WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1950 THlE MICHIGAN DAILY' PAGE Festive Candles.. . Wax Figures, Scents Provide Atmosphere By PAT SMITH The soft glow of candlelight, sprigs of evergreen boughs placed around the base of candles, a twig of mistletoe appropriately hung, and low background music helps; to make up the Christmas holiday atmosphere. There are few times in the year when candlelight is more appro- priate. Christmas candles take all shapes and forms. * * * SOME GIVE OFF a delicate pine scent when burning. Others take on appearance of jolly old St. Nick himself, or angels, choir boys, snow men, and many other familiar holiday symbols. Often a single plump candle is left burning near the door- way to welcome visiting carol- lers and guests. Or large twin candles may be placed over the fireplace to add to the Yule- tide decorations. For those who would like to make use of the many partially burned or warped candles that may be carefully packed away, new candles may be easily made. * * * THE PROCESS of making new candles from old ones can be pro- fitable and fun. Hand-made candles are certainly a novelty in this age of manufacturing and make unique gifts to say nothing of the money saved. The first step in making candles is to assemble all avail- able old candle stubs and carve them into chips to be melted. The wicks should be salvaged so that they can be used in the new candle. While the candle shavings are melting, coloring can be added. Bits of regular wax crayons may be used for coloring and almost any shade can be obtained. NEXT, THE candlemaker should consider the shape that he desires. Jello molds filled with about an inch and a half of melted wax create a flower-like candle. Cy- lindrical or square tin cans make good molds for larger candles. Al- so a test tube or base of a milk shake container has been used successfully. In case one is artistically in- clined, he may choose to mold a large mass and carve it into a Santa Clause or some other fig- ure. Many interesting variations may be achieved, depending on the dif- ferent kinds of containers avail- able for molds and the ingenuity of the candlemaker. * * * AS SOON AS the melted wax has been poured into the mold, the wick should be inserted. It can be held in place by tying one enl to a pencil or kitchen knife and placing the pencil over the mouth of the mold. Then, of course, the nearly completed candle must be al- lowed to cool. After cooling, the finished product may be re- moved from the mold by gently heating the container until the candle will slip out. The small flower-like candles made from a jello mold can be used in a center-piece arrange- ment. They are very effective when floated in a large shallow dish, perhaps set on a mirror and with greens around the edge. Signs Mark Holida UM-M-M GOOD: y S Turkey, Stuffing, Fruit Cake, Traditional Part of Christmas 'TIS THE SE ASON: i Gala Decorating Effects Se( On Trees, Presents, Houses n By JANICE JAMES "Deck the halls with boughs of holly," and even as the Yuletide spirit prevails it is necessary to see that the halls are the objects hung with the mistletoe and me- tallic angels, not the erstwhile decorator. Oftentimes, the joys of Christ- mas and its festivities are over- looked after painful encounters with thumb tacks and hammers. * * . .* ALL IS NOT in vain, though, for there is hardly a home in ex- istence which doesn't improve its appearance one hundred per cent during the holiday season. Decorations may range all the way from the ever popular mistletoe to the current trend for metallic angels and Christ- mas trees. The mistletoe always serves its purpose better when hidden in surprising and start- ling places! After the man of the house has finally erected the Christmas tree, amidst great grumblings, and dis- turbances of the furniture ar- rangements, it is a good idea to ask him to snip off a few of the branches in the thicker parts of the tree. THE CUT* BRANCHES may be used to decorate mantles, tables and even under the tree itself. Many families follow the practice of serving egg nog and buffet dinners on Christmas Eve, and the tree branches may also be used as decorations on Flowers Prove PopularGifts Novel Centerpieces, Corsages Featured Flowers and greenery, in the form of bouquets, wreaths, center- pieces and corsages, make popular Christmas gifts and cheerful dec- orations for the home during the holiday season. Featured corsages for this yule- tide will no doubt be made of the traditional Christmas poinsettias or chrysanthemums. A novelty corsage is easily improved with a gay cluster of acrons tinted white and surrounded by red berries, Christmas fern and a small red bow. Flowers and greenery also do their part in carrying the holiday atmosphere into the home. The front door may be adorned with wreaths or with clusters of hem- lock, spruce