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would liketo wish everyoneavery... RLS CPE a, pei I. his pack, filled with bountiful delights, jovial St. Niek has a special gift of thanks for our wonderful friends. In a festive spirit we wish you all the joys of Christmas. J. Peter Hvidsten Debbie McEachern Annabell Harrison John B. McClelland Donna Dickson Per Hvidsten Gayle Stapley Barb Ross Marilyn Taylor . Nancy Prentice Brenda Haist Volume116 No.4 SECOND SECTION rednesday, December 23, 1981 traditions in Scugog by Valerie MacDonald "T'was the night before Christmas 'And all through the house Not a creature was stirring Not even a mouse. The socks were all hung By the chimney with care In hopes that St. Nicholas Soon would be there." This well know poem is part of the Christmas tradition for most people - but not all. Scugog Township, like most of Canada is a mixture of cultural backgrounds and I'talked to some of the people in our Township who cele- brate the. festive holiday season with memories and practices that come from their ethnic roots. Mrs. Flora Postma of R.R. 1, Nestleton was born in Holland and won't soon forget how the Dutch celebrate. St. Nicholas Day when "Sinterklass" makes his visit is held December 5th, distinctly separate from Christmas on December 25th which is a religious occasion. Not only does the time of '"Sinterklass" arrival differ from ours, but he looks different too. ] Mrs. Postma remembers when she was a child some- one would dress up like St. Nicholas wearing robes and a mitre, looking like a Bishop; and ride up on a white horse. Several people would dress up as "Black Peter" his helper. The child- ren would not only leave out cookies and milk for St. Nicholas but hay for his horse. (He has no reindeer). Several Dutch songs contain references to the manner in which St. Nick arrives - according to tradi- tion he comes by boat (not sleigh) from Spain (not the north pole). But like our "Santa Claus" he comes to reward the children for being good. On December 5th, a knock comes to the door and St. Nicholas and his helper shower the Dutch children with round, marble-like cookies and the kids scramble all over the floor picking them up. This tradi- tion was also 'carried to Canada. "They even use to do it in Trenton," says Mrs. Postma. Flora Postma feels that the Dutch separation of the two celebrations - the arrival of St. Nicholas and the birth of Jesus - is a better way. "Here the kids are all centered on presents ... and (the combination of presents and the birth) confuses the kids sometimes." One of the traditions that was brought home from Holland 'and that has remained part of the Postma's Christmas cele- bration is the giving of chocolate Christmas letters or initials to the children on December 5th. "But now," says Mrs. Postma, "We do it on Christ- mas Day." In India, Christmas is not an important feast according to Clive Roane, a teacher at R.H. Cornish School in Port Perry. Clive and his wife have been in Canada since 1967. The Hindu "Festival of the Lights" called "Devali" is a floating holiday usually held in October at the end of the rainy season. "There are firework displays and an old guy," says Clive, called 'Chacha- deepak' comes and leaves little gifts and sweets on the doorstep." He adds: 'He's been doing that since 500 B.C." The making of home made sweets is an important aspect of "Devali" in India and one practiced as part of their Christian Christmas by the Roanes here. "Kul Kuls" are cookies made of flour, sugar and shortening: then deep fried and covered in icing sugar. The prepara- tion is a family affair with the children pressing designs on them with forks and mother deep frying them after that. The fruit cake is made with lots of brandy and the fruit used to make it, is soaked in brandy for several days. (Sounds great!) The Native Indians on Scugog Island celebrate Christmas "very much like most English people" according to Ernest Edgar. Mr. Edgar is a member of the Mississauga tribe and recalls Christmas as a boy on Scugog Island with fond memories. "It was more real then ... we burned wood, used coal- (Turnto page 32)