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Newspaper Archive of
The Othello Outlook
Othello, Washington
December 26, 1974     The Othello Outlook
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December 26, 1974
 
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Christkindli of Switzerland Each Holy Season Pago 16 . OTHELLO, WASHINGTON THE OTHELLO OUTLOOK THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1974 Christmas has a unique significance in the German and French speaking regions of Switzerland because the "Christkindli," or Christ Child, is believed to walk on earth during this season. Instead of Santa Claus, the "Christkindli," represented as a beautiful, radiant, angel-like being with wings carrying a magic wand and wearing a shining crown, distributes Christmas gifts and Christ- mas trees glittering with fanciful decorations. Although the "Christkindli" is commonly believed to personify the Christ-Child, he m sometimes represented as an angel bearing a light or a star just as an angel heralded the birth of Christ at Bethlehem. On the other hand, the "Christkindli" has some of the characteristics of a sprite, as suggested by the wand and the wings, which can be linked to pre-Christian beliefs. Some suggest he may stem from the pagan custom of representing the New Year as a radiant and beautiful child. f Like Santa, the "Christ- kindli" also arrives in a sleigh drawn by reindeer, so there would appear to be some intermingling of Christmas legends here. St. Nicholas is represented in several ways in different parts of Switzerland. In some, he is called Father Christmas and comes with his wife, Lucy (representing St. Lucy whose feast day is December 13) to distribute gifts. He wears the traditional Santa Claus cos- dance, they are an impressive tume, while Lucy wears a sight indeed. round cap over her long braids, a laced bodice and a In the village of Urnaesch in fancy apron, the Canton of Appenzell, the In the central part of men and boys go "Santa Switzerland, St. Nicholas is Clausing." Some wear red represented morerealistically Santa Claus costumes with in his bishop's regalia com- plete with mitre and crosier. On St. Nicholas' Day, which falls on December 6th, there is a magnificent parade in which white bearded mas- queraders, clothed in long white shirts, carry huge three-foot mitre-shaped lan- terns over their heads. These lanterns are perforated in intricate religious designs, similar to church windows, and when the candlelight shines through them, as their bearers execute a stately jungling bells while others, dressed and masked as "ladies," wear enormous, elaborate picture hats dec- orated with panoramas of Alpine scenes. Starting early in the day on New Year's Eve, the group proceeds through the village with an unusual hopscotch gait, stopping at each farm to share their merriment and partake of refreshments. When darkness falls, they all head for the Valley to pursue their new year revelry. ,ay your holidays go as you want them to... with every detail perfect, everything serene/Thanks for your supportY BOB AND GINNY STRICKER reminisce a bit as they place brown paper sacks among turquoise-wrapped packages beneath their white and turquoise Christmas tree. In the sacks are candies, nuts, Cracker Jack, oranges and apples, just like those they used to receive at Christmas Eve church services back in Bayard, Nebr. Says Ginny, "It was a tradition that during the service you'd get up and 'say your speak'. Then you would get a huge paper sack of goodies like these. All children o! the church took part, from infants to 15 years. Sometimes grownups, too. H there were sacks left over, maybe Mm got one. AKer the services aU the uncles, aunts and cous/ns went to MODERN BETHLEHEM, viewed from one of the)figher bell towers in the city, retains many of its age-old customs and looks much the way it did during ancient times, despite modern vehicles which move through timeless streets. rvance Brings Many ,s to Bethlehem It is cusomary in the United celebrants, processions, traf- States to celebrate the birth fic control, and other civic of Jesus on December 25th, problems, the authorities of the date observed by theBethlehem and the surround- Roman Catholic Church and ing area would be just as most Protestant denomina- happy if Christmas were tions, but not all Christian celebrated universally on one faiths adhere to that date. day, but it is unlikely that In Bethlehem, Christ's such unanimity will be achiev- birthplace, the Roman cele- ed soon in the face of the in bration begins on