Fireworks For
Christmas Is Old
Fat in Custom
By GERARD TETLEY
</P) Newsfeatures
To those who have sometimes
asked why fireworks should be as
sociated with the birth of Christ,
the answer is that this was an im
ported custom which settlers
brought from France to New Or- |
leans.
I
Before it was introduced in this
country the Italians were using
colored fire on December 25 and
there is abundant evidence that
j the Spaniards also indulged in
[ early pyrotechnics.
In the southern states fireworks
I remain a Christmas “must” not
withstanding the fact that many
cities and towns have enacted pro
hibitive ordinances because in so
many instances Christmas joy was
turned to Chrismtas grief in kill
ings and maimings.
The paganistic motif bobs up
rgain in the burning of the Yule
Log which is certainly tied in in
extricably with Christmas but
which can be traced back to the
word Jul and the Goths’ festival
commemorating the winter sol
stice.
Mistletoe is another Christmas
custom which goes back to the
white robed Druids who revered it.
They always cut it with a golden
blade because they considered it a
symbol of peace. In the early ages
if two foemen met underneath
mistletoe, they dropped their arms
and embraced—hence the modern
practice of kissing under the mis
tletoe.
The Christmas tree is entirely
Germanic in origin and first made
its appearance at Strusburg in
1005. It was not until 1840 that
the Princess of Mecklenberg in
troduced it in England to become
i immediately a Christmas fixture.
i
i But one little known fact is that
; the Christmas tree was a current
! Christmas fixture in America be
i fore it was in England because
i
immigrants to this country from
the Black Forest brought the idea
with them. Immigrants also intro
duced the story of Kris Krinkle—a
vulgarization of the German
words Christ Kindlein Bhe little
Christ child).
Where did Christmas presents
originate? The Germans are total
ly responsible for the origination
)i' Santa Claus though some pro
fess to see again some analogy be
tween gift-giving and the rich be
stowal of gifts peculiar to the
Homan Saturnalia.
After teeth are fully forme 1,
their health is not affected by any
articles of diet except starches
and sugars.
One American to another
. . . wishing you the great
est happiness of the season
and hoping your Christmas
will be the merriest and
your New Year the most
successful you have known.
THE
GLUE POT
GREETINGS
of ihe SEASON
_ 55
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