1968-12-23; Saline Reporter

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The Saline
VOLUME 20, NUMBER 16 - Monday. "December 23, 1968
CHURCHES
CELEBRATE
HOLY DAY
With special services,
• churches of this community
celebrate Christmas — a holiday
that is, first of all, a holy day.
Festivals of light, music and
prayer are dedicated to the birth
of a Holy Child in Bethlehem,
nearly two thousand years ago.
For Christian believers, each
.of these — light, music, prayer
— ha . a social meaning associated with Christmas.
"And lo, tfe star, which they
saw in the east, went before
them, till it came and stand
over whsre the young child was.
When thay saw the star, they
rejoiced with . exceeding great
joy." Matthew 2:9-10.
The Star that guided the Wise
Men shines as symbol of Christ,
the Light of the world, and
it in turn is symbolized by all
the bright lights that twinkle
at Christmas today.
Candlelight services reflect
the radiance of the holiday, in
C h r istiari observances everywhere. '-
"And suddenly there was with
the   angel   a   muiatude"*0f "the
heavenly host praising God, and
saying,   Glory   to   God   in   the
r ^highest,   and   on   earth   peace,
'sf^ood  will-toward  men."  Luke
'x' J: I3:i4.     .'
Since the angelic chorus
brought "glad tidings of great
joy" -to shepherds watching in
the ■ fields,. hymns and carols
of Rejoicing have told of the
wonder and glory of Christmas.
That the words of the angels
composed the first of all
Christmas carols is. a thought
repeated again and again in
favorite songs of the season.
"Hark! the Herald Angels
Sing"   makes   this   thought   its
Telling Story
Of ihe Nativity
"BEHOLD THE MIRACLE of
Christinas," these works of art
Mem to say, as they tell the
story of the Nativity. "The Annunciation," "The Nativity,"
"The Adoration of the Magi"
and "The Flight into Egypt,"
pictured left to right above, are
Community  Greets
Joyfu!  Christmas
villagers of Grecchio in singing
hymns of praise to the Christ
Child when in the 13th century
he created a manger scene in
this Italian town.
Art, Too, Shows Illumination
To Light Up Christmas Scene
-.>>
'.*.;..-
-:.>.
." _N_'   ' "<
<*a—-   _    '     ss. a
.a *   .'. a.   S
1522."   Wash,   gold   is   used
throughout, in  the   "107  full   -
. psge miniatures, 24 kalendar "il-
By ANNA MANG generally the products of mon- worked   devotedly   to   preserve lustrations, ■illuminated borders
Illumination. asteries  and cathedral schools, sacred texts through their hand ana initials." , .
..-. . - The very word seems to be- The first examples of illumina- -   copied,   hand   -   illustrated, . 	
inepie,   ann   another   familiar ]ong  to  Christmas,  the  season tion appeared, however,  centu- elaborately  -  bound  vellum "~
CMkJ'r.B Came «P«n the Mid- of   light.- Like   the   star   that ries before the birth of Christ.     manuscripts. .
mgnt wear,   is. devoted to 'that guided the wise men, Christmas     The Egyptian "Books of the     From  time  to  time,   secular ■> .',    '
!r«**i_ S°°ii. !_•'•   °ni illuminates the spirit of man.       Dead," manuscripts intended fo texts — scientific treatises, for ; ,',        , «<-   /--     -'
nigptwnen   _ne world m solemn     in an artistic sense, illumina-  tomb burial to serve as guides example   —   were   also   copied - *■-'    '       v      ^ '
snuness lay to hear the angels tidn has another" meaning that for  the  deceased in the  after- and illustrated.
yf' ■ . "^ .      . is also linked to Christmas: The  world,   offer  examples" of  gold *    *    *
Uins-mas    music    m.   the decoration of books and manu- -  lit vignettes  dating back to   ' How It Grew
churches  celebrates the joy of scripts:  with   colorful   illustra- 1350 B.C.    -. Just   as   the   celebration   of
"And     h'    ti tions' initial letters and borders,     These    "books,"   written   on C h r istmas   gathered   together
in*    «_ Wu h. WCre C°me "lit" ty  gold or>  occasionally, papyrus  scrolls,   envisioned  af- many   customs   and  rituals   of
™    ■    ,.°use' J?ey,,,saw  *¥ silver- terlife as a continuation of life earlier   holidays, ' so   too   the
mnfhiar        a   fii   a      Y      j     Like a]1 the arts' the ancient on  earth-   People  and  animals monastery-   artists   drew   upon
wai- £     ITi1 •    >> vr XiT1' art   of  iilumination   was   often  were pictured, along with deco- techniques   evolved   by   pre   -
worsmppea mm.   Matthew 2:11. employed by man in his efforts rative lettering  showing" swirls Christian craftsmen.
