THE MICHIGAN DAILY
PAGETHREE
TUE MIC1HGAN DAILY PAGE THREE
Christmas
Supplement
and
Buyers'
Guide
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS:
Jews To Celebrate Hanukkah
CAMPUS DRIVE
IM.. ?KNV 1TT A VzT . TTVRT A AT
BY MICHAEL HYMAN
Every year during the Hebrew
month of Chislev, the Jewish
people celebrate the Festival of
Lights. Also called Hanukkah
("dedication"), this holiday is one
of rejoicing and gift-giving. Like
Christmas, Hanukkah has a his-
torical background._
In the year 165 B.C., Israel was
ruled by the Seleucids, a Syrian-
Greco group which was one of the
descendants of Alexander the
Great's legions. Worshipping idols
of Zeus, these intruders had de-
filed the famous Hebrew Temple
in Jerusalem, tearing down the
priests' chambers, ruining- the
sanctuary and profaning the altar.
A leader of the Jews, Judas Mac-
cabeus, rose with his brothers and
an army and drove the Seleucids
out of the Temple. Naturally, there
was great rejoicing among the
people.
The people and the army built
a new altar. They brought candle-
sticks with lights, burnt offerings,
and incense; they burned the in-
cense, sacrificed and feasted in
gratitude for eight days. The He-
brews renewed the eternal light in
the Temple. This light is called
a Menorah, a lamp of seven
branches.
The whole holiday is character-
ized by illumination, hence the
name "Festival of Lights." The
name is also derived from the
fact that the right to worship was
won by Hebrews at a time when
they hardly dared to hope for it.
It is historically interesting that
Hanukkah is the only Hebrew holi-
day which does not have a Bibli-
cal justification; yet its celebra-
tion has been cntinuous for over
2100 years and was even a law
long ago.
Individualistic
The religious celebration is in-
dividualistic, and each family
usually has its own replica of a
Menorah. The children light one
candle for each night of the holi-
day. This was established by the
School of Hillel, so that interest
in the holiday would not lag. While
the candles are lit, a prayer is
said.
There is very little chance of in-
terest lagging, because, like Christ-
mas, Hanukkah has its light side
which appeals very much to the
young. It is a holiday of parties
and games of chance (including
cards). Hanukkah is one of the
most generous of holidays. For
each'day of the festival, the child
receives one gift, making eight
gifts-if the family's bank ac-
count holds out. In Europe, where
money was often given, the gifts
were called Hanukkah Gelt.
The children also invented a
game involving a dreidel, which
is a metal or wooden top that
spins. Hebrew letters are engraved
on the top and the winnings of
the game are decided by the He-
brew letter on which the top comes
to rest..
Light Legend
As everyone who attended He-
brew School knows, the eight-day
celebration of the Festival of
Lights has a legendary source.
When the Maccabees defeated the
Seleucids and came to the Temple
to light the eternal light, they
could find no oil. Finally, under
one of the benches, a small quan-
tity of the special oil was found.
They feared that this would
surely last only a short time, but
miraculously, it lasted for eight
days, until more oil could be
brought in. Thus the eight days
of dedication and celebration.
Nowadays, Hanukkah has taken
on another meaning. With the rise
of Zionism, the nationalistic ele-
ment has been added to the reli-
gious one.
Daily To Ignore
Move To Cool Yule
An anonymous source reported
yesterday that the New York State
legislature has unanimously moved
to abolish Christmas for all those
under 18. However, The Daily no
longer prints such rumors.
IN A COMMUNITY as diverse as Ann
Arbor, the Holiday season means many
different things to many different people.
To some, the holidays are indeed holy
days, retaining their original religious sig-
nificance-a time for the retelling and re-
appreciation of old and loved stores.
Others look forward to the holidays pri-
marily as a time of human warmth and
happiness--a time when people, through
some inexplicable magic, seem to forget
their quarrels for the moment and simply
enjoy being together.
