Ntivity Sn Pacd Under Christmas Tree

hism L Fal Of Light in Sweden

In Belgium December is The Children's Month

board for his dreams. the pretext for creating, just a bit more clev-

' "C be This is the children's month. the

ly D. II. Weld! "19 lm-S Orlllnllly used to be in- age”, vegetable, of .11 kinds, month of family holidays. ban- . ,

negation of Sweden. Ottawa HVWN3 I W1-Indllll WM heard on Compiled by the cakes and pastries, fruits, nut; queis and abundant llballons. erly. the realm into which no one ....... the dodr. the gift wrapped heav- unginn of gym".-innn, oiguu, nnd chocohm nnd Swiss whit, The preparations for the ap- 55” P9"e””9r "0 0'19 but ll-lmwu

winter and dlrkneea prevgu for lly in paper, was thrown in on the ' Ind red dry wines. proaching Christmas and the New and M5 bmllhetu "'9 Poeh W110 will many monghn in mg Nor-gnu-n floor. and the messenger would on.-i5i,.n..g is celebrated in swig. on cn,Mm,s Day, religion, Year's Day Reveillon are made Il0,0n Wittiihe. same when the countries and this Oh:-igtmng, nc flee at top speed. Todly Father ze:-land in about the game manner Iennces an new in an churches. long in advance. and Saint Nich- Children h3V9 Emwn 10 mefh Th”- me mm 0, mg ,3", ins niwayg Christmas himself (who is usually as in Canada, Although cnrisrmas 0..., I", people exchange olas serves as the children's pre- of course. is ii fact recoznized by Md 3 specnn nnnigicnnce u n 19,. t.he father of the household in dis- is 3 religious celebration, ii is also Cnnslnms Brawl,” Guns bu, Iude lo the family festivities. ii the bslwrs and Cindymllterl who W310, "Kn; nnn u-inure go the guise) has a friendly chat with the time of year when children must send good wishes Cards on would be interesting to study the 019 1h9”'1”U50FY Sweets "1 drew”

the children andthen distributes as well as adults are showered the occasion of the New ye”, evolution of toys throughout the C010l'ed Syrups-

In Western Europe. saint Nich-

return of the sun. In Sweden it is olas' Day. December 6Lh, has re-

mwe ohm 3 bflgf hgudny; it in . ages, and the sudden changes

with gifts. wrought in them by me coming of

The Christmas festivities

the gifts. Before this ceremony, start

rill-: "sAllrolls'

mgmy "my, uunn - - in; there is usually a pause in the in- I with the celebration of "Lucia," the tlvltles when the father reads the on Christmas Eve when Ch.-lstians the railroad, the automobile. and malned U19 Brent day for this --Return of Light" on December cliaour in the Bible about the celebrate the birth of Christ by go- , m- the airplane. However. these Children: not even Chrisbmls has Nativity. Each gift is accompanied lng to church. Afterwards. famil- 'C0nl'"lued tram Page 4) changes are only imaginary. for a been 8'b1e 10 lcipllce it-. Slim

toy is. after all, everything except Nicholas. I dignified saint who

mm and east: with "cnmuemu" ies athe togeth t h d . r er . one monm r K 3 ome amlm what is is supposed to be, a thing wears a bishop's robe and mltre.

by a rhyme from the donor. Then C'CCCC"CCC'C'lCfj one should say not only the father

in put centuries as. Lucia Day follow A Christmas hymn Ind a the chrurmas tree. which is o:na- . , "5 likely the ceremonial con- dim! lrolmd the tree in Which manna will-r rm.” wax candles and mother and children, but often conceived by an adult, a concrete while slows. and an enormous all members of the household Join. innnnn og coloured lights. and aunts. uncles and cousins, with the thing so precise and complicated bl-51.1098 ring on his left hand

that it does not usually become in- W-hlC-ll bewllch” Weft! small aoul.

iusl of the seasons' threshing. ” M sing Christmas carols and listen to riarty taking place. if possible. at

