TUJhS i lit (IRjHTBE FORE CHRIS IfllfiS
Tonight marks the teginning of Christmas
celebrations in countries across the world.
In a combination of religious and secular
observances, each country celebrates the an
niversary of the birth of the Christ child
nineteen hundred and forty six years ago. '
In Seldovia, as in thousands of American
homes everywhere, ‘it' is Santa Claus . who
comes down the chimney (or through the door,
lacking a c imney) to fill Christmas stock
ings .
In Sweden, Jul Tonten or Tomta Jubba, a
tiny old nan, will cone to leave Christmas
gifts for all of the family, and to drink
the bowl of bread and milk that is left for
him in every home.
In China, ’’Christmas Old Father” brings
gifts for the family, while in Russia it is
’’Grandfather Old Frost” and in France ”Pere
Noel.” In Greece, St. Basil is thought to
make . his iourney in a ship to leave . the
gifts. In Spain, children believe the three
Wise Men of Bethlehem are responsible for
their Christmas gifts.
St. Nicholas.,, who brings Christmas gifts
to good boys and girls and switches to bad
ones, will visit the Ukeranian countries ri
ding a white horse. Children will _ leave
gifts of hay/anc*" s-uga'r^'in their >’wjooden -shoes
for the horse.5. * • j . i g
St. Nicholas who was thje /Bishop of Myr.
na in Asia Minor curing the1 fourth century,
three goback
1C PCRTLOCK
Howard arid Bill
Carlough left for
Portlock in the lat
ter’s boat last Tues
day afternoon. * They
were accompanied by
Ed Carlson, who • is in
charge of the logging
operations of the
Portlock Sawmill Co.
is believed to be the
original from which
all 'today’s Christmas
saints are patterned.
He is said to have
wandered about doing
good, dressed in a
disguise of white whi
skers and a red robe
hence the costume of
our Santa Claus.
The Christmas
tree, which has been
lighted in American
homes at * Christmas
time for less than a
hundred years, was
first decorated in
Germany by Martin Lu
ther .
Luther had been
walking through the
forest on Christmas
Eve admiring the bea
uty of the starlit
night. Upon his re
turn home, it is said
he carried a tiny ev
ergreen tree on which
he-- fastened, lighted
i earthier in order to
.• shQw'v hi's ; family how
the jforest 1 looked on
that' calm- Christmas
Eve. .