To the harried student, it may be simply
a chance to finish neglected homework at a
more leisurely pace, or to neglect finished
homework in an even more leisurely manner.
To others, it is a time to forget the old
budget and throw around gifts (those things
you've been denying yourself all year) with
joyously reckless abandon.
Finally, to the disillusioned, it is an in-
stitution corrupted by modern society--but
a needed break from routine, nonetheless.
SUCH IS THE DIVERSITY of feeling
about the ubiquitous holiday season-and
we have tried to reflect this diversity in this,
The Michigan Daily's 1962 Christmas Sup-
plement. In it you will find articles exploit-
ing the many ripe veins for satire which
the holidays offer, as well as those explor-
ing their more serious aspects, plus a wealth
of advertisements comprising a timely buy-
er's guide.
This effort carries on a tradition that first
saw the light of day about 15 years ago,
when assorted Christmas articles and adver-
tisements emerged from their former place
among regular Daily stories, and joined
forces in our first full-fledged Christmas
supplement.
Since then, the institution has grown; and
eventually two-even three-supplements
blossomed forth each year. This time we are
back to one; our second supplement has
been bought by the merchants of State St.,
and will feature some unusual stories about
State St., past and present.
We hope you will enjoy this supplement,
and the holidays which follow. Merry
Christmas!
By BETSEY KENYON
Sometime this week you prob-
ably received a letter and a packet
of Christmas seals from the localy
Tuberculosis Association, a typi-
cal event connected with Christ-;
mas time.
As an average student, you may
have wondered why these are
sent to students, whose budgets
are generally rather slim.
Seals are sent to college stu-
dents primarily for educational
purposes, Paul Roeder, executive
director of the Washtenaw Coun-
ty Tuberculosis Association, ex-
plained. Actually the campaign on
the University campus more than
pays for its expenses, he noted.
Attention-Getters
Christmas seals are meant to
bring people's attention to the
problem of tuberculosis and to en-
courage them to do something
about it. The present campaign is
concerned with all respiratory di-
seases-bronchitis, asthma, pneu-
monia, as well as TB-which are
closely related and together rank
fourth as a cause of death in the
United States, he continued.
Concerning the expenses of the
Christmas seal campaign in Wash-
tenaw County, Roeder said that
it takes 14c to raise a dollar.
Christmas seal money constitutes
the major portion of the associa-
tion's budget, he continued. Of
this, 40 per cent is used for health
education programs, 10-1' per cent
for medical research, seven to
eight per cent for case detection
(x-ray units, etc.), six per cent
for rehabilitation and patient ser-
Students Receive
Christmas Seals
vices, 17 per cent for state and
national expenses, and the rest
for administrative costs.
'White Plague'
The double-barred cross which
appears on the stamps symbolizes
the crusade against tuberculosis,
which began more than 50 years
ago when the disease, known as
the "White Plague," was consid-
ered incurable by most people,
Roeder said.
The few who realized that some-
thing could be done were ham-
pered by lack of funds and the
ignorance of the general public
concerning the facts about TB.
The idea of Christmas seals orir-
inatedswith a Danish postage clerk
who used special stamps to raise
funds for a tuberculosis hospital
A group of women in the United
States who were trying to raise the
funds necessary to maintain a
tuberculosis hospital here learne:
of the Danish idea and adopted
the plan. Their crusade received
impetus from the publicity which
a Philadelphia newspPper gave
them. The crusade soon became
nationwide, and is now in its 56th
year, Roeder concluded.
McCoy To Direct
'Christ Reborn'
' The First Methodist Church wvi
present "Christ Reborn," a can-
tata by Leo Sowerby, at both the
9 and 11 a.m. services next Sun-
day. Lester McCoy will conduct
the chapel choir.
WORLD-WIDE CHRISTMAS-The life of Jesus has been a popu-
lar subject for artists of many cultures since the beginning of the
Christian era, as evidenced by this drawing of the Virgin and
Child from Korea.
