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About Nyssa gate city journal. (Nyssa, Or.) 1937-199? | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 1961)
THURSDAY. DECEMBER 21. 1961 THE NYSSA GATE CITY JOURNAL NYSSA. OREGON PAGE FOURTEEN Tradition Assisted Mystery of Magi Bulldog Staff Has Mild Disagreement Santa Claus Now When Washington A Changed Man Crossed the Delaware Leads to Legends Reports Differ on Holiday Weather Santa Claus has undergone Familiar to all is the visit of the During the American Revolu ’a moonlit night, with the stars quite a metamorphosis in his Magi to Bethlehem—and yet little By LOIS SPITZE tion, George Washington used his time. Before Dr. Clement Moore, knowledge of Christmas celebra Santa’s appearance was a problem tions to take Well, it looks like a snowless an important step left mostly to individual discre Christmas this year. We are sor toward peace. tion and personal taste. He might ry to disappoint you, but the Puritan settlers in the New be short or tall, plump or thin, weatherman won’t take a bribe. World disapproved of Christmas merry or solemn. Seriously, though, this holiday but Washington knew The European St. Nicholas was I I festivities, can be just as beautiful without the Hessian soldiers, employed by pictured as a tall, thin man who snow. Who knows if there was III to fight the colonists, rode a gray horse. In 1809, Wash . George snow on the first Christmas? It would observe Christmas as they ington Irving described Santa as might have been a beautiful au a jolly fellow who wore a wide- had done at home. tumn day or a misty, foggy eve On Dec. 25-26, 1776, he crossed brimmed hat. ning when Christ was born. the Delaware river, attacked and After Dr. Moore wrote “ ’ Twas Many people across the world the Night Before Christmas” in put to route the surprised Hes have a wonderful Christmas with sians who had been obliviously 1823, St. Nick acquired definite sleeping out even seeing snow. It is the off the effects of their external characteristics. Ever af holiday festivities. spirit of the people at this time, ter, children “ knew in a moment not the weather, that determines Christmas can come to an end it must be St. Nick” by his well- whether Christmas is beautiful or in a blaze of glory — and a safe fed, merry appearance—twinkling unsightly. a rosy face — and his Christmas is more than a pret one, too. Custom sets a date for eyes and and reindeers for transpor ty season; it is a feeling of love the disposal of the tree by burn sleigh of God and for man which is ing. It’s Jan. 6, the Twelfth Night tation. shared with others. The beauty of Christmas, or Epiphany—tra The image of Santa was affirm of Christmas is more than the ditionally the night when the ed in 1869 when Thomas Nast’s By JEANIE SEUELL beauty of the weather; it is the Three Wise Men, or Magi, made cartoon was published, picturing (Ny.aa High Journalism Student) beauty in the souls of the people their visit to the Christ Child in Santa in his now - familiar red Dear Editor, garb, smoking a pipe. Like all Bethlehem. who celebrate it. I am Comet, one of Santa’s The modern world, reviving the famous men, Santa today finds it eight tiny reindeer. I am writing difficult to travel anywhere in to tell your readers to please have If you’re dreaming of a white Twelfth Night custom of bonfires cognito. for disposing of the tree and other mercy on us this year. Christmas, it looks like your greenery, combines the safety fac Every year we are bogged down dream will come true. The wea tor with community spirit and with gifts for Americans. Santa ther is all set for a snowfall. fun. nearly works his fingers to the Millions of soft, fluffy, sparkling Twelfth Night celebrations are bone trying to please you. He snowflakes will fall from the sky. planned in many communities in gets a bigger sleigh every year They will land on everything in public parks for neighborhood When Christ was born in Beth to hold the freezers, hi-fi’s and sight, cling to your clothes and groups. It’s a great night for the lehem, the giant redwood tree Corvettes. Last year he even re give your face a quick washing. kids and their parents. that is now the U. S. National sorted to having Rudolph help Slowly these tiny flakes will Children bring the trees to the Christmas tree had already been pull the sleigh, as well as guide form a blanket covering the earth. park or the town collects them. growing for 2,000 years. This pure white blanket can be On Twelfth Night everyone gath Located in King’s Canyon Na it, because it was getting too heavy to pull. used for snowballs, snowmen or ers around the bonfire of trees tional Park, Calif., the tree is a Now, with the Russians we a game of fox and geese. and greenery to sing carols. “Sequoia Gigantea” — a conifer have no problem. We never have It is an excellent background ous, evergreen tree—and its age to worry about t hem wanting for a sleigh ride or hay ride on Classifieds Get Quick Resultsl is estimated, from its annual rings washing machines or color TV’s. of growth, at 4,000 years. Its ma We simply tell their leaders that jestic redwood trunk rises 267 the natives don’t want any Christ feet. mas presents — and they don’t. The U. S. Department of the So once again I plead, please Interior officially designated this go easy on us this year. Remem redwood as the National Christ ber that your everyday heritage mas Tree on April 28, 1926. Ear of life, liberty and the pursuit lier, it had been named the Gen of happiness would make anyone eral Grant Tree, for the 18th from behind the Iron curtain the President. best Christmas present of all. In December, Christmas ser vices are held annually at the 'Season's Greetings' base of the tree, climaxing a CAROL YOUNG month - long Christmas Festival (Nyssa By High Journalism Student) celebration by the citizens of San M — oney you have to spend on ger and neighboring communities other people. of Fresno county, Calif. Members of the National Park service place E— xpect your CARE package any day now. a wreath at the base of the tree. R—ace to the Christmas tree in the morning. R—elax!! (?) It’s vacation! Y—ogi. Ah, that’s Santa’s middle name. By JAN RINEHART (Nyua High JuurnallHru Student) C—areful Santa, that chimney is awfully narrow. One of the most beautiful things about Christmas is the beauty of H— elp! Santa’s caught in the chimney. decorations. Red and green are the basic colors of Christmas. R—eturn all size 22 gifts. They can be accented with white. I—wanna hippopotamus for Red is considered a warm col Christmas. or. It could symbolize the warmth S—end Clyde Swisher a new that the birth of Christ has black whip. brought to all people. During the T—ell Santa I love him. Christmas season small children have a warm feeling in their M—ake your gifts—it’s cheaper. hearts for Santa Claus. A—Ivin wants a hulu hoop for In many homes across the coun Christmas. try you see beautifully decorated S—anta’s watching, but we don’t Christmas trees. Pine boughs are care. also used for decorating homes. The greenness of Christmas sym KING ARTHUR'S YULE bolizes life and growth. Jesus' According to story, the first birth on Christmas begins a new Christmas in England was cele life and growth for all Christian brated at the famous Round Table people. of King Arthur. (Nyssa High Journalism Student) twinkling overhead. Snow just seems to bring the spirit of Christmas with it. After the first snow everyone begins to think of Christmas. They start shopping for gifts, practicing Christmas carols or planning par ties and hay rides. Perhaps the weather and your dream can get together and plan an extra white “white Christmas” this year. Christmas Season Ends in Safe Blaze Letter to Editor Written by Comet Santa's Reindeer Giant Redwood Is U.S. Yule Tree Cheerful Colors Brighten Season is known about it. In the books of the New Testament, only St. Matthew reports the visit. St. Matthew called them “wise men from the East.” In the leg ends that have developed, they I are sometimes called “Magi,” be cause this word, meaning "au gust,” was the name given priests of the ancient Medes and Per- : sians. Tradition says they had heard ! that a bright new star would an nounce the coming of a Saviour to the world. After years of watch- j ing, they saw the star and set out from Babylon to find Him. 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