1948-12-18 — Page 10

THE CHINA MAIL, CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT, DECEMBER 10, 1048.

CHILDREN'S PUZZLE CORNER

OUBLE FUN YOU CAN

DRAW

: ONE OF SANTA'S

REIN DEER ACTUAL SIZE, AND ALSO ONE FOUR TIMES

ITS SIZE › BY MAKING YOUR LINES CUT THE BOXES IN THE EXAC 7 POSITIONS THEY DO IN THE ORIGINAL SKETCH.

$

EE HOW EASY YOU CAN MAKE THE Two

PICTURES,

FLOUR

BAGS

8

8

f

8

2

VIII

4

I'LL PURCHASE

THIS

HI!KIDS! DRAW

ME

STEP

BY STEP.

8

Yours truly;

Teddy Bear

4

HE ABOVE PICTURES REPRESENT THE

NAMES OF FOUR GIFTS THAT TOM BROWN IS GOING "TO RECEIVE FROM SANTA

CLAUS. CAN YOU READ THEM?

WHAT BODY OF

WATER IS A

GAME?

The answers not included in this page will be

found in Page Fifteen.

7004 FEMINY

COMPLETE FOUR

ANIMALS' NAMES. READING DOWNWARD, BY PRINTING IN AN ANIMALS NAME READ- ING ACROSs.

PDA

KGE

NOIT (HOM 3HL NI INIHO

RIDDLES

WHAT BODY OF WATER SUGGESTS

TO LEAP.

ONIXAS "NOILOTOS

Hill Gilland Here Tells The Story Of The

Background And Origins Of

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

The bands of cockney boys, the gongs of Yorkshire children who knock at the doors on Christmas Eve, and sing their carols, don't know that they carry on Fl 12 centuries old tradition. In all probability, they don't care.

Nor are they unduly worried about the etymological origin of the word carol. A century ago the grown-ups got excited about an explanation which derived it from the latin words contare (15 sing) and rolal-an interfection expressing Joy. Since then, sefentists have presented us with a few more explanations from which to chouse, Some suggest that the word come from chorus Others ally it to carolla, agar- lund, circle or coronet, the earliest sense given to the word being probably "a ring dance" There

is some suggestion in the word coronet of the very old tradition According to which the Danish and Anglo-Saxon kings swore their crowns in pubile" on Christ- max Eve. However, it is quite possible that the crowns of these early kings have nothing to do with the carols. The stress prob- ably les on the "ring dance",

churches

early

mas carolling, weakened in pro portion as the Chirlatlan powar became stranger, It actually went to use a very modern ter-. minology-underground, finding expression in popular legends, which had no authority whatso- ever. One of these, of the 11th century, is related gravely by contemporary historian. Fifteen young women and 18 young men were dancing and singing carols in the church-yard des dicaled to St. Magnus on Christ- mas Eve, whereby they greatly disturbed Rebert, the priest. He sent them word to desist, but they would not laten. As a punishment punishment for winging carols!) the $3 young people were miraculously com- pelled to confirius singing

and Caneing for a whole year, day and night; and though thelf, clothes did not wear out, yet the ground beneath them did; it had worn away all round them to the depth of several feet, while they danced in a hollow

which used to take place in the The crib, set up in the churches the dancing and singing, troops Puritans in England and similar

us 300 A.D.

HENO RCYY IMRR SERE TMTV ASOE

FIVE-WORD MESSAGE,SENT TO YOU, IS HIDDEN IN THE ABOVE SQUARES.

SEE IF YOU CAN READ IT BY STARTING FROM A CERTAIN LETTER AND MOVING TO THE NEXT ADJOINING LETTERS IN VARIOUS DIRECTIONS.

and

The fight against joyous Christ- celebrations and even against Christmas itself was taken up with the full backing of doctrinal authority by the or even in private houses was on Diocletian's ordera surrounded the centre of the dance, Aroun‹t

movements all over the world the temple, set fire to it. the crib, with its carthen Ogures those in the church were burnedir the end, all attempts of thin AllThey had temporary success only. of the Holy Family, the ox and to death, but the murderous nol. the ass, carols Were sung and diery did not

kind were defeated. And-pur!- stop there. A

tans or no puritans the "Caroi danced. Those early carols were wholesale massacre In the pro-

the Boar's Head kept # Latin Christmas hymns, written vince followed and nearly 20,000 popularity through almost four to dance tunes. Some of them people perished within 24 hours centuries. In this "Carol" there are still sung now, having gain- There was, however, a church is mention of everything but the ed fame and popularity through authority strong enough to put & Christmas spirit. Ceres the centuries.

The French call- complete stop to carolling, i.e. the Bacchus are invoked to r cd them noels, the Germans combined exercise of dance and Wiegenliader, and

pagan Reman song. After the passing of a few everywhere

yard" and "vineyard" Are they representer an early Chris-more centuries, the memories of tian concession to pagan ritual, a early Christian persecution of together in

a hilarious-though not quite regular-rhyme and the break of the heathen Joy of life ed away altogether. Heathen praise of brawne is sung in into the defences of early Chris- countries and their kings wor tinn austerity.

manner which makes it sound converted one after another anti miles away from the very idea Some of the Church lenders security was assured to most of of puritanism. tried to stem the tile and warn- those professing the Christina In 'fact.

after ed the people against turning the faith. The descendants of those turies of controversy, appease Christmas celebrations Into an who, in Pagan times, had been

ment carries the day. Heathens orgy of feasting, singing and

and used to quaff great bowls of wine and puritans have made up their dancing. One of them, Gregory | in honour of Thor or Odin, drank quarrel. The heathen not as Nazlanzen, lived In the fourth them to commemorate the Apos-

rude as he was, the pufitan not century. His call for reflection tles, the Virgin and other sacred Bo fanatical 04 his Ancestors. had political reasons, too. The names. A number of still mighty enemies of Christians and purposes bacchanalian ments are but ingredients which, early They have both discovered that Anglo-Saxon enrols are to all foy of life and religious senti-

deitles.

17

brought

ity regarded the noisy Christmas festivities as a provocation. The songs. They could not have any-if properly mixed, made a nice horrible massacre of Nicomedin, thing in common with that car Christmas fare which could not in Bithynia,

still w.ns

lest Nativity earol mentioned in harm anyone, fresh in the memory of the Christian Luke (11, 14) which was sung by

That is why the singing cock- teachers. There, thousands of the angels, o scene 50 beautifully

ney boys of London and the crib- people men, women and chil- painted and carved by the great-larlen, carolling Yorkshire chil

ciren, of all ages-kad næsembled in the temple, to commemorate the Nativity. At the height of

est artists of the world.

dren nem not worry about the The reaction to the pagon rites historical background of their which kept creeping into Christ- Christmas celebrations.

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