Tárogató, 1947-1948 (10. évfolyam, 3-10. szám)
1947-12-01 / 6. szám
14 TÁROGATÓ WHY CHRISTMAS TREES WEAR TINSEL By Rachel C. Day No Christmas tree is complete without its shiny tinsel glistening with the reflected lights of Yule-tide. A pretty story is told of the first use of this goldglinting trimming. On the night before Christmas in a certain household, so the story runs, in the centre of the big living-room stood a tall green fir tree. It was just new from the forest, and still breathed spicysweet fragrance, though now decked out in shining toys and candles, just as the mother and father of the family had left it before going upstairs for the night. No sooner was the house quiet than the dog and cat, the children’s pets, decided to see what all the strange stirrings they had just heard were about. They crept into the room and were almost dazed with delight at what they saw. The dog wagged his tail and stared; the cat sat on her haunches and looked as if she could never get enough of the sight. A little mouse, too, was on joined them, and the mouse, too, was on tiptoe with joy so that its beady eyes glittered. A spider that had made a webby home behind a large picture, heard the exclamations of wonder and delight and decided to find out what it was all about. She crept closer and closer, but spider eyes are poor and the little creature could not see as the animals did. So she crawled right up into the tree and crept over all the branches and toys, thrilled at the new beauty of what she found. Everywhere the spider went she left a tiny grey silken strand of “cobweb.” When she had looked over the tree well she came down. When the animals saw the Christmas tree hung with grey cobwebs they were greatly distressed. “Just look at what the spider has done,” said one to another, “she’s crawléd all over the tree and spoiled everything! What will the good people of the house say when they see this ugly web over their lovely decorations!” But just then the good angel that watches over Christmas trees appeared, and with her golden wand touched the grey webs on the tree. Instantly they shone and glinted, and the tree looked more beautiful than ever so that the animals exclaimed with new wonder and joy at the sight. When the people of the house saw their tree in the morning they were delighted, and the children danced with joy. But they could not imagine where the glistening trimming had come from. “I know,” said the little sister, “it must be the hair of the Christmas angel!” But the little spider, hiding in her home behind the picture frame, hearing that remark, knew that she, too, had some part in the beautiful decoration. And so today we put tinsel on our Christmas trees, little knowing that an inquisitive spider led the way. THE ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS CAROLS Many of the carols we sing at Christmas are of very early origin, sacred hymns and psalms having been used since the very beginning of the Christian church. Noels or Christmas carols, are sung in celebration of the birth of Christ. Usually they are simple, as sung by shepherds. Noel is derived from Natalis, the Latin for birthday; carol from carolare, dance accompanied by singing. The ancient Greeks, in their Temple ritual, sang hymns to their gods and goddesses, expressing their honour and joy, also in praise of the victors in Olympian games. Ancient countries, among them China and Persia, celebrated the New Year about the time of the winter solstice. This was long before the Nativity. St. Augustine defines a hymn as “Praise to God with song.” At Christ’s birth, hymns and psalms were sung to the music of lutes, trumpets and harps. Clement, who lieved in the first century, says, “Brethren, keep delightedly Feast Days, and truly, in the first place, the day of Christ’s birth.” This is the earliest reference we have to the Feast of the Nativity. Then French historians tell us that, about 129, Telesphorus, Bishop of Rome, instituted the custom of celebrating The Nativity with songs of Noel. He died in 138. Mention is made
