Newspapers / The Franklin Press and … / Dec. 23, 1957, edition 1 / Page 16
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a leason's best wishes _tL ?i* and may you ccunt . this Christmas among your very happiest... "T" may its spirit long dwell ^ in your home and your heart. CAROLINA PHARMACY Symbolic Use Of Christmas Goes Back Some 4,000 Years | ?*xuui tiic \*uu agca ui iuiir ngu have come many of the festive rites and customs of our Christmas season. The symbolic use of a tree dates back at least 4,000 years, when Egyptians celebrated in honor of their Sun God in the month corre sponding to our December. They believed that the sun died every night and was torn again in the morning, and that late December and January brought the turning point, when the sun remained with them a little bit longer each day. . This was a season of rejoicing and I the palm trees became their sym I bol, as it put out a leaf every J month and the twelve leaves sym bolized the complete year. A few thousand years later came the feast of Saturnalia, also held in December, but the tree the Ro mans used was a tall conifer, load ed with decorations. Roman legions carried this symbolism o'. er the Alps into Gual; and about 15 B. C. the tree was used in Yuletide celebrations of the Ger mans. Hundreds of years passed, and a tree became the symbol of cele brations connected with the patron saint of Russia and of children Saint Nicholas, who in his lifetime ' was Bishop of Myra, in Asia Min or. An old legend tells us that the I Kindly St. Nicholas unlntention- ! ally originated the custom of hang ing stockings by the fire at Christ- 1 mas, St. Nicholas was rich, and I loved to make mysterious journeys I bearing secret gifts to the poor [ For a long time his identity re mained hidden but he was caught j at last with his sack of gifts on J his back. | St. Nicholas knew an old noble man who was very poor and who did not want anyone to know of his poverty. Wishing to give him a gift of money St. Nicholas crept Great Christmas Story Recorded In Year 1776 The time was Christmas night. The year was 1770. The place was near the Delaware River. Some 2,400 tattered and bleeding men stood silently about uncomplain ing. This Christmas night was a cru cial moment for a new republic which had yet to gain its freedom. But the course was charted by a great leader and a great American president, George Washington. His words of inspiration remain to this day: "This is it, gentlemen ? vic tory or death. That is our only watchword." And victory it was. Fired by the courage and inspiration of the man who became known as "the father of his country", a tattered band of patriots crossed the dangerous river of ice and marched to Tren ton where they surprised and hum bled the Hessian mercenaries and recorded a great Christmas story in the pages of American history Have a wonderful holiday time, friends and neighbors I Here's hoping that your Christ mas will be the merriest and brightest ever. EROWN CARSON iu n wiiiuuw ui uie no use ana saw the old gentleman asleep by the fire. The good Bishuj. tllmbed to the roof and dropped his gift dow.i the chimney, thinking it would fall on the hearth at the nobleman s feet. However, it so happened that j the gentleman's daughter had hunt some stockings to dry by the tire and the money fell Into one of them; and from the kindly deed of the good Bishop has grown the widespread custom of < hanging stockings at Christmas The anniversary of St. Nicholas' death In 1087 became a festival in the Russian church, and in time the name became corrupt jd to Santa Claus and associated with the festivities of the. Christmas season, with its tree, its decora tions, the holly and the mistletoe. These are the joyous symbols of Christmas. 0, Fur warmest wishes to you and yours for a house full of love and happiness all through the holiday season. THE FASHION SHOP ? ? -t^r ike spirit of Hi* Mason, w* sond to you our greotings and good wishes for a kli Christmas rich in hope, peace and love. Rogers Super Market Op, ;/ every day INCLUDING CHRISTMAS (Christmas is for everybody ... let every heart be young , and joyful. We join Santa In sending to you the cheeriest greetings of the holiday season. Here's hoping youH have a generous share of all the things that belong to Christinas . . . lots of laughter and I singing, gifts and good wishes, fun and feasting, love and fellowship, peace and good will. ?I ' V . ... f STONES TO SERVE YOU ? ^ JicwertJL
The Franklin Press and the Highlands Maconian (Franklin, N.C.)
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Dec. 23, 1957, edition 1
16
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