Joy and
Reverence
Mark Season
Candlelight and music, pag
eants and prayers fill churches
everywhere as Christians 'cele
brate, at special services, the
birth of Christ. The joy and
wonder of Christmas, with its
message of new life, hope and
promise of “Peace <on Earth,
Good Will toward Men,” finds
expression many ways.
In choirs singing the praises
of the Babe off Bethlehem, in
scenes symbolizing the birth of
a Child in a manger, in the
gleam of candles reflecting the
light of a Star, in the sound off
voices raised in carols gathered
from around the world and
showing the true brotherhood
of man, Christmas in aD its
beauty and glory goes out to
hearts young and old.
"ChrUies Masse"
To Western Christian believ
ers, December 25 carries all the
deep religious meaning appro
priate to the anniversary of the
birth of Christ. As the date for
the celebration of “Christes
Masse,’’the Mass of Christ, it
was selected some centuries
after the Nativity — selected
from a number of possible
dates, among them January 6,
March 21, March 29, April 9,
May 20. September 29 and No
vember 17.
In some Eastern Orthodox
churches. Holy Night comes on
January 6, Christmas Day on
January 7. The Armenian
church celebrates Christmas on
January 19.
Generally, researchers are
agreed that the correct date
and year of Christ’s birth are
lost in the past, although some
tentative i exclusions can be
drawn. Since it is the meaning
on the day that counts, the date
that has for centuries symbol
ized the coming of the Saviour
will undoubtedly continue its
holy significance in Christen
dom.
To those who like to ponder
on the world as it was when the
Infant Jesus was born, and on
the growth of Christianity,
some delving into the research
es about Christmas can be a re
warding experience. Any ten
dency to take Christmas for
granted disappears in the fas
cinating study of the early
Christian church and its grow
th in the face of resistance.
A comparison of Biblical ref
erences with archaeological and
historical researches discloses
that Christ was probably born
before 4 B.C.—in other words,
the present year is not 1962 of
Christian era but at least 1966.
Evidence to support this re
lates to the reign and death of
Herod. An eclipse of the moon
in B.C.. which coincided with a
Jewish religious festival, has
historians to fix the death of
Herod at about this time—and
when he died, according to the
New Testament, the young
Jesus, Joseph and Mary were
living in Egypt.
Dal* for Taxes
That the birth of Christ may
have occurred as early as 7
B.C. is deduced from archaeo
logical discoveries indicating
that one of three major tax
collections in the reign of Aug
ustus Caesar may have taken
place then.
i
i
Christmas
Greetings
TO ONE AND ALL '
MR. & MRS. J. SMITH
MYLES HYLAND
HYLAND HOTEL
Vuletide Spirit
Stays All Year
Nearly every community has its special way of observing
Christmas—and in some towns and cities, the spirit of Christ
mas prevails, literally, the year around.
In Waterbury, Conn., an all-year reminder of the first
Noel 4s the re-creation of the Town of Bethlehem on nearby
Pine Hill.
This non-sectarian "Bethlehem" was constructed to scale
after research and study of photos showing the Biblical coun
try. The cave or manger where Christ was born, inns like the
ome where there was no room, and the Roman legation where
the tax collection decreed by Augustus Caesar was to be paid
are among the buildings represented.
"Poetic license" has been used to include some buildings
which were not, or may not have been, located in Bethlehem,
such as "David's Home" and Herod's Grand Palace.
Crowned by a Cross, Pine Hill has proved an ideal loca
tion for the project, since its shape is similar to the limestone
cliff where Bethlehem in Judea was built.
Well-known "Bethlehems" in the United States include
Bethlehem, Pa., and Bethlehem, Ind. The Pennsylvania Bethle
hem emphasizes the religious meaning of Christmas during
its annual celebration. A star erected on a nearby mountain
top is lighted throughout the holiday season.
Near Palmer Lake, Colo., an electrically lighted star on a
mountain top is a Chrisfmas-season beacon for motorists on
highways many miles away.
Beautiful lighting displays for Christmas are famous in
many U.S. cities.
In Altadena, a suburb of Pasadena, Calif., a mile-long
avenue bordered by deodar cedars becomes "Christmas Tree
Lane" at the holiday season. The deodars are illuminated by
thousands of multi-colored bulbs for the annual spectacle.
Colored lights outline the buildings of the Country Club
Plaza district in Kansas City, Mo., at Christmas time.
Denver, Colo., illuminates its Civic Center during the holi
days with many thousands of lights.
Yulet-named towns have a special interest in Christmas.