On Christmas night man re- , brings toys and sweets to fill the

Early in the lw0'a is the first rnen- . mm 01 5;. yuc1g"'rhg Quggn of members the animals, and sheaves recnnnons by the cnndmn The” the home of the grandparents. ierestlng until the gears are n I mm being rgpregentgd by . inn. are placed at windows for the in p,-action", no danger in using This supper is a light one, usually Jammed. the wheels dbrolrn alnd N36 Woiidkeii -A1365 in CSl1I.1etilllv,alk:d . ' bl da t f d d th ttl . inn 1 f 3 , 1 11 d l,- the mechanism ruine . ctua ly, co age at e. eween am ac - 50”” am with 3' crown or anal” r 0 ea on. m e on 9 Candles. as may are omy In Mm" :,llgh!l'Tle0Xl'eynodlS:1ysC:lxCsESe.o mill and toys have a soul. breathed into alas Day, and Christmas there is

the families and llriends are pre- sent. In most Catholic homes, a crib depicting the story of the Nativity is set up under the Christ-

an interruption which helps to -prolong the happiness associated with the white-bearded saint and to anticipate with less impatience

are given extra rations. Another custom linked with old Norse sa- gas is that of placing a bowl of rice pudding outside the house in

them by the children, and this soul is always the same, whether it be in a doll. a locomotive, or a broom. Thus, the styles are changed in

in her hair. First observed in the province of Varrnland, "unseede- ggn" is now a popular tradition

coffee. At midnight the whole fa- mily is at Mass, and Following this ceremony in the church the "re-

icliuteh in 1 Hi hh th : in". L;,'::::' m :"l'l!g'u3l: childreh when the! to carol-sin!-' l.'.'.'3i."y.?.'.. .35. :lhl:n"M.?."wh.: saw that a French coniectioner I . ' ; ls mam," , of mu 5 Q me full house touhmise on Christ- chrmm" MI” W” cm, Ind made his aweetmeats more ettrac. i for it was not ' ui tn 1 'l ' inns in. is a relic of the ancient mm, n W” mm um M m.., live by wrapping them in .tusue.yl . 4 fury - "" ' M """' sustoeneomnlon in the northern ' V a few weeks before Christmas he - 1. that (Ilrlstlnu pmmu crop of fruit and wine would be I l , 9 Mun - ooutitriee or Ineiumi .- until the pmnnn ,,,, on n,, om, Mn. let his assistants wrapping aiizar- ' . . . . i NOW M ill. lllt 0011337. 0! car- if ohunmnnnmnhg 'u (om Fuji” llmflmll M lihll V335 Th3 I ' ' L tying figures of our lady unsure ,,,,n,y nn. ,0 M. Wm cracker unis-. little nearer when r 114,155! ,:ng51' cmnrangfowm mm. "'0" .3.

lonowed throughout the land. In der to emain n frie dl term " ill " ch it dl i homes. nmney, workman, mn non. or r o n y s g . I mas rec. . ve on , or rs mas nner s i H I t k H h H u by bionic... we names or s or In ,.

girl is chosen as Lucia, and in the

hood.

Christmas Tree to England from Germany is largely due to the Prince

children, Santa Claus, who is us-

The 21st, Saint Thomas' Day,

early morning darkness, accom- The Swedish Christmas table Consort. who inmned we cuuom M Windsor in 1841' Now most Brig ually a friend or relative of the merely ll light supper. but more of- y . y . . P named by her mgjdgl Sn. wniu presents a lavish display. The mh homes have mm, Chrmmu Tracy any decorated and hum: wnh family, arrives on Christmas Eve ten it is yi regular Christmas din- receive anything like the number :?;;)'?l:nfheI:bl;;':m':':":;l;':::fljiintfhe about clad in a white linen gown. "ml" duh” 5'39 bullet! 1131". 53"!-.p,ese,n5.chr13m,es Trees "a mu mentioned at Suasbourg in 1505, in the traditional costume and lief. and everybody is up until of gifts that children in North Ardennes the Schoolboys wuum wnh 3 crown 0; named cnnnies lages of a'llk1ncls. pigs knucklesn and Luther esubnuhed the custom in Gemmnyn distributes 'the toys and gifts, five or six in the morning. the child America have come to expect, Set me '10 lime paper waste”. upon her head ma 3 may in ha. lute fish and rice pudding. A n(Cou”e5y U. K Information Snwice). which nre immediately unwrapped. ren dropping off to sleep as they There is little exlchange between placed hem”, mp dam. of the hands, serving coffee and cakes 100d Chfl-W11" bl? 15 3130 50TVGd- After the gifts have been opened, become sleepy. I perscns other than members of the school building. Thu wparemn, .5 5n,, sing; her cu-oi t,o.t,hg tung Christ-mle EV! dinner is thei - - - - a midnight supper is enjoyed hy Thefollowing morning the chlld- family. A quiet family day follows. J-nnocem cnsmm ,5. according in or the aid nnnnn bnund --gnngn traditional Christmas meal, and, all. It includes such foods as tur- "en eagerly seek their shoes to see with perhaps a trip to a children's mme historians. 8 suwival of me

flint Pere Noel has left. But, gen- theatre tin Paris or the large cltiesi .i....::...m-C