Christmas the face of the Churches' Eve, December 24th, high- different traditions. lighted by the traditional Midnight Mass, and continues************* on Christmas Day. The Greek Cards Have Use Orthodox Church, however,In most cases, Christmas observes January7 as Christ- cards become waste paper. mas day, marking the oc- Before you consign this year's casiop ,with=similar ceremon, cards to the trash can, les. January18thand19thare consider removing personal the dates for the observance messages from them and in the Armenian Church. turning them over to a church The three faiths have their or other group whose mere- own churches and chapels bers devote their time to within the Basilica of the creating attractive scrap- Nativity in Bethlehem and books with the cards. each observes Christmas on Many beautiful and colorful its own day with services in cards, carefully selected and the Grotto of the Nativity at arranged in these inexpensive the exact spot where, it is and easy-to-make scrap- believed, Jesus was born. books, provide hours of The separate observances enjoyment to older people and are bolsteYed by a long others whose activity is history which ecumenism may curtailed for one reason or find it difficult to erase. For another. centuries the Churches dis- You might enjoy making a puted possession of the scrap-book for yourself. What- sanctuary, originally built by ever the case, the second life the Roman Emperor Con- given these Christmas and stantine in 330, and prece- greeting cards can be re- dence in worshipping there, warding and useful. The Greek Catholics took possession of the building in 1672. The Roman Catholics grandma'shouseforthereveaihngoltheiamflyChriltmastree have shared it since the and the opening of presents, lt's a wonderhd memory and Boh mid-19th century with the amdllmvekeptthetraditleno|ChristmasEve servieesand the Greeks. Armenians have their paper sacks through our married lives. We've passed them on own chapel and monastery in Climate Key Time of Holy Bkth The evidence that the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem took place in the dry season, that is, before the onset of winter, depends to some extent on what we know about the climate of Palestine today, which, scholars believe, is not very different from what it was during the time of Jesus. The annual mean tem- perature is a pleasant enough 62.8 degrees Fahrenheit, with a range from a high of 112 'degrees to a low in winter of only 12 degrees. While the lowland plains, nearer the Mediterranean Sea, receive heavy rains from November to April, winter in the hills can bring biting frost, bitter winds and even snow. Nazareth, the city of Jesus, was a town of some note in the southern Galilee, near the western edge of the fertile plain of esdraelon. This area provides more clues to the time of the journey for scholars who look to the still fertile and well- watered hills of Galilee and into the less favored hill country of Judea, where the cultivation of grains, olives and vines tended to give way to the grazing of sheep, especially in the dry season, So it can also be assumed that the holy journey was during the dry season by looking to the Bible in which Saint Luke says that in the same country were shepherds looking over their flocks. • ~" IPqEflCCADD,JOY TO YOU THIS CHRIsTMAS .Here's hoping that yours is a spirit lifting holiday! May it be filled with gladness. We're thankful for the loyalty you've shownto us. 565 E. Main John & Ernie Lawi-enee 48&7602 ,,..., . a, i i i i i ,.,. to our children, and hopefully, our grnnddfildren will enjoy this city of about 25,000 . population. them someday, too • V aSi:::a l~he vdo i f::r::t bOc bseri I @. BESTWISHES FOR|j" I 'ollow this prescription for a happy holiday--good cheer... share laughter and joy . . . fill your heart and home with love. Our best to all.., to all, thanks. Your .-.. O Christmas gifts for Community savers. Instead of spending all your money, why not put some away in a savings account with us and we'll give you a free gift . . . Yours to keep, or to put under your own tree for someone special. t T~dS~ For Car or Home *I00 Deposit e T~m Lht~ iO" I~m.met Pan with Cover *500 Deposit '750 Deposit O qD&,mumN NaM~% PaL,,Ike¢ SIae Pm.lalde Igmdlio * 1,000 Deposit o ~m~,d ~r4,te m~g '5,000 Deposit O 8I~ILIIms B~ k-yt~ '7,500 Deposit .1 ~e0 n~nwA~n p~euma I~l'l 13 N. Broadway O 000000 • o tOOOO OOO MERRY CHRISTMAS 754 E. Main 488-3233 go %, ~t 5A VIN65 ~ LLTXIN WENATCHEE 700 NORTH MISSION ~O PHONE 663-7146 BRANCH OFFICES IN • MOSES LAKE • EIA~NSBURG • ~ • S]N)KANE