Santa Claus Origins and Christmas Traditions Recapped
A reader recounts Santa’s Dutch roots and Saint Nicholas lore. The piece notes a New York neighbor inspiring Clement Clarke Moore’s famous poem and describes Christmas trees as Christian in origin, with churches adopting heathen customs and the practice evolving into a social festival ending at Candlemas or Twelfth Day in some lands.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Santa Claus
St. Nicholas
C. C. Moore
St. Nicholas Magazine
New York State
Holland
Cuba installs Laredo Bru as president amid Batista push
Cuba’s Havana news reports Federico Laredo Bru becomes tenth president in four years after Col. Batista allies force out Miguel Mariano Gomez. Gomez, impeached 22 to 12 by the senate, denounces army moves toward civil control following opposition to a nine cent sugar tax for rural education.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Associated Press
Havana
Federico Laredo Bru
Cuba
Col
Fulgencio Batista
Republic
Miguel Mariano Gomez
Gomez
Laredo Bru
House of Representatives
Senate
Relief Workers' Checks Hurried Amid Christmas Aid
In Raleigh county WPA officials rushed first half December pay to reach relief families and workers. Checks issued yesterday and today enable shopping this week. Baskets of food, clothing, and toys will be distributed by agencies including Salvation Army Red Cross and Shriners. Ted McDowell's toy fund provided 1500 toys 400 pounds of candy and 1400 oranges for underprivileged children.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
WPA
E. W. Worrell Jr
Salvation Army
The
Red Cross
Shriners
Ted McDowell
Strikers Given Christmas Food by Pittsburgh Plate Glass
Pittsburgh Plate Glass distributed Christmas dinner cards worth about 40000 to 6000 idle workers at Clarksburg Mt Vernon Creighton and Ford City plants amid the Flat Glass Workers strike. Single men received 1.50, married men 5 and those with families 10. The deadlock persists since October 9 24 with the union seeking a closed shop dues check off and a ten cent raise while the company offered five cents and walked out after the union rejected it.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Associated Press
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company
Federation of
Flat Glass Workers
Clarksburg
W. Va
Mt. Vernon
Ohio
Creighton
Ford City
Raleigh Register Observes Christmas With Day Off
Raleigh Register workers will have tomorrow off to celebrate Christmas and no issue will be published. Regular publication resumes with the Sunday Register as employees observe Christmas day as a holiday.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Raleigh Register
Sunday Register
Citys Arrested Livestock Sold
An old-fashioned livestock auction behind City Hall, led by Auctioner J. Q. Stover, sold four cows seized for unpaid fines. Proceeds totaled $42 with Lonnie Green buying two for $19, Walter Widensall one for $16, and Oscar Green paying $8 for the remaining animal.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
J. Q. Stover
Lonnie Green
Shady Spring
Walter Widensall
Oscar Green
East Park
Toy Fund Party Delivers Gifts to 200 Children
In the Memorial building this morning about 200 Negro children gathered for the second toy fund party. Santa Claus Ted McDowell praised the moment as gifts were handed out. Many children came with parents or in small groups. some tried to enter without tickets. Half the toys remain to be distributed to children's homes by welfare workers. Over 400 pounds of candy and 1,400 oranges were given, with Boy Scouts, American Legion Auxiliary, Legion members, and volunteers assisting.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Memorial Building
Santa Claus
Ted McDowell
McDowell
Stock Market Marks Then and Now
New York reports a near collapse in 1929 totals but 1936 shows billions more in quoted value on the NYSE. The table compares total listed shares and seats on December 1 1936 with earlier years, alongside 1936 trading volume. Key figures include value of listed stocks, seats, and traded shares across 1928 1929 and 1936.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Associated Press
New York
New York Stock Exchange
Stock Exchange
Hope for speedy end to Liang revolt in China
United States accelerates evacuation of Americans as Marshal Chang Hsueh Liang’s rebellion spreads to Kan Su and northern Shensi. Col. Stilwell travels toward Sianfu to press negotiations and assess danger, while Chang Shueh Cheng, brother of the mutinous leader, is arrested at Tientsin for inciting revolt.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Associated Press
