Show t 7 lit a tt q ors u Terrenia Fletcher left and Nanette Wilkins have won the Speech Contest each of their four seminary years Christmas lights the way at local churches the little lights that are placed along roads walks and roof tops to light the way for the Christ Child will be observed again this year on Christmas Eve at Saint James Catholic Church according to Father Davich Father Davich also announces announces announces an an- that thal Father Joseph and the parishioners of Saint Pauls Paul's Episcopal Church will join in the observance ob ob- servance The Youth Groups of both parishes will join on Christmas Eve afternoon to place 1000 candles on their church grounds to light the way for the birth of Christ Father Davich pointed out the history of the For three centuries the Spanish villages along the Rio Grande have been displaying displaying- their unique Christmas lanterns or TilE THE LITTLE lights that burn burnat at Christmas are placed along roads walks and roof tops to light the way for the Christ Child In the Rio Grande Valley also are lighted for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe December 12 or for a great fiesta particularly in the Indian and Spanish villages The first were 5 f t bonfires of crossed criss-crossed pinon built boughs in three-foot three high squares When colored wrapping wrap wrap- ping iping paper was br brought u ht from t the he Orient the first small paper lanterns were made The idea of ofa a burning light or lantern was borrowed from Spain and Old Mexico where they were used on festive occasions Instead of hanging the fragile new lanterns lanterns lanterns lan lan- terns from trees or on wires they were placed on the ground patio walls roof tops lops and along pathways IN THE Yankee traders brought brown brawn paper sacks down the Santa Fe Trail making the accessible accessible accessible ac ac- ac- ac to all and this manner of making the never has lias been improved The glow of the candle through a brown paper sack in the dark of night multiplied by thousands and thousands of such lights is an awesome and heavenly sight Traditionally these are lighted at sundown on Christmas Eve Ever Saint Pauls Paul's Episcopal Church will celebrate the Mass Massof of Christmas at 11 pm p.m. Saint James Catholic Church will celebrate Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve The public is invited to attend and bring in inthe inthe inthe the spirit of Christmas |