Plethoric Pagan Practices
Antecede Nativity of Christ
BOAR'S HEAD:
Trace Roots
Of Tradition
In medieval England each feast
during the Christmas season be-
gan with a Boar's Head Procession.
As a signal to those who were
about to eat, trumpeters blew a{
fanfare and the procession began.
Following the trumpeters were mu-
sicians who provided music for the
feast. Then came the master cook
carrying the piece de resistance-
a giant boar's head decorated with
laurel and rosemary and with. a
lemon in its mouth. Bringing up
the rear were the huntsmen with
their boar spears and drawn fal-
chions and the pages with the
mustard.
Even though the boar's head
custom was practiced in a Chris-
tian land, its origin, like many
other Christmas customs, lies deep
in the pagan religion of the pre-
Christian era.
Druid Custom
Before Christianity came to
England, thehDruids who inhabit-
ed the land killed a boar each
winter during the solstice, which
was to be sacrificed to Freya, the
goddess of peace and plenty.
According to the Druid religion,
the goddess was supposed to ride
on a boar with golden bristles. The
Druids accomplished this by gild-
ing the boar with gold prior to the
sacrifice.
The custom of gilding the boar
was so widespread that it carried
over into the English custom with-
out change and it was not a bit
uncommon for the boar to be
gilded before the procession.
Custom Survives
Unlike many traditions which
die out over a period of years, the
boar's head custom has survived
to this day. During the last cen-
tury, Queen Victoria made a point
of having a boar's head procession
during every Christmas season.
By BARBARA LAZARUS
Although Moscow radio has
attacked the spirit of Christmas as
an essentially capitalistic weapon
and says that modern science has
proven that Jesus only existed in
myth, Christmas still is celebrated
in Russia.
These broadcasts, beamed only
to Russian citizens, mark a sharp
Affilate Units
Give Parties
For Children
Every year at Christmastime, In-
terfraternity Council and Panhel-
lenic Association sponsor Christ-
mas parties for the children of the
Ann Arbor community.
These events are an outgrowth
of year-round philanthropic serv-
ices given by various sororities on
the suggestion of Panhel for sev-
eral community groups.
IFC chooses the fraternities that
will work with the sororities in
many of the projects.
Some of the places that will be
visited by the affiliates are the
Ann Arbor Community Center, for
underprivileged children ages 5-12;
the United Cerebral ralsy Center
for children with muscular dys-
trophy, polio and other handicap-
ping diseases; the Perry Nursery
School for underprivileged chil-
dren; the children's ward of St.
Joseph's Mercy Hospital; and the
Children's Institute.
Two sororities will give a party
for delinquent adolescent girls
through the Washtenaw County
Juvenile Court as part of their
year-round project. Another group
will entertain at the Whitehall Old
People's Home.
contrast to t h e i r traditional
Christmas peace greetings sent to
the rest of the world..
The Moscow radio insists that
the Soviets rely only on Marx and
Lenin instead of "a fairy tale
about God." Yet despite all offi-
cial discouragement, many Rus-
sians celebrate their Christmas on
Jan. 7, according to the Julian
Calendar.
Unrecognized
Christmas, an event not offi-
cially recognized by the Soviet
government, exists through the
firm support and faithfulness of
the people of the Russian Ortho-
dox Church. Against a back-
ground of brilliantly lighted fir
trees which stand proclaiming the
New Year, the government's offi-
cial seasonal holiday, people file
into the dim, crowded churches.
The New Year's celebration has
become a time for citizens to ex-
change gifts and enjoy huge holi-
day feasts with traditional singing
and relaxing.
Christmas morning in Russia is
often marked by bitter cold winds
and snow drifts piled high on the
streets. The midnight bells from
the northern district in the Mos-
cow tower of Yelohovshaya toll
to the faithful to come to Mass.
