OUR THANKS TO
ALL OUR FRIENDS
i I AND OUR SINCERE
' ' TO WISH FOR A
fk SEASON
Ch
ristmas Decorating fdeas Numerous
LOTT'S ELECTRIC
HEPPNER
jpll To tyerybody . . . and 'VV ill
MSXr Pcia!ly to YOU... XjgX
fMjNSa our appreciation for Sf
0Ur 'a' Pa,ronafl'
ffii A MHWIY Mm
CHRISTMAS
FULLETON CHEVROLET CO.
By ESTHER KIHMIS
Is your home all decorated for
Christmas now?
You might be surprised that
decorating for Christmas is a
custom of heathen origin an of
fering of winter hospitality to
the spirits and fairies who haun
ted the leafless woods.
Jessalee 'Mallalieu, OSC rec
reation specialist, has come up
with the following on Christ
mas customs:
Even before the Christian era,
foundations were laid for our ac
ceptance of Christmas symbols.
Ancients believed that ever
greens were symbols of eternal
life and worshipped them as
such. Each tree was believed to
; be the home of a god or goddess.
'Firs were especially revered be-
cause their always green needles
I proved to the superstitious that
'even the sun loved evergreens
' best, as he never turned his face
ifrom them to make them die.
The ancient poet Virgil de
scribes the decoration of a fir
with gifts which were intended
as prayers to the god. Early
Egyptians also had a winter fes
tival when they brought small
palm trees into the houses and
decorated them.
Trimming the home and
church with evergreens re
minded man of Christ's God
liness and that the Child born
at Bethlehem was both God and
man, 'who would spring up like
a tender plant, should always be
green and flourishing and live
forever more." Today this custom
is still with us!
The holly, with its sharp prick
les and blood-red berry, remains
a symbol of joy and peace. Early
beliefs gave the holly mysterious
powers. It could bring good luck,
ward off witches, and protect oc
cupants from severe weather,
thunder and lightning. Poets of
days gone by have often .praised
the holly.
Use of mistletoe at Christmas
time dates back to the old pagan
customs, for mistletoe holds for
them all sorts of miraculous vir
tues. One legend, from Scandi
navian folklore, says that mistle
toe was so sacred that if enemies
met casually beneath the mistle
toe in the forest, they laid down
their arms and maintained a
truce until the following day.
That's why families hang
mistletoe in doorways. Passing
underneath implies a" pledge of
peace and friendship, and is
sealed by a friendly greeting or
kiss. Long live the mistletoe cus
tom!
I.iehted candles, now univer
sally used as a yuletide decor
ation, are a tradition that dates
hark to the time before Christ.
Tagans fastened candles to trees
to denote the suns return to
the earth. The Christian use of
tho candle, symbolic of Christ as
the light of the world, is said
to be a combination or Koman
and Hebrew customs.
Bayberry candles, with their
delicate odor, are popular at
Christmas and are said to bring
good luck to a home. Story goes
that if sweethearts are separated
at Christmas, scent of lighted
havhprrv candles will be wafted
from one to the other, across the
world, if they are truly in love.
May candles always burn at
Christmas.
Use of the evergreen, a sym
bol of immortality, dates back
to earlv nrimitive tribes who re
vered nature. Today nearly two-
thirds of U S families center
their holiday eaiety around the
lighted Christmas tree. This tree,
which we are most familiar, is
immmmmmmnim
to all In your house:
Meny Chris
.A A 1
(mas n
A V
May this season be a happy one for you. We
cherish this opportunity to thank you for your
past favors and wish you the very best for
Christmas and the days to come.
Best Wishes From Everyone At
CENTRAL MEAT MARKET
Monument News
Mr and Mrs Mike OIe were
chivarried Tuesday evening at
the home of her folk?, the Wayne
Leathers. The Ogles were mar
ried last week in Portland, they
came here a few days, then left
for a visit in Texas with rela
tives. They leave soon for Ger
many to make their home while
Mike is on duty there.
The M M M club held their
yearly Christmas dinner and
party Thursday at the home of
Doris and George Capon. There
were 24 there in all. After the
dinner there were games and
an exchange of presents. Every
one reported they had a swell
time.
Mrs Chuck Van Detta and Mrs
Harry Scott were in John Day
Wednesday.
Harold Roberts of Pendleton
was in town Wednesday on busi
ness. Mr and Mrs Van Richards and
daughter drove to Heppner Fri
day on business.
Mrs June Hutchison and Ro
berta Croker went to John Day
Tuesday.
Aubery Crum, Mr and Mrs
Ivan Glenger and two children
and Ruby Glenger drove to John
Day Saturday on business.
credited to Martin Luther. Since
his time it has become an estab
lished custom for the tree to take
a large place in the Christmas
celebration.
In times past Christmas was
celebrated for 12 days, ending
on January 6. Traditionally this
night was set aside for the re
ligious observances of the arrival
of the Magi at the manger in
Bethlehem.
In England and France, partic
ularly, these twelve days became
a time of feasting and games
with a final party on the Twelfth
Night presided over in England
by the "Lord of Misrule" and in
France by the "Bean King". A
long with this gay last fling of
the holiday season people be
lieved that all the evergreens
and holly, the homos of the
woodland spirits, must be burn
ed. Huge bonfires of all the dec
orations became the central point
of the Twelfth Night celebration.
MEPPNER GAZETTE-TOfrE-S, TIrudaY, EfoftniBair ft 1939
f MSTfllflS plflSOU
We cherish the happiness our old and nvy
friends have given us, and at this joyous and
heartwarming season extend our slncerest
wishes for Christmas Happiness.
HANK' YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDLINESS
AND PATRONAGE THIS PAST YEAR.
MOYER'S CAFE
WE WILL BE CLOSED DEC 25. 26, 27
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X-XXXOXvX,X,XXX.!V"--
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0, Inc
YOUR JOHN DEERE DEALER
We Will Be Closed December 25, and 26
of Chtktnim
Once again we hear the music of the
carders announcing that Christmas is
here. Songs of silent nights, and angels
singing, songs of Yule logs and jingling
snow bells. Each and every family finda
again the joys of being together at this
special season.
We hope your Christmas is a happy
one, with the songs of Christmas telling
again the story of peace and happiness
in your home.
'UJ 11,1 I, 1
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Morrow County Grain Growers, Inc.
SERVING ALL OF MORROW COUNTY