Newspapers / Salem College Student Newspaper / Dec. 12, 1952, edition 1 / Page 7
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December 12, 1952 T H E S A L E M I T E Page Seven Students Tell stmas Across Seas By Emma Sue Larkins How would you like to spend : Christmas away from home? To most of us the thought is not too appealing, but to Salem’s three foreign students it is not only ap pealing but exciting. Not that they won’t miss their families and their own festivities, but they are look ing forward to seeing how Christ- | mas IS celebrated in our country. We are equally interested in knowing h o w Christmas is cele brated in their countries. Hadwig, from Austria, tells us that the whole month of December is filled with preparations for Christmas in Austria. Dec. 5 is the first festival. This is called “The day of Nikolaus and | Krampus”. Nikolaus represents | heaven, and Krampus is the devil. i Nikolaus carries candy with him for the good children and Krampus carries a big basket in which he puts the bad children and carries I them off to hell. As December goes by, the child ren write notes to the Infant Jesus who will bring their presents. The notes are put between the double windows which are used through out Austria because of the extreme cold. While the children are asleep the mother takes the notes and leaves a silver thread indicating the In fant Jesus has been there and taken the letter with him. In Austria there are no Christ inas decorations in the streets, but in the squares there is usually a big spruce tree decorated with candles and snow. On the 24th of December, the spruce tree has been decorated in the homes by parents or older children. The younger children are not allowed in the room, because they believe that the Infant Jesus is decorating the tree. After dusk, all the presents are put under the tree and a bell is rung. This is a sign that the angels are leaving, and the child ren may then enter the room. At mid-night all the family goes to high mass. And the next day is Christmas day when the big Christmas dinner, the traditional Christmas stuffed goose, is eaten. In France, Guillemette’s country, they also attend high mass at mid night on Dec. 24. Afterwards they have a big meal of oysters, sausage, turkey, champagne and cake called “Christmas log”. All the children, however, go to bed and leave their shoes in front of the fire place. In the cities, wealthy people go to night clubs after mid-night mass. There they have a formal, gala affair. In the country there are many old traditions. Besides having , nativity scenes, they often have pageants which act out the birth of Christ. And Santa ? He’s much the same , in France as he is here. He has a long, white beard and wears a red suit. Fifteen days before Christmas he is in the stores where all the children go and tell him what they want for Christmas. Instead of Santa, the Dutch children have St. Nicholas. Eliza beth says that Christmas begins in Holland on Dec. 5 as it does in Austria. St. Nicholas, the good saint, comes around then, and with him comes Peter, a Negro servant from Spain. •St. Nicholas gives the good child ren surprise presents while Peter brings a potato sack and 5wiches and carries the bad children back to Spain with him. St. Nicholas rides a white horse; so all the children leave hay and carrots in their shoes on Christmas Eve. As in France, the Dutch also act out the nativity scenes three of four days before Dec. 25. On Christmas Day the people go to ; c h u r c h and exchange presents which are usually new clothes. , New Year’s Day in Holland is the most celebrated affair. They have a big family feast, go to plays and night clubs. Now, don’t you think you might be able to stand the thought of spending one Christmas away from ■home? Men Students Ask St. Nick For Fingers, Books, Shirts Kay Cunningham Salem’s "Spirit Of Christmas ” Plans To Shop Christmas Eve By Bessie Smith “Christmas is my favorite sea son ! Everybody’s happy; every body’s gay; lots of mistletoe!” These are the words of Kay Cun ningham, elected ’to represent Salem’s Spirit of Christmas as De cember Girl-of-the-Month. When Kay was informed of this, her immediate reaction was, “Who me ? That isn’t possible. I haven’t and roam North Carolina the re mainder of her holidays. The little, cheerful spirit of Christmas is a native daughter of California. She lived in San Fran cisco for the first nine years of her life, then