Luciaif. Later in the evening. pro- cessions are arranged in the streets . of many Swedish towns after the crowning of a Lucia Queen: the largest. being held in Stockholm where thousands of people line the streets to see the fair Green on her throne with he: escort of pretty maids. pages and fairy tig- ilres. The substantial fund collect- ed at these festivities goes to various charities. one of the most colorful tradi- lions of Sweden's Christmas ses-

ilfm is the old-fashioned country hi hn ht 1 sh 1 1 g which mom in- me -we min in in '.522..:l.”.'.” l::.'..r ll; ::.:.:';:...:-1. 3. row. TH E "1 me bum"! C'pu'l' A""'"'' m8 " H” econ ed Mthlfrom that southern country. In- many will forget the sight of their

the outstsndirig events in Stock- holm before the Mill: is the histor- ical "Julmarknad". held in the cobblestone imarket-place of the Old City, and flanked by quaint medieval buildings with their high-gahled facades aglow in the warm light of the towerlngrChrlst- mas tree. A similar fair, in a rural setting. is staged annually at skim- sen. Stockholm's unique outdoor

.muscum. T110 third bl! Yuletide h ud y -n in um be :2: ::.::....rr::::..:::: . . , . . , . . . , ''""””5' T”"” H” ”' s"””"”"" ”-liiloti-" Service before ihe fireplace. These shoes friends. wishiniz them ii merry Play Pens. Highchairs, Commocle Chairs. Sleight. both steering and baby rail. Kin-

iind sponso ad by the local Home- cralls Association. on these oc- ,casluins weavers and craftsmen

"Um mmy 9”” "l swede" M” 5 o'clock. "Phls service is called master on his hazardous trips. My mm "m m 'pmm"g' w"v' ”Julotta". This 13 an extremely The Dutch Santa Klaus time a rule. . . .h"l "9d'c”Vm3' b”kel"m"um solemn occasion in small, centur- from the 5th to the 6th of Decem- The tree st.a.VS after NEW YEW. C359mbl9d "1 our 5l0r9- -' "ml "tn" ”m”'h”m""ed cut” for old provincial churches where ber is a time for fun' and laughter. which is 3150 relebriltwed at home ' .The products of henir handicraft; people gather. often travelling People make surprise-.po.ckages and in the family. but will always ',”'m'""l""'d ”” c”"m'y'”yl” many miles through the dark. for one another. and every present be out of the house before Twelfth , - ' ,0 e "3" pubmi X” th” 't”"” snow-clad countryside. Their is accompanied by some poem or Night. An Old superstition. Which &, SHE l-L wVEA mum mm in c”h"""1 pmvmcm horse-drawn slelghs carry other which tells of the faults and is generally followed. says bad luck 'i f”5””'"'5 ””” W 5”” ""'V""”3 lighted torches, and the peculiar habits the addressed has. will come over the dwelling when d"'"ld5”"" dl””"”'” h”'d,, h1"”'.', sleigh-bells ring out joyfully. But when eanla once more has the tree is still in there after 13”” tm” ”d l” " amt After this Christmas Day service. left Spain to take a well-deserved Twelfth Night. i C0 wn can 5" Cwnuy 5'4” the people gather outside the rest over there. the Dutch start m

. muslr with singing and folk danc- .iniz lends additional authenticity in iho old-world rural atmos- nhelr. Yuletide imparts a peculiar

ii Sham '0 3w""h wmmumu”: a family gathering in the living bl-ated with much fun or presents

.”k"e55 ml” ” 'l”l" 9”” roomiwhere the members play --it is the time of devotion and small. . oclock in the afternoon. then all "me; chat and read and enjoy of remembering the birth of Christ. A teddy be” 3 Sleepmg 5'”'i

is man with mm mm "mum" the gllfts they have received In the churches there are prayers T0 mil" me" mam Sladi 0” "we deem" d'c”"mm' ""”''i on the day after Christmas for peace and goodwill all over the "W Elli

window displays and hill? llimed which is also a holiday the social world and at home the family 3"” What HWY need 10? Chilli- chr-lstmas trees glowing in tin” season begins. The family circle gathers all by itself: it is strictly a W"-

ODCH Spaces and squares. For a number of days before Christmas -Eve the market place: and public squares become iveritahle forests. with hundreds of Christmas tree vi-ndoirs offering fragrant. fresh- rut trees to eager buyers. who

Wulry about laden with purchases.

made at the fairs. . . the Christ- "W3 coats of tow. angels with Wood-shavings curls, hand-woven mes, etc.

