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Show RED HOLLY BERRIES A legend relates that on the first Christmas night, when the shepherds went to the manger, a little lamb following them was caught by the holly thorns, and the red berries are the drops of its blood that froze on the branches. Letters to 'Santa9 Overflow Mailbox Nativity Creche Art Dramatizes Story Of Birth Of Christ There's something special about Santa Claus in a small southern Indiana town where the famous Christmas legend has become somewhat of an everyday reality. This town with a populad tion of about 300 residents, and a family of deer, Is the Jolly old gent's namesake home Santa as well as Claus, Indiana the home of his helpers, and the location of his overflowing mailbox. year-roun- According to legend, remnants of the manger at Bethlehem were brought to Italy by early Christians. So It is not surprising that some 1300 years later, St. Francis of Asslsl should have chosen to renew Its spirit and meaning In the hermitage of Greccio in the Umbrian mountains. "I desire to represent the birth of that Child in Bethlehem in such a way that with our bodily eyes we may see all that He suffered for lack of the necessities for a newborn babe, and how he lay in the manger between the ox and ass." His friend, Giovanni Vellita, proceeded to carry out these instructions, setting up a life-simanger with straw and a live ox and ass. Members of the community posed as Mary, Joseph and the shepherds and a wax figure of the Christ Child was placed in the manger. A great throng assembled to worship at the site on Christmas Eve 1223. was the Many songs and hymns were sung, and so Impressive and ceremony, that Greccio assumed the fame of a second Bethlehem as the news spread A unique landmark at Santa Claus Is the U.S. Post Office near the intersection of Indiana highways 162 ze and 245, and next to the entrance to Santa Claus Land. There is nowhere in the world where you can find a post office like this one. Its architecture Is that of a ng far and inence. cjr In the spirit of love and peace, Christmas comes to bring us joy. Mike Himonas ALLSTATE INSURANCE Thursday, Dec. wide. Inspired by St. Francis, artisans and craftsmen began to make miniature manger scenes for their homes, and the creches spread all over Europe. Whole families fashioned en twine and wire, exprescreche displays. They emthe little figures from wood ployed the talents of the sive faces. The limbs are of or clay and created replicas best sculptors and the ladfinely carved wood. The figof Bethlehem, as they imagures are dressed in 18th ies of the great houses freined it would look. Often quently made elaborate century costumes, enriched these scenes looked more clothes of velvets and satwith jewels and embroidery. like their own villages than ins for the figures. The heads and shoulders of the Holy Land. The most outstanding of the figures, modeled in In Naples, these creches these figures were produced terracotta and painted in Li the workshops of Naples flesh tones, are creditedNa-to developed into a fashionable art because of the induring the second half of. some of terest of the Bourbon King the eighteenth century. The ples' finest sculptors: GiuCarlo III, who set the pace Metropolitan Museum has a seppe Sammartino and his pupils, Salvatore de Franco, by the elaborate settings of large collection of them, Giuseppe Gori and Angelo the Nativity scene, which which are usually on disViva. he had set up in his castle play during the Christmas season. Most of these are every Christmas Eve. Creches are also popular The members of the court from the famous collection In other parts of Europe took up the hobby of their owned by the great Neapolnotably Provence in France, and In Spain. But none has king and soon all the great itan Catello family. The figures, an average reached the high degree of Neapolitan families were 12 to 18 inches in height, artistic elegance of those of vying with each other to of 18th century Naples. produce brilliant and lavish have pliable bodies of wov fairyland the community has but slightly more than 300 stone-fronte- d 3 ies and milk, and extend best wishes to Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Rudolph. And, to the delight of children everywhere, all of these letters receive an answer from Santa Claus. This unique practice dates back to the late 1920s when Robert L. Ripley popularized the town by featuring it in an article In his "Believe It Or Not" column. After the article appeared, mail began to mushroom, especially Greetings letters addressed to "Santa Claus." Tourists with children also started to arrive and make visits to the post office with their Christmas mail, following In the steps of Ripley who also sent his Christmas cards through the office here as proof that there was indeed a Santa as verified by the Claus postmark. a sincere gratitude to our customers. And with our greetings, of expression Bruno's Appliance Helper, Utah year-rou- nd residents this post office each year is flooded four million about with pieces of mall. The bulk of all this mail comes around Christmas time to receive the cherished Santa Claus ' postmark. Still others arrive addressed simply to "Santa j Ww" Trnnst Mmr I I assy ' J f;p," & 1 "f'H I Claus, 47579." Letters addressed to "Santa Claus" represent the tens of thousands of children's "want lists" that foretell visions of Christmas morning, promise cook ' Put Christ Back Into Christmas With nlhuiimitfc seal? Are you planning for your torad onas To ba with you en this day? Are they coming from a long way off To be with you for a stay? Helper Journal castle in design and while 18th-centu- ry Hare you written out your gift UstT Hare you planned your Cbrittmu meal? Has Christmas yet begun to fill you 1974The 19, ' By Jolene L. Attkiison, of Hep-lemember of the freshman class. Board of Publications and the CoUegio staff. 