The Key West Citizen Newspaper, December 24, 1954, Page 17

Customs Of Other Countries Influence Christmz; In Key West By SUE JONES at home the difference in Christ- mas customs, Many of the Spanish families on toms peculiar to their native part Key West youngsters have a raze | of the United States, Christmas in | dren saw their little cousin’s Christ- opportunity to observe right here | Key West takes on an internation- | mas tree decorated in the German al flavor . For instance, ever since our chil- tradition with gilded walnuts, ap- | Many “war brides” incorporate | ples and oranges we’ve had to add the Christmas customs of their the Island still cling to their tra- | homeland into a delightful blend of ditional custom and with the ever |the old and the new thereby es- changing service personnel bring- ing with them their holiday cus- REE NEE EE EEE EE EE SE OR TO and sing Christmas carols. Ao All Our Customers—Past, Present and Future Key West Tire & Battery Co., Inc. DIAL 2-8660 DDD DDD BRD DMD MDM DD BM DIDI HMM MRI! 515 FRONT STREET RGN EE EE EEE ELIE EEE MEER EOE UY OO Cifelli's Italian Restaurant $20 Truman Avenue WDD De DUD DB Be BD DDD DDD W Bi Bi Be Be Bi De Di DD De DDD DLT DDE BS ah time. OOOO OLD LEELA ASIII AANA, a few to our tree. Another lovely Christmas custom originated in France — where each jtablishing their own family cus-| year the family builds a creche toms. Mey the joy and happiness of Christmastide abide with you: May the story of the infent Jesus be 2 constant inspiration. Let us ' pray that Poace On Earth, Good nndisinaeiianauiiie Dial 2-7637 i J.C. Ramsey and Family Be Bee BBs De Bae De Be Be Bs BH BV BeBe Be Be Be Be BeBe B MM BEBE IV Be BeBe Be Be De BB Di De Bs De Bide Ds BDH BUDD HDT HDT or manger scene about which they gather at dusk on Christmas eve Swedish families celebrate the Festival of Light, in honor of Bal- der the Beautiful, who was sup- posed to be the god of light, e Norse mythology tells us his mo- ther loved him so much that she made all the plants and stones of the earth promise never to harm her son, but there was one plant. which she forgot and that was the mistletoe: Loki, god of evil found this little It’s Not Too Late To Shop , Although it’s Christmas Eve, it isn’t too late to dash out and get a few last minute stocking stuffers. _ No matter what is under the tree in gaily bedecked packages, many families feel that. Christmas just | ¥ isn’t Christmas unless each mem- ‘| ber of the family has his own stocking ready to be filled. Although many Key West homes lack a fireplace, the stoekings ean swing on a line in the corner of the room. The idea is still there. The little packages in the stock- ing can be inexpensive or top- drawer. And even the excitement of the big gifts under the tree just can’t displace the enchantment of digging down past candies and other goodies to draw out some- small but precious article. Even if your family doesn’t hang! & up stockings, there are lots of small gifts that can. be added at the last minute to give that extra joy to tomorrow morning when the packages are opened. And it is always good to have! } a few extra small parcels on hand in case someone drops in with an unexpected gift for you which you would like to reciprocate. If you are making a last-minute dash to the stores tonight, why not get a few tiny items—a compact or nail polish and lipstick for the ladies, an extra pair of sox that fit any foot for the men, and a few of the many little gift items for chil- dren on display even at this late hour in Key West stores? CHRISTMAS STAMP A Christmas theme on a postage stamp. is a welcome addition at this time of year. That's why we were delighted to see Austria again issue its special Christ- mas‘ stamp for use on all mail during the Yule season. The Aus- trian postal officials merely dup- licated their last year’s design. The one schilling blue depicts a little girl looking happily at the decorations on a Christmas jtree. The same design in 1953 Oe Ce plant and one day when the other gods and goddesses were having a game, he guided the hand of Balder’s little blind brother to toss the mistletoe at Balder, who fell | th; to the ground pierced to the heart by the sprig of mistletoe. This was thought to have occur- red on December 21, the longest night of all the year. Swedish children, like American children have their tree and pre- sents on Christmas eve, but chief among their decorations are the gingerbread Julbachen and Julgri- sen, the Yule goat and Yule pig, representing the goat of Thor, the thunder god and the golden pork. er of Frey, the sun god, ‘One Christmas custom that very few Key Westers can observe due to a woeful lack of fireplaces is the lighting of the Yule log. Many Key West homes, substitute a big Christmas candle — but not the kind that was popular in England long ago. For Headquarters This particular candle had a quill of powder tied to the wick before dipping and the wick divided, sp that when dipped the candle had ree legs on which to stan. On Christmas Eve, this candle was lighted and at every sputter, the children would almost hold their breath in their excitement. When it had burned quite low os < Gj aC there would come the expected explosion and the happy suspense would be over and the festivity at an end. This could be the origin of the Southern custom of fire works at Christmas — always a surprise to Northerners, “A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS” “Twas she night before Christmas when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled, all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. And Mamma in her ‘kerchief and I in my cap, Had just settled down for a long winter's nap. ‘When out on the lawn the: I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window, I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. ‘The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, Gave a luster of midday to objects below. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeeer: With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his courses they came, And he whistled and shouted. and called them by name: “Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now. Prancer! and Vixen! On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Dorner and Blitzen! To the top of the porth, to the top of the wall! Now, dash away, dash away, dash away all! As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly. When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So up to the house-top the coursers they flew With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas, too. And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof, DICK’S TIRE SERVICE U.S. ROYAL TIRE TUBE AND TUBELESS U.S. ROYAL 8's LODI STEAM RECAPS — AUTO AND MARINE BATTERIES — U.S. ROYAL INNERTUBES Telephone 2-2842 4 929 Truman Avenue rose such a clatter, CM LUCE But whether Key Westers ob-| serve Misa del Galco — the Coc-| crow mass at St. Mary’s Star of| the Sea Catholic Church and feast | on lechon or attend midnight ser-| vices at Protestant Churches and | have turkey and all the trimmings, | or whether they hang up stockings, | decorate the tree with fruit and} nuts or the more usual ornaments | a week before the happy day or whether Santa Claus decorates it | and surprises the kids on Christ- mas morning, Christmas in Key West is usually a bright and sunny day with the bright eyes of happy | children matching the sparkle of the sun on the bright deep-blue water. So if you’re missing the snow and the holly, remember that the First Christmas was celebrated in a land of palm trees and very much the same climate. And no holly tree can matth the brilliance of Key West’s “Christ- | mas flower” — the poinsettia. | ¥ ER 2 GREETING May the heart-warming spirit of Christmas shine upon you throughout the year Flame Restaurant 604 Truman Avenue DIAL 2-6044 The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot. And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot: A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. His eyes, how they twinkled, his dimples how merry! His cheeks were lik» roses, his nose like a cherry. His droll, little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth: And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a little round belly That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. He was chunky and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself. A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread: He spoke not a word but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod up the chimney he rose. He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, “HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!”