"And the shepherds returned   to ca_>ture some portion of the of gold and sometimes silver. Influence o£ classic Greek and
glorifying and praising God for wonder of Christmas,  to retell *    * Roman style is evident in the
all   the   things   that   they   had and to Picture the story of the        ■   To Spread Learning early illuminated manuscripts of
heard and seen; as it was told Natiyity and related events. The   coming   of   Christianity the Christian era. This gradually
unto them." Luke 2:20. "The  Annunciation,"   ''The brought   a   continuing   concern gave way to the decorative, ab-
• Thus wrote two of' Christ's Nativity," "The Adoration of the with, religious subects as the stract Byzantine style,
disciples, Matthew and Luke ' MagJ." "The Flight into Egypt" text for i 11 u m in at e d manu- With the approach of the
telling of the awe and. wonder' ~~ tnese and other scenes from scripts. "Monasteries of Egypt Renaissance, more natural,
the joy and reverence experi- tne weU " loved Chtistmas story and Syria were early dedicated realistic techniques came into
enced alike by wise men and aPPear again and again in the to the creation of art, the de- use, in illumination as in other
shepherds. hand - lettered,    individually - il- velopment of crafts-, the spread • forms of art.
lustr'ated books known as ilium- of learning. . " _      *    *    *
Especially   at   Christmas,   in inated manuscripts. In  the- Western world,  these
church services and private de- •'     " * aims,gained impetus  with the
votions, Christians give prayer- When It Began . .    founding    of    the   Benedictine
Tracing Santa
Santa's source, legend says,
Throughout this community, Al of these traditions of g°es Dack to the fourth century,
the Christmas spirit finds 'ex- Christmas are wrapped tip in when St. Nicholas, a bishop of
pression, as once again,' people one. The true spirit of Christmas Asia Minor, was noted for his
/rn^T^.l1 M "6ni .fiwve. are are proving .that this happ.esl is most happily expressed in generosity and gift-giving.
™ .nLJ5 «ff "ry r^r ot holidays is a time of tradition.' the exchange of g r e e t i n'g" s . In. some countries, St. Nicho-
«£» no ■' ™ £ thte,Yir<" A modern 'Christmas,..-just like - '-.'Have ' a Merry .Christmas." las still retains his role-as-gift
™ TH,™™ v» v Tat^ a g00d old " Cloned Christ- That says it all - the heartfelt - bearer- His day is, traditional-
gen __iBraiy, r\ew ifoik, jv.y.        maSj   caI]s   &r   gathe'rmgs ^f h-ope fcj go_od"things"for others, Jv. December 6th, and European
"wniTRc nv Tirir -_7ti>_-¥xt <■ family and friends, with much  the good feeling that prevails,  children await iiim on St. Nich-
h«tt«     V «„        VIRGJN for merriment,   fun   and   feasting, the happiness of the season ris- olas Eve, December 5th.
-TCfliPn*,   ■   wC" Pi C» • Glfts  and Santa  Claus  express mg above problems and crises,      A   Sray   norse   and   a   white
r7j.»™"m            is, says the mood of the" seasoh,  espe-  the wish to give and to share donkey have ea,eh been credited
» "m".™?^       gaS Llbv!Xrl' "cially for the youngsters. Trees all the holiday<joys and bless-  wiih the honor of transporting
t^^ZteTlfT'tT*' and   other   .^corations," music  ings.           '                                   him on his  gift - ;giving jour-
^ty'Sf'cS'of ?M   rS'aiSht   and  Whter      As    £ Special    custom    that neys.         ■               -
R-T,-_>=   irtllansa   ,lm.be    ^ set the  scene.  As   a   Christian  symbolizes'th;e spirit of Christ-                     *   "'"  ■"
SrSCtrJS* ZrsfZim h0lL^> c?lebrated *? ^rch mas, the exchange -of greetings
services  and private devotions, .takes    many    forms." .."Merry
Giving Gifts.