or pine, tied with col- ored ribbon. Inside the rooms above the man- tel-piece or in any appropriate place, loops of hemlock, laurel or ground pine may be draped. Flo- wers or plants, placed in a conven- ient spot in the room, will add to the festive spirit. Evergreens, acrons and red ber- ries surrounding red candles will add cheer to the holiday dinner table. Last, but definitely not least, is mistletoe above the doorway to make the Christmas decorations complete. the table, interspersed with gaily colored metal balls. Speaking of the Christmas tree itself, back in the days of the bustle and handlebar mustache, decorations were planned weeks in advance of the trimming. S * CRANBERRIES and popcorn were strung and wrapped around the tree, popcorn balls were made and cookies and candy canes add-E ed their bit to the tree's festive appearance. Now the bustle doesn't rustle and the tree is usually bought the last few days before Christ- mas, but the decorations are still planned in advance. Even the presents, themselves, are used to dress up the tradi- tional green invader. Small gifts may be wrapped in plain shop- ping bags decorated with a giant head of Santa Claus, or even cari- catures of members of the family. Money may be inserted in the Christmas balls which are then painted with the words, "Break Me." SOME FAMILIES make a prac- tice of collecting decorations from other lands and each year they add a new one to their ever grow- ing collection. Moving out into the colder elements, many neighborhoods even carry their festive decora- tions outside. In addition to stringing lights over their out- door trees and shrubbery, they dress up their house fronts and doorways. A large yard is especially invit- ing for a Santa Claus outlined in lights complete with sleigh and reindeer. Then too, there are the gigantic Christmas bells which cover the whole side of a house and swing back and forth while playing Christmas Carols. Houses situated on a corner of a block often have a single electric candle placed in each window. Even though members of the family may disagree and hardly be on speaking terms, once the decorations are up and peace again reigns, they usually relax and enjoy the holiday spirit and begin to plan improvements for next year's project. Table Cloth Local stores are featuring a no- vel table cloth this year designed especially for the holiday season. The cloth, luncheon table size, is decorated with a red and green poinsetta design and is matched with similar napkins. It makes an appropriate Christmas gift or can be used when entertaining during the holidays. GIFT WRAPPING It's the frilly bows and fancy paper that proclaim the Holi- day Season. Any charge? not at BALFOUR'S 1319 South University Xmas Cards... Artistic Yule Folders Carry Greetings; By MAXINE RYCKMAN How many ways are there of saying, "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year?"1 The number of ways seems to be almost limitless. Year after year, just when it seems that all, of the possibilities must be nearly exhausted, greeting card manufac- turers come out with new ways to express age-old holiday sentiments. *' * * ONE GREETING CARD com- pany is now employing the skills' of Winston Churchill (in his ca- pacity as an artist), Grandma Mo- ses, Edgar Guest and Norman Rockwell to give its Christmas cards a touch of distinction. Modern art is begin:ring to vie with productions of the works of old masters for a place in the fantastic world of Christmas cards. Some cards seen in the shops this year require a second glance before they are recognizable as Christmas greetings. Others are only moderately modernistic and carry out Yuletide motifs with splashes of color and unusual de- signs. Among the cards that unfold and unfold until they reach a relatively enormous size, is one that tells the tale of the rein- deer who went on strike because, as they claim on the front of the card, old St. Nick is unfair to his coursers. The narrative finally ends on a happy note, with an appropriate wish for the reader's holiday happiness. Religious motifs are being car- ried out as beautifully as ever on greeting cards this season. Black and white drawings of the Mo- donna and Child are especially at- tractive and expressive of Christ- mas sentiment. SOME CHRISTMAS folders cre- ate a three dimensional perfect by unfolding in such a way that they resumble a shadow box. Others are decorated with velvet, feathers or lace. For the more sophisticated person there is a plain black card, bearing the one word "Noel" printed in gold on the front. In spite of the competition, tra- ditional holly, Christmas trees, winter scenes and similar designs do not seem to have been swept by the new motifs. Which would seem to prove that "Merry Christmas" is "M e r r y Christmas" no matter how it is said. By DOLORES SILVER f Each year during