istronomers] 1o Explain B4 By The Associated Press In the mysteries of the heavens e three possible explanations 'om modern astronomers for the azzling Star of Bethlehem. The Bible says the Star ap- eared suddenly and led the Magi the manger in Bethlehem. If the Star was not supernatur- it might be explained by any Find Theories ethlehem Star nearness of two or even three planets, which shone brilliantly for a time. Historically, astronomers have produced arguments for and against each, of these possibili- ties. New-born stars and supernovae are not uncommon among the bil- lions and billions of stars in the universe. But a supernova would be relatively fixed in the back- ground of stars and would not move as readily -or rapidly as the Star of Bethlehem. A new and brilliant comet could have been the Bethlehem Star. But such con'ets are generally seen 'widely over the world, not merely in one quarter or area. Would Record The arrival of a new comet probably would have been record- ed by astronomers of the day somewhere in the world. Also, comets are popularly thought to be omens of disaster rather than of joyous events. Perhaps, the astronomers say, the Star could have been a con- junction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn as they passed one another in our skies. Even Mars, the red planet, could have joined them at the time of the birth of Christ in a close configuration for a brilliant triple display and seemingly new phenomenon. THE MICHIGAN DAILY For Unto Us.. . THE THREE KINGS . . . follow. star one of three natural stellar events. One, it might have been a sup- ernova. Two, it might have been a comet, a speeding visitor from outer space., May Have Joined Three, it could have been an unusual conjunction or apparent ,....., . . :..j.. , ......,s. .....:.. ._.... -', . -:. ' -- ,. ,'"! _. + ' ':r -.," -:nT~---,t ' -- .- , I; ,. 4 Gifts for him- . from this store 4I Klrng Louis Bowling Shirts 6.95 Beau Brummell Ties ........... .$1.50, $2.00, $3.50 Tucker Ties .............. ....$2.50, $3.00, $3.50 : Shapely and Truval Shirts .:................$2.95 up A Pleetway Pajdmas ...................$4.00 up :1 Pioneer Belts, Suspenders, Billfolds, Jewelry $1.95 up A F Champ Hats ... . .. .. . . .. ..w.... ........$8.50 up :9 Alligator Topcoats.. ....................$37.75 A Brookfield and Midderhad Suits ........... .$40 up :'. WALK A FEW STEPS AND SAVE DOLLARS . r Open Monday - Friday till 9 P.M. "9y "A CHILD IS BORN"-1,959 years ago, attended only by His parents and a motley gathering of sheph The first Christmas was amid such simple surroundings that only God could have planned it. Man,I glittering pageant. A brief inscription marks the site of the Saviour's birthplace in the Grotto over w was built. A bright silver star bears the inscription: "Here Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary." IN ATOMIC AGE: Germany Observes Heathen Customs MUNICH OP) - Centuries-old Christmas customs dating from heathen times are still being ob- served in atomic a'ge Germany. In lonely mountain villages tucked away in the towering Alps, Christmas is possibly more color- ful than anywhere else in the world. Because of their isolation, these Yuletide celebrations have been less affected by commercial- ization and two world wars than those in the rest of Germany. To German-speaking people, Christmas has a deep-rooted sen- timental importance. The cus- toms developed here from aft an- cient mixture of heathen and Christian cultures - many of them still widely observed in an almost pure form-are the source of many traditions now thriving in the United States. Folklore experts say that Santa Claus - as we know him today - probably first 'presented his gifts to German children; The Christ- qV t>A -- - V PWPWW drspww- "Ir- e. -A v w oamw 7AN pp p w - I I I I I I I I I I I For Those Special GIFTS STERS PENCILS MATCHES PLAYING CARDS NAPKINS STATIONERY PRINTERS. LAST LIBERTY mas tree also originated in Ger- many or its German-speaking neighbor areas. But some customs are unique to the snow-clad villages of Ger- many's Bavaria. In the Berchtes- gaden area, the villagers shoot off medieval firearms during the Christmas season. The purpose is -like that of many other German Yule customs-to chase away de- mons. Another custom originating in the pre-Christian era and still ob- served in Bavaria is the "Kloepfi- naechte" (Knock Nights). These start on Nov. 30 with children and needy adults parading through the village streets after nightfall, singing Christmas carols and get- ting food from those they visit. They knock at doors with ham- mers and brushes and ring bells to drive away evil spirits. Berchtesgaden villagers also run around during the pre-Christmas period clad in straw and ringing big cowbells. They accompany "Sankt Nikolaus" (Santa Claus) and the "Gangerd" (a devil-like creature) from door to door. The Santa Claus figure had its origin in a Bishop Nicolaus of Myra, who lived in the Fourth Century in what is now Turkey and gained sainthood as a bene- factor of the poor.. Veneration for this saint spread to all of western Europe in the Middle Ages. In Germany, "Sankt Nikolaus" was known as a giver of gifts at the turn of the 14th Century. His figure apparently fitted into pre-Christian worship of Wodan, a Germanic god. In some rural areas of Ger- many, children still believe that Santa Claus comes riding through the air on a white horse, dropping his gifts into the chimney. Ac- cordingly, they place a shoe into the fireside: to receive the gifts. In most areas, however, stockings, plates or shoes are put before the door or on the window sill for gifts. Sankt Nikolaus visits German children twice during the Christ- mas season - on Dec. 6 and Dec. 24. But he has a different name for his second visit. Then he's Weihnachtsmann or Christmas Man. . an Dec. 6, he usually brings only apples, nuts or a small toy in his bag for the "nice children." To the bad ones, he points warn- ingly to his traditional rod. 