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Show Page Four - The Springville Herald - December 25, 2003 J(Q StfcKIQCr Mil Witt " ,-nn illli? RTfcmnrTimtiist'nmnm"! w .ss ins g-as "t i - m M CEaristonas without TOttl!i) and mlstietoe' Wreaths and mistletoes have enjoyed a long association associa-tion with Christmas, said Larry A. Sagers, Utah State University Extension horticulturist. horti-culturist. The use of wreaths actually actual-ly predates the birth of Christ. People in Egypt, the Middle East, the Orient and Europe made wreaths from evergreens, herbs and other materials for various celebrations, celebra-tions, Sagers said. Evergreen boughs have much the same history as the Christmas trees, but other plants are often used. Rosemary Rose-mary is an ancient symbol of remembrance, he said. "Legends tell that the tiny rosemary blossoms changed from white to blue after Mary, the mother of Jesus, hung the clothes of the baby Jesus to dry on a rosemary bush during their flight to Egypt," he said. "It was also used to garnish the boars head at the traditional Christmas Christ-mas feast in medieval England." Eng-land." Holly was used by many ancient Europeans. They believed it was a protective plant with many curative powers. Its red berries and spring leaves are associated with the crucifixion as symbols sym-bols of Christ's suffering. In the old English carol, "The Holly and the Ivy," the tiny white holly flowers represent Mary and the red berries represent Christ's blood, Sagers said. One of the most well-known well-known plants of Christmas is the mistletoe. It is a parasitic plant that lives off other green plants. It cannot survive sur-vive on its own without taking its nutrition from other plants, he said. Historically, in Europe, mistletoe was known as the "golden bough" and was credited with many magical properties. These properties were thought to be the most powerful at the solstices and the equinoxes, he said. In Europe, mistletoe grows chiefly on oak trees. "It is an established fact that oaks are struck by lightning light-ning more frequently than any other kind of tree," he said. "Myths linking mistletoe mistle-toe with the supernatural, the sun and the celestial fire may have come from this phenomena." phe-nomena." Sagers said the ancient Druids worshipped mistletoe as a magical healer. In Japan, Ja-pan, Cambodia and parts of Africa, it was a revered plant well into the 20th century. While at one time condemned con-demned by church leaders as an evil, pagan custom, its use continued was later incorporated incorpo-rated into a Christmas ritual of a holy kiss of peace and pardon. This was passed by priests throughout the congregation. con-gregation. It evolved into a custom later construed as a right of men to kiss women found standing under the mistletoe, he said. For many centuries a "kissing ball" was used in England as the center of Christmas in the home similar simi-lar to the way Christmas trees are used now. These were formed with seven apples framing a sprig of mistletoe, he said. Despite lively legends associated with mistletoe, Sagers said it continues to be a serious problem for many trees' growing in warmer areas. Expensive treatments of pruning, herbicides and tree wrapping are necessary to protect these trees from damage by these parasitic plants. As well, he cautioned that the white berries of the mistletoe mis-tletoe are poisonous and should never be placed where children can eat them. He said this plant is not the same as the dwarf mistletoes mistle-toes that occur in many conifer forests in Utah and the Northeast. ThesSmyw snts ISIaus Once upon a time, a man called Nicholas lived in Patara, a town in the East. Because he was very fond of children and was kind and generous to them, they came to think of him as their dear friend and their beloved saint. So it was that after a time the wonderful things he did were woven into a beautiful beau-tiful legend. You know that Santa means Saint and Claus stands for Nicholas, and that is how he came to be known as Santa Claus. In Santa Claus' own town, Patara, lived a great lord who had three daughters. daugh-ters. He was very poor, so poor that one day he was on the point of sending his daughters daug-hters out to beg for food from his neighbors. But it happened that Saint Nicholas not long before had come into a fortune, and as he loved giving to those in need, he no sooner heard of the trouble the poor lord was in, than he made up his mind to help him secretly. so he went to the nobleman's noble-man's house at night, and as the moon shone out from behind a cloud, he saw an open window into which he threw a bag of gold, and with this timely gift the father was able to provide for his eldest daughter, so that she could be married. On another night Santa Claus set off with another bag of gold L:i threw it in at the window, so the second daughter was provided for. But by this time, the father had grown eager to discover who the mysterious visitor could be, and next night he kept a lookout. Then for the third time Santa Claus came with a bag of gold upon his back and pitched it in at the window. The old lord at once recognized recog-nized his fellow townsman, and falling on his knees, cried out: "Oh! Nicholas, servant of God, why seek to hide yourself?" Is it not wonderful to think that this was so long ago, sixteen hundred years, yet we still look for the secret coming of Santa Claus with his Christmas gifts? At first he was said to come on his own birthday, which is early in December, but after awhile, as was very natural with Christmas so near, the night of his coming was moved