Christmas is definitely here and last Friday, Carols and Readings kicked off the celebrations at the Anglican Church. The M&D Choir led the enthusiastic congregation in singing those favourite Christmas Carols and enjoying the Christmas stories from the scriptures. A lovely night.
There is another chance to get into the Christmas spirit at the Rye Park Community Christmas Carols, this Sunday night, December 19, 6.30pm at the Soldiers Memorial Hall.
Advertisement
All are welcome. Families are asked to bring a plate of finger food to share and a collection in aid of Beyond Blue will be held. With no Carols by Candlelight this year, another chance, and possibly the last chance, to belt out those beautiful carols.
WITS
Christmas means it's time to buy those gifts for your loved ones. Boorowa Rotary Christmas Markets are on this Saturday, December 18, 9am to 1pm in the Old Courthouse Park. Plenty of bargains offering that special gift, barbecue and the Boorowa Business Chamber Spending Spree will be drawn.
While there, pop into the Arts and Crafts Co-op in the old Courthouse. Always got something special for your consideration. I urge one and all to make an effort to shop locally, we do need to support our own shops and businesses, they're our future, we are theirs.
WITS
I'm saddened to hear of the passing of Ray Turner, a truly quiet achiever. Ray would do anyone a good turn. He kept the Community Noticeboard up to date, manned driver reviver, Ex-Services Club board member, was a member of Lions and a longtime member of the Australia Day Committee. Ray never sought fanfare, but there are many here who will miss him. A sad Christmas for family and friends.
WITS
The name Christmas comes from the Middle English Cristemasse, in turn from the Old English Cristes-messe, literally meaning Christ's Mass. Where did this jolly fellow in the red suit, reindeers and the North Pole come into the Santa Claus story?
Christmas is celebrated in many different ways worldwide and often involve the historic figure of St Nicholas, who originally had nothing to do with Christmas.
In the Netherlands Sinterklaas is a celebration of the St Nicholas feast day, December 9, while Christmas observes Christ's birth, December 25.
In Britain, and especially US, both Christmas and St Nick have been stretched, knitted and patched together more than an old sweater. St Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop lived in an ancient Roman town, Myra, and was neither plump nor jolly, but generous with charity, gift giving.
After Dutch immigrants brought Sinterklaas to America, and images appeared with red clothing and white beards, literary masters began transforming the characters in US and Britain. How did the North Pole come into play? Simple.
St Nicholas's move to the North Pole came from Thomas Nast, an American cartoonist, who drew a village called 'Santa Clausville NP' (NP - North Pole). In the 1840s and 50s the Arctic was being explored and imaginations were kindled.
The North Pole was chosen as St Nick's home by Nast because it snows there all year round, and snow is a symbol for Christmas.
Reindeer live in the Arctic, and as in 'The Night Before Christmas' (poem by CC Moore) demonstrated reindeer as St Nick's preferred means of transport.