'On Heiligabend (Christmas Eve) and again on Christmas Day Germans swarm into their churches by themillions. This na- tion is divided almost half and half among Catholics and Protes- tants. Most German 'families light their trees before or after going to church for Christmas Eve serv- ices. The holiday extends to Dec. 26. Countries Link Superstitions, New Year' s New Year's, customs and super- 'stitions are inseparably linked in countries all over the world. Chances are that an old Ameri- can tradition-mistletoe- ill be superfluous. But Italians believe mistletoe hung in the doorway brings good luck, while in England on New Year's day, the ancient Druids (not a paid advertisement) used to dis- tribute branches of the sacred parasite to other members of their sect. England had another equally curious custom associated with the New Year. The first person over the doorstep in a home there used to determine the family's luck for the year. - A man with a dark complexion was good luck; with fair, bad; and a woman meant death. Some families employed an es- cape mechanism-a hired person with the right specifications to be on the doorstep bright and early. In Scotland, the first foot (as he was called) was better received if he brought a gift of whiskey (aren't we all?). In Macedonia, he carried a twig signifying life or a stone signifying strength. Boys used to sprinkle cider on apple trees in- England to remind1 them of their duty to bring in a good harvest in the coming year. The Danes set off firecrackers or broke earthenware against the doors of friends' (or perhaps, "ex") homes.3 Then there's "Auld Lang Syne," booze, wild parties ... 'AMAZING' Christmas Rush Creates Work for 'U' Students It's amazing the things people can do to earn money over Christ- from odd-shaped objects, like bot- mas vacation. ties and stuffed teddy bears. The Among the more mundane, if card designers are mostly sick. moderately lucrative vacation jobs, Some people work the store-bit are those created by the Christ- two ways. For the first half of the mas rush. There are openings for vacation they sell everything from salesgirls and men, which require lingerie to food and then, as soon little more than patience, good as the first job ends, go to work arches, and a passionate desire for for the complaint department and work. take it all back again. Applicants must be capable of Another Writes overcoming the millions of scream- One rather disreputable student ing shoppers who flood the stores- has set up a steady holiday busi- buying the week before the holi- ness which depends rather exclu- day, returning the week after-in sively on his fellow students. This the yearly cycle. fellow, for a certain fee per page, Another job created by the will write you a term paper on yr$American Christmas-communica- virtually any subject - C guar- tion mania is the role of the anteed. Christmas postman. Thousands of For the plump and bearded beat- ?-students are hired each year -to nik another road is open. With a supplement the regular forces bottle of peroxide and a couple of \ spreading holiday cheer through grease paint lines, you too can be sleet and snow and all. a Santa Claus. When this Santa enters private Student Works homes via the chimney, he steals. - One enterprising student gets Anyone with specific talents can a job every year in one of the huge find several things to do over New York office buildings. He is a Christmas. If you are the kind who temporary janitor the night of the amazes and bewilders your friends 24th and does everything from with the quality and quantity of sweeping up cups and bottles after your festive beverages, maybe you office parties to putting the par- can get a temporary job as a bar- ticipants in cabs and sending them tender. home. Of course, those ads do tend to More creative types do every- request "mature, responsible, so- erds, the Christ Child was born. hing from professional gift-wrap- ber" types to minister to the needs erds th ChistChid ws brn. ping to personal card designing, of the tired and cheery. no doubt, would have made it a Some of the yearly gift-wrappers And then again, if you can't get hich the Church of the Nativity have learned to specialize in creat- a job, you can always go to Lau- ing weird and wonderful packages derdale and be a beach bum. 90Il FOR ENGLANDERS .6I . TWO-PIECE SEPARATE Sin black scalloped ace with American Beauty satin cummerbund. 32.95 I "' 7.9 It CO A RAMSAY E1 "Mowd I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I r _ . OPEN MONDAYS AND FR IDAYS UNTI L 8:30 the "Esquire" Gift Store featuring the styles appearing in the Christmas issue of "Esquire" Imported and domestic sweaters $8.95 up Gates-Mills fined and unlined gloves $4.95 up Byford British wool hose $1.50 Tex Tan billfolds and fine belts Weldon "First Nighter" pajamas $5.95 McGregor Sport shirts, sweaters, jackets and car coats w .. Li_ A rianS ...a