Show Ancient Customs Told Tn In New Christmas Designs y i A A jL s y QA f V V rr mt i h N r 4 t S ay F rr V u N e et t. t wu YAA N A AM M f Lt Ltd I M d' d Ft 9 4 SANTA CLAUS 1 The broad face and originated I round little belly ina ted in Clem Clement ent Moores Moore's famous poem The Tile Night Before Christmas written for his children to whom he read the poem every Christmas Eve In the poem Santa looked like a peddler just opening his pack which accounts for the familiar pose we find findon on so many Christmas cards card each year MISTLETOE The ancient Druids who lived in Britain and Gaul believed mistletoe mistletoe mistletoe toe was sent from heaven designating ting purity and love They called it omnia sani- sani tatem meaning all heal In winter they gathered mistletoe with ceremonial rites during during during dur dur- ing which white-robed white priests cut sprays with golden scythes These were hung over doorways doorways doorways door door- ways to welcome forest gods TREE ORNAMENTS In the century an Arabian geographer geographer geographer pher George Jacob brought the legend to Western Vestern Europe that on the night of the Nativity Nativity Nativity Na Na- all the trees burst forth with ripened fruits and blossoms His story spread throughout Europe and soon it was customary to hang fruit Cruit on trees at Christmas In time ornaments took the place of fruit Cruit HANGING STOCKINGS STOCKINGS STOCKINGS STOCK STOCK- INGS Among the customs brought to New Amsterdam by the Dutch settlers was that of having a burgher dress as old St. St Nicholas Nicholas Nicholas Nich Nich- olas and distribute toys and sweets to the chil chil- dren The childrens children's wooden shoes left by bythe bythe bythe the fireplace to dry became became became be- be came a convenient place in which to leave these gifts Soon stockings stockings stockings stock stock- ings were hung by the fireplace instead |