Like greetings, ■ gifts are syn-
Christmas glows with the spirit Christmas" is said person - to  onymous   with   Christmas,    as
of  good  will,   and   "peace  and  -'person,  with smiles  of glad- Part of a custom that, probably
peace  and      - .     ...._.-— ___.-_ .    .
good   will"   is   the   wish   '=■"* ness'    wherever   friends  • a. n d has -."s - beginning in the Wise
prayer, for all mankind.
and
:«■
s-^s'a'ftj'f t        <
v<
\*
/  -       a
y> v
,y
family   meet.    "Merry- Christ- Men's   presentation  of  gold,"
mas" is the message of millions frankincense and myrrh to the
of greeting cards which travel Christ Child. ,,..
across-the miles. And  "Merry     Some   researchers   trace   the/'
Christmas" is the theme of to- gift- - giving tradition to  even?- f
day's edition of this newspaper, earier,   pre   -   Christian   tiin,e.s.,...
iii   which   businessmen   of   the During pagan holidays observed %
community   offer  their   special at about the same time as the      >
greetings and good wishes, their modern   Christmas,   ancient
wordjjlof !ai-preciation to patrons Romans and Britons exchanged
and-Ciends. gifts in token of the: season.
Lighting the Way
Light  and  Ghristmas   go  to-
Treasured Today
In the preparation of illumi-
ful thanks to God, for the mira-     n   the   early   Christian   era,  monasteries in the sixth century na.t.ed   manuscripts,   a   master
cle of the manger. illuminated   manuscripts   were A.D.    Artists    and    craftsmen artls. ,often_  se1:  the   stvle   for
A J orchis Christmas
Tat<c theseitowers, gemta'il witlidew-drops,
_As a loving ^tft from, ine;
May thy heart reflect their Brightness
Ani thy Christmas \ oyotts he.
Flowers Speak Language of Love
In Modern or Victorian Era
ylPSending Greetings
^M  custom   of   exchanging
SnSn rh ^^ T^me iS -ether> & the deepest meaning
tth £ C^iStmas- The fs- of the holiday represents Christ^
torn of the Christmas greeting the u k J ^ ^   w ^
new one0'"6"6"' *  * ^^^ the bonfires and'candles of yes-.
ni.^.y               j       '--_._■ teryear.to the. twinkling electric
_,_S«                   .orJ;gm1ated ornaments of today, light sym-
£"^JWS af. m Eng and bo]izes Ghristmas/'
Despite this recent start, -prin ed According to, Irish legend,  a
greetings   quickly   caught   the candle should always be placed
SS Tnn I"6 f y 01T in the window <* Christmas
of the most popular forms of Eve_  Each  Christmas,  it  was
Christina^ holiday traditions.        said,  Christ wanders the earth.
'    in  search' of  a  welcome,   and
a candle should light the way*.
How Many Wise Men?    Answers Are Many!
Three wise men? tional   in the   Eastern   church, however, believe that the visit
In-New Testament stories of while in the West, mosaics and of the Magi didn't take place
Decorating .Trees.   -
The gaily decorated tree so
much a part of "Christmas has
its counterpart in* trees adorned
with colorful trinkets during the
ancient feasts of the winter
equinox.
This. pagan   custom .of deco-
sociated   with    Christmas    ob
servances,  and legends link it
to the birth of Jesus. One- such
Like holly, ivy and mistletoe, lovely." Red double pink meant
copyists and assistants to follow, flowers share in the legend and "woman's love." And heliotrope
since   even   the   decoration   of lore of Christmas. In terms of carried a bold message, "I love      't-''^ pvPrprPPnVTpnamp "T*
an initial letter could be a major the   Victorian   era,   the   floral you." ratmg   everSreens   became   as-
proect. legend is  an  especially  mean-   '
ingful oiie. •   This   Victorian^ .language   of
     -    , - W..V.  ~sasbs „__._._  .-.__„ *_..-,.,.     A single letter might occupy     A Victorian lady who received flowers   greatly  influenced  the ,u       ■ .,.
the Nativity, only St;.Matthew paintings s h0 we d .sometimes until much later — perhaps a an entlre Page» and a complete  a   bouquet  from   her   admirer  design   of   Christmas   cards :of sf*y  says   tnat   on   the   night
tells   of   "wise   men from   the two,  sometimes three, four or-year or  even two years  after scene    or    miniature    painting could   either  smell  it or  read the  time  —  witness   the   card  of the Nativity, all the'woodland ■
eaift" ■—. and  how many - wise more wise men.  . ' the birth of Christ. miSht be  contained within the it as if it were a letter   Often,  illustrated here7 from the Nor- tre.s Durs. mto bloom and bore 's^uyE   JAYCEES  NAME
meh; followed the  star to the    . During the sixth' century, the ' —  boundaries of, for instance,  an it was a letter " ' 'cross   Historical   Collection   of  frult- -   ' •
Old Saint-Nick initial "C" or "D." Young   engaged   C0UpleS!  a_tiqu, cards. "   ,
Some   manuscripts,   in   f act   strlctly chaperoned, foundla way     The lush summer blooms are
Old Saint Nick so jolly and fat represent the work not only of t0-communicate words of affec-  typical-of the Victorian admira-
man'ger Ls;not stated. The tradi- idea that there were three came
tion that there were three to be generally accepted. In
probably comes from .St. Mat- legends, the wise men were
thew's description of three-gifts given names: Melhior, Gasper,
—    goldj    frankincense    and Baltasar.
