The White Falcon - 23.12.1966, Blaðsíða 3

Friday, December 23, 1966
WHITE FALCON
3
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM—The Parent Teachers Association (P.T.A.) held their regular monthly meeting December 15 at the Alfred T. Mahan School cafetorium. Highlight
of the evening was their Christmas Program with school students performing. Kim Shirley (left) read the story of “The Shoemaker and the Elves” while other children
portrayed various characters — the shoemaker, the shomaker’s wife, and the little elves. All participating were second grade students tutored by Miss Odom. Donna Broach, (r)
sings “O Holy Night” accompanied by the Girl’s Chorus. In all 15 Christmas songs were sung during the evening to an excellent, turnout of parents, military personnel and
their dependents. (WHITE FALCON STAFF PHOTO)
Christmas in Iceland: A Family Affair
by P03 James Rutledge
Because both are Christian na-
tions, Iceland and United State’s
celebration of Christmas are very
similar, but for one important dif-
ference. Icelanders have three
Christmas Eves and three Christ-
mases. Their observance lasts for
13 days, culminating in the cele-
bration of Threttandinn, or the
13th day of Christmas, Jan. 6.
As in America, the major
Christmas activity centers about
Christmas Eve and Christmas
Day, but Iceland also incorpo-
rates St. Thorlakur Eve, Dec. 23
which stems back to an early hero
of Iceland.
They also have a second Christ-
mas Day which falls on the 26th
of December. The real Christmas
celebration however, begins with
Christmas Eve. On this night, the
religious service that is now con-
ducted is generally held at 6 p. m.
The worship service is attend-
ed by the entire family and upon
its completion they return home
for a Christmas meal quite similar
to that of the Germans and Danes.
Hangikjot, a smoked mutton
dish, and ptarmigan, a grouse
like bird, fill in as the main meat
dishes and are served with green
peas, red cabbage, jam, potatoes
in wheat sauce,soft drinks, coffee
and a variety of cakes and cream
pastries.
After the meal is over, the
family joins hands and parade
around the Christmas tree sing-
ing Christmas hymns. There is a
small tree which stands on a table
and gaily-wrapped presents are
placed around it. After the danc-
ing and singing is over they open
their gifts. Then, just previous to
retiring for the night, the Christ-
mas story is read from the Bible.
During these three Christmas
days, church bells toll in every
steeple. Everyone dresses up for
the occasion and religious ser-
vices are attended by huge happy
throngs.
Christmas Eve is the first day
of Christmas and is celebrated
reverently. On this night it is im-
proper to attend public places of
amusement and play noisy games
because at this time people are
supposed to concentrate on the
sacredness of the Holy Birth.
The second day of Christmas
is the day reserved for having
friends at home. There is much
gaiety and many parties. In fact,
the celebration may last until Jan.
6 because the Yuletide here in
Iceland is 13 days long.
SEASON MYTHS
Much of the colorful customs
and folklore found in Iceland’s
history differ from modern today.
Years ago, farmhouses, furniture
NEW YEAR’S EVE—At the strike of midnight on New Year’s Eve,
hundreds of rockets and fireworks burst into the sky to match the
display of the Northern Lights. (VISIR PHOTO)
and clothing were thoroughly
washed before the Christmas sea-
son.
It is said that many supernatural
beings move about during this
period. They are both good and
evil spirits.
The bad spirits, better known
SANTA’S WORKSHOP—With the
increasing flood of Santa’s mail
in Reykjavik, Santa and his help-
ers are working overtime to answer
and fill the toy sacks with all the
Christmas requests. (VISIR
PHOTO)
as gnomes, are the mischievous
ones who come nine days before
Christmas and begin leaving on
Christmas Eve. Gryla, or Hag, is
witch mother of these pesky
little gnomes. Gryla is supposed
to come and steal all the little
children that don’t behave them-
selves and take them to her moun-
tain hideout.
Of all the supernatural beings
who are said to roam on Christ-
mas night, none can harm you in
the presence of Christ. An example
of how holy objects or thoughts
offer protection is indicated in
the tale of three children sitting
by the fireside one Christmas
night, reading from the Bible.
An evil gnome suddenly ap-
peared in their midst. The two
older children were terrified. The
other child however, who is too
young to know fear, asks “Are
you Jesus Christ, who was born
on this night?” Upon hearing men-
tion of the Holy Name, the gnome
immediately disappeared from
their midst.
In another story, an incident was
said to take place in the country.
During Christmas, everyone would
go to religious services while one
person was elected to stay and
look after the farm. This person
would turn on all the lights to
prepare for the elves. These elves
would frolic and play; if a person
joined the elves, he would be spi-
rited away, never to be seen again.
On the other hand, if the house
wasn’t clean or bright enough, or
if he annoyed the elves in any
way, he would be found crazy or
dead the following day.
In spite of all this, the spirits
are nice to have around. A farmer
will walk around his property
three times and then invite the
elves into his home. The elves put
on parties and dances. Only if
they’re offended will they rain
havoc upon you.
The Christmas season in Ice-
land has 13 days and 13 Christ-
mas men, who arrive, one each
night until all are present, and
leave one by one until there are
none left. As their names indi-
cate, they are more pranksters
than generous gift carriers, “Meet-
hook” for instance, catches meat
from the pot on the stove by hook-
ing it up through the chimney.
Among the others there are
such characters as “Door-sniffer”,
“Candle-begger”, and “Window-
peeker.”
NEW YEAR’S FROLIC
On New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31,
bonfires are lit across the country-
side while people dressed as the
Christihas men dance around
them. At the 'strike of the New
Year, : fishing craft and small
boats in the harbor toot their fog
horns while vehicles across the
land honk their horns. A bril-
lant display of fireworks and
rockets possess the sky and people
cheer in the coming New Year.
Just outside of Reykjavik, the
capitol, a hillside cemetery is color-
fully decorated with Christmas
lights at every grave plot. There .is
no special meaning, except the res-
pect paid by relatives and friends
of the deceased person. People
paying homage rent the lights
from the cemetery caretaker and
the cost varies depending upCm
the amount of light and layout
desired.
Common gifts between friends
are books, many of which are pub-
lished just in time for Christmas.
These may include many foreign
works translated into the Ice-
landic languages, ranging from
novels to poetry. This stems from
an exceptional love for books, the
contents of which give many the
important points of observation,
. (Continued on Page 4.)
A GIFT OF GOOD WILL—Each year, the city of Oslo, Norway, pre-
sents evergreen trees to Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland as their
gift of good will toward all men. (VISIR PHOTO)