Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 12 · column 5 of 9 · from the scan, no model involved
faith for frankincense, and truth for myrrh.
Contrary to current assumption, the Magi did not present their gifts to Jesus on Christmas Eve, but on Epiphany, 12 days later. For this reason many Catholic countries like Spain and Poland do not exchange gifts on Christmas Eve or Day but wait until Jan. 6. Christmas Day for them is a time of solemn religious observance.
For us, however, Christmas Eve means that Santa Claus arrives some time during the night in a sleigh drawn by his reindeer.
A combination of the Dutch St. Nicholas and the English Father Christmas, Santa Claus was immortalized in 1809 when Dr. Clement Moore wrote his famous poem, A Visit From St. Nicholas (which we now know as The Night Before Christmas) for his children. Since then Santa Claus has been our most beloved* of all figures, and has become our symbol of Christmas.
But Santa Claus is not the only one who brings gifts at Christmas. In Germany and Switzerland they are brought by the Krist Kindel, the Holy Qiild who visits children on Christmas Eve. He often appears as an angel dressed in white with golden wings and crown and is driven over snow-covered roads in a sleigh filled with gifts and Christmas trees.
A plate of nuts, cookies, and candies is always left out for him. Unlike Santa Claus, the Krist Kindel is supposed to enter the house through the keyhole.
In the Scandinavian countries of Sweden and Denmark, Christmas gifts are brought by the Jule-nissen or Tomten. He is a leprechaun who looks like an old man dressed all in grey with a pointed red stocking cap. This little elf-man works in secret, staying hidden under the floor boards, and he only comes to homes where there is no fighting, for he is a friend who loves kindness and peace.
He is considered very much a member of the family and the children of the house remember to place a dish of rice pudding on the floor for him before they go to bed on Christmas Eve.
The Tomten is responsible for guarding all Christmas
92.6%