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IT’S CHRISTMAS THIS AROUND THE WORLD AND TO ALL
IT IS THE REMBRA1ICE OF THE BIRTHDAY OF JESUS CHRIST
To boys and girls and grownups in many lands
throughout the world, Christmas Day is the
loveliest of all Birthdays—The Birthday of
the Infant Jesus. In some places, Christmas
is chiefly a day of worship, radiant with
the joy and wonder of the Holy Birth. This
is true of French Canadians, for example,
where, on Christmas Eve, everyone looks for
ward to the Midnight Mass. Among these people
Christmas is a time for the family to be
together.
In France, the grown-ups reserve their own
presents for the New Year. To the French,
Christmas is a religious festival and also
a day for the children. The children put out
their shoes on Christmas Eve in hopes they
wiOMfee filled by Pere Noel (Father Christ
mas) or Le Petit Jesus, the Little Jesus,
who will fill them. Next morning they are
sure to find them filled with toys or candy.
Here in the United States and most of Canada,
the jolly man is Santa Claus, St. Nicholas,
St. Nick or just plain Santa. The children
here hang up their stockings with care and
hope they’ll be abundant with goodies on
Christmas Morning.
Christmas if the time when the splendor of
Christmas trees indoors and out sets the
youngsters fairly dancing; the time for holly
and candy canes, and bright bows on many
gifts.
From the tiniest churches to magnificient
cathedrals, Christmas services of great beauty
are held and countless worshippers attend
them, i-iost churches keep their services very
simple so that people will give all their
attention to the religious meaning of this
day.
The idea of plenty, with enough for one’s
neighbors, some for the poor, is a very old
sentiment and is still a welcome part of the
Christmas Spirit.
Regardless if your celebration is Kolenda,
Nochebuena, kolyada or just a good oldfashion
ed and warm Christmas, let us rejoice at this
time in an humble and reverent way and above
all, let us put the Christ back in our ox-jn
Christmasl
C IF FOR CHRIST
H IS FOR HUMBLE
R IS FOR REVERENCE
S IS FOR SAVIOUR
T IS FOR TIDINGS
M IS FOR MARY, THE MOTHER OF jfeSUS
A IS FOR A. JAY IN A MANGER
S IS FOR SILENT MIGHTJ HOLY NIGHT!
Now to the Lord sing praises
All you within this place-, ... ,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All others doth deface
0 tidings of comfort and joy!
For Jesus Christ, our: Saviour,
l/as born on Christmas Day.
A fall of snow, pure as a visitation of
g race, taking away the sins of the world;
a peal of bells; pine fragrant with many
memories-of Christmas past—any of these
can evoke that exalted moment when the heart
lies open and the Christ Child enters in.
But most often of all, the moment of Christ
mas comes in His own house, when we gather
to tell forth His praise. For the moment
of Christmas is more than emotion. It' is the
realization that the Child has conquered for
us both life and death, things present and
things to come. “And he shall reign forever
and ever-’—the notes of the Hallelujah Chorus
soar and beckon, and the heart soars with
them, in exultant communion x-rith the angels
and archangels and all the company of
Heaven.lt is our wish that early or late
the moment of Christmas may descend upon
you and remain with you2
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