1 jr tt in -f Probably there's not a home That hasn't started plans For making this a joyous time In many different lands. Dad goes to cut the Christmas tree. Mom putters with the lights,' For fixing up the Christmas pine Is just one of the delights. Just think about thai lonely night. The shepherds saw the star. They walked and mounted animals. The distance was so far. The wise men with their myrrh and gold. High on their camels' seat. Rode tiU they found the Son of God, Knelt down, and prayed there at his feet. Yes, the time for gay festiTities Hat rolled around once more. With danling lights and jingle bells And wreaths hung on each door. But pause a moment just to think What Christmas really means It wasn't meant to be commercial With excessiTe, jorial scenes. Yes. I think we should hold Christmas As a glad and happy day. For what could be more joyous Than the Ssrior brought our way? He was given to a mother Who would lore her baby boy. And that should be the reason Christmas is such fun and joy. Once long ago in a far land, 'Twas Bethlehem by name In a barn with animals The Utile Christ Child came. 'Twas to that manger crude and rough God sent His only Son. And were it not for this dear Child There'd be no Christmas fun. I think Santa Claus and reindeer Fit into this Yuleiide fun. But lef s not forget the reason why Our Christmas was begun. We commercialise it far too much With the holly, bells and songs Let's put Christ back into Christmas, Put Him back where He belongs. Good PA m imi , .... Wishes at bnistmas 1 L . f ilri J) i I W.Jfe IsTi fa. I To all the friends we have had the pleasure of serving family-fille- d wishes for a warm, holiday. Ideal Beverages and Co. Pepsi Cola, Hires Root Beer, Dr. Pepper John Porter, Manager Price, Utah Italian Foods at Christmas Vary According to Regions an the Christmas celebraFeasting is integral part of tion, svmbolizing not only rejoicing at the coming of Christ but, also, the spirit of sharing and brotherly love which is characteristic of the season. Like so many other aspects of Christmas, it is a blend of Christian and traditions, strongly influenced by local customs. In Italy the dishes of the Christmas feast vary widely depending on the region. In the north, for example, the meal may begin witn cappelletti ("little hats") stuffed with meat or tortellini, a sort of ravioli, followed by a main dish of meat, which may be anything from roast turkey with chestnut stuffing to zampone, a pork sausage packed in a pig's leg smothered with lentils. In the area around Rome, the traditional dish of Christmas Eve is "capitone," a large female eel, roasted, baked, or fried, following a religious tradition which prescribes a meatless dinner on Christmas Eve, the Vigilia, or Christmas vigil. In accordance with this tradition, the Roman fish market, held the night of December 23rd, is a peculiar feature of the Christmas observance. In the south of Italy, the feasting usually begins with macaroni with meat and tomato sauce, followed by chicken or meat in jelly. Particularly characteristic of Christmas feasting in all regions are sweets: fruitcakes of various types (panettone) and other sweets in which nuts and honey figure prominently. The Christmas season coincides with the lengthening day and the beginning of the New Year, and from ancient times nuts have been a symbol of fertility and a promise of the next year's harvest, also representing hope for increase in herds and flocks, and the family, as well. The use of honey, the most common sweetener in ancient Rome, was a traditional way of conveying the wish that the new year might be as sweet as the gift. an u Greetings from the Personnel of Walker Bank & f. Trust ft "May you have a Very, ft Merry Christmas" , J U " The word "wassail" derives from the Anglo-Saxo- n "waes hael" which meant "Be in health." Wassail was a mixture of mulled ale, eggs, curdled cream, roast apples, nuts and spices. A I iki !lSs mJI i May the holidays be fied with 9,acJness, peace and fulfillment. It's a pleasure to ff w4a In this season of happy thoughts and warm 1 jH hearts, we extend a special "Thank you" to all our good friends and patrons for your confidence, a Merry Christmas to all! loyalty and support jfl ... Joyous I V As the glory of the Carbon Fuel Co. Star shines anew, we greet you and thank you warmly. Lions Club of Helper "Dedicated to Community Service" I Helper, Utah Dan's R&cDrug Main and Carbon Ave. Price Dan M. Verde, Ruth Fausett, L TestleOrl, Marilyn Pilling IV WW&$t He, |