Gibson City Courier from Gibson City, Illinois • 24

I Gibson City, Courier, December 26, 9174-2B Letters to Overflow 'Santa9 Mailbox written a quarter of a century ago the world has changed, but these symbols remain unchanged. THE GIFT OF A FLOWER LEGEND French legend tells how the Christmas rose came into being. A little girl accompanying the shepherds on their way to see the Christ Child was sad because she had no gift to offer. The Angel Gabriel appeared, and, taking pity on the child, caused a beautiful white rose to spring from the ground. Overjoyed, the little girl picked the bloom which she took as a gift to the Infant Jesus.

Red and white blossoms are traditionally used the red for joy and laughter, the white symbolising spiritual calmness and purity. Greens Have Meaning Greens that adorn home, streets and stores at holiday time entered the lore of Christmas from pagan rites of old. The ancients believed that each green had Its own significance, and an ability to do certain good or evil things. Ivy, they thought, was festive. Its convivial nature came from Bacchus.

Yew and cypress had the highest virtues. Theirs was the quality, and the symbol, of eternal life. Mistletoe Has Powers Mysterious powers by the dozens have been credited to mistletoe, among them the power to heal, to ward off evil, to summon ghosts and force them to answer questions. At present, the most prized Give Special Care In Toy Selections Attention should be given to the proper selection of toyi any time, but with the emphasis on toy buying at Christmastime, special care should be taken at this time of year. A Division of Consumer Protection warns that children's games and toys can be as deadly as dynamite.

Electrical toys can electrocute a child in a fraction of second. And toys that use heat, can maim a child easily. Do not select toys which have toxic substances, especially those painted with lead-base paint. Be sure the toy is too large to be swallowed or put Into a child's mouth and that it has no small parts that can come off and lodge in the windpipe. Purchase toys that are not highly flamable.

Avoid buying wrap them in plastic wrap before filling the cups. Then overwrap cups with plastic wrap or shiny foil and tie cups together at handles. Trim with paper flowers or tree ornaments. Double Sweet Gift For Special Friends Double a gift of homemade sweets by gift-packing It in always welcome kitchenware, colorfully trimmed and tied. Line tall, clear-glass pitcher with paper, All with goodies and top off with a bouquet of straw flower and Christmas balls you've filled with pipe cleaner stems.

Or: stuff large skillet with cookies and candies, cover and tie with Jumbo yarn. Or: tissue wrap homemades and send them on their way in a wire salad basket or an apothecary jar you've lined with shiny medallions. Or: choose a red teapot for small sweets. Or: load a many faceted mold, turn It onto a wooden platter and secure with yarn. Bright coffee mugs make per?" feet totes for sweets and are welcome in any home.

Fill them with plastic-wrapped homemade sweets and top handle with a big bow. Use a set of measuring cups as a sweet-gift container. Fill each of the cups with homemade candies or bite-size cookies. Pre- toys operated by alcohol, kerosene or gasoline. Avoid toys with small, loose or sharp parts, rough or unfinished surfaces, cheap plastic or glass parti that can be easily broken, dangerous spikes or pint used to attach eyes, cars, etc.

on dolls or stuffed animals. Also, avoid parts activated by a spring or motor that may pinch fingers or catch hair. Reserve electrical toys for older children. If buying electrical toys, however, be sure it has been tested for fire and shock hazards and may be considered safe for handling. Inspect toys for safety before you buy! EIGHT ASSOCIATIONS First and foremost in Christmas Is its religious significance.

The other seven are: burning the yule log, the Christmas tree, the Christina carol, the greeting card, the Christmas stocking, hanging the mistletoe, and Santa Claus himself. Since that was Huge Tree It Symbol of Man A French story of the 13th century relates how a huge tree was discovered In a forest, its branches lit with candles. Some branches rosestralght up, while others were turned down. Atop the tree was a child, with a halo around his head. The story explains that the tree is mankind.

Its candles represent people good or bad, and the child is the Christ Child. GOAT GIVES One of Santa's most unusual stand-ins is the "Jul-Bock," a goat, once the Danish gift-giver. Broperty of mistletoe is the cense it gives for plenty of Yuletlde kissing. Fortunately, there's plenty of mistletoe Thanks to the birds, the Elant spreads widely. The irds eat mistletoe berries and carry the seeds to trees near and far, say the editors of the Encyclopedia International.

