1989-11-29; Central Michigan Life

              Cdtbrating the holidays
SECTION A
Central
Michigan
Serving The University Community For 70 Years
WEDNESDAY
November 29, 1989
Italy
Other nations
observe X-mas
like Americans
by KRIST1NE L. RENAUD
and NANCY SALLA
IH I- Si itf Wi i. is	
Decern Imt is a time of family gatherings and religious celebrations
throughout tlie world.
Although cultures and languages of
nations differ, and customs may even
vary within the same country, there also
are some hasic similarities in the observation of holidays.
Anabellc Rojas, a senior from San
Juan. Puerto Rico, said the Christmas
festivities of Puerto Ricans in large cities
dilfer somewhat from those of people
residing in rural areas,
St." CUSTOMS Paqe 9A
Mope ws TO say
kisttms
Feliz Navidad — Mexico Joyeux Noel — France
Gelukkig Kerstfeest — Holland Happy Christmas — England
Cod Jul — Sweden Buon Natale — Italy
Frohliche Weihnachten — Germany
Holland
Decorations for
trees differ in
other countries
by YVONNE C. CLAES
l Iff
t N.-v.s f dti
St. Nick, Santa loved around the world
by MATTHEW BACH
I  It r    :-.!ltl  V.'t '•■>■
Santa Clans. St. Nicholas and Pere Noel are international
representations of one man who spreads good cheer and gives
Christmas presents to eager, wide-eyed children.
Although myths and beliefs ahout this historic individual
dilTer around the world, his primary purpose is universal — to
give children everlasting memories of holiday happiness.
"Small children like to Ix'lieve in Santa Claus ln-caiise they
want to receive gills." said Hans Rentier, visiting ptofe.ssor of
history who is from the Netherlands.
People in the Netherlands use the names Santa Claus and
St Nicholas interchatigeahly. even though Santa is lictious
and St   Nicholas actually existed
"St Nicholas lived in the beginning of the thi id century. He
was the Bishop of Mvra. which is a small place on the south
coast of Turkey." Ke finer said.
The bishop was loved hv [x-ople. especially poor families, he
said.
"He was a very honest man and very generous." Rentier
said, adding that several stories exist concerning St. Nicholas'
generosity.
"There are many, many legends surrounding St. Nicholas,"
.Just as American children plan to
gather around festively-decorated.
Christmas trees, so too will youth of
far-away lands --- although native
customs will determine the holiday
symlnil's appearance.
(tisela Moffit. professor of foreign
language, literature and cultures, said
traditional ornaments in her German
homeland differ somewhat from
American trimmings.
Moffit. who teaches German, added
that tlie primary difference is that people
in her native country generally place 12
white  candles  on   their  trees   —  each
S.-L- NICK Page 7A
See DECORATE Page 9A
b ArJcn
f ly.l.irirl
flJIlrt
Aunt Bessie and her fruitcake
have it out for everyone of us
Somewhere, a long time ago, a masochistic
culinary lunatic derived a scheme that was to
echo in ttie bowels of mankind from then into
eternity. The named coined for this intestinal
incubus would be FRUITCAKE!
Fruitcake . . one word that stirs up horror
and use of peat quantities of Pepto Bismol m
the lives of many innocent famthes
throughout the world at least once a year.
If you had never heard of fruitcake before,
the name itself might make you think of a
light, flaky pastry with little morsels cf apple.
pear, and maybe an occasional orange or
grape.
What you get instead is truly a rude
awakening. The whole idea of a ten pound,
boo/e soaked loaf of god knows what.
garnished with lovely fluorescent bonbons, is
alien to our very existence.
If it weren't bad enough, theso little
wonders are sent directly to your home or
place of business every Christmas You would
expect it to be sent as port of a cruel joke by
your college roommate or someone who has it
out for you. But instead they are sent by your
httte old, Bible totmg Aunt Bessie.
You know who I'm talking about —
everyone has a relative like Aunt Bessie.
She's about a million years old in dog age —
that's 70 or 80 to you and I - she has two big
saddle bags that she cleverly conceals on the
back side of either arm, and she smells like
the perfume counter at the local Woclworth.
It's nice to know that saintly Aunt Bessie has
a rebellious side that's not seen nearly
enough.
There are many fascinating theories as to
where these fruitcakes originate. One of the
more perplexing comes from Johnny Carson,
long-time  staunch  fruitcake opponent and
Bil
Boyd
late night personality. He says that there ;s
only one fruitcake and it is sent from person
to person. It might be true. Think about it:
you might have heard of people eating thorn
but have you actually ever seen someone in
person eating one'
If you should be the unfortunate tecipient
of one of these jt-Aels. Iur your ccnvience I
ha.e made a nine point outline on the
utilization of your fruitcake.
• If you should be unlucky enough to
recieve one before Christmas, fruitcakes
make great Christmas tree stands
• If you're an av;d fisherman or woman.
fruitcakes, which are not known for their
buoyancy, make great anchors
• The little bright colored fruits that grace
the exterior of most fruitcakes can be
chiseled off and used most effectively on
small children's bikes as reflectors
• If ycu live in a low lying area and your
sump pump is on the frit/, just throw a
fruitcake in your basement and it will soak up
all moisture for a two year period.
• If you should travel to the Upper
Peninsula   sometime   soon,   fruitcakes   are
See FRUIT Page 6A
TREE HUNT
l tfi Ptvoto Jim F»»»i«9«f
Looking for a Christmas tree is an annual ritual for some
people. See related story, 8B.
No Santa Claus!
What's going
on around
by ERIC BORYS
An average. crowded shopping mall.
Mid-December. ">:07 p.m. Junior is acting bratty
and Mother has had enough.
"Settle down or I'll have that policeman arrest
you." she says, pointing.
Junior scotTs. throwing an M & M at her.
"You're going to bed without any supper."
He chuckles, knowing better.
"THERE S NO SANTA Cl-AUS AND YOU ARE
NOT C.KTTINC, ANY PRESENTS THIS YEAR."
Now tell a child there is no Santa Claus and
often it's a serious situation. It's one of those little
rites of passage almost everyone faces as a child.
Some didn't think twice about it. however, others
tiitl not take the news that there was no Santa
Clans so casually.
"I remember being fairly traumatized by it,"
Stephen Scherer, professor of history said. "I was
only four or five at the time and one of the youngest
of ten children, so my older brothers and sisters
kind of got the message to me.
"It was in the middle of the year and it just sort
of came alxiut. 'Hey, there's no Santa Claus.' It
really was a shock. I thought, 'No presents!'"
Sometimes those not fortunate enough lo get the
news from caring siblings had to figure it out for
themselves.
"I must have been about eight or nine," Darin
I-aniphier, Rochester Hills senior. Raid. *I guess it
happened walking through malls and seeing more
than one guy in a Santa suit. It was like, 'Hey
mom. what's going on here?* "
See BELIEVE Page 7A
/'