the Yuletide season a student's thoughts nor- mally turn to visions of a sump- tuous Christmas dinner at home." The more fanciful can almost smell the many tangy aromas emerging from a busy kitchen, and their illusiveness intrigues them all the more. Strangely, these aromas are not far differentsfrom those of Christmas dinner cooking 150 years ago. IN THOSE DAYS a British Isles Yuletide dinner would have begun at any time from 3 to 6 o'clock. When the guests assem- bled in the candlelight dining room, the first course would al- ready have been placed on the mahogany table. There would,, be succulent goose, roasted caramel brown and stuffed with mashed pota- toes or bread crumbs, highly seasoned. Besides, there might also be roast turkey with links of home- made sausages. At either end of the talbe would be tureens filled with mock turtle and oxtail soups. Domestic meat and fowl prepared in a variety of tempting forms would also be offered. * - * SIDE DISHES of potted wheat ears, black caps, forced pig's ears, lambs' tails a la bechamel and matelote of eels, were only a few of the intriguing delicacies of the day. Nun's, Dundee, and Shrews- berry cakes were the popular desserts. No startling changes in Christ- mas habits have occured since those days. A TYPICAL DINNER today 'consists of roast turkey with fla- vorful stuffing and gravy, squash and hot rolls. Perhaps a tomato- clam consumme might be added. Andcertainly, mashed and sweet potatoes would not be omitted. Rice and plum puddings and fruit cakes have become Ameri- c a n traditions through the years, while Hot Toddy and Egg Nog remain combined holiday and cold weather beverages. Festively colored candy and as- sorted nuts are other favorites. In addition to these traditions many homes partake of rare and fascinating edibles during the fes- tive season. Pheasant heads the list of delicacies suggested by one magazine. ALSO INCLUDED are Javanese pearl tapioca, Curry powder, Chut- ney, Turkish cracked wheat, Chi- nese black beans, Herring in sour cream and Chablis. Suggested for C h r is t m a s breakfast are crispy pineapple waffles, frosted cranberry cock- tail, and a variety of breads and spreads. Oyster stew, popcorn rolled with lingonberries, and steaming cof- fee are recommended for a snack after caroling. Imaginative housewives have concocted tempting recipes for odd-sounding cookies and cakes. WeisseuZurich Leckerli, a mixture of almonds, lemons, and other things; Kifflrs, nut-filled cake rolls; Panettone, plum cake with Christmas fruits and nuts; and Belgardin Brod, cookies of orange, lemon, and cinammon are some of the delicacies. J 7 H , BEAUTY SHOP "The Fifth Ave. Shop" Featuring Holiday Hair Styling by EVERETT C. BARNES Detroit Stylist, Tuesday only . Specializing in Hair Styling, Shaping, Permanent Waving 215 S. Fifth Ave. Phone 7249 .:t ..... ........................... . . ......i.: .."."r: __ra..n .w"n.fL" . : - ; : :":9 ' , f I ti':; 4 A1 L4 IA L - J y. at OUSINS !BEA UTIFUL ACCESSORIES for the LADY GIFTS. that are ALWAYS WELCOME ALWAYS WANTED at J. H. CousinS samanna ::..":: "v::r .":"r :".rvvw" vc:"::rv"r :"xarv.".".v: :::sv:. .r "- :."s"::."..ot :i:4:Y^' iii5:"k44}'"i:?: . 5": :":4 :bM:"ifi :¢C .v .r£ " v.... r.v .............r. .. R.}.v : ." %":ti.'?: .:.. . ..rte..... .. ............... .'":" "" .. ..a a:::" ":. ::.:: : .":::::: iik???"b::::;:f.{? ." : : 6:'r'.":4:{{": :v::...:...::".r:ko........:e}} i".vs:xFr::}:::::."k-::'r:.:;."."."."..v...... .....;........". :... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I. .t ,PeIJ mtAie :74iJ U at NYLON Chrijtmci! with SWEATERS Delicate nightgowns in many flatter- ing colors . . . white, pink, blue, lilac, maize, black . . . sizes 32-38. 89 ' to 15" I' &ti CHRISTMAS SPECIALS Ladies' and Misses' ALI WOOL SWEATERS. Pastel colors. Regular $2.98 to $6.95 2Specialal f$.98 BOXED EMBROIDERED PILLOW CASES Excellent Value. Regular $2.69 and $2.98 SPECIAL $1.98 a EMBROIDERED ENGLISH NETo DRESSER SCARFS Embwidered muslin in cream and white. Regular Price $2.98 to $6.95 ... when says Sweaters we mean - 0 Luxuriously trimmed SLIPS in net and lace . . . sizes 9-15, 32-38. Net and lace-trimmed PANTIES .. , sizes 5, 6, 7 4593 to 1095 SWEATERS Pick your type ... your price . . . we have it! A Luscious HALF-SLIPS Sizes 22-30 495 to 795 o4.y : V ~ *~" '' z . , , , G FROM "JERRETS" san-for-lan (sanforized wool) on to nylon, right up to precious imported cashmeres . . . by Catalina. SILHOUETTES . . . from bat wing sleeves to classic cardi- gans. COLORS , . . from white and delicious pastels to black. THE NYLONS or wool pullovers from 5.95. . ....... . ". ... $10.95 - * **- * ** * $17.95 Also: COMFORTABLE NYLON PAJAMAS . Pastel shades . . . sizes 32-38 ....... LOVELY NYLON ROBES in navy and red . . . sizes 10-18 .... - -- REMEMBER: A small deposit will hold your purchase till Christmas.