christendom, these churches are the living center of cur rent activities, especially at Christmas, when choral pro grams, pageants and other special services express holi day joy. Across the country, and in other lands, soaring steeples and ringing bells beckon wor shipers to “Come to Church on Christmas.” Small wonder, then, that churches are a favorite sub ject for Christmas greeting cards. This year, the 95th an niversary of Christmas cards in the United States, is no exception. A look into the past shows three well-known churches which were favorite Christ mas card features. The Little Church around the Comer and Trinity Church, both in New York City, and West minster Abbey in London are pictured on cards dated around 1925 and now in the Norcross historical collection. Smiling Spirit Os Christmas Enters Now Everywhere, There Is Fellowship, With Faith, Feasting, Fun By ANNA MANG Christmas is: A time for sharing and surprises, a time for magic and merriment, and a time to say, "Glad greet ings, one and all.” Christmas is: The season of song and celebration, the season of little children and love and laughter, and the season of worship and rejoicing. Christmas is: For fellowship and feasting, for family and friends, for home and happiness. But Christmas, too, is for remembering the stranger within the gates, for cheering the lonely, comforting the sorrowful, befriending the needy. Christmas is: For everyone —for those of Christian faith who celebrate the Day as a holy time of highest importance, and for those of other faiths, who love and observe the Yule tide as a holiday dedicated to good will and good cheer. Best of all, Christmas is: Here! Throughout this commu nity, plans and preparations reach their peak. Every joyous surprise is at the point of revelation. The tree lights go on, the carols ring cut, the gaily-wrapped gifts are delivered. With gleeful smiles, the children welcome Santa’s bounty, while the grown-ups greet one another, and talk and laugh and even shed a happy tear or two, rejoicing in the deep and tender meaning of the Christmas spirit. If there was a bit of hustle and even some hassle —about the getting-ready process, all is now forgotten in the glow and glory of Christmas. The quickened pace of modern liv ing seems to make it almost impossible to prepare for the holiday without setting, at times, a somewhat hectic pace. Be that as it may, the glad, true spirit of the season in spires this Christmas planning, and Christmas realities, in all their wonder and warmth, more than make up for the pre-holiday hurry and scurry. It’s Traditional The tree may be aluminum instead of spruce or fir. San ta may arrive by helicopter instead of reindeer-drawn sleigh. And the children’s gifts will probably reflect the space age and the wonders of electronics. No matter. HoweverTKod ern the celebration of Christ mas may seem to be, its spirit is still old-fashioned, and though customs may appear in contemporary guise, they are still the cherished tradi tions from the past. These treasured customs are the heart of Christmas, growing dearer year by year, as memories of “what we did last Christmas” add to every family’s own special, tradi tional way of celebrating Christmas. Naming Santa Santa Claus is a tradition —a pleasant one, indeed. And, traditionally, he owes his name to a gift-giver of the past. St. Nicholas, a fourth cen tury bishop who became the patron saint of children, was noted for his generosity. His Dutch name was “Sinter Niklass,” which gradually changed to Santa Claus. Even today, Santa is also known as “St. Nick.” Sending Greetings “We wish you a merry Christmas.” MB CHURCHES, LONG a symbol of the Christmas season, have appeared in innumerable ways on Christmas cards. Pictured here is Westminster Abbey, sub ject of a card from the Norcross Historical Collection. The oldest of these church buildings is Westminster Ab bey, a national shrine and the Mother Church of the Commonwealth of Great Christmas Greeting Sedion Perhaps the most enduring of holiday traditions is that of exchanging greetings. Christmas cards are a rela tively new part of a holiday that has been celebrated for centuries. In fact, this year marks only the 95th anniver sary of Christmas cards in America. “ But the custom of greeting friends and neighbors and wishing them good cheer is as old as the holiday season itself. Today brings a special kind of “Christmas card." This edition of this newspaper is a community greeting card, with special greetings from businessmen of the commu nity who offer their good wishes and their apprecia tion to all. Where Tree Grew The first Christmas tree was a palm from Egypt. Or it was a huge tree in a forest, symbolic of mankind. Or it was the Paradise Tree of medieval miracle plays. Though holiday legend and lore offers many an explana tion for the origin of the Christmas tree, nobody knows for sure exactly when and where the first decorated tree appeared. And who cares? It's fun to hear the legends of the past, with all their mystery and magic, but the thing that matters most is that the tra dition of the tree is here, adding joy to Christmas. Britain. In 1966 the Abbey cele brated its 900th anniversary, and thousands of people from all over the world visited the churc.h where both common ers and royalty have wor shipped for centuries. In commemoration of the event, Westminster under went a 10-year program of cleaning and repairs that cost $1,120,000. It was on Christmas day that William the Conqueror was crowned at Westminster, and buried there are Newton, Darwin, Keats, Tennyson, Browning, and royal person ages such as Queen Elizabeth I and her rival for the throne, Mary Queen of Scots, Rich ard 11, Henry VII and St. Edward, whose shrine is the most sacred spot in the Abbey. In September 19*5, a tablet was added in memory of Winston Churchill. In Japan East meets West in gift exchanging customs. Japa nese exchange “Oseibo," or year end-gifts, beginning about mid-December.
The Chowan Herald (Edenton, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 24, 1970, edition 1
17
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75