The Most Fa Mors Resident in the town of Santa Claus, Indiana, population 300, is Santa Clam himself wlio receives well over 100,000 letters annually from children across the country and around the world. As Santa Claus in costume and Jim Yellig out of it, a 42-year career has been devoted to making sure letters are answered. barked on a project that now involves much of the community of the Santa Claus, Ind. area. He noticed that the Incoming letters were being stored away because there were too many for the postmaster of the day to answer and took pan in hand, along with his wife, to make sure children who cared enough about Santa Claus were answered.

mm 95 Vs awi- tz a ma Letters addressed to "Santa Claus" represent the tens of thousands of children's "want lists" that foretell visions of Christmas morning, promise cookies and milk, and extend best wishes to Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Rudolph. And, to the delight of children everywhere, all of these letters receive an answer from Santa Claus. This unique practice dates back to the late 1920s when Robert L. Ripley popularized the town by featuring It in an article in his "Believe It On Not" column.

After the article appeared, mall began to mushroom, especially letters addressed to "Santa Claus." Tourists with children also started to arrive and make visits to the post office with their Christmas mail, following in the steps of Ripley who also sent his Christmas cards through the office here as proof that there was indeed a Santa Claus as verified by the postmark. For over 40 years, children have met Santa himself, played by Raymond Joseph "Jim" Yellig. Besides taking up the role of Santa Claus at the Santa Claus Post Office in the early 1930s, Yellig also em- There's somethinc special about Santa Claus in a small southern Indiana town where the famous Christmas legend has become somewhat of an everyday reality. This town with a population of about 300 year-round residents, and a family of deer, is the jolly old gent's namesake home Santa Claus, Indiana as well as the home of his helpers, and the location of his overflowing mailbox. A unique landmark at Santa Claus is the U.S.

Post Office near the intersection of Indiana highways 162 and 245, and next to the entrance to Santa Claus Land. There is nowhere in the world where you can find a post office like this one. Its architecture is that of a stone-fronted fairyland castle in design and while the community has but slightly more than 300 year-round residents this post office each year is flooded with about four million pieces of mail. The bulk of all this mail comes around Christmas time to receive the cherished Santa Claus postmark. Still others arrive addressed simply to "Santa Claus, 47579." I love Christmas but I'm glad it comes but once a year.

WILLIAM FEATHER ha i I At Christmas we wish you and yours joy and love and contentment. We're grateful for our loyal customers. On this Yuletide, we wish for you and yours an abundance of Christmas cheer, topped off with an extra helping of peace and love. Thanks, all. Merry Christmas May the happy spirit of Christmas continue through our year-round relationship.

Thanks! ELECTRIC Emery Torrence Gibson City, Illinois Monical's Pizza Jack DuBois, Owner Gibson City, Illinois sksksaV ta sfeMAsaV skktk fehssv skMakssa. iawaSv sav skteaaaik, fasaaksav asaM SaflaVaatsssssLsaaaBaY kfe BtV BasaaV. aaAdaY A Sleighful mMBWk saa. stMsaftv taMA nc fi T7wt want to share it with manks tor making day be merry and Old and New We're brimming si over hit all you our with holiday cheer. We wonaerrui people, to season joyful.

May your 15 say mm MERRY Santa's coming down the slopes with holiday greet ings direct from us to all of you. Have a merry, cheery Christmas! -Jolly thanks loyal patrons! Citizen's State Bank 'St. Za Bielfeldt Insurance Agency "Diz" Bielfeldt Phone 723-5962 Pauline CKOl'SKY. ILLINOIS Greetings Donald Am -Inn III. and Virginia Lamb Lelia Cender Interest will be paid to more than 9,000 Savers on Dec 31st During 1974 the total interest amounted to more than $2,700,000 Interest Is Compounded Daily And Paid Quarterly Make Your Dreams Come True Save At Gibson Federal There's a Savings Plan for everyone at Gibson Federal GIBSON FEDERAL Savings Loan Association 402 N.

Sangamon Avenue Gibson City Phone 784-4234 Savings Insured To $40,000 YOU, TOO can be a part of this group 3-months from now. Just open an account before January loth, then add to it regularly. Passbook savings received by that date will earn a full 3-months return next March 31st. THEN add to your savings, and if you deposit before the 10th of each month, you'll be sharing in the big quarterly dividend. Ear! Young Bob Deener Wally Lamb Funeral Home Perssnnal.