on in the calendar, and now we hang up our stockings to receive his gifts on Christmas Eve. In some countries children At Christmas time there was a man who looked so out of place as people rushed about him at a hurried sort of pace. He stared at all the Christmas Chris-tmas lights, the tinsel everywhere, every-where, the shopping center Santa Claus, with children gathered near. The mall was packed with shoppers who were going to and fro, some with smiles and some with frowns and some too tired to go. They rested on the benches bench-es or they hurried on their way to fight the crowd for purchases to carry home that day. The music from a stereo was playing loud and clear, of Santa Claus, and snowmen, snow-men, and a funny-nosed reindeer. He heard the people talk about the good times on the way, of parties, fun and food galore, and gifts exchanged that day. "I'd like to know what's going on," the man was heard to say, "There seems to be some sort of celebration celebra-tion on the way, And would you tell me who he is, all dressed in red and white? and why are children asking him about a special night?" The answer came in disbelief, "I can't believe my ears! I can't believe you do not know that Christmas time is here. The time when Santa comes around with gifts for girls and boys. When they're asleep on Christmas Eve, he leaves them books and toys. The men you see in red and white is Santa Claus, so sly. The children love his joyful laugh and twinkle in his eyes. His gift-packed sleigh is pulled along by very small reindeer, as he flies quickly through the air, while darting here and there. The children learn of Santa Clause while they are still quite small. When Christmas Chris-tmas comes, he is the most important one of all!" The stranger hung his head in shame, he closed a nail-pierced hand. His body shook in disbelief; he did not understand. A shadow crossed his stricken face, his voice was low but clear. "After all these years, they still don't know," and Jesus shed a tear. Edmund Gwenn played the Santa Claus character in "Miracle on 34th Street." "Twas the Night Before Christmas," is a poem by Clement Moore. The last line of the poem, "Twas the Night Before Christmas" is "Happy Christmas Christ-mas to all and to all a good night." Glyn Dearman, Richard Beaumont and Terry Kilburn all played Bob Cratchett in movie versions of "A Christmas Christ-mas Carol." still put their shoes by the fireside on his birthday. In others they say it is the Christ-Kindlein or Christ Child who brings the gifts at Christmas-time. But it is always a surprise visit, and though it has happened so many hundreds of times, the hanging up of the Christmas stocking is still as great a delight as ever. k m a?" 5 SaK 3 S3 We specialize in Machine Quilting & Machine Embrodiery Located at 524 S. 300 East, Springville Call today! 489-4460 II i J 9 m p r 1 y - JI, , ' -A " Looking for something to do during the urn in Springville ana learn aDoui me fhrictmac hrwak? Rrina vmir family fn earlv Settlers. visit the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Muse- From the PUP Museum WdsdS inniaflsiiflinrQ during Shristinas vacation by Mary Murray LeBeau The members of the local company of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers cordially invite you to visit our museum muse-um at 1 75 S. Main in Springville. Spring-ville. The museum is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday from l to 4 p.m. Group tours at other times by prior arrangement. We are fortunate indeed to have a historic building to help us as we collect and preserve the artifacts that document the history of Springville. Andrew Carnegie Carne-gie sponsored a number of libraries across the nation during the darkest days of the depression in the I930's. Only a few of these historic structures are still standing and we are very happy to show you this local treasure. The plan was to provide jobs and also a useful addition addi-tion to each community where one was constructed. The plan was simple and the space was well organized and inexpensive. These libraries were a place of learning but they also brought money for life's most basic necessities into towns across the nation. If you are interested in local history or family history histo-ry we have a lot to offer but if you have other interests you will find much of value in our collection. Pre-1900 clothing is on display along with dishes, clocks and furniture. furni-ture. Musical instruments of that time are shown beside quilts, candle molds and butter churns. The list is extensive and includes even some outdoor farm tools. You will have to see it to believe how much variety we have. Children from about second grade level and older seem to find things to fascinate fasci-nate them and stimulate their minds. If you have family who settled in this area before be-fore 1900 you can probably find photographs that you may have never seen before. Our photo collection is exten- year long but especially sive and all photos can be during this holiday time we purchased if desired. hope to see you in our muse- Our invitation is for all urn. Dollar Sense 1084 North Main St., Spanish Fork arouni the cortur from Macry't ALL CHRISTMAS MERCHANDISE 12 PRICE While Supplies Last Not valid with any other discount offer. Dollar Serujt id not an ordinary Dollar Store! LA I III f Christmas Our Favorite Time of All! Here's Hoping all your times are ;ood times this holiday season. We loved every minute of serving you this past year. 220 South Main Street Springville 489-4221 st-minute ertificates Edam (kzlcd Peels mi Spa 57 East 800 North 'Spanish Fork, Utah 798-1281 |