Give Plants Protection From Cold . A few precautions can help "oaeowners avoid cold damage to ®**tain plants that frequently fall v7“m* *0 eevere temperatures. Some of these damage-prone P*“ta an rhododendron, boxwood ■nd some of the other broadleaf evergreens, according to epicultural extension specialists at North Carolina State University. Hm best way to protect them from winds and the winter sun is to plant them in protected places to begin with. Plants that are already in the wrong places may be Suc cessfully moved, if they are fairly young Otherwise, some type of screening protection is recommended. For valued plant* you may want to build a scaffold on three sides — east, south and west — then cover the frame with burlap or some similar material. He!J, flflortl! urtles give their young no care at all. The mother sea turtle digs a hole on a beach and lays her eggs, covers them with sand and then returns to the sea. The sun hatches the eggs. 1 May the year ahead bring a lasting peace to the ifhole world...and may it bring happiness to you. THE CHEVROLET LEADER 433-5511 A Merry Christmas and Joyous 1989 from the Saint Augustine's During this Joyous season our thoughts turn to our good friends whose Loyalty, Courtesy and Goodwill have helped to make our achievements possible We Are Deeply Grateful. May the Gladness, Hope, Peace, Love and Joy of Christmas abide with you always. Pinata Remains Strong In Mexican Christmas The story of Mary and Joseph’s search for a place to stay in Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus led to the creation of the pinata, a Mex ican Christmas tradition dating back to the colonial period of the 1600s. Use of the pinata remains strong in Mexico, but other Mexican Christmas traditions are being challenged by customs imported from the United States. Dr. William H. Beezley, professqr of history at North Carolina State University who studies Mexican popular culture, said the pinata was born as a popular effort to relive the story of Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging on Christmas night. “A pinata is a clay bowl or vase fill ed with goodies,” Beezley Said. “Lit tle toys, candies, oranges, little treats. Around that clay bowl is a papier-mache figure shaped like an animal, a boat or whatever is the in spiration of whoever makes it. Today, one might see a lot of Walt Disney characters.” The tradition of the pinata is prac ticed in all areas of Mexico, rural and urban. “For nine days before Christmas, the children in a neighborhood go door to door, asking if there’s room for them—room at the inn,” Beezley said. “They are turned down at each house until they get to the last one, the one that has been selected for that evening. There, they are invited in side for a little Christmas party.” As part of the party, the children are blindfolded, spun around and allowed to try to break open a pinata, which hangs above the patio. While the other children watch, each child takes a turn swinging at the pinata with a pinata bat—a thin, carved and decorated bat slightly shorter than a baseball bat. Once the pinata is burst and the goodies begin spilling out, all the children scramble to get whatever treats they can. Then the children sing songs, play and have refreshments. “The tradition of the pinata has now spilled over into other Mexican fiestas, which also often feature fireworks,” Beezley said. “Pinatas now have expanded to saint days and birthday celebrations.” Although the use of the pinata is thriving, some Mexicans have begun to abandon other traditional national Christmas customs, or to combine them with U.S. practices. “In Mexico today it’s kind of a toss up because of television and the prox imity to the United States,” Beezley said. “Mexicans are being bombard:. ed with U.S. traditions." For example, he said, it is tradi tionally on Jan. 6, Epiphany, that wise men come and bring presente to Mexican children. “But that is being altered and get ting to be more Santa Claus-oriented,” Beezley said. “There are even Christmas trees there now. It is becoming a mixed tradition.” can The average line 38 miles‘ President Reagan has received his own Olympic gold and silver. 5 v 7^**, House ceremony, a group of 1988 U.S. Olympic gold F]°rtnce Gri®th J«V»er, Matt Biondi, J^et Evans ^Maynard along with U.S. Olympic Committee President Robert Helmick presented President Reagan with a set of gold and silver uiympic coins. The U.S. Olympic Commemorative Coin^-a $5 gold coin and a silver dol teiv-are available nationwide at financial institutions, coin dealers and par ticipating retail stores including K-Mart, Sears and Montgomery Ward to all The people who bring you Budweiser wish you and yours the very best this holiday season. • Can • Raleigh

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