OCR Text |
Show 1950 Helper Journal Christmas Edition Curiosity, Mope is Mew Ml Christmas dandles it: It is our fondest wish that you will enjoy the same warm friendships few- - Curiosity and superstition always have greeted the New Year hand in hand with mankind's bright hope (or the future. In olden times, families sought a glimpse into the year just beginning by observing the 'dipping' custom. With his eyes closed, the head of the house opened the family Bible and indicated a passage with his finger; the text, solemnly read and interpreted by the family, was indicative of the luck good or bad that was in store. Probably one of the most widespread superstitions concerned the " the first person to cross the threshold on New Year's morning. Women and men were considered unlucky " as were people who "first-footer,- and associations light-haire- of those about you on this, the greatest day of d "first-footers.- walked them all - - Christmas. . pigeon-toed- In some villages, the superstition was taken so seriously that a dark- r haired man was given the job and, going from house to house, he would be the first person to cross the threshold, thus preserving the good fortune of the first-foote- 0. K. CLEANERS Helper -:- Utah - community. Anglo - Saxons, believing that something might happen when the New Year burst in, often climbed upon the roof on New Year's Eve so as to have a good view of any such event. And we moderns make as much noise as possible, presumably our primitive ancestors believed that noise would keep evil influences at a distance. Oh 1 if Sodi Heat fyeai'i Cve super-sitition- SI. howling crop." Before the advent of modern s made quite a plumbing, fuss about the "cream of the year" which was the first draught drawn teen-ager- 0 May your 99 happiness inateh the brightness of Yuletide. HELPER DRUG CO. madw "11 KA friends, thaikfal for lib sracieus in business a Ancient Egypt affair. used the overflowing of the Nile as a calendar and celebrated the New Year accordingly, in June. The Babylonians began their year in March, and the early Romans followed the Babylonian pattern. Bearing this in mind, the custom of invoking the gods of fertility at New Year's time the origin of which is lost in antiquity seems logical and appropriate. The Romans were accustomed to hanging tiny masks of Bacchus upon trees and vines, the idea being to impart fertility to every side of the tree to which the masks were turned by the wind. In the old days, Rumanian youths went from house to house singing and wishing everyone a prosperous New Year. Scottish lads always had a howling good time going about on New Year's Eve switching the trunks of fruit trees and petitioning a 'good howling crop.' Reflecting the fear of starvation, peasant families in various parts of the world baked a special New Year's cake which they dashed against the door; members of the household hastened to pick up a piece and eat it, prayerful that neither hunger nor want should enter the house during the ensuing year. is invaluable and we are aratef ul for yours "ALL HE WANTS" . . . Young Edward Hospisa of New York makes known to Santa his Christmas wish. He said, to coin a phrase, "All I want for Christmas is my two front inWhether he'll get cisors." them is another story. A JOYOUS SEASON TO YOU GIFT SHOP JEWELERS Frank Yama, Owner & Norman Day, Mgr Utah Helper ReiolutloHi UH, George M. Cohan may have saluted the great American custom of breaking New Year's resolutions, but Ernestine Evans assures us that around the turn of the century her family played the game of resolutions very seriously and for keeps. The game was invented by the family's Aunt Callie whose dinners were and if you were invited to New Year's dinner, you automatically were invited to dinner on April 1. There was one qualification, however. Aunt Callie's guests were required to write out one just one good resolution, seal it in an envelope and deposit it with Aunt Callie. May this season of loving and giving find us TO ALL THE in accord. -- ALPINE SERVICE MILLIONS -- Pete Paletta Helper Phone 347 merry o from the nearest spring immediately after midnight and supposedly entitled the drinker to anticipate a 'luckier' year. The Wassail Bowl is, of course, the center of adult festivities. Its origin is lost in antiquity, but tradition has endowed the Wassail Bowl with legendary romance. Is is ornamental in design and decorated with branches of greenery. The mixture within is warm and sweet, and wine is sometimes added to the ale and sugar and spices. After having enjoyed the concoction within the home among intimates at the stroke of midnight, the Scots pile into wagons or sleighs, with kettles full of the Wassail, muns, cheese and other food and set out to tour the community. The party stops at various houses and the refreshments go 'round at each stop. Nobody pays the least attention to the approaching dawn, because nobody goes to bed on New Year's Eve anyway. in Bulgaria New Year's Day is a great day for Bulgarian children who receive their presents and small sums of money in return for the gifls they Then, on Aonl 1, the envelopes were opened and the family, having feasted on their 'second' New Year's dinner, judged just how well the resolutions had been kept Typical resolutions covered a wide range of resolves looking in the dictionary before interrupting conversations by asking questions, folding one's clothes carefully at night, keeping the kindling box well filled, Aunt Lou's promise, and the elders' promises to read aloud and teach the children anti-gossi- p Xfr)sflb J' "Sfr, A o bottom. of- - the-- it heart wish a for Holiday ' happiness. 1950t to sew. 7-U- to have It was embarrassing broken one's resolution before it was read on April 1 ; thus a lot of good habits were launched, and it RAINBOW Pete - was a lot of fun, too. Ernie ceremoniously present. Teen-ager- s go visiting and. wishing neighbors a happy New Year, expect treats and refreshments. But unlike our 'trick or treat' of Halloween, should the supply of goodies run short, the situation is accepted graciously. P BOTTLING CO, INN - Tony Price Utah Jan tlu Cluttu cltei dv I CHRISTMAS The Longest Year The year we now refer to as B.C., was the longest year in calendar history. It contained 445 days, and for a very good reason. Numa Pompilius supposedly created the Roman calendar in the seventh century B. C. This calendar was revised several times but by Julius Caesar's time. It was two months behind the sun. When Caesar's experts devised the Julian calendar, which went alone without revision until the 16th century, there was the problem of catching op with the aim before the new calendar could take aver. Bo, two months were Inserted between the months of November and December. Thus, M B.C. contained 445 days. & 46 STAN'S ELECTRIC Stan L Helper & Charlie Utah and accept best SIASON'S WISHES from VOGUE DRY GOODS Fred Bosone, Mgr. Of fresh up" families Christmas New Year lid the value of friendships AUendk Mahuuf Nobody goes to bed in Scotland on December 31. There are too many other things to do. It is a great night for the youths s, who, reminiscent of ancient go about switching the trunks of fruit trees and petitioning the gods of fertility for a "good i was have found that SlwttAe SoHfi Needed m, mid-wint- r be-;au- Vo 11 II.IS.. Wad c4 Spring d(air Jleiv tyear Qreet Jlome Jn Caupt, Mand in Mand not always Year's New 77? Warm lear HILLCREST HOTEL & APTS. A. J. Ossana Helper |