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Show The Tooele Transcript, Fri., December 2Q, 1968 inl. u m oriT-- VX Halves or Sliced S Western Family HiLand Quality GreenGiant mTmm wwmrna hibler f&p feahis JI JL JL Cans corn.' 12-- Ou cream nee Cans Pint Carton I 4 0 E ""! GIVE A GIFT of HAM THE HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS FOR CHRISTMAS Swm--s, n 7 I L A I U .98e 1 b. Gm it'469 St. Nicholas, bishop of e Myra in the fourth century. V in Asia Accordinj legend in his own a was time for his generosity and love of The History of Christmas Gifts - FOR CHRISTMAS Norbest or Certifin GRADE A HENS A real-lif- as Sc. Nick is actually based children. GIVE A TURKEY Grade the we know to researchers at Florists' Delivery Service, he Swift's Premium T Mfi) I on jolly gent Minor (modem Turkey) CANNED HAM J The BONELESS HANDI-HA- M 5-- MORRBi SHANK PORTION riCookad, GIFTS J8C TURKEYS New York (NAPS) While millions of Americans give flowers by wire, perfume by the Irattle and even gems (by gosh!), few among those who give and receive the gifts this Christmas will realize what a long and delightful history the custom ot has. IT WAS THE Three Wise Men who gave the first Christmas gifts in history, although the earliest Christians refused to exchange presents. To them, the custom was a heathen one liecause played a prominent role in many pagan festivals. In time, they accepted the exchange of gifts as an expresand legends about the bringers of gifts began sion of rejoicing to grow. The jolly gent we know as St. Nick, for example, is based on down and combined many of St. Nicholas, bishop these elements into a rather the real-lif- e " Twas-thof Myra in Asia Minor (modern poem beginning before Christmas. . ." Turkey) in the fourth century. night The "Visit from St. NicholLegendary event in his own time for his generosity, and his love as" described by Dr. Moore was of children, he is said to have modest in comparison to some of St. Nick's later trips. Amerigone on many a mysterious journey carrying secret gifts to the cans have long been generous Yuletide givers. Seamen used to poor. On one of these expeditions, so the story goes, he dropbring their families rare and costly ped a bag of gold down a chimpresents gathered from the Orient: ney. It fell by accident into a spices, silks, china and teakwood. stocking hung up to dry by the St. Nicholas was the patron saint Fire and prompted generations j of sailors as well as children. of hopeful children to hang up WHEN IT comes to flowers their hoisery, too. and other gifts, the ladies are GIVING TO the poor re- not neglected. Though florists mained a vital part of Christ- are especially busy during Christmas celebrations in the centuries mas, many of them have a speto come. In England, on the day cial arrangement whereby flow-e- n after Christmas, clergymen used can be sent to loved ones and once a month. In this way to open the church alms-boxgift-givi- gift-givi- Swift Premium, Buttarball HEN TURKEYS IfZJbJ Swift Premium, Butterball TOM TURKEYS it 5? JiT well-kno- - SCARBSj SWEETS7 CHOCOIWES WCl puis II V X7nnnri cak& , 1 UUi &iei distribute the money to the needy. Later, it became customary to give boxes of money on that day to people who had served you during the year. December 26 is still known as Boxing Day in Britain. The custom of lxstowing gifts on friends and family niemlers was popularized in England by King Henry MI, whose services are used extensively during the Christmas season. Henry's granddaughter, Queen Elizalwth I; made the most of this custom: she depended on Christinas gifts to replenish her ward rota, and made it clear to courtiers that they had better come across handsomely on Christmas Day. Court records show that the Archbishop of Canterbury gave her $200 every yule for clothes. Court ladies presented her with the first silk stockings worn in Europe, and even the royal dustman 'garbage collector) came through with two bolts of fine linen for the royal lingerie. Father Christmas, as the Eng-- 1 of Santa is lish counterpart called, rode high for another 40 after the reign of Good Queen Bess. Then the Puritans took over. They abolished him and his gifts, and indeed all Christmas celebrations, as fit only for heathen. THE STERN Puritans brought their distrust of Christmas mer riment to New England's shores as well; in 1659, the olwervance of Christmas in Massachusetts liecame a penal offense! On the other hand, fun-loinir Dutch settlers had alreadv brought "Sinter Klass" to New Amsterdam. Later, a German colony moved to Pennsylvania along with their Christkindlein who gave us the name "Kris Kringle". Other immigrant groups contrilnited their own legends and customs of Christmas giving. And in 1822, a Presbyterian divinity professor named Clement C. Moore sat v- the holiday spirit can be enjoyed throughout the year by those closest to you. Any shop with an FTD emblem provides this delightful service. Flowers are just one item in the well over $27 billion a year spent on Christmas presents of all kinds. Many of these gifts are wrapped with the aid of Christmas seals, yet few Americans have any notion of when or where these originated. They were first used in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1904 the brainstorm of a named clerk Holboell, who postal dreamed them up as a benefit for a children's hospital. customs THE GIFT-givin- g of many lands form an interesting contrast to our own. Greek children rustle up their own gifts: on Christmas Day they go die rounds collecting walnuts, raisins, figs and sweets. In Newfoundland, an important Christfish! Local fishermas gift is men fish for the church on Christ-mas Day, donating their catch to the parish, Some countries enjoy Christ-yeamas giving so much that they do it twice: the French exchange gifts on New Year's Day, but the children are visited by Pere Noel on Christmas Eve. Italian children receive their main presents on January 6, but they and their parents draw for little gifts on Christmas Eve from an Urn of Fate." And Icelanders must hurry if they want to unwrap their presents Christmas morning. Almost the entire holiday must he !Pmt " " services for in Iceland there are only four hours of light on Christmas Dayl rs - r, Improperly adjusted brakes can throw your car into a spin on a slick surface, says the State Patrol. Be prepared for icy streets by making sure your brakes are in good condition. |