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IN A MANGER -- BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ROOM IN THE INN .»-Story of Christmas Retold At 149 Elgin St. She NCS STARS SMILED ON LITTLE TREE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1966 PROUDLY IT STANDS «++ In Front Of City Hall By TONI MAHEUX Of The Times Staff "And it came to pass," ... "that she brought forth her first-born child and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn" "The Light of the World', Jesus Christ, brought joy and life that first Christmas day, Christianity teaches. Today the rebirth of hope in man is exemplified in the Christmas lights we use to dec- orate our homes, says Daniel Jd. Foley, author of the book, "The Christmas Tree"'. The history of the use of lights is based on fact and fancy. Legend says a little fir tree journeyed to Bethlehem but had no gift to give the Christ Child. A sympathetic angel beseeched the stars to light on his boughs and that day the Holy Babe smiled on the tree and said they should always be lighted. CHANUKAH Historically, lights were used in the Hebrew festival of Chanukah called 'The Feast of the Lights', Corresponding to our Christmas season, the feast was a colorful ceremony to commemorate the rededication of the Temple. Another less reliable source says Martin Luther, awed by the story of the Nativity and the wonder of the night, cut a branch from a snow-laden fir tree and lighted it with candles to represent the stars for his children to see. In 13th century France, in- verted candles on a tree sym- bolized evil men, upright candles, good men and the lit tree humanity. Before the reformation in Scotland, it was 'clieved that if the candle went out, before midnight, evil would befall the SILENT BELLS SHINE AT NIGHT «+- Downtown Oshawa BGrightened -- Oshawa Times Photos By Bruce Jones, Joe Serge GIANT SHINING LIGHTS STAND GUARD FOR CHRISTMAS TREE «+e Hundreds Of Lights Brighten Oshawa Shopping Centre RRR E ye: A LITTLE OLD DRIVER SO LIVELY AND QUICK WITH A SLEIGH FULLY OF «+. St. Nick And His Reindeer Visit 152 Bloor St. E. family. If it burned, it was ex- tinguished after midnight and kept for use at the death watch ,of the head of the house. In Ireland, a large candle in the window was meant to wel- come the Holy Family. Twin candles in Scandinavian countries represent husband and wife. It is believed that the candle which' burns out last foretells the survival of the wedding pair. DANGEROUS , The danger lighted candles posed was a serious problem so that Christmas trees in by- gone days were lighted for a brief time only. Colored Christmas lights hung with loops of wire, came into fashion during the Vic- torian era. Hand-blown types, made in America had floating wicks and burned oil which floated on water. Gas jets were used 100 years ago. The ise of electric light bulbs on trees was a novelty in the 1880's and colored lights be- came the vogue when Ralph E. Morris obtained some 12-volt flashlight size bulbs made for telephone switchboards and fashioned them into a string of lights for his family tree Now modern lighting brings glamor and glory to any type of tree indoors or out but a book of reference says there is no historical or legendary rea- son for the traditional red and green lights. BEST SELLERS "Lights are our best selling items as they are every Christ- mas," said the decoration de- partment manager at Eaton's of Canada Ltd. The store manager of Kresge §. §.-Co. Ltd, says lights are growing in popularity every year, especially outdoor lights. Even artificial trees and windows can be lighted," he said. REINDEER HAND SANTA HIS SACK OF TOYS ELECTRIC BULBS 1880 NOVELTY Mistletoe, plum pudding and Christmas seals are some other traditional Christmas sights. The Scandinavian oriented practise of kissing under the mistletoe has a mythical basis, The Scandinavian goddess of love and beauty is said to have charmed the plant after decree- ing it could no longer be an instrument of evil. Grateful for the restored life of her son whose life was taken by a dart of a mistletoe plant, the goddess bestows a kiss upon anyone who passes under the mistletoe. EARS CRACK! Another source says the Eliz- abethan lad may kiss the maid until "her ears crack" .or she will be disappointed "if she is @ woman of any spirit'. But he must remove a berry to give to her and when there are no more berries, the bough loses its spell and no more kisses are then available. > } R : eo Activity Takes Place At 1500 Lakeside 'History Of Lighting Based On Fact, Fancy One author: of Christmas tra+ ditions says plum pudding was a mess of watery gruel pottage. Wheat boiled and reboiled with broth or milk and egg yolks was the predecessor of the plum pudding. By 1670, the old pottage had sweetened and stiffened to what we now know as plum pudding. Little did Einar Holboell of Denmark realize when he con- ceived the first Christmas seal in 1904 that his simple idea would become the practice of millions around the globe. Sales 'in Denmark have continued an- nually ever since. The first Christmas card was dispatched by W. C. Dobson in 1845 by one of Queen Victoria's favorie painters andlaterSir t favorite painters and later Sir Henry Cole, fallen behind in his correspondence, had his cards designed for. the letters he was unable to write, 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND ALL ROUND THE HOUSE... «+e Outdoor Lighting At 160. Wilson Rd.