The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-12-08
CHANUKAH FEAST
STARTS DEC. Is
CELEBRATION OF JEWISH FEAST
OF DEDICATION TO CON-
MENcE ON CHRISTMAS
DAY THIS YEAR.

Chanukah, the Jewish feast of the
dedication, also called the feast of
lights, will be celebrated for eight
days beginning Dec. 25 this year.
Prayer, songs and special services
enter into observation of this feast
Gifts are given the children and can
dies are burned in the homes and syn
agogues. The first night of Chanu-
kah one candle is lighted, the second
two, and so on.
This is a custom which has been
observed by the Hebrew people since
165 Ii. c., when the first Chanukah
was celebrated because the Assyrians,
who has forced their way into Jerusa-
lem, were driven out. and with them
the immortalities they had introduced
and forced upon the Jewish people i'm
their effort to Hellenic them and
make them bow to Jupiter The tenn
pie where they had set up false gods
was rededicated by the Jews to Je-
hovah, hence the name Canukah,
meaning the feast of dedication"
The gradual lighting of the candles
is symbolic of the gradual growth of
the light in the world, meaning truth,
intelligence and knowledge. 1t might
also be symbolic of the gradual in
crease of light as the days grow long
er from the beginning of Chanukas
until the June solstice.
How Xmas Comes Dec. 25.
1t is interesting in this connection
to note that students of the church
history of England find that the
Christmas of our church was placed
en- Dec. 20 because the Romans. who
brought Christianity into the British
isles, found that, although they were
able to Christianize the Anglo Sax
ons, they could not persuade them TO
stop the Yuletide celebration. This
was because the days were growing
longer. They, therefore. grated the
Christmas celebration on to that of the
Yuletide, and finally the Anglo Saxons
forgot their heather festival in that
of Christmas, although their date was
retained. e
Preparations in Laurum.
Preparations are already being made
for the observance of Christmas in
Calumet and special programs are be-
ing prepared In the various schools
and churches. Musical. and literary
programs will be rendered i'm most Of
the churches on Christmas day this
year as Dec. 25 falls on Sunday.
The usual midnight masses will be
conducted in the Catholic churches of
Calumet on Saturday evening. Deem
Der "a. At the Sacred Heart church
fine program is being prepared for this
occasion and IL is expected the attend |
ance will be large. Special music will
be rendered by the choir under the
direction of Prof. August Espell.
Holiday Business Increasing.
With only fourteen shopping days
intervening before Christmas holiday
business has shown a marked in
crease during the present week Sea-
sonable articles have been placed on
display in all the stores Of Calumet
and Laurium and in many of the |
stores extra clerks have been engaged
next week, the stores will remain
open until nine o'clock in the evening
for the convenience Of those who have
no opportunity to shop during the
day time. Some. of the stores of Calu-
met have already adopted the above
plan. ~---.,.a- sr-. .--..---'.
The agitation for early shopping has
had a marked effect in Calumet al
ready this year. Many have already
completed their shopping and the ex-
press companies and postoffice en-
ployes report that the volume of bust
ness has already increased to record
size. giving evidence of the fact that
Calumet people are not waiting until
the last day to make their purchases
and send them TO their friends.