Evening star., 1933-12-25

A. With the mail-early and buy
early campaigns, many gifts are pur-
chased months ahead of time, but the
intensive Christmas shopping may be
said to begin the Monday after Thanks
giving day.
Q. Who originated Santa CLAUSE
A. The American Santa Claus Is a
corruption of the Dutch Santa Nicolas
G. H. McHughes says: Santa Claus, the
name derived from st. Nicholas through
the familiar use of children in Teutonic
countries, crossed to America. The di-
rect route followed by him is somewhat
open to question. On the way he traded
his gray horse for reindeer and made
changes in his appearance"
@. What carol is the oldest known2
It. L.
A. The Etude says that the oldest
carol in existence Is In Norman French
in q thirteenth century manuscript. 1t
is a song of festivity urging the lords
Of the castle to drink in honor Of
Christmas. In 1921 Wynken de Worde
printed the first known set of Christmas
carols.
@. Is the Yule log still burned in
England?-N. H.
A. The custom Of burning the Yule
log on Christmas eve is not prevalent
In England. The custom Is still followed
in some Of the rural sections. 1t is more
prevalent in the Scandinavian coun-
tries.
O. How Is Christmas celebrated in
Spain?-G. r. B.
A. In Spain there is no character
similar to Santa Claus. On the 9Th Of
ing which the Three Wise Men are sup
posed to offer gifts. When Christmas
eve comes in Spain, two days holiday
commences. At -. all laborers leave
their work, repair home and dress in
their best. Then the shops are all
ablaze with lights, ribbons and stream
arS, with tempting fare of sweets and
sausages, with red and yellow serge to
make warm petticoats. with cymbals,
drums and zambombas. The chief
sWeetmeats, peculiar to Christmas and
bought alike, by rich and poor, are the
various kinds of preserved fruits In
crusted with sugar and the famous FUR
rui. This last, which is four kinds and
may be called in English phraseology,
almond rock" is brought to your door,
and buy you must. Before the Noche.
ouena on Christmas eve, one or two good
deeds must have been done by the civil
and military authorities.
@. Why are evergreens used for dec
Grafton at Christmas?-H T.
A. The custom of hanging evergreens
in the house at Christmas time orig1ns
| ally had purpose beyond decoration
In olden times, each kind of evergreen
was supposed to confer special blessings
on those who passed beneath 1t. To
pass under holly insured good fortune
for the coming year.
| @. Why was December IS chosen for
! the celebration of Christ's BIRTHS. K
A. 1t probably was chosen because it
was the date Of the great Yule feast,
when many pagan countries celebrated
the passing of the shortest day in the
year.
Q. What is the average height of
Christmas treeS?-L. B.
A. They vary in height from ! to
10 feet or more. the greater number
! probably being to feet tall
Q. What is the meaning of the word
Noel used IN Christmas muSic?-S. E. G.
A. Noel is the French equivalent for
the English word Christmas.
@ What country used Christmas
trees first?-T. OD.
/ A The Christmas tree is from Egypt.
and its origin dates from a period long
anterior to the Christian era The palm
tree is known to put forth branch
every month and spray of this tree,
with II shoots on it, was used in Egypt
at the time Of the Winter solstice, as a
symbol Of the year completed