Newspapers / The Warren Record (Warrenton, … / Dec. 20, 1989, edition 1 / Page 24
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As the merriment of the season abounds, it is our pleasure to * express best vwshes and thanks to you. ? TARHEEL FARM CREDIT SERVICE Warrenton, N. C. We wish to all, a warm, Joyous Holiday Season. Your friendship means a lot. UNITED FEDERAL SAVINGS & LOAN FDIC Jolly qood wishes to you And youRS For a holidAy filled wiih chceR And fRiendship... And to aII our fRieNds, 1 thanKs foR youR VAlucd busiNess!' AUTO-WASH OF WARRENTON HANGING A STOCKING almost as big as be is, this lad. according to the drawing's humorous caption, is capitalizing on "a chance to test Santa (laui'a generosity." By the renowned illustrator. Thomas Nast, the drawing is one of many which he cre ated for HarperT Weekly in the latter half of the I9th century. A History Of Yule Stockings, Plus Christmas Suggestions One of the most beloved symbols of generosity at holiday-time is the Christ mas stocking. From its origins in age-old legend to the present day, the stocking continues to have an important place in the tradition of gift-giving. While no one can say for certain, many people believe that the custom of stuffing Chnstmas stockings began with an act of Saint Nicholas, the original Santa Claus. A bishop in Asia Minor in the fourth century A.D.. Saint Nicholas is credited with many acts of kindness and generos ity ?acts by and large performed at night and in secret. Among these was the provision of dowries to three sisters who. because of their poverty, were unable to wed. To help each of these young ladies in turn. Saint Nicholas dropped a bag of gold down the chimney of their home on three separate occasions. The bags fell into their stockings, which were hung out to dry ?an accident of fate which was the starting point for a long-lasting custom. Eight centuries later, the custom of giving presents in the name of Saint Ni cholas came into being, when French nuns began giving gifts to the children of poor families on December 5th. the Eve of Saint Nicholas" Day. These gifts, left secretly for the chil dren to enjoy, comprised the sorts of treats, such as nuts and exotic fruits, that during the rest of the year were beyond their means. The custom of giving presents such as these on Saint Nicholas' Eve spread and took hold, particularly in Belgium and the Netherlands. There, children traditionally left out their wooden shoes, filled with carrots and hay for Saint Nicholas' horses, be fore they went to bed on Saint Nicholas' Eve. When they aw ,xe in the morning, they hoped to find their shoes filled not with fodder for horses, but with small toys and sweets. Children in other countries also left out shoes?not stockings?to be filled. In rural France. Christmas Eve is the big day; in the Basque region of Spain, in the shadow of the Pyrenees, the children wait till the Eve of Three Kings Day to set their shoes on the windowsill, in hopes that the traveling Magi will leave them a gift. Saint Nicholas, too, is a traveler, in a more figurative sense, for it is he who, by the early years of the 19th century, had crossed the Atlantic Ocean to America, becoming Santa Claus along the way. Mention is made of Santa Claus in a newspaper article as early as 1773 and. by 1810, when the New York Historical Society organized a Celebration of the Festival of Saint Nicholas, not only Santa Claus. but the stockings he traditionally filled, had become commonplace. It must be remembered, of course, that New York, once New Amsterdam, boasts Dutch roots. However, it was not a Dutchman, but a man of Scottish ances try, Washington Irving, who really brought Santa Claus and his Christmas stockings to the attention of the Amer ican public. In his History of New York, written un der the pen name of Diedrich Knicker bocker, Irving mentions not only Santa's habit of "drawing forth magnificent presents and dropping them down the chimneys of his favorites," but also how stockings hung on Christmas Eve are "found in the morning mysteriously filled" It was left to Clement Clarke Moore, diffident author of A Visit from Saint Ni cholas. to round out the picture, drawing a portrait of Santa Claus which has re mained with us now for over ISO years, and confirming in the annals of Christ mas merriment the tradition of putting out stockings for Saint Nicholas to fill. Tdday, Christmas stockings are still "hung by the chimney with care," though they are more likely to be bought or made for the purpose than simply one's everyday, homespun hose. Also, they are usually filled with gifts more exotic or sophisticated than the tra ditional oranges, apples and shiny coins?or even the lumps of coal, the customary reward of a child who has misbehaved. And not only the children, but mom, dad, even Rover and Mittens are likely to have one, making filling the family's stockings an increasing chal lenge to creativity. Small toys are likely to appeal to ev eryone, young and ok) alike. The family chef may enjoy a few new culinary gad gets, and the family gardener some pack ets of seeds or a new trowel. New tools will appeal to the handyman, while raw hide strip: ,'nd catnip-filled mice are sure to tickle tne fancy of four-legged friends. Encourage reading by stuffing each stocking with a suitable book ?and a bookmark chosen especially for each member of the family (the family pet can safely be ignored on this round). Handmade stocking stuffers are par ticularly appealing. Try filling pretty handkerchiefs with potpourri and tying them up with satin or embroidered rib bons (this is even better if you make your own potpourri, too!). And, don't limit your stocking stuffing to family members?encourage every one to contribute gifts to stockings for (he less fortunate, perhaps bringing them to the children's ward of a local hospital Use your imagination; every act of thoughtful generosity, after all, rekindles the spirit of giving which motivated Saint Nicholas all those centuries ago, and makes the holiday season not only enjoy able but meaningful, as well. Here's hoping you experience the gifts of love, peace and brotherhood this Christmas. .Cochrane Furniture _ ; America's Most Overbuilt Furniture We AppRECiATE yOUR CONTINUEd busilNESS. Hawks Used Cars & Hawks Laundromat Warrenton, N.C. ? o Join in th of the Ch May this h happiest yet.* lots of Yulcti "O .c Willoughby's 301 East Macon St. Open 6 A. M. To 12 Midnitfit
The Warren Record (Warrenton, N.C.)
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Dec. 20, 1989, edition 1
24
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