Arizona, Florida and Kentucky actually have towns named
"Christmas." Then there are Christmas Cove, Me.; Nazareth,
Pa.; Bright Star, Holly Grove and Holly Springs, Ark.; as well
as Noel, Mo.; Noel, Va.; Mistletoe, Ky.; Wiseman, Alaska;
and Santa Claus, Ind.
1
r
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A MERRY
CHRISTMAS
TO EVERYONE
ELSIE BROWN
BROWN’S
SHOP
SINGING OF JOY
AT CHRISTMAS ...
The joyous carol3 of Christmas echo
the many greetings we send your way.
VIRGINIA'S COFFEE SHOP
VIRGINIA & WALT
MATANUSKA HOTEL
Naigtr Orm
Pagan SHa
Gathered in the Church of
the Nativity, thousands of
Christians from around the
world will Worship in Bethle
hem this Christmas. A high
light of their pilgrimage is, for
most, a visit to the Grotto of
the Nativity traditionally, at
least, the manger where Christ
was bom.
Opposition to Christianity in
the first years of the new reli
gion actually led to the preser
vation of the manger—an im
provised stable in a cave hewn
out of rock, near the center of
the hill town of Bethlehem.
The Roman emperor Hadri
an, who ruled from 117 to 138
A.D., sought to halt the fast
spread of Christianity, and he
had the cave converted to a
grotto for the worship of the
pagan god Apollo. The very
fact that the cave was marked,
though for pagan purposes,
helped to preserve knowledge
of the site of the Nativity.
Later a silver star was set
in the stone floor of the cave,
and since 1873 each regime to
rule Bethlehem — now a part
of Jordan — has posted night
and day guard over the star.
HELPING SANTA
In Northern Europe, where
Santa Claus arrives on a white
horse, boys and girls put out
food for the horse.
I 7 _ 1
Christmas Tree Fire Safely Tips
More than 50 million Ameri
can families in the next few
days will be buying Christmas
trees and decorating them for
the holiday season.
Unless care is taken, this
happy symbol of the holiday
season can bring tragedy,
warns the National Board of
; Fire Underwriters.
These suggestions are offer
ed by the Board to keep your
Christmas tree firesafe:
1— When you buy a Christ
mas tree, choose one which ap
pears fresh. Before you buy the
tree, run your hand over the
needles to make sure they are
firmly attached. If needles fall
when brushed, the tree is dry
and you should select another
one.
2— When you get the tree
home, keep it outdoors until
you are ready to decorate it.
You can keep it fresh by stand
ing it in a pail of water.
3— You should wait until just
before Christmas before setting
up the tree.
4— You should place the tree
in the coolest part of the room,
away from radiators, heaters
and the fireplace. This will
keep the tree from drying, and
reduce the chance of fire.
5— Your Christmas tree stand
shoald be of the type equipped
1
PAUL’S CHEVRON SERVICE
PALMER
peace and joy of the newborn
King abide with you and
your family throughout this
Christmas and forever after!
MARJORIE, FLOYD & DON
WESTSIDE UNION SERVICE
with a water container in which
the trunk can rest. Fresh trees j
will “drink” a sizeable amount j
of water, and you should fill :
the water container daily.
6— Only flameproof decora
tions should be used on the
tree—those made of glass, met
al or fire-resistant material.
7— Use only electric lights to
illuminate the tree and be sure
to check light strings before
placing them on the branches.
Those with frayed wires should
be thrown away. If you buy a
new set, select a type that bears
the Underwriters’ Laboratories
label.
8— The switch controlling the
tree lights should be some dis
tance from the tree.
9— Electric trains—part of
Christmas in many hones—
should be set up away from the
tree. Sparks from toy trains
could be fire hazards.
10— Lights on Christmas
trees always should be turned:
off when everyone is away
from home.
11— Check the tree frequent
ly for dryness. In particular*
check tree needles near lights
If they have started to turn
brittle, change the position of
the lights.
12— When needles become so.
dry they start falling, take the
tree down at once and put it
outdoor^.
13— When Christmas presents
are opened, the gift wrappings
you intend to keep should be
folded and put away. Other
paper, ribbon and boxes should
be gathered up and thrown,
away promptly.
AL 8-2001
PHIL and JEAN O'NEIL
Sutton
OUIi FRIENDLIEST
TULETIDE WISHES
One of the joys of
the Christmas season is the
opportunity to extend to all of
you our best wishes.
MAG’S PLUMBING & HEATING
MAC AND MARGARET