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Show The engagement ring. . . Yuletide traditional time for love declaration Bright red holly berries, the pungent smell of Christmas trees, the tantalizing aromas from mince pie and roasting turkey it's that time of year when family and friends come together to share love, friendship and caring it's the yuletide season. It's also the time of year when more young couples announce their engagements, reports the Jewelry Industry Council. Cer- . tainly the happy gatherings, the hustle and bustle, and the soft flickering of candles lend themselves them-selves to a romantic event. What better time for a young man to declare his love and thrill the object of his affections with the traditional symbol of eternal love the diamond? The tradition of the diamond engagement ring started 500 years ago when Maximilian of Austria gave his intended, Mary of Bur-:,jundy, Bur-:,jundy, an., impressive, gpld 'rin with diamonds. Today, liT'the" major countries of the world, young couples follow this tradition. tradi-tion. But it has been a fairly recent custom in America where the bride is given an engagement ring during the Christmas season, the Council observes. At the turn of the century, young couples were riding in sleighs through the snow, gathering gather-ing around the warmth of the family fam-ily hearth, and perhaps enjoying a taffy pull or playing the Gramophone. Today 's young couples may be out at a disco, or watching the color television or playing the hi-fi at home, but many old traditions tradi-tions still stand. Mistletoe still calls for lover's kisses, and many families filled with a nostalgia for Christmases past may make their own candy or ice cream. But like the Christmas tree itself, it-self, the tradition of the engage- ' ment ring during Christmastide is still treasured and observed in ., America today , reports the Coun- What better time'to tell family and friends about the wedding to come that will perpetuate all the joys of Christmases for a new . family? |