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ls There A Sarita Claus?

ms 4o ‘YEARS OLD BUT EVER NEW

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i n w: Duo w new“ ‘:1 $1? wegire publishl the fol- k, Christmas edito.i , origin-

lizmgrirlted in the New York Sun. ma. 21. 1897R-

ka ieasu-re in answering at "ﬂﬁ m?“ prominently the com- Ttioation below expressing at the mme time our great gratification an. its faithful author is numbezed “m; the friends of the sun.

an.“ Edltor-J em cllfht Years

“S023! of my little ‘friends my mgrg is no Santa Claus. m .7”, says, If you see it in e

o. sffdléi; ‘tell me the truth, is there

' Santa Claus‘? in Oirlahlon, "115 West Ninety-fifth Street.

friends are

Virginia your lime affected by

‘Tong. They hwve been"

me skepticism of a skclltlﬁal 339-.

. g mm, nothing can be 31.22332. comprehensible by mo. y, minds. All minds. Vi inin. when." they be men's o1- chll ren's m little. In this great universe of ours mun is a maze insect. an ant. 1.. his intellect. as crmparecl with m.- bcundiess world about him, as measured by the inteiiizente capable o; gmgpinﬂ the whole of tru.h and iowledize.

miles, Virginia, there Is a 51ml Claus. Ho exists as certainly B3 m" and genrroslty and devotion exist. and you know they abound and give w yolll‘ lifc its highest beauty and y, Alas! how dreary wzuld be the world if there was no Santa Clmlil 1. would be as dreary oi if there were no Virelnia. Thre would be no childlike faith. no poetry. n0 ‘"- mance to make tolerable this exls_ tence. We should have no exljov- meni. except in sence and sight. Th, etemnl liizht with which Ohm- hood fills the ivorld would be extin-

guzsllcd. Net ‘relieve in Santa Claus? You ml-rllt as well not believe in filiflfﬂ! ‘ You lnltlht art your iron to 111"‘- nlen to ivatcii in all the oh‘m.nev$ on Christmas Eve to catch Sim"

Sonia Claus cc down what would that prove? Nobody sees 581M! Claus. but that is no sign that there is no Santa clsus, The “m” m“ $113185 in the World are these that neither children nnr men see. Did you ever see fair- 155 “min-l! m} the lawn? Of course 110i. but thats no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive °l‘ lmiwlne all i/he wonders that are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tea-r apart the baby's Ntt-IB and see what makes the noise inside but there ls a. veil covering one un_ seen world which not the strongest man that ever lived, could m,- 9,- DB-‘it- Onlv faith. fancy, poetry, love romance can push aside ilhai. cur- tain and view and picture the super_ nal beauty and glory beyond. In it all real? Ah. Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else may am abiding.

Nc Santa Claus! 'I‘hank God, he lives and lives forever. A thous- and Yclrs from now, Virginia, nay

times ten thousand years from now. he will continue to make glad the heart 0d childhood.

"Christmas Man,” Name Given to Kris Kringle

Santa Claus docs not visit the children of Lithuania on Christmas eve as he does the children in this country, but there are all kinds of Chistmas celebrations in which they have a part. and many good things to eat. In Germany and Norway old Kris Kringle hides gifts for the children in many out of the way places, and Christmas day is spent chiefly in hunting for them. In Holland Saint Nicholas dispensed Christmas cheer, but when the Hollanders came to this country his name was changed to Santa (hus. In Sweden Sarita Claus is much like he is in Am- erica, but he does not come down the chimney, but in the night he comes into the room where the Chlrstmas tr-ce is and leaves gifts for all. His name ls not Simta Claus, however, for he is called “The

(mus but even if they did not see Christmas Man." _-_ ‘- _ WP

“On Earth Peace..."

A PRAYER

With the lowering clouds of war 8811111 darkeniu one earth after u brief interval, g0“! fervent is our Driller that peace mall once more Vim/ﬁll. that the words “goodwill toward men" shall cease to echo hollowly in a war-torn world.

Growth of the Christmas tradi- tion has never ceased since the Ftfth Century when the birth of Christ was first generally cele- brated. With it has come a spirit 0f universal happiness; old customs have survived although time has bronchi changes in them.

Arid this year, the season will be observed much as usual. It is not

our first war-time Christmas and-

Bmwllih the thoughts of many of "B mﬂy already be sorrowful. those of others distracted, there will be much that is the same.

