Bastrop Advertiser and Bastrop County News (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. [122], No. 43, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 25, 1975 Page: 4 of 26
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Bastrop (Texas) Advertiser, December 25, ll'7S
THE IllUlill OF ( IIIMSTMAS
UilTIIUS IN AMERICA
Would you believe that
about four billion Christ-
inas cards are sent every
Christmas? No wonder the
post office hires extra help
each year1 It does %eund
like an insurmountable ]ob!
But what a lovely way to
wish friends and family
well and to renew old
friendships. But do you
know that exchanging
Christmas cards Is a com-
paratively recent custom?
Although there are sev-
eral claims as to who origi-
nated the sending of Christ-
mas cards, there Is evidence
this lovely custom began In
England in the early 1800's.
It is generally acknowledged
that Louis Prang, a native
German who settled in Bos-
ton, introduced them In
America In about 1875.
His early cards, produced
by a process of color lithog-
raphy. were models of ex-
pert craftsmanship. They
featured flower designs such
as daisies ami' -roses, and
were quite unlike Christ-
mas cards of today. By 1881.
Prang was turning out
about 5 million cards a year,
and as time went by he of-
fered more typical Christ-
mas scenes, including the
visit of Santa Claus Ma-
donna and Child, and blaz-
ing fires.
In 1880 or 1881 Prang
sponsored an open compe-
tition for Christmas card
designs, offering prizes that
came to about $3,000 More
tban 600 entries were re-
ceived and were exhibited
in galleries. Noted person-
alities of that time acted as
judges.
The superior quality and
workmanship of the Prang
cards added to their popu-
larity However, with an in-
creasing demand for cards,
inferior, inartistic, cheaper
cards came flooding in from
Europe, and Prang found it
hard to compete He stop-
ped producing his beautiful
cards, but they are still
highly valued and sought
after by collectors.
Now we have cards avail-
able to fit our every mood,
and one would be hard
pressed to imagine the
number of artists and verse
wnuers who make up the
creative forces of this vast
industry Sending and re-
ceiving Christmas cards is
one of the delights of the
holiday.
There Is no doubt that
this heartwarming custom
will continue and so we
say "thanks" to Mr Prang,
wherever he may be, for
adding great spirit to
Christmas in America!
HOLM) T.-tliLE
Kmg Arthur's Round Ta-
ble is traditionally believed
to have been the site of the
first Christmas feast Refer-
ences to Mie famous king
have beer; traced back to as
early as 60" A D
A
YOU
w)
Christmas Card from about the 1800's. Color
lithography by Haphael Ruck and Sons. Photo-
graph courtesy of ! he Oakland Museum.
CHRlVT/^AJ
GReCTINGS
Christmas Cahd printed ill France by the YMCA,
about 1917. The theme is World War I. Photo-
graph courtesy of The Oakland Museum.
Holly-Day Hum
Sprigs "of holly should be
placed in beehives at Christ-
mas. So says an old English
Christmas tradition. This
custom stems from the leg-
end that, at the Manger,
bees gathered to hum a
hymn of Joy
£*v
the bells with
Christmas cheer', as we take a moment
to send nil of you our u firmest
wishes f<>' a happy holiday and much
gratitude for vour loyal support
It's been a pleasure
to sen1 r you.
m riuj; fk vim
COUNTY CLLRK
M- •• I .-<«•> M,-
Mr« Marv fo Hiytnnii
The Legend
of Befana
Families of Italian origin
are familiar with Befana.
