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OTHELLO, WASHINGTON
THE OTHELLO OUTLOOK
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1974
Superficia
Worship
Not True Christmas
By Rev. Jack E. Barker very difficult to whole-heart-
ChristlanChurch edly surrender ourselves to
The birth of our Lord Jesus hear the Good News and to
Christ stirred glad and spon- allow ourselves to be caught
taneous worship in the hearts up in spontaneous exultation
of those who first realized its and rejoicing. Harder yet to
import: bend our knees in reverence,
The Host of Heaven sang adoration and thanksgiving.
God's Good News and wor- We who do worship often
shipped the Prince of Peace do so superficially, because it
with Joyful abandon; is our duty. This does not lead
The Shepherds came to to gladnessand the spontane-
Bethlehem's stabol to kneelin ous worship and self-giving
simple piety and devotionand surrender of life to God
before the Christ Child; that is man's only adequate
The Magi came from afar, response to God's Gift.
not because they had to, but Our inadequate worship
because they wanted to bring does not reflect true "wis-
gifts and greets, respect and dom." Those who really find
homage, to the newborn King! God's best submit themselves
How foolish we moderns fully in devotion and find that
are in our skepticism andthey are blessed of God far
sophistication. We find it so beyond their expectations.
I
ins
CHILDREN ~TICIPATE the arrivalof"Kris Kringle," also known as Santa Claus, in this
large electrotype reproduced from an 1891 specimen sheet of Christmas cuts offered by the A.
Zeese & co. of Chicago. As Kris Kringle prepares to descend the chimney of their home, the
children,in box at bottom left,appear to be awake,perhaps in the he be of catching a glimpse of
Santa.
ELECTROTYPES offered
in 1891 by A. Zeese and Co. of ~':
Chicago include a little cut
[below] of Santa Claus climbing
down a chimney. Illustration ~
on right shows the angels
appearing unto the shepherds
The celebration of Christ- decorations of greens and in the field on the first
mas in Italy, perhaps more small toys and presents. Christmas.
than in any other country, It is possible that the ceppo
illustrates the multiple origins may have been a replacement
ofthe festivities we observe in for the Yule log. But the
modern times, burning of the Yule log,
Christmas in Italy is pri- another custom of pre-
marily a religious festival, Christian origin, is not un-
highlighted by the Christmas known in Italy, where there is
Novena, a series of church the pleasant legend that the
services on nine nights pre- Virgin Mary enters the homes
ceding Christmas and cul- of the humble at midnight,
minating in a Midnight Mass when the household is at Mass,
on Christmas Eve. to warm her newborn Child
A feature of the observance before the blazing log.
is the display, usuall~ from ltaly FocalPoint
Christmas Eve to Epiphany The fact that Italy contained
{January 6th) of the creche or the capital of the Roman world
Persepio (the word meansand, as a logical result, the
manger or stable), a Nativity headquarters of the Christian
scene with more or less Church, has given Christmas
elaborate landscaping and in Italy a particularly rich
figures of sheep, cattle, and observance.
\
::>
i
CHRISTMAS AND GRANDMOTHERS just seem to go
together ..... with those extra hugs, special treats, shopping
tours and whispered secrets that only grandmothers seem to
know ~out. With the help of their grandmother, Mrs. Irma
Hanee, the children of Don and Betty Hanes are deciding
, , i i
i Greetings
Trim the tree with these holiday
wishest. May joy, peace and
contentment be yours. With thanks . . .
McLean's Hardware
96 S. 1st.
488-3651
where to hand the huge holiday wreath she made years ago for
the family. In the living room over the mantel seems the best
place, but it's a bit of a stretch for Dan, eight, and Sara, six. Dad
will have to help. His mother is here on a holiday visit from her
home in Colorado Springs.
b
M ave a bell
holiday
evePyone. Be happy!
Our gratitude for your patronage.
391 E. Main
488-2742
shepherds, as well as Mary,
Joseph and the Christ Child.
At Ephiphany, figures of the
Three Kings with their
retinues, bringing gifts to the
Child, are added.
These Nativity scenes ori-
ginated in the thirteenth
century with Saint Francis of
Assisi, who decided to m~ke
the Christmas Eve Mass a re-
enactment of the birth of
Christ, and for many centuries
they remained essentially an
ecclesiastical presentation,
with local churches vying for
the most decoratiye creche. In
more recent times, Nativity
scenes have moved into
private homes as well.
In the early years of the
Christian faith, persecution
made public observation of
Christmas impractical, and it
was not until several hundred
years had passed that the
birth of Christ was given an
official date for celebration. It
is by no means certain that
December 25th is the actual
anniversary of the birth of
Jesus, but it was an ap-
propriate date' for the ob-
servance. It coincided with the
Winter Solstice celebrations of
long standing throughout the
northern world, with the
Roman Saturnalia, and with
the Jewish Hannukah, Fes-
tival of Lights, providing a
firm historical base, familiar to
everyone in the then-known
world, for a major festival
Early Customs
It is not surprising, there-
fore, that many customs
derived from earlier cele-
brations have become a part of
the Christmas observance in
Italy. The coming of the
Winter Solstice, marking the
beginning of longer days, was
observedm" pre-Christian
times by the decoration of
houses with greens, and this
custom, taking on added signi-
ficance as a symbol of the re-
birth of hope in the coming of
Christ, is observed in Italy
with sprigs of holly and
mistletoe.
Similarly, the seasonal giv-
ing of ~;ifts, already traditional
in the Roman custom of giving
branches picked in the grove
of the goddess Strenia was
appropriately converted to the
giving of "Strenne," Christ-
mas or New Year's presents,
following the later tradition of
the gifts of the Magi to the
Christ-Child and symbolizing
the gifts to mankind brought
by Jesus' birth.
Tree Orts4a
The Christmas tree, which
originated in Germany, has
come slowly into popularity in
Italy, especially in the north,
but it had its forerunner,
especially around Florence, in
the Ceppi, or Christmas
pyramids, composed of shel-
ves of various sizes fixed to a
pole. (The word "ceppo"
means tree trunk and by
usage, a Christmas gift). On
the shelves were placed
c
Reindeer Have
Vital Role
Reindeer flourish in large
numbers near the Arctic
Circle in Europe, Asia, and
North America. Norway,
Sweden, Finland, Russia, and
Alaska are all places where
herds of at least semi-
domesticated reindeer are
accustomed to working with
man, particularly the Lap-
landers.
The reindeer provides a
vital source of food, clothing,
and even transportation for
many peoples living on the
edge ,of the arctic world.
Among other things, reindeer
milk is as rich as the cream of
cow's milk, although available
in much smaller quantities.
There are several species of
reindeer in North America,
where it is called the caribou,
ranging from the woodland
species, which is found in wild
northern woods, through the
barren ground caribou, which
is the slightly larger but close
cousin of the European rein-
deer, to the Pearly caribou,
living north of the Arctic
Circle.
,_/T/ay this holy holiday shine down
blessings, on all our neighbors,
Thanks for the kindness shown to
Favaro's Beauty Salon
915 E. Juniper 488-2809
May the spirit of
Christmas peace be
with you now and
forever. Thank you
for everything!
HURLIMAN
HEATING
AIR
CONDITIONING
126 Vz S. 1st 488-2033
@
ing the bells
Christmas cheer, as we take a morn,
to send all of you our
wishes for a happy holiday and
gratitude for your loyal su
It's been a
to serve
i
111 N. Broadway
e
ather "round the tree for song .... " laughter.
Rekindle friendships.., extend good tidings to all.
To our loyal patrons greetings and thanks.
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