First American
Christmas
A little island in the middle of
the St. Croix River, just a few
miles out of Calais, Maine, al
though deserted today, possesses
Si deep significance at this time
of the year. According to well
known authorities, the first re
corded observance of Christmas
on the North American continent
was held on St. Croix Island.
The colony had been founded
by a group of Presbyterians and
Catholics in 1604 and each ob
served the birth of Christ accord
ing to their particular convictions.
This band sailed from France in
1604, and selected the tiny island
because it seemed a natural place
to defend against Indian attacks.
On the first Christmas in the
new home, the colonists held re
ligious services and prepared holi
day feasts. A member of the col
ony, Samuel Champlain, explorer,
navigator and writer, recorded his
description of North Amorica’s
first Christmas observance.
German Santa Always Knocks Twice!!
FRANKFURT, Germany UP> —
Germans observe Christmas now
much as they did centuries ago,
especially in rural sections.
They go to church, have big
family dinners and exchange pres
ents. But the youngsters have it
good at Christmas time, Santa
comes to see them twice.
He arrives first on Dec. 6 in the
role of Saint Nicholas and the
second time on Dec. 24 as the
l "Christmas Man.”
Unlike American children, little
German boys and girls don’t hang
i up their stockings by the fire
place. They put their shoes out
! side the door. Then Saint Nicho
las comes by — if the children
: have been good, of course — and
leaves them some candy.
Saint Nicholas doesn’t wear a
red suit trimmed in white fur
as Santa Clause does. Saint Nich
! olas wears a heavy brown fur
uniform with a rope belt and
leather boots. That’s for his Dec.
6 visit.
But when Christmas Eve rolls
around, he shows up as the
Christmas Man wearing the tra
ditional red suit trimmed in white
fur and carrying a big bag of
gifts.
German Santas don t climb
down the chimneys. They walk
right in the front door. Maybe
it’s because German Santas are
fatter.
And both Saint Nicholas and the
Christmas Man live in the sky
— not at the North Pole. They
just use the North Pole as a
Christmas address. German young
sters address their letters to
“Reindeer Land, Igloo No. 1,
North Pole.”
The Germans claim they orig
inated the idea of a Christmas
tree. And it was a German, ac
cording to old newspaper files,
who introduced the Christmas
tree in America. The story is that
a German priest who emigrated
to Cleveland, Ohio, set up a
Christmas tree in his church in
the 1840s. He was almost chased
out of the church. The congre
gation didn’t like the idea.
1
GREETIN
MORGAN & SON
We say in all sincerity
that it has been a real
pleasure for us to be of
service to you in the past.
Our greeting comes from
the heart. . . you have
our best wishes for a
glorious Holiday.
/jreetiMS
WIEN ALASKA AIRLINES
MAY THE JOY OF
CHRISTMAS FILL
EVERY MOMENT OF
THIS FESTIVE SEA
SON FOR YOU!
BERING SEA ENTERPRISES
Bering Sea Club — Bering Sea Hotel and Apartments
i
Wallace Liquor Store
Anchor Tavern