In these days of woman's
lib, it is interesting to hear
about this legendary lady
When the Three Kings
were on their search for the
Holy Child, they passed the
house of Befana as she was
sweeping and cleaning her
house In answer to her In-
quiry, they told her of their
f arch. She asked to go with
them, but they continued
<in their way without wait-
ing for her to finish her
chores When Befana tried
to overtake them she failed,
and so was unable to wor-
ship the Holy Babe with
them
Since then, the woman
Befana wanders the earth
seeking her lost opportuni-
ty Italian children believe
Befana rides through the
.r on i broomstick, on the
eve of January 8, which
marks the Feast of Kings,
still seeking the Christ
•'f,:ld She goes down chim-
neys. leaving present" for
the girls and boys, as the
Wi.f. Men brought gifts to
the Holy Child
In Russia, the same cus-
tom was once familiar,
though the lady there was
known as Baboushka
(Jiristmu* (restore
Robert I.ouis Stevenson
11850-1894i, author of
Treasure Island" and "Kid-
napped.' was born on No-
vember 13 but. "g?ve" his
onthdav ''i u girl born on
Ctiri Unas Day Stevenson
made a Kift of his birthdate
to a child named Annie H
Ide, to let her have "two
joyous celebrations a year,
with a proper birthday and
a Merry Christmas "
It m i l. HOI M.
1 IIKISTM tS Hil l
In 1923. the first National
Community Christmas Tree
in the United States wa
*et up on the White House
la" ri The tree wa- a >pruc -
from President Calvin Cool
Idge'g home state. Vermont
The following year, he
presided at a ceremony un-
der the sponsorship of the
American Forestry Associa-
tion, to urge the use of 11 v
ing Christmas trees
Make a Stocking Doll
for Someone \ ou Lore
There must be at least one or two little girls on
your Christmas list who would love to own a stocklnt;
sr ars&s te
here provide a basic doll that you can drt.'. iti any
wm'j Vuu Wiali.
Carols and Candles
%
a
Using a stocking or long sock, cut the nieces as
shown Sew the bottom of the body and stuff with
clean rags, kapok or cotton and then tie the titck^
take the head in at the back If It too-fVHv
the body Sew arms and legs and attach lie bod> in
middle to make a waistline Use bright red Ui re ad to
stitch mouth and nose and make button eyes. Attach
wig piece and fringe at bottom or braici. Yarn
used for the hair also Dress doll in any wav you choose
Story book characters like Heidi or Cinderella makt
charming dolls . costumes can be copied from a
favorite book
Carols and candles brmg
added spirit and luster to
Christmas.
The word "carol" comes
from the middle English
carolen, meaning to sing
joyously." The maJorUy__of
our inuai lamiiloti C*7T-£
date fro-. th=
century Some researchers
believe that carol singing
v a carryover from
the i in songs of the
Saturnalia Francis Scott
Key noted lawyer and au-
thor of The Star Spangled
Banner, also wrote carols
It is little known that the
comedian Harpo Marx, of
the famous Marx Brothers,
also authored a popular
Christmas carol.
Caroling on Christmas
Eve Is a tradition brought
to America by our English
forbears, that delights us
all at holiday time,
CANDLES •— Special light-
ing effects as we now know
them, e laborate and colorful
at Christmas, started with
the romantic giow of holi-
day candles Placing lighted
candles In the window on
Christmas eve is believed to
have started in Boston
There are elaborate electric
light shows In almost all
large American cities, but
candles still sell in the mil-
lions. ihowing that Ameri-
cans enjoy their soft glow
and associations
NKW STAKT ■:
It you <tl>oul<i fan in your frist
endeavor swear — swear you'll
do better next ttrAe
£. • V £
, Su# ' 4|
,i\ von and vours be *realh
blessed Ik the spiritual radiaiue
nl Christinas l ot vmir valued patronage
we express situ ere \ uh'time thanks
Clyde Reynolds
O0&*
colorful and jolly
good old Santa, that
how we hope your
Christmas will be! May his
robust and hearty spirit
enhance every day of
your holiday. In the true ^
spirit of the Yuletide we ,
send thanks to you all.
r
LOCK DRUGS
DAVID LOCK, OWNIR
PHONT .121-2422 HAS f HOP. Tl XAS
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Standifer, Amy S. Bastrop Advertiser and Bastrop County News (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. [122], No. 43, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 25, 1975, newspaper, December 25, 1975; Bastrop, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth238549/m1/4/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Bastrop Public Library.