Newspapers / The Yancey Journal (Burnsville, … / Dec. 16, 1971, edition 1 / Page 6
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PAGE 6 The Word "Yule" Has Pagan Origins The ancient northern Europeans, acutely con scious of the peregrina tions of the Sun, formed definite theories about it. They thought the sun ivas a wheel revolving around the earth, and they observed that on one par ticular day in midwinter its appearance and dis appearance marked the shortest day of the year. This cycle was known to them as the Hweol, and it was a time of celebrating. C SCW. MC As the pagan Yule cele brations were replaced by the feast of Christmas, the festival season extended from Christmas Eve to the Feast of the Epiphany. This meant that the Yule log had plenty of time, big as it used to be, to flame and flicker before the last of it had smoldered to ashes. In the agricultural econ omy of the pre-Civil War South here in our own country, the Yule log was the means of procuring a true holiday for the field hands. There was on many plantations an accepted unwritten rule that the slaves would not have to work outdoors so long as the Yule log was alight. The workers would take advantage of this custom, and select the biggest and toughest gum tree trunk they could find. They would sink it under water for weeks beforehand, to make it as slow-burning as possible. Sometimes one of these nearly fireproof logs would simmer away for several weeks. Sing hey! Sing hey! For Christmas Day; Twin mistletoe and holly. For friendship glows In winter snows, And so let’s all be jolly! Anonymous little-known stories, and origins of Xmas customs Americans exchange bil lions of Christmas cards every year. There are conflicting re ports of who sent the first one. According to one source John Calcott Hors ley designed the first card for Sir Henry Cole in 1843. It is a triptych, the central panel of which shows a well-fed family at table. They raise their glasses to toast, “A Merry Christ mas and A Happy New Year To You.” Flanking them in the end panels are the poor and the hungry. According to another source, the origin of this relatively modem custom is sometimes ascribed to the English Royal Acad emy artist, W.C.T. Dobson. In 1845 he sent friends lithographed copies of a sketch he had made to symbolize the Christmas Spirit. The first English print ed cards were very simple; a robin, a sprig of holly or mistletoe, plus a conven tional greeting. Pioneers of Christmas card print ing in the United States were mostly Germans such as Louis Prang, who opened a shop in Roxbury, Mass, in 1874. Put all wrapping paper away as soon as presents have been opened. A carelessly dropped match or cigarette could be the spark to a very sad, silent night. * a\ VmttSo: BJ « .4gK| iMIIBraS/*!™ JUp .11 whK-g ft7nWMFiM jgj. Y $ WftlpoßP Ik | jp/ MORTON FRoieisi m/m Wgj-L pFiNcyCWQUITA ws «hh»Wi mm igiik*ii -HJ MoeroNl6oi ; twSae .* - KfiS M % ' Rant’ll MSS* Morton mm 9«. /a ■V, W SSSSL » A ck& SUB |l
The Yancey Journal (Burnsville, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 16, 1971, edition 1
6
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