The Little Straw Goat '

. The straw goat is a tradition that dates back to the Vikings ""1 their end of fertility, Thor. To the People Thor gave full harvests, food. the fruit of the seasons, and

wherever he travelled among the stripped of its firlery and tossed three Kings and Maria herself day. , I llrilille he was drawn in a carriage into the back yard to the accom- with her son. The tree is decorat- It's my greatest need for Christ- ' W0 Roots. Thus he became as- panlment of loud cheers and a ed with silver balls, bells and gar- mas.

so:-rated with the ancient celebra- ”””i and sift-giving at the close iii the threshing season. In the i 18705 a Swedish artist began to ” depict the Christmas giver as an ti "fin-like sprite clad in a red point- . 9d car: who lrildually took on the . lllpearence g of the present-day : Evita Claus. But the goats re- ; gained the same, and to this day -' ms in Sweden is d awn about W the Christmas goa and the ir f”?-i having (supposedly) de- l.- Wed the slits. stands at the foot I Hi the Swedish Christmas tree. . Eierrorie in eweden. even the M i'J31orest. has I Christmas tree .,.t Ole candles burn for the first ,., km on Cbristmaa Eve. The tree L 8 "Will! decorated with b, uwtdlsh flags. gingerbread men", M3591 and angels. goats. stare P mwotller small filurer made of

ii The hllhileht of the festivities

LT. ?,'i:l.Lk"',;'g ltwn: vngz. Th um" M ,, H d uh come thrqighout the year. "Wise imiml ”'Enw'i:l?:"3 "keg ";"hT"m If Bsxo mm ' ” ' 3" W "' " and cunning masters of astrology." 3'9" C ' mm” ” "M will aha... l.'l.?.'.:.."".'3.l' our-3:: mm ""1 mm" "Id wnmm" W0 "0 told. "hive found that a 3”” "M '"”"'m "ck mm '

5'9. Just after supper. to distri-

u w

"M the

ated kitchen where members of the household and servants gather! together to partake of the numer-r ous courses. The first course isl "dopp ,ylgrytan", served on "this. occasion only. It consists of- al spiced boulllton in which ham has, been cooked. It is ledled from an, iron pot that stands boiling on the stove. and each one present dips a slice of home-made rye bread in-' to the pot and eats it. There fol- lows the well-known "smorgas-, bard" consistlngaof many delic-

is served in an attractively-decor-'

frills of red and white tissue pap- er. The evening meal on this dayl consists of "lutfiak," a stock fish: treatnd in lye (resembling our cod. fish) which is served with melted butter or a creem sauce, and po- tatoes. Rice cooked tn milk and eaten with cream, sugar and cin- namon forms the dessert. There is always much merrlment in see- ing who gets the "almond" in his plate of rice. for it is said that he

one of the great thrills of the Swedish Christmas is driving to early-morning church services at

church to exchange greetings with the Swedish saluiation "God Juli" The remainder of Christmas Day is devoted to quiet home life. with

is broken and people visit their friends and neighbors. wishing each other "A Happy Continua- tion of Christmas." Theatre and cinema are crowded. for some of the best films and plays of the season often hold their premieres on that day.

