Origins Of Christmas
Customs Explained
With the exception of Christ
mas greeting card*, which were
first used in 1846. nearly all the
Christmas holiday customs can
be traced to a non-Christian ori
gin, according .to researchers for
"Star of Bethlehem,' now being
presented at the Morehead Plan
etarium in Chapel Hill.
The Christmas tree, usually an
evergreen, is derived from the
Roman Saturnalia and the Norse
worship of trees. It was In Oer
many In the 10th Century that
the tree was first used as a sym
bol of Christmas. The custom was
brought to England and to Amer
ica In the early 1800's.
The mistletoe was the sacred
plant of the Durlds, who were the
priests of ancient Britain and
Qual i France'. Holly and the
symbolized protection against evil
spirits In the Norse festivals. The
customs of exchanging gifts can
also be traced to the Roman
Saturnalia. The early Christians
of Rome hung boxes In their
churches to be filled with offer
Ings and distributed to the needy
at Christmas.
The most popular Christmas
legend Is that of Santa Claus.
who comes down the chimney on
Christmas Eve to fill children's
stockings with gifts. The name
"Santa Claus" is a Dutch corrup
tion of "Saint Nicholas." the pat
ron saint of children.
Prune non-flowering shrubs dur
ing the winter.
Poultry ranks second only to
tobaco as a farm income pro- (
ducer in North Carolina.
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At this joyous season of giving
and receiving, we take pleasure
in extending to you our heart
felt good wishes for a very Merry
Christmas! We hope that you and
all your loved ones enjoy every
minute of this happy holiday!
Nantahala Creamery
?Ctrisfrnas
^ T
it's the season to be joyful ... to exchange
with family and friends the greetings of the
Huletide. IDe gladly join in, with happy
holiday wishes to each and every one of you.
Franklin Hardware
Brady's
BLARNEY
By A Brady Called J. P.
Mr. Jones' comments on the
editorial page lit Strictly Per
sonal about Christmas of long
ago, takes me back a few years
loo. Of course, his generation
and mine are separated by
many years. My generation was
unusual In that it had its grow
ing pains during the depres
sion years.
I, too, can recall when one
Sift at Christmas was more wel
come than a dozen to this gen
eration.
Why, I even remember one
Christmas in the mid-30's when
[ got one skate (or Christmas
and the other for my birthday
In April. And what fruit and
nuts ol' Santa put in my sock
(I only had one pair) went
down the hatch that very same
day as Christmas dinner.
Yes sir, we sure have come a
long way.
jpb
Still on this Christmas bit, I
had a Christmas card this week
all the way from Anchorage,
Alaska, where undoubtedly
they're having a White Christ
mas.
It was from the Cecil Wil
sons and they sent greetings
to all in Macon County.
Mrs. (Mary) Wilson also pen
ned a greeting:
"Thanks for The Press. I sure
enjoy reading it. Gives an old
mountain gal a lift to hear
from her home town."
We're delighted, Mrs. Wilson,
that you're delighted. It gives
us a lift to know that Macon
ians away from home get a lift
from our efforts.
This bit of poetry about
Christmas was too good to pass
up. It was composed by a man
who prefers to remain name
less. However, he does dedicate
it to the children of H. T. Col
lins.
Christmas Time Report
Now listen here you voung'uns
at (flis tale I'se 'bout to tell,
About de man called Santy
Claus,, who climbs dat
chimbley well.
But fust you git my corncob
pipe an' de ole tobaccy
pouch,
And while I lites it yawl re
cline, dare upon dat couch.
Den after you gits in com
fort and wipes off Susie's
grin,
I'se gonna try aind wreck-o
lect jest zactly where to be
gin.
It's bound to've been 'bout
twenty year since dis man
came around,
And ast me to be his 'sistant
wid 'de chilluns of de town.
So, I thunk it out 'bout a
week befo' I ever answered
him,
'Cause if I'se to tell him eb
berthing, yore c h a n c e c
would be slim.
But, finally adder prayerful
thought, I 'tided to give in,
An' help him for a year or so,
wid jest the nearest kin.
And dey must be a million
men in ebber town and
pert,
Dat listens 'round 'til Christ
mas time and 'den makes
der report.
I has to answer all kinds ob
things dat Santy ast me,
And if you hain't you'd better
git as good as you kin be.
i
He asts 'bout de meanest tray
dat runs 'bout de place,
An' whedder or not ol' Tom
and Dan forgits to wash
der face. J
And if deys hoped their maw
and pa 'til all de chores is [
dun,
And if dey sen their bedtime
prayers befo' de sandman
comes.
Oh yes! he asts 'bout the gals,
but 'specially 'bout the boys.
An' 'termines jest how mean
deys been when passing out
de toys.
Now wait until I lites my i
pipe and finds anudder
chair,
An' den I'll make out my re
port on how you'se been dis
you.
Ops! Joe's a noddin' half a
sleep an' 'bout fell off my
lap, |
But ebberthing 'bout him's
good, so let him take his i
nap.
Now, let's git 'round to the
'portant facts 'bout you
udder boys,
An' see jest how well you kept
from makin' too much noise.
Fust I'll check upon de line
what marks de golden rule,
An' put a double check mark
dare if you'se been to Sun
day School.
An' den I'll take a peek to
see if both yore han's is
clean,
Den last, the most 'portant '
line, dat asts if you've been i
mean. I
Now Tom you hold yo head
up and look me in de eyes,
j An' tell de truf 'cause if you |
don't you'se got to 'polly
gise.
Yet, I knows dat you and
Dam hasn't dun yore very
best,
But de good dat yawls 'com
plished outweights all de
rest.
So' I'se gonna tell ole Santy
in my Christmas time re- !
port,
Dat yawl has tended Sunday 1
School and is de nicest sort.
' But, don't you boys turn
greedy and ast for many
toys,
'Cause Santy's 'ready got a
list of a million udder boys.
An' den dares udder chillun
what won't git nane at all,
So you has to share wid all ob
dem, when Santy comes to
call.
! Go hang your stockin' in its
place and don't you have a
fear.
'Cause you boy's been good
enough for Santy Claus dis
year.
But reckymember 'bout next
year, when Christmas comes
'round,
Dat I'se de one dats got re
ports on the chillun of de
I town.
Hel|> Fight TB
Buy Christmas Seals
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to
me"
'Jws'w
je\o\cW
aW ?ut
ttve
season
0tWe
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e*le?dto
etes*
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>???. 1 W? ?4
happvness.
The Wayah Agency
MORGAN SHATLEY, Mgr.
TAXES - TOWN OF FRANKLIN
Don't forget to pay your town taxes so that
hey may be deductible from your taxable income.
1957 Town taxes are already more than two
nonths past due.
CHAS. O. RAMSEY,
T ax Collector, '
Town of Franklin
Jk W<
're hoping that
all our good friends whom
we have had the pleasure
to serve for so long will
have the merriest Christ
mas ever.
L. E. ENGLISH
"Your Case Dealer"
_S^2-'3LLLrLr -
J
CJood. times, good cheer,
good fellowship ... all these
joys we wish for you this
holiday season.
Perry's Drug Store
our loyal friends we wish that this
Christmas may bring you many
spiritual blessings . . . blessings that
will lift your heart and enrich your
life for years and years to come.
?
^ Man son L. Stiles
v