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Show Charming Yule Legend Tells Story Of Village's First Christmas Candle At Christmas, millions of little candles suddenly spring into being all over it seems on Christmas trees, on so many of our Christmas cards, in the shop windows and in our homes. In these days of fluorescent and neon lighting the candles often take on the form of a 25-watt bulb nevertheless, never-theless, they definitely contribute just the right touch of reverence and gaiety to the holiday season. True, the custom of lighting candles in remembrance of the Star of Bethlehem claims deep religious significance. But Christmas has also I come to be a children's festival, and wherever there are children there Is legend weaving. And there is a charming legend that long, long ago In Austria, there lived an old shoemaker In a little cottage on the edge of a village. Although Al-though this humble man had very Ht- tie, whether for himself or to share with others, his goodness of heart was such that each evening he placed in his window a lighted candle as a sign of welcome to weary travelers who might be asking shelter. War came to the village and famine, fam-ine, yet the little light never wavered. Each night It took Its place to send forth its beam as a message of cheer to forlorn wayfarers. It was wintertime and the suffering suffer-ing was acute. Great hardships came. Sons died in battle. Animals starved for want of grain. Yet always, somehow some-how the old shoemaker suffered less than others. It was almost as though there were a splendid charm upon him. At last the peasants gathered together and said: "Surely there is something different about him that he is spared. What does he do that we do not do? Perhaps it Is his little candle. Let us, too, place lights in our windows." And the day the peasants took counsel was the day before Christmas, and the first night the candles were set to burn in all the windows was Christmas Eve. When morning came It was as though a miracle had happened. A 10ft mantle of snow covered the village like a gentle blessing, but there was something more a new air of peace and hope. And before the sun had cast Its first bright gleam on the spire of the village church there came a messenger riding to bring the great, glad news of peace. The church bells chimed and the people knelt In prayer and there was a feel-in feel-in of Christmas glory such as there had not been In many years. The peasants were awed. "It was the candles," they whispered. "They have guided the Christ Child to our doorsteps. We must never again fail to light candles on His Birthday." From such a long ago beginning this beautiful custom has become very dear to our hearts. So dear in fact that year after year, we light our candles on Christmas Eve, and year after year, the holiday greeting cards we exchange with our friends and loved ones carry tte prarf motif of the Christmas candle. And this year the candles will still burn Sight, their light sending forth hope and cheer for the peaceful world that ,00nTrreaCr0emsecores of other legends surrounding .widespread use of candles at Christmas time-and all of them have a simple beauty which appeals to children and adults alike. The stories are told in every lan-guage. |