.myrrh. Although St. Matthew did not
^j_.i_other- explanation. for the use the name "Magi," be im-
r£&riber three is the legend that plied it when he wrote of "wise
j|  wise  men  symbolized   all men,"  for   "magi"   was   com-
'itfrftianify,  in turn represented-.monly.used in Palestine to mean
\by tjie races  gE Sh#m,  Ham "gr_at,-"illustnous." -
and .faphet,  according • to tiie    Today, Nativity scenes shew
e^itpri  of The, New. .goede of three wise mentor Magi present
ICftowJislge.       - •  ■  > ' at the manger along with the
Early traditiOHS -mention va- shepherds,   who   hastened - to
EyiBg\numbers.'.of  wise   mm. BetMehem-on the night Christ.
Twelye.-was- the number...tradi- was .■ born.   S.o m,eI;hi_toria_i_,.
Old Saint Nick is "very funny, more   than  one   artist  but   of j"io?  via fl.°wers.  Each flower
And Hnti'f fnrffPt +h_.t i,p'c: more   than   one   frpnprat;^   nf flad a special meanmg.       '.   ,
And don't forget that he's
very nice.
To bring us presents on   -
Christmas Eve,
He seampers around on
' '^Christmas Eve.
He's very tired by the time
he leaves. -.    _ .
We open are presents and get
surprises.
... .__..,. DawnJLarson
more   than   one   generation
artists.
of
Today, illuminated manuscripts are treasures of libraries
and museums, and rightly so,
for throughout a thousand years
of Christian history, the art of
illumination brought an extra
dimension of beauty to manu-
Flowers in sequence could, be
used Ao spell but a fervent
pledge.of love."To help in com-
. YULE DECORATION WINNER
• Singing- Carols -■--.-.--       *      -
Residential  -
With voices lifted in harmony   1/ Wm.   Mehrlings,   392   Mills
tion   of -flowers    regardless   of  *°r "Silent-Night,"  "The First Hcnorable MentJpn:. The LeRoy
tion   o__ tiowers,   regardless   ol  Noel„ ana .othen beloved songSj  ^^   ssMisdoa;   Carl
tne season..    - today's,   carolers   carry   on   a  O'Briens, 207 & • Ann.Arbur St.;
Though .sentiments   may   be   ch"stnias   cus.tom   that   origi-  John   Wilson^   380   Holly^oo*,^
■   i ■ nated centuries ago. - Gordon  Crawfo'rds,  134  Tower.
In  the -fourth-., century .A.D., -     -    •'
St.  Basil was . praised with a. -Business" -"'--'-
/
»»,.
expressed, differently,   flowers
.posing   —   and   translating-— still bloom'on modern Christmas
these   'messages,    there    svere.. "    ,      .'  , . _    . -  '   ,     „       „    .    , .    , ,   ,  -
numerous tiny dictionaries list- cards-   A   current   card- °aeis f™?? P^m in. honor of. the- a." Ford" Motor Co.*     ■-     ■•
ing flowers and their meanings    one example. Poinsetrias flower "^gnt f?r  Christianity ;oyer;the. Honorable." Mention:-' t-ommuni-^
„-_.'*.,. ,   ;        on a-background of mistletoe,  ?yzantlne emperor- Julian.vUter.-ty Ford Sales.-"     -.:■   .■.■:-.
.,    ., The flowering honeysuckle, for     -,   .. . .   „,    '  m Greece,-.-legends, of St. Basil '-.-.-.-
scripts that are, in themselves, instance,   spoke   of   "bonds   of and the.message reads,    Just  were .^et_,to .music and-su-ng Apartments ... -.•--.   - -   •
precious works of art. love."  A  red rosebud  told  a for  J™,  honey,   aU   my  love  at Christmas and-the-New Year. t. ■ The" Dennis. HOHeys   4t 268
— .  : ~  lady that she was "pure and  at Christmas." ...     -----St. :Francis_.of..Assisi.led'*-the:1CIark-St;;.Apfe:3.. y-  ''•■'-
1