New Year's, Day and New Year's live have no specifically Swedish characteristics, fend are celebrated much the same as in other countries, with public and private parties, balls. flre-crack- ers. etc. ,

Finally on January 13th. st. Knut's Day. the Christmas

lively

is ended with a series of children's parties when the tree is

lg Christmas

Specially wrlTt:rr for. "The

Guardian" by H. Muller

While in Canada Santa Klaus and Christmas are almost one conception. in The Netherlands there's quite a difference between the two . . . not only of time. but also of celebration. The Dutch Santa Klaus is a Spanish bishop.

stead of ii. reindeer sleigh, he uses a white horse for transportation. after leaving the steamboat. He is accompanied by one or more black servants, who are all called "Black Pete.” and who help him with his tremendous task of giving every- one presents. with his horse, he rlcles over the roofs of the houses in every village. town or city. his servant descends through the

are always filled with carrots. hay or sugar lumps. I reward for the horse who so lnfalllbly takes his

buying Christmas trees and decor-

ations and settle down for the

more serious way of celebration. Christmas in Holland is not cele-

fnmlly and indoor-affair, Christ- mas ln Holland. The big day of the vacation isn't, like in Canada. the 25th. but the 24th. Christmas Eve is the most important event of the whole celebration. on that evening, every one in The Nether- lands is at home the streets are deserted and when you walk through them. you can see a tree with real candles in every house, and sometimes hear the Christ- mas songs. In the top of the tree, there is it big silver star. symboliz- ing the Star of Bethlehem. Under the tree, there mostly in to be found a miniature copy of the stable where Jesus was born- wlthy the donkey and oxen. the

"thanks for good service".

(Continued from Page 4)

combustible material had been tied. was carried in procession through the streets. About ii o'- clock in the evening the torches were lighted and. accompanied by the town bend, the tree was car- ried in stately procession around town. Rockets and squib: were discharged and many of the people also carried torches and lighted branches.

CAIOLLXNG CIIILDIEN

two small figures. which still. is occaeiorlelly carried by Yorkshire

" is a strong portend for that

lands, also mostly silver. some use

Devil is Knoll Tolls, Every Christmas Eve, Is Legend of Dewsbury, Yorkshire Village

in Holland

red and other colors also.

Now. on this night. the whole family is sitting by the tree and one of the parents, preferably the mother. reads out the Christmas. Story. The only light in the room is given by the candles, and the atmosphere is sober and solemn.

Not many presents are given any more. some may be under the tree.

mother. reading out the story of the birth of Christ, the serene candle light and the feeling every- thing was good and peaceful, then.

On the 26th, most people so to church. and spend the rest of the day together at home, there is a dinner with goose or chicken - the turkey-tradition we know so well here isn't very well known in The Netherlands.

Christmas. Often people dine out this day C a habit which isnt so popular as in Canada. . .: nearly every Dutchman eats at home as

My Christmas List

'Some little things for loved, ones

As down the busy stireet I go, There is always a kindness I can

do,

I can lend a hand. give a smile or two.

There's so much to do at mas.

The cost or these 1 shall not mind,

Loving to give. brings pence ol mind.

Contentment too, therein I'll find,

If. I give from my heart at Christ- mas. .

Christ-

One thing I need. I cannot buy, As Christmas day again draws

nigh. The love of Him, who is born to-

-M. J.

Cleveland. Yorkshire, the same box is called ."beesel-cup" and the children who carry it say that they are going "a-wassailling" - an invitation to give them I blessing and a love.

HOLY NIGHT WIATIIIE

Country people in Britain still watch the sky on Christmas Day for signs of a change in the wee- thcr. for there is an ancient be- lief that'the weather atfthis time to

man may see and mark for the

be "Very t ofwine and hillt."

great dearth of cattle and beasts at sunset "it. signifies ' dearth to this year." And if the wind arose

lords." THE CHRISTMAS CRACKER.

As in Canada, no party in Britain is complete with- out s box of "crackers." Christ- mas crackers were first made in Britain about 70 yelrs ago. It was a confectioner and maker of ome-

holiday on the Continent the idea which evolved into the cracker. He

he thought of making the pack-

But if the wind arose at the ria-

ml of the me then "It betokenetll

s

a'gs more entertaining by placing a loving message inside.

some among the kings and great

Christmas L

key, chicken, rabbit, ham. salami and sauclsson

flarse dried saus- rally speaking, children do not in the afternoon. , Continued on page 8

SW5

HOME

It is a pleasure to announce that we have now on display in our store the finest selection of Living Room Chairs. Dinette Chairs. Kitchen Chairs, Cedar Chests. Studio Couches. Davenports. and Chesterfields. Floor Lamps. Table Lamps. Coffee Tables. End Tables. Lamp Tables. Dinette Tables for the Homemsnd Cribs.

dergarlen Sets, Bleclrbloards. Pool Tables, Doll Carriages, Tricycles. Bicycles. Desk and Chair Sets. etc-. for children-The finest selection that we have to this "d-to