Purchase Candles
Women in shawls and men in
fur-collared coats and hats may
pause briefly to buy small tapers
at a wooden stall located near the
church entrance.
The priest in golden cloth robes
intones the Mass in the rolling
phrases of the Russian Orthodox
Church's Slavonic ritual language.
The church itself has no pews,
and participants crowd closely to-
gether, pressing on the altar rail.
Various incense aromas perme-
ate the church, and two choirs
echo each other amid the high-
domed house of worship.
__..___
z;±
j
SThe Newest
andBest
of
rt
I
PERSISTENT CUSTOM:
Moscow Radio Attacks
Observance of Holidays
B.OOKS
By RUTH HETMANSKI
'Christmas comes but once a
year"-but for many more years
than one might suspect.
Its history reaches back farther
than the Christmas tradition. Win-
ter solstice festivals have been
celebrated by peoples far longer
than the 2,000 years of Christian-
ity-and many of the practices
from these ancient holidays are
part of our modern Christmas tra-
dition.
The story starts when primitive
man, fearful when his source of
light and warmth, the sun, began
to disappear with shortening rays,
rejoiced at its return. December
21 is the shortest day of the year;
so the primitive festival of light
took place a few days later, when
days began to lengthen and the
fears of men were quieted by the
sun's rebirth.
From these beginnings emerged
the more sophisticated Saturnalia
of the !Romans, the feast of the
god Saturn. At the winter solstice,
the Romans brought boughs and
greens to Saturn, much like the
greens used in Christmas decora-
tions today.
Gift-giving was part of this hol-
iday too. With a greeting of "Io
Saturnalia!", the Romans ex-
changed good-luck amulets, toys
for children, and best wishes for
the "new year."
Our custom of candles may
come from the ancient Persian
practice of lighting fires in honor
of Mithra, god of light: his birth-
day was on December 25.
Christmas was at first not cele-
brated as a holiday. It was not
until the fourth century A.D. that
December 25 was adopted as the
feast day for Christ's birthday.
Shop Early and Shop in Ann Arbor !
BUY NOW for CHRISTMAS
Use our Lay-away or one of our "Charge It" plans.
SPORTSHIRTS
by Manhattan, Tru-Val, Campus
$2.99 to $5.99
We have his exact sleeve length in '
Manhattan sportshirts. at $4.99.
Manhattan and B.V.D.
w DRESS SHIRTS
from'
$2.99 to $5.00
Puritan and Campus
SWEATERSLarge selection of
SWEATERS -
for that special fellow Wembly TIES
COMPLETE TUXEDO RENTAL
Dress him up for Christmas in Richman Brothers Z
SUITS SPORT COATS
some with vests including wool and orion
~a ==
- - -
- r
-e r
b -
Yt
How to start the new year bright.
tA Yobu could probably use more money now.... and the older you IInG4
get, the more you're going to need money. Spending all you get :fEY
SwAYsINd.S
will vet you nowhere. You have to save ahead to get ahead. Start , r u~
Mf orCsMLETE
at
RVECORD SH
1216 So. University
isc unted
MOST COMPLETE
MAKE YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EASIER:
! *All Merchandise Regularly Discounted
O Special Sales Weekly on a Wide Range of fine
Recordings
0 All Merchandise guaranteed against factory defects
0 The largest selection of French and German imports
in this area.
s The most complete record store in this area
specializing in hard to find items.
. Free parking with each purchase.
" Charge accounts available.
* A large selection of books at discount prices. c
SPECIAL for COLLECTORS
A NEW SELECTION OF RARE
COLLECTORS' ITEMS, INCLUDING:
DiscontinuedMGM Classics..........only 1 .98
1 More deletions from EPIC,.......... .only 1.98'
Specially priced VOX recordings........ at 1 .98
COLUMBIA cut-outs...........only 1.98* each
*stereo slightly higher A
and many more hard-to-get items at bargain prices!
RECORDS and BOOKS MAKE