We who live in Canada may well count our blessings. We are a. young, vlrile nation that is part of a gloat Empire. Already we have displayed a spirit of helpfulness and national unity in time of stress. And we mall continue to fulfill our obliga-

I11 Shite of our wish for peace on 681th. i battle is to be fought —a battle that right may prevail, that persecution may be wiped from the face of the earth, that men may move, work and play one with an- other in a. spirit of well-being In this Canada is playing her part - with her men, her natural re- sources and her material goods.

As a result. it is our constant hope that the Christmases of the future will come to a world more worthy of having Christmases

THE REAL SANTA CLA US

This Chlrsimas spirit is the real Santa Claus -—a spirit that is universal —that grows stronger with the years ~ihat brings out the best in us- a spirit that is made up of kindly thought and deeds, of a hallowed memories and of a "Good Will" to all. i

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Th: ﬁrst Christ-mu curd was dc- slgned in 1844 by W. C. T. Dob- son. R. A. ' _ '

December 25 was long observed by non-Christian peoples as s mum of the Sun. .

O Although early observed as a feast, the English term Crisws Mus (Christmas) is said to date from 1038. . . _

‘The first mention of Santa Claus in lln lish literature occurs in a Bret sketch ‘mitten in 1872.

The eve before Christ-mas Day tl celebrated "because Christmas Day, in the primitive Church, was a1~ ways observed as the Sabbath day, and, like it, preceded by an eve. or vigil." (Brenda

The carol "Christians Awake!" was written by John Byrom as l Christmas gift for his little daugh- ter, and it was sung at the door- way of Byronfs house, Kersni Cell, near Manchester, on Christmas Eve, 1750. .

I O

The earliest authentic reference to a Christmas tree occurs in a Strasburg manuscript dated 160a, and the first dwcription of one in modem literature is in "The Nut- cracker," n. fairytale by Hoffmann.

I O

It was once believed that if we were to enter a cow-house at mld~ night on Christmas Eve all the cattle would be found kneeling. Many also firmly believed that bees sang in their hives on Christmas Eve to welcome the approaching day.

The early Christians celebrated Christ's birthday on varying dates throughout the year, and did not definitely fix on December 25 until about the fourth century, when they transformed the old pagan sun festival into a festival of the Sun of Righteousnfss.

A fitting conclusion to Christ» mas merrlments in some places is the good old pastime, mentioned by Addision in the “Spectator"—yau'n- ing for a Cheshire cheese. l-Iecrihe who yawns widest, and most na- turally. producing most yawns from the spectators, wins the cheese.

— FOR

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Alarm Clocks Serving Trays Scissor Sets Playing Cards Carving Sets Food Choppers Silver Dishes Boudoir Lamps

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The Christmas cake varies con- siderably in different parts of Eri- tsln. In Northumberiand and Dur- ham. for instance, there is given to the children a cake called a "Yule Debby” or "Yule Dough.” It con- sists of dough ﬂattened io repre- sent n. figure with head arms and body. Currants are set in its face for eyes, and pieces of candied peel represent nose and mouth.

- o n

1n 1062 it was proclaimed that “no observation shall be had of the five and twentieth day of December, commonly called Christmas Day. nor any soiemnity used or exercised in churches." The order was en- forced by soldiers. Ovens and bird- ers were searched, and where sen- sonable dairities or decorations were found they were carried away and destroyed.

O I

The old Christmas begging songs were mostly threatening in tone. as this example, collected in Somer- set: Here comes I, liddle man Jan, With my sword in my han,‘ If you don't all do

As you be told by I, l zend you all to York,

Vor to make an apple-pie.

a -

"Christmas cheer" "is mentioned in this verse, dated 1695: Now, thrice welcome, Christmas, Which brings us good cheer- Minced-pies .. d plum-porridge Good ale and strong beer; With pig, goose, and cupori, The best that may be, So well doth the ilveatller And our stomachs agree. a a r

Cromwell forbade the observance of Christmas and banned, under very severe penalties, the ringing of church bells. Staying in Norwich at. Christmas. he was angered by the Joyous—a.nd dcfiant—chilning of e. pgal of five. The church was sur- rounded, but seal-ch‘ revealed that the beifry was empty, although the bells were still vibrating. The last stroke sounded as the Roundheads entered.