Nanking
China
Chang Hsueh-Liang
United States
Shensi
Marshal Chang
Joseph W. Stilwell
U. S
Peking
Sianfu
Chiang Kai-Shek
Kansu
Japan
North China
Chang Shueh-Cheng
Tientsin
Chang
Courts Quit to Start Holiday Parade Day
Circuit and criminal courts postponed hearings to join the Christmas parade. Judge Harley M. Kilgore planned to close criminal court after Christmas. Judge C. M. Ward moved circuit court hearings to Dec 28 in other Memorial building rooms so Ted McDowell could distribute 1,500 toys to underprivileged children.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Circuit
Criminal Court
Harley M. Kilgore
C. M. Ward
Circuit Court
Memorial Building
Ted McDowell
Dual Holiday Not Much Fun
Assistant Prosecutor W H Mc Ginnis looked toward Christmas Day as he prepared to celebrate his forty first birthday born on December 25 1894. He said the day combines gifts with losses and may feel like two holidays at once with people giving and then taking back presents while offering a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
W. H. McGinnis
Weather Clock Rains Snow Melt Across Nation on Christmas
The forecaster warned of a cloudy Christmas with rain and colder nights. Snow is melting in most areas as temperatures rise, with only the Ohio Valley and northern border likely to see a white Christmas. Dixie varies from mild to warm rain, Phoenix shoppers in sleeves, Beckley coats open in 50 degree weather. Street cleanup lagged. ice caused slips and several injuries. Merchants note dry walks, but pedestrians struggle on slick pavement. Theaters report softer business as holidays keep people home.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Santa Claus
Beckley
United States
Weather Bureau
Ohio Valley
Dixie
Phoenix
Arizona
Grees
State Road Commission
Julian Little
Charles Evans
Cittsville
Restaurateurs
Hospitals Observe Christmas With Lighted Trees And Turkey
Christmas at Pinecrest and Raleigh General hospitals brings turkey for most patients. Pinecrest reports 300 patients to be fed and 100 nurses on half day. Ten patients go home, 140 stay in, with multiple trees and a visiting choir expected. Raleigh General plans turkey for dinner with many rooms decorated and fixed visiting hours. Beckley hospital offers routine day with nurses receiving three hours off and a brief holiday schedule. Salvation Army singers are expected Christmas morning.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pinecrest Sanitarium
Minnie Belle Reynolds
Pinecrest
Raleigh General Hospital
Beckley Hospital
Turkey
Salvation Army
New Reptiles Found by Philadelphia Zoo Curators
Philadelphia Zoo curators discovered two large snakes in the Snake House actually represent new anaconda species after an 11 year inventory led by Curator Roger Conant. The article also notes Joyce's first published work Chamber Music appeared in 1907.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Associated Press
Philadelphia
Zoo
Roger Conant
James Joyce
Dollman Slayer Details Crime
Charleston reports the slaying of W Earl Dollman a 34 year old Charleston salesman as part of a trio led by War Joseph Kirby. Gingell and Reed allegedly killed Dollman after an attempted aid and burned his car. Kirby also claimed involvement in another foray that killed Elwood Matthews near Silver Springs Maryland. The statements describe kidnapping and violence with car and gun use.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Associated Press
Charleston
W. Earl Dollman
Joseph Kirby
P. D. Shingleton
Kirby
Scranton
Lawrence Gingell
William B. Reed
Dollman
Elwood Matthews
Silver Springs
Shingleton
Sutton
Gingell
Reed
West Virginia University
J. H. Fillinger
Daughter Delays Mrs Hewitt Trial in Mayhem Conspiracy
San Francisco trial of Mrs Maryon Cooper Hewitt on sterilization conspiracy charges was postponed at least six months at the request of heiress Ann Hewitt. Attorney Russell P. Tyler secured a June 16 continuance, citing threat to the defendant's mother’s health while she remains in New Jersey after hospital treatment for a sedative overdose.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Associated Press
San Francisco
Maryon Cooper Hewitt
Ann
Russell P. Tyler
Miss Hewitt
Thal
Mrs. Hewitt
New Jersey
Rosalind Russell Finishes Christmas Shopping in November
Rosalind Russell avoids December shopping and completes her Christmas purchases in November, ensuring early preparation and holiday readiness.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rosalind Russell
Four Extras to Help City Cops