moved to Redwood City where she graduated from high school. Kay calls Danville, Virginia “her . home away from home.” She not only travels as a displaced person. By Connie Murray The little green mail truck slid to a stop at 58 Snow Lane. The driver hopped out into the snow, took two bags of mail from the truck, and trudged up to the door of the first house. In a few moments the door opened and there stood Mr. Claus, one of the few residents of the North Pole. “Lot of mail today, Santa. Hope you get to answer them all,” said the driver. “Certainly I will. Thank you, and Merry Christmas!” The door closed, and Santa carried the mail over to the fireplace. As he sat in the big easy chair, he lit his pipe and took off his boots. “Well, there seems to be quite a few letters here from Winston- Salem, N. C.” Santa Reads Letters Santa began to read the letters. There was one from Tommy Brown: “Dear Santa, I want ten fingers all the same length — no thumbs.” My what a strange re quest, thought Santa. He opened the next letter. It was from John Byrd. “I would like to have the night watchman’s job at Salem College. I feel that I can get more studying done this way.” “Bill Long must be a science enthuiast. He says in his letter he would like a formula for a little pill which, when you feel bad and you take it, you feel good.” Who wouldn’t ? The uext letter was from Don Hartzog. He had two requests. The first was for Dr. Lewis to “wait a minute until he could catch up on his German.” “Ummmmm.” said Santa, “He also wants some thing which will wash, dry, and fold 30 diapers in 30 minutes. I wonder why a college student needs this ?” Santa pulled a long white en velope from the mail bag. The impressive handwriting on the front looked important. “Dear Santa, Please bring me a bright, bright red shirt like yours, ’cause I don’t have one.” Signed, Bryan Bal four. (p.s. “Could you also help me pay my hotel bill at UNC last week-end ? They charged me double price.”) Comp Papers Wanted “And here’s a letter from Glenn Pettyjohn. He wants a file of good composition papers for a Miss Byrd. That name is familiar. I believe I gave Miss Byrd a 50-year subscription to the Atlantic Mon thly last Christmas.” The next letter was from Arvel Dyer. He was asking for a little piece of sheepskin bearing the en graved words “Salem College pre sents to ... ” At the bottom of the bag Santa found a small envelope. It was from Fielding Combs, and the small but fervent plea inside was for a transfer to UNC. “Yes,” said Santa, “I have heard those Caro lina week-ends are the thing.” Hiding under the last envelope and even smaller was a note from Russell Chambers. “I would dearly adore an Eighteenth Century French Literature book in trans lation, and please don’t mention it to Dr. Lewis. He wouldn’t under stand.” Santa leaned back in his chair and sighed. “This is the first year since 1945 that I haven’t had a request for Jane Russell. And apparently they haven’t heard of Marilyn Monroe yet.” even done my Christmas shopping really is one. yet!” I Salem was her choice because Kay was sitting in the living! mother said a girls’ school room of South, knitting and rip ping, dressed appropriately in a red sweater and a green skirt, tell ing about her gay Christmas plans. She plans to spend the first few days eating and sleeping, maybe hunting a little, and doing her Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve as usual. She will make her Debut, go to parties and dances. woiild be good for her and Kay isays probably her mother was right. She very modestly says that she has no honors, but is just one of the masses. This five-foot two brunette is house president of South, a mem ber of the Student Council and an active member of the I. R. S. and Canterbury Club. LOOK! Watch Our Windows For Unusual Values Winston-Salem’s Newest and Most Modem Specialty Shop TOM PERRY’S Across from the College MERRY CHRIRTMAS and happy new year Thank You For Your Patronage In ’52 Come to See Us In ’53 $14.95 &izes 10-18 Lounge Craft creates a duster for you that is absolutely charming. It's styled from Cromptons fine Narrow Whale Corduroy, one of the seasons newest fabrics with the newest lines. Wear it out of doors as well as around the house. Colors in Red, Green, Aqua, Shrimp, Gold
Salem College Student Newspaper
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Dec. 12, 1952, edition 1
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