Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / Dec. 1, 1961, edition 1 / Page 3
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Mexican Arts Display This arangement of Mexican art work is on display in the third floor hall of the Science-Engineer Building. The ma terial is owned by Dr. Herbert Hechen- bleikner. The display has created quite a lot of interest from students. Christmas In Other Lands Recalled By College’s Foreign Students By DENNIS WHITAKER and BRAD KEISTLER The Christmas season is a time of joy and celebration throughout most of the world. In an effort to understand and appreciate Christmas in other lands, The Collegian has interviewed foreign students at Charlotte College to find out how the Christmas season is observed in other lands. Here is what the various stuc'ents re'ealed about this holiday season in their homelands: INDIA According to George Thomas, chfsmate from India, the Christmas season in his country is ce’ebrated by only about three per cent of the population. The season’s festivals begin on Chrstmas Eve with every one meeting at church. Pray ers are said and carols are sung. The whole congregation joins in the celebration. During the course of the evening, Father Christmas, the Indian equivalent of our Santa Claus, arrives to distribute gifts to all the children. As the midnight hour approaches, Christmas Day is ushered in by a service. Christmas time in the homes of India is much like that in our homes in America. There is a gaily decorated Christmas tree, and there are manv pres ents. To represent the Star of Bethlehem, a large star- made of bamboo and bright ened by a light in its center— is hung on the tree. ENGLAND GAY PORTER remembers Christmas in her country as a very gay time, a time to be shared with members of the family. “It’s a longer holi day, since the day after Christ mas is also a holiday,” said Gav. "The twenty - sixth is called Boxing Day. This day used to be the time for presents, while Christmas Day was a religious hnliday. Today, however, the presents are given on Christ mas Day.” Gay continued. The whole family spends Christmas Day together, play ing games and having a day of fun. The hi?h point of the day comes when everyone gath ers around the radio or TV to hear the Queen’s Christmas greet-ng. Later in the day, colorful cakes decorated with Christmas scenes are served with the tea. GERMANY Petronella Coulter is our student from Germany. She has fond memories of Christ mas in her country. The Christmas season begins with the baking of many cook ies and cakes for the holidays. In the tradition of the German people, Saint Nicholas visits the children on December 5th. A great deal of pageantry comes on this day, as two Saint Nicholases appear: one, with a big white beard, has plenty of candy and cookies for the good children; the other, wear ing horns and dressed in black, scolds the bad children (all in fun, of course). When the holidays begin, the family Christmas tree is cut from a forest by the men in the family and brought back to the house, where it is de corated with real candles. Christmas Eve finds the chil dren eagerly awaiting their gifts. The presents are given on Christmas Eve, and they are said to be gifts from the baby Jesus. On Christmas Day, there is a big dinner, and fami lies meet to spend the holiday Celebration Of Netv Year Lasts 13 Days A 13-day holiday that starts 365.2564 days from the last one is the Persian’s unique and ex acting way of celebrating the arrival of a new year. The Persians, who gave birth to many of our scientific theo ries, don’t quibble about Leap Year and the like. They figure that after 365.2564 days have passed, another year has begun, according to Iraj Ghaemmaghami, Iranian ex change student at Charlotte College . It’s a social requirement to visit one’s relatives during the holidays and to exchange gifts, mostly for the children. Every one wears new clothes on New Year’s Day and eats seven foods which have names be ginning with the letter "s.” On the thirteenth day after New Year’s Day, the Persians throw away some specially grown plants and go on a pic nic—then back to school. together. (The twenty - sixth is also a holiday in Germany.) HOLLAND Leo Zoutewelle, a native of Holland, says that the Dutch Christmas is really divided in to two events. The people of Holland separate the giving of presents from the religious ob servance of the birth of Christ. Ths giving of presents oc curs on Saint Nicholas Eve ning, which is on the fifth of December. Then everybody buys or makes presents for friends and family, and with each present traditionally goes a light, humorous poem writ ten by the giver, usually mak ing fun of the receiver of the gift. The man who “brings the present around” is Saint Nicholas. He is an old bifhop from Spain who rides on a white horse over the roof of the houses — dropping in through each chimney to de liver the presents. He has several black helpers who aj'e called “Black Petes.” All gifts supposedly come from Saint Nicholas and all the poems are signed Dy Saint Nicholas. Therefore, theoretic ally, no one knows who gave him his presents. On the 2oth of December, the Dutch observe only the birth of Christ. On Christni'is eve there is an evening spent by the family in a serious frame of mind. Everybody stays up until late in the eve ning, when all the clocks all over Holland start ringing. Then everybody goes to bed. early the next morning the family is awakened by Christ mas music, after which a spe cial Christmas breakfast is served; afterward, everyone goes to church. The rest of the day is spent in festivity with plenty of good food. The 26th of December is “second Christ mas day, which is considered to be a regular holiday. Christmas in Holland is not a commercial ized event. Instead, the v/hole country is engaged in a more or less reverent atmosphere. If there is any commercializa tion of the season, it occurs around Saint Nicholas Day, December 5. CUBA There is sadness in the re port from Cuba. As our Cuban student, Enrique Percal, puts it: “As long as Castro is in power, there will be no Christ mas: even Christmas trees are forbidden!” THE CHARLOTTE COLLEGIAN December, 1961 Page 3 NSA MEETING Students Analyze World Problems By GEORGE THOMAS Students from the Carolinas-Virginia region of the National Student Association met for the Fall Regional Assembly Dec. 1 and 2 at Woman’s College in Greensboro. Charlotte College represen tatives attending the confer ence were Bill Ferguson, stu dent body president, Florence Morrow, and George Thomas. Speakers for the occasion were from South Rhodesia, China, England, and the United States. They kept discussions intellectually alive with com ments ranging from conserva tism to radicalism. Discussion group sessions on Asia, Latin America, and Africa lasted several hours. A student with just a casual acquaintance with politics could have understood and participated in these informal discussions. Fiery Konishi of Japan talk ed about the Japanese politi cal scene and the role of Japanese students in this coun try. He commented on the high rate of suicide in Japan, attributing it primarily to the absence of moral standard among the young people today. “Japan has lost much of its ancient culture and traditions by its contact with Western technology,” Mr. Koniski said. P. M. George of India spoke about the “inner restlessness” of students throughout the world and particularly the problems facing students in Asian nations. In answer to a question from Miss Pat Rogers, a student at Women’s College, Mr. George said the Indian government is taking steps to end the caste system. The assembly ended with a talk by Peace Corps member James Kweter, who explained the Corps’ objectives and con tributions toward world peace. German Class At CC Offered First Time Mrs. Jadwidga Solecka, a new faculty membe at Charlotte Col- 'ege, is teacher of the first ele mentary German class at CC. The course covers the funda mentals of German grammar with particular stress upon cor rect pronunciation and self-ex- pression through practice in tiie language laboratory. NOTHING COMPARES with the FLAMELESS ELECTRIC HEAT PUMP For year ’round comfort, the flameless electric heat pump is the thriftiest way to heat and cool your home. For all details, see your Duke Power Residential or Commercial Representative. CC Chorus Program Planned By GAY PORTER The Christmas program of the Charlotte College Chorus will be given in the Mallard Creek Pres byterian Church on Monday, Dec. 18, at 8:30 p.m. The principal work for the evening will be a cantata, “An Appalachian Nativity,” by Lewis Henry Horton. The mixed chorus of 40 voices, under the direction of Harvey Woodruff, will be led by Eleanor Starnes Glass, soprano; Van Trapp, baritone; and Torrence Smith, tenor. Richard Van Sciver will accompany on the church organ. “An Appalachian Nativity” is a Christmas folk cantata ar ranged from the familiar shape- note hymn tunes of the Southern Appalachian foothills, charming- y and tastefully put together. This cantata preserves a musi cal tradition distinctively Ameri can and uniquely Southern. The cantata will be broadcast on Christmas Eve on WSOC-TV at 9:30 a.m. SHONEY’S offers all students a 10% discount on all food and drink purchased HOME OF THE BIG BOY Enjoy 'S&P' at the College Snack Bar s & SwiKwFooDPunns Peanutbutter Sandwiches • Salted Peanuts • Potato Chips • Popcorn E. P. I\ISBET CO. PHONE ED 2-7755 18T8 BAXTER ST. TOP QUALITY FUEL OIL "YOUR COMFORT IS OUR BUSINESS"
University of North Carolina at Charlotte Student Newspaper
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Dec. 1, 1961, edition 1
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