Newspapers / Brevard College Student Newspaper / Dec. 12, 1997, edition 1 / Page 5
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Pl-irliiv. DecPTnher 12. 1997 Holiday 5 Christmas Over the Centuries by Molly Kummerle Christmas has changed dras tically in the last few decades. It has lost some of its spirituality, and now revolves around consumption. If this is considered difference, the holiday has evolved tremendously since it first began as a Pagan celebration. Most ancient cultures be lieved that winter marked the end of the Sun god’s rule, and it was then that light subsided to evil powers, let ting darkness take over and kill things. In mid December, however, they be gan to see hope for life again, and held festivals to help along the renewal pro cess. The Romans held the “Birthday of the Sun” on December 25th. This feast day honored the god of agricul ture, Saturn, and took place after a week of celebration. They decorated their houses with evergreens, which symbolize everlasting sunlight, and ex changed gifts with their friends. The Scandinavians had a similar festival called the “Yule.” Centuries after Christ was bom. Pagan festivals like these were still popular. Since no one knew when His birthday was, church leaders adopted December 25th as Christ’s birthday. In about the fourth century AD, the church began to hope that the pagan would be celebrated primarily as Christ’s birthday. When officials could not stop the public from celebrating the pagan customs, however, the church “Chris tianized” some of them, censoring their worst features. The main hero behind Christ mas was an early Christian bishop from Turkey named Saint Nicholas. He was known for his love of children and his generosity, and he used all of his money to give gifts to children and the poor. Since he gave the gifts in secret, when ever anyone got a surprise present they would say it was it was from St. Nick. Because of his selfless generosity, both Russia and Greece donned him as their patron saint. The Dutch children receive presents on December 6, which was dedicated his birthday as a feast day. In Europe, St. Nicholas is pictured as a bearded saint riding a white horse and carrying a basket of gifts for the nice children and a bundle of birch sticks for the naughty ones. the Troy. In 1863, a cartoonist in the Harper’s illustrated Weekly, repre sented Santa Claus in the way we see him today. St. Nicholas’ generosity; illustrated in the first Christmas two thousand years ago. And there were in the same country Shepherds abiding in the field, Keeping watch over theirflock by night. And, lo, the Angel of the Lord came upon them. And the glory of the Lord shone round about them; And they were afraid. And the Angel said unto them, "Fear not! For. behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy. Which shall be to all People. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: in swad- In 1809, Washington Irving de- Ye shall find the babe wrapped i scribed Santa Claus as a jolly, chubby fellow flying through the air in a sleigh drawn by reindeer. In 1822, a profes sor of Theological Seminary, Dr. Clem ent C. Moore, wrote a poem called, ‘ A visit from St. Nicholas,” and read it to his children. A guest in his house was so impressed with the poem, that he had it published in the New York Sentinel, dling clothes, Lying in a manger. ” And suddenly there was with the Angel A multitude of the heavenly host Praising God. and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace. Good will towards men. ” -Luke 2:8-14 traditions would be forgotten, and it n. - 1 J Holidays relebrated Aroundthg:^^ ■^.Kristen Grice ^ African studies and a black cultural leagues developed the holiday. In 1966, M. Ron Karenga, a professor of ^^.^^j^.American aspirations and ideas. It is a festival that The holiday celebrates traditional African practices December 26 to honors the harvest of the crops. The holiday is Kwanzaa it me are January 1. This celebration centers around Nguzo Sab^ responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative econom- umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self determination), f^^^ues light one of the seven candles to remember the ICS), ma (pu^ose), kuumba (creativity), and ^ ^ T' ew principles. They exchange gifts, and at the J’ assessments of the old year, commitments for the feast has traditional African food, ceremonies to honor ancesto^^^^^^ year, performances, music and dancing. by Julie Suh. guest writer , ^ahl is celebrated during January 1 through January 3. In the ReUlicofKorea, New Year s , known as ^ premiere day. During New Year’s doubles as a collective national birthday, as^^w oncoming year. Family members don traditional this three day period, people visit relatives Z, a'few tokens of advice and bus money. ^"'talS Korean garbs called hank-bok and bow to elders i dduk soup. Especially g S:” ki.es, playing wUh yoo. sticks ^ peopl. sway on ».n„-f.ve fee, long sw.ng, fron. impressionable young minds ,s ,he traditional swings activity, tree branches ' ' "'“t:New Yeafs is rung m b, striUmg the E-"TSSt thrown into the molten crucible from which the bell wa t 1*. the bell that sound like “Emee”* when it nng!^ *ays of Modem day New Year's observation . ■ Korean-Amencan Jgles over resolutions and cry into bowls of maksufe “ ^ a.r away their new year s money papers, scissors, rocks with cousins and watching anxious papvio, bClbbUiby i i 1 _ C\/T1P (a bit like poker). Auld lang syne, au an *Emee is an informal hangul word for moth The Clarion staff would like to wish everyone happy Holidays and safe travel where ever they may be.
Brevard College Student Newspaper
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