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Show Page Two THE SALT LAKE TIMES FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1975 Transportation Commission Honors 7 Peoples Freeway Inc. Garden Project the Hash GRAPEVINE v i Mountain Fuel Supply Co. has asked the Utah Public Service Commission to allow a decrease in natural gas rates, effective Jan. 1 If granted, the decrease would reduce MFS income by some $1.3 million next year. The average residential customer would save about $2 on his gas bill for the year. The reduction is being sought by the utility primarily to remove a temporary increase in rates granted to MFS last March. a Traditions of Christmas (continued from page 1) legend is the coming of Santa and the bringing of gifts. Traditions of children in other countries reflect their beliefs about Santa. In Austria, children put notes to dear child Jesus in Heaven on the window sill for St. Nicholas to take so that the Christ Child could bring the requested gifts on Christmas Eve. In Belgium, children place shoes, baskets, or dishes under the tree for St. Nicholas to fill on Christmas Eve. They put water, hay, and carrots outside the door to attract his gray horse to their home. St. Nicholas wears a bishops robe and a miter, and he carries a pastoral staff. On Christmas morning the children find chairs tipped over in their rooms and further disarray to show evidence that St. Nicholas has been there. Good children find their shoes filled with gifts. Bad ones find switches stuffed in theirs. In Finland, Father Christmas brings children their gifts from England. In some sections he is known as Wainamoinen or Ukke. He is an old man with a long white mustache. He wears a white peaked cap with blue trim and a red coat. In Hungary, the children believe that a male Kriss Kringle brings their gifts. He is dressed in white and rides a white horse. The South American children leave notes to Little Jesus during Posada. They leave them in front of the manger for the angels to take to heaven for answering. n in his red robe, pointed cap, In Sweden, and long white beard, riding his goat, brings gifts to good Swedish children. In the Philippine islands, shoes are put in the window by the children on Christmas Eve. They expect the Three Kings to fill them. In Mexico, Santa is not as popular as the figure of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec god of the sun. He is an old man with a long white beard and flowing white robes. Before Christmas children write letters to the Christ Child listing what they want. And on the eve of Epiphany, January 6th they place their shoes at the foot of their beds for the Three Magi to fill. In Switzerland, the tradition of St. Nicholas is observed. He arrives on December 6th and distributes fruit, candy, and toys. Sometimes there is a parade in his honor. A giant figure of St. Nicholas leads a group of children dressed in long white nightgowns and masks. The paraders blow long Swiss horns and bells ring. Spanish children fill their shoes with straw for the camels of the Three Kings, on the eve of the Epiphany. It is thought that each year the Wise Men repeat their journey to Bethlehem and pass through Spain on the way. As they pass by, the camels eat the straw and the shoes are filled with gifts by Balthasar, who rides on a donkey. In Poland, children write letters telling what they wish to receive and place them on the window for the Wise Men. Then on Christmas Eve, after supper, the children are examined on their knowledge of religion by the Star Man (the village priest). If they do well, they receive small gifts from the Wise Men. Gifts are believed to come from the stars, and the Wise Men act as emissaries. Children the world over wait anxiously on Christmas eve for the bearer of gifts. They also love to hear retold the story of the first Christmas and the birth of The scene of this first Christmas is the Christ-child- . beautifully portrayed again each year by the traditional Creche. The true meaning of Christmas can be Jul-nise- A decision to dissolve Pro-Uta- h was made at the organizations annual meeting. The proposal will be presented by mail to the Board of Directors for a vote. The porposal says that Pro Utah assets will be placed in trusteeship for disposal by Dec. 31, 1976. The deadline for dissolution of Pro Utah was set at Dec. 31, 1975. Pro-Uta- h was established in 1964 to help bring new industry to the state and was supported by contributions from business. 25-mem- in Salt Lake City, Peoples Freeway Inc. grew garden vegetables for needy families and improved the appearance of the state land. (Utah State Department of Highways) Utilizing pieces of 1-- 15 right-of-wa- y The Utah Transportation Com- has presented Peoples Freeway Inc., a Salt Lake City neighborhood organization of low- income families, with a special of recognition for utilizing right-of-wa- y to fragments of grow garden vegetables for needy 1-- The project won the Utah partment of Transportation and Peoples Freeway Inc. first place honors in the Federal Highway De-missi- on Administrations 1975 The way and its Environment Contest as the outstanding example of High-awar- d multiple use of highway way: right-of-familie- s. Utah Transit Authority directors to approve for are conveyed by simply viewing a Nativity Scene where the expected hours. elderly during the Christ Child lies as a symbol of Love, exemplifying The board said at its last meeting that if the councils of gernment the spirit of Christmas. approved the idea, the UTA The custom of reenacting the birth of Jesus groups board would ratify the program. acting board originated in the 13th century in Greccio, Italy, where Glenn B. Goodrich, said hours are a simple manger was constructed by St. Francis of chairman, 10 defined as a.m. to 3 and Assisi as part of the Christmas observances. St. after 6 p.m. Monday p.m. through Francis wanted to help the people understand the Saturday and all day Sundays and no-fa- off-pea- re k off-pea- k meaning of the scriptures, to show that Christ, like them also came from humble beginnings. A manger scene was assembled in a cave on a hill, d with a wax figure of the Christ Child in the manger. Real people assumed the roles of Mary, Joseph and the shepherds. Live animals were arranged around the manger. Worshippers traveled great distances to view the Nativity scene, bringing gifts and chanting hymns of praise. The pilgrims were implored by Francis to cast aside all hatred from their hearts and to meditate on the themes of the Christmas season HOPE, PEACE AND LOVE. Visitors to the first Nativity replica at Greccio were impressed by the Christmas ritual and the idea soon spread to other Italian towns. Gradually, the tradition was observed in Spain, Portugal, France, England and other parts of the world. At first the Nativity scenes were very simple, but through the ages, they became more elaborate. life-size- Here in the United States, Nativity scenes are becoming more popular each year. In many communities, families, churches and civic groups arrange outdoor Nativity sets, conveying the message of the Christ Child at Christmas peace and goodwill to all men. Where thousands of listeners enjoy concert music and news every day! holidays. A complete review of building codes which affect high rise office and apartment buildings in Salt Lake City was given the by the City Commission. Fire Chief Leon DeKorver said a recent survey of high rise structures (seven stories or more) showed serious conditions exist. The chiefs main concern is that some structures apparently dont have two separate escape routes and new code requirements may be needed for that purpose. go-ahe- A potential legal battle was averted when Salt Lake County Treasurer Arthur Monson delivered a $2 million check to the city treasurer. Joseph Fakler, city treasurer, said the money was a general tax advance for tax monies due the city. Delays in obtaining the money from the county forced the city to borrow money to meets its obligations, Fakler explained. The city was poised for a legal suit seeking, to obtain the tax advance on time and to collect interest while the monev was in countv accounts. Rerouting, rescheduling and a close association with airlines and other public carriers are among the tactics being employed by Utah Ski Association to offset effects of a United Airlines strike on the state's ski industry. Earl Hanson, executive director of the association, said that persons associated with the industry have been working overtime to combat inroads into ski resort business. Hanson said that estimabes of the number of skiers who rely on UAL flights into Utah were lower than originally reported and that only about 28 to 29 skiers travpercent of eled by the struck airline. cut-of-sta- te |