Police Chief J Q Stover said he would have four extra policemen on Christmas to handle traffic jams and be ready for trouble after reviewing December 25 disorder records. He will patrol 14 hours from 8 am to midnight with noon turkey break, alongside five regulars. Extra officers Earl Red Martin Tren ton Stover John Biggs and Bee Hedrick will serve 1 pm to midnight. Fire Chief J E Aliff will keep four men at city hall. Stover notes Halloween and Christmas are the busiest days.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
J. Q. Stover
Turkey
Stover
Earl “Red” Martin
Trenton Stover
John Biggs
Bee” Hedrick
J. E. Aliff
City Hall
Hallowe’en
Yule Telegrams Doubled in New York Survey
New York telegraph survey shows a record Christmas for the Postal Telegraph Cable Co. with advance telegrams for delivery on Christmas morning up 100 percent from last year. General managers cited the surge as signaling a busy holiday season for greetings and business messages.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Associated Press
New York
Postal Telegraph Cable Company
Midnight Christmas services at Catholic and Episcopal churches
Two churches plan Christmas services beginning at midnight with carols not sung until Christmas Day. Catholic mass at St Francis de Sales features Silent Night and Adeste Fidels with a Mystic ry of the Incarnation sermon by Rev Father John Halpin. Episcopal service at St Stephen's opens with carols then Te Deum and readings, sermon by Rev C William Sydnor Jr titled Victorious Faith. Two Catholic masses on Christmas Day 8:30 am children's mass with Father Halpin and 10 am regular mass benediction. no evening service.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
St. Francis de Sales
Father John Halpin
Charles A. Higgins
Beverly Watts
Father Halpin
Pope Pius XI Voices Unity Against Communism in Christmas Message
From his sick bed in Vatican City Pope Pius XI delivered a 29 minute Christmas Eve radio address urging a union of all Christians against communism. He prayed for acceptance of his suffering and for peace in Spain and Europe, stressing propaganda and evil forces tied to communism threaten Christian civilization.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Associated Press
Vatican City
Pope Pius XI
Father Soccorsi
Vatican
Spain
Holy Father
Europe
Jailer Anticipates Rush as Christmas Arrests Begin
County jailer Okey Mills said a busy period would start about 2 p m after a slow start with ten arrests by city and county officers this week. He recalled a Christmas Eve binge when many inmates had packages and toys hung about the room. This week’s arrestees include Capone burglary? Actually road violation Capone, Corburn, Robinson, Short, Redden, Dunnaway, Taylor drunkenness, Ray parole violation, Radford drunk driving, Guarles loitering.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Okey Mills
Mills
Joe Capone
Mae Co«burn
Okey Robinson
Sam Short
A. L. Redden
W. E. Dunnaway
Raymond Taylor
Vance Ray
G. W. Radford
Tommy Guarles
Large Chemical Increase Shown in New Construction
New York reports stronger demand for capital goods and chemical industry growth, lifting processing industry construction activity. Contracts awarded on processing industry construction this month rose to 8,696,000 dollars from 3,513,000 in November and 1,906,000 in December 1935, per Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering. Year to date contracts climbed to 73,832,000 dollars from 35,860,000 in the same period in 1935.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Associated Press
New York
Market Moves by Fractional Gains
New York stocks showed fractional gains predominating with small declines visible. Gains came from American Telephone Chrysler General Electric among others while U S Steel Bethlehem and General Motors declined slightly.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Associated Press
New York
American Telephone
Chrysler
General Electric
U. S. Steel
Bethl Hem
General Motors
Weather update fair and warmer tonight to Friday
Fair and warmer tonight with increasing cloudiness Friday in central and south portions. Yesterday's high reached 50 degrees and the low last night was 18 as reported by L. A. Mauck.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
L. A
Also Mentioned on This Page
Sara
Army
Raleigh County
Pittsburgh Plate Glass
Second Toy Fund
Boy Scouts
American Legion Auxiliary
Legion
LIANG
Shensi Province
Marshal
Chang Shueh - Cheng
Ward and
Kilgore
McGinnis
Santa
Pontiff
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