OCR Text |
Show stream to Manger Square, Holiday Is Universal, Touches Lives of All Christmas, 1979 does not come to a world that is perfect. Many nations are at odds. There are wars and rumors of war. And cold wars. There is poverty, even in the richest land on this earth. But, this is the day we have set aside to recognize that momentous event that took place in Bethlehem centuries ago. This is the hour when men pause, when combatants often call for a momentary pause.... when, in essence, many of the affairs of the world are set aside for a few precious hours. Christmas, indeed, is such an universal hol- iday that it somehow touches the lives of everyone, even unbelievers. Christmas day is not a perfect day. Do not expect it to be. But, give it a chance to touch you. Take a closer look at your world on this Christmas Day. Take a look into your own heart. You may find some singular experience that will lead toward a better tomorrow. When was the first carol sung? Scholars think caroling probably began in the early church when Nativity plays, accompanied by songs of joy, told the story of Christs birth. One of the earliest choruses of praise, Gloria in Excelsis Deo (glory to God in the highest) is still sung by carolers at time. Early Latin-speakin- Christmas g must have worshippers shouted it forth with a Magna Vox (also Latin, for great voice). Though many people dont realize it, carols were originally connected not only with song but with dance: The Old French word carole meant a ring dance accompanied by song. An English carol dating from 1350 has a refrain which refers to a round dance: Honnd by honnd we schulle ous take and joye and blisse schulle we make. ered a rustic, socially inferior form of song! By 1882, a writer named William Hone was predicting that carols were dying out and in a few years time would be heard no more! Celebration For All Early carol composers didnt confine themselves Is to Christmas themes a collection of Carolles Newly Imprinted (1550) contained more Crucifixion than Nativity carols! On the other hand, quite a few carols of this time were not sacred in mood, but simply lighthearted invitations to feasting and toasting. The Boars Head carol, a big hit in 16th century England and still sung annually by the students of Queens College, Oxford, actually celebrates the course of words: The boars head in hand bear I Bedeckd with bays and The Birth of Christ is celebrated at Christmas, but in effect it is everybodys birthday, and the celebration is going on all over the world. Therefore, Christmas is many things real, some only felt. Christmas is the excited gleam in the eyes of children; it is the happy music (to celebrate a - rosemary. And I pray you master, be merry... The custom of outdoor carol singing is many hundreds of years old. It seems to have started in the Middle Ages when groups of people went from house to house to sing by torchlight. Yet despite these joyous beginnings, the Christmas carol eventually ran into some rough weather. As the Puritan influence grew became carols strong, gloomy and grim; finally the Puritans made it a crime even to print them or sing them publicly! After Puritanism waned in England, carols made a comeback - but in the 17th and 18th centuries were consid -- birth) and talking and laughing; it is bright-painte- d toys and decorated trees. It is the tinkling of bells and the taste of candies. It is the calm fulfillment that follows hectic days of preparation. There is a feeling of compassion for the less fortunate that glows more warmly on this day than any other day. Christmas is the time of the hearts inventory, the time of being together and going home. Most of all, Christmas is the time of transformation of mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, into the children they once were - and still are - for a very short time this one day of the year. -- -- Bethlehem A-glitt- er Bethlehem Christmas. glitters for The busses unloading devout visitors from all parts of the world. They stoop through the low doors and cling to the narrow stairways leading to the Grotto. A star marks the place where Jesus was born. The jet age permits more pilgrims than ever to visit the Holy Land, but most miss the many opportunities the Holy Land offers to lend extra meaning to Christs incarnation. The d itinerary hardly permits the visitors to experience the Holy Land in all of its absorbing fascination. The usual pilgrim hardly ever enters the ordinary home in Bethlehem. Pilgrims live in hotels and visit countless churches and museums, but seldom a real lived-ihouse. n Christmas Pilgrims will again throng to Bethlehem, but most will miss the many opportunities the Holy Land affords to lend extra meaning to Christs incarnation. Christmas Is Special Christmas is a special time in the hearts of men, a time when memories of good things past, thankfulness for todays bounty and hopes for the future transcend differences. The Manger scene with the Christ Child and Wise Men reminds us of the first Christmas and what that means to us. We celebrate the birth of Christ and His gift to the world by giving to each other, by carrying our own good wishes along with bright packages. We celebrate by sharing our wealth of good things in family gatherings and by showering special attention and love on our children. The celebration of Christmas comes in such a variety of wonderful sounds and fragrances and feelings. In GerChristkindlein. many during the 15th century, Martin Luther, a religious leader who also invented a lot of new German words, substituted Christkindlein, or the Christ Child, for St. Nicholas as the bearer of gifts. He wanted to make the act of giving gifts a symbol of the Wise Mens visit to Bethlehem. So the Christ Child came secretly to German homes on the Eve of |