I i i

In the good old clays country gentry kept open house for qvelve days at Christmas. An historian, after describing the usual faring — the beef, 3' ‘e and puddings -

liutch llnnor Santa

The early Puritans who landed on the shores of new Eingland ban- ned Santa Claus as a Punish niven tion, but the Dutch of New Am- sterdam (now New Yorln wei- ccmed and honoei old Santa 'l‘ra- dition, intact. hns it that the figure of 8t. Nicholas presided as the figurehecd of the ship tint brought the first settlers of Man- hattan Islahd, and he was esteemed the patron saint of the city, giving his name to the first church built within its walls. As the little vil- lage grew into a. town, the yearly celebration of Christmas was iri- doused by the authorities, a_nd the whole business of tile community suspended. not only for one day but for several days ln succesiion, even all unnecessary housework being laid aside until the end of the holiday season. Churches and houses were ' ed with ever- greens, and these. as a r1119. We" not removed until Candlemas.

Santa Clause, in the minds of the Dutch youngsters, was a rotund rosy-cheeked old man, with a low- crowned hat. a pair of Fuenush trunk hose and a. pipe of surprising length, who drove his reindeer sleigh loaded with gifts from the froun regions of the North over the roofs of the sleeping town, and stole down each chzmnef; to fill with toys the stockings 0f all 500d children. while_tne Christmas tree was adopted in New Amsterdam long before its IPWBYUICQ in m? other colony.

remarks: "A roundabout fireplace was surrounded with stone benches. ulhere the young folks sat and cracked nuis and diverted them- selves; and. in this manner the sons and daughters got matching with- out going mucmfrom meme.”

It. is still the custom to serve boars head at Christmas in Queen's College, Oxford, as a form of thanksgiving for a remarkable es- cape of a former scholar from dun- ger. The legend relates how the young man, while strolling in a nearby wood perusing a. weighty volume of Aristotle as he walked, encountered an enormous wild boar. The scholar escaped with his life as the result of ramming the book down the throat of the boar.

a w o

It is to the Dutch —n0t to the Germans, as is commonly supposed —that we owe Santa. Clans. His prototype was the boy bishop St. Nicholas. who on December 5 u_sed

to 11o round punishing little child- ren who did not say their prayers and rewarding the good children with presents. Gradually St. Nicho- las was changed from a boy bishop to a. jovial old man, and the sleigh and the reindeer are modern ad- ditions to the lezend. o t t -

When Christmas Day is on a. Monday. Old lines run:

“let Christmas Day on a Monday

And winter long and cold you'll see;

Whistling winds shall freeze your

nes, And farmers‘ men cry groans. Spring. summer, autumn, all shall show

out in

How the tempest wild shall blow More men shall arm at battles roar, And cattle die than e'er before.” - a o -

There survives in Buckingham- shire a, fine old game called "Lang- erloo" —a sort of skittles. in which the score must mount to 32 exactly before a game is won. On a Christ- mastideevening. as you pass along a Buckinghamshii-e lane, you may chance to hear from some old inn the singing chorus of the game;

All along, all along, langerloo. DBTIQETIDO, merry-go-down,

Twice fifteen is half-a-crourrl, I-Ialf-a-crown, I lay it to you, The V013’ next stroke is thirty-two. "MeflT-gc-dovvn” is an old name

for ale.

Printed Chrishnas Card Was Issued Back In ’43

There is more humanity about the Victoria and Albert. museum than its stiff brick exterior slig- gesis.

The director has sent me a Chrismias Picture Book says a. WYliPl‘ in the London Slur. It re— venls ihe fact that the first Christ- has only as recently as i843.

_Tlie card. ulhich was printed for Sir Henry C011, first. dir or of the South Ixcnsineron n is re- ig with lllEl._\' other efforts by zlrilsls lo celebrate the nativity. flu-y range from a walrus ivory relief fronl Cologne to a. modern woodcut by Eric Gill. It is Strange to sec how the artistic wheel has turned full circle back to the medieval ziusferiiy.

But I can't h likinu the first Christmas card, ell ‘features,’ on the films say a IIPHYD‘; mini. As the fat boy would soy. “I likes eating best "

SIIEPIIERDS AND WISE MEN

It ls not clear fronl the Scriptural allusions that the shepherds who visited the new 400m Jesus were the same as tlie u" o men who saw his star in the Ezot. Oilly lvlatthexv records the story of the maci. and only Luke mentions the shepherds. Mark and Joim do not refer to either the shepherds of the wise men.

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