Christmas Dips From Kiwi’s Glory-Box

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 70, 15 December 1933, Page 23 (Supplement)

Christmas Dips From Kiwi’s Glory-Box

Presents You Can Make Simple, Useful Ornament An After-Party Trick Story of a Jealous God Place of Turvey Tuikeys,

FOR CLEVER FINGERS A WEATHER TELLER PERFORMING NEEDLE MISTLETOE MYTH MOON MANNERS

Personally I always think that it is rather nice to receive from a friend a small present that she has made herself because it shows that a certain amount of time and thought has been spent on it, and, after all, it is the thought that counts, not the gift, so I will tell you of a few simple gifts you will be able to make yourselves. A Decorative Tree. The next time you go out for a walk gather a small branching twig, and try to find one that has a nice “knobbly” and twisted appearance. Clean it with a soft brush and warm soapy water and then ask mother for any large glass or coloured beads she may 'have left over from broken necklaces. It is as well to have

a definite colour scheme in mind such as red and green, orange and blue, or to keep all your beads to one colour. Now buy a yard of thin silk cord, either the same colour as your beads, gold or brown, cut it into short lengths, knot one end, thread on the beads and tie the other end neat-

You have probably all got a fir cone that you gathered at some time or other; well, now is the time to make use of it. First of all, dry the cone thoroughly in a warm place—perhaps mummy will put it in a warm oven for a few minutes—until the scales - are wide open. When they are opened, the cone shows that it feels changes in the weather. If the air is dry and rain is not at all likely to fall, the scales will be wide open. When the

There doesn’t seem to be much magic about an ordinary needle, does there? Well, just think of a needle running about all on its own with nothing touching it! You can make a needle do that when you know the secret. In fact, it is really quite easy. First, you make two little piles of books on the table a little distance apart. On these two piles of books you lay a piece of cardboard. The piles of books must both be the same height, so that

“Kissing under the mistletoe” is such a familiar Christmas custom that we are apt to overlook its true origin. Centuries ago, in old Norse mythology, there lived one Baldur, the Beautiful, the son of Fregya (after whom we call our Friday). Baldur. was beloved by all the heathen gods, but he had not been granted immortality. For this reason, Fregya had abstracted a faithful promise from all things created that they would never harm or slay her son. But she overlooked the mistletoe, which grew as a tiny, parasitic plant attached to the foot of an oak tree on the western side of Valhalla—deeming it too weak to. be of any significance. Which only proves that nothing is too small for consideration.

Now, Loki, the Spirit of Evil, was naturally opposed in everything to Baldur, the symbol of Light and Beauty, and long sought opportunity to slay him and so satisfy his jealous hate. On one occasion the gods were playing at darts, making Baldur their target. Be laughed joyously as all their weapons and missiles fell back harmlessly from him. Loki, who was a spectator, stood bewildered for a moment. Then,, remembering, hastened away to the oak tree and gathered a sprig of mistletoe. This he bewitched, till it swelled to the size of a spear head. Then he placed it in the hands of the blind god Huldur, bidding him fling it at Baldur like the rest. Huldur innocently cast the enchanted mistletoe, and, the dart piercing Baldur’s heart, he sank dying to the ground. In response to Fregya’s bitter tears the gods restored Baldur to life, but insisted that henceforth the mistletoe must grow high up out of reach on tree-tops. For only when it touched the ground would it become harmful. That is why it is always hung up above you. As’ Fregya was Goddess of Love, there arose the pretty custom of lovers kissing beneath the plant, now dedicated to her, hoping for happiness in their love thereby. By the Druids the mistletoe was called

ly to the branch. Now find an empty cream carton, rub the outside with a slice of raw potato and paint it with a thick coat of gold, silver, or any other colour paint. Fill the pot with sand when it is dry and “plant” your twig in it. A little imitation frost sprinkled here and there will add another “Christmassy” touch. Useful Clothes Pegs. One of the cheapest but most useful presents you can give is a set of those square clothes pegs that are opened by

weather is unsettled they will be halfclosed, whereas if they are tightly shut you will know that it is time to get out ■your ■ mackintosh and goloshes. When the cone is thoroughly dry and open you can start to make it look quite ■funny. Make four legs of bent wire, using three pieces for each leg, and leave the bases open for feet (the leg part should be twisted). Attach these legs to the cone with a drop of sealing-wax. Cut nizfunny face out of cardboard and paint it; then make a cut with a sharp knife at one end of the cone and wedge the face into it.

the cardboard is level, and there must be enough room under the cardboard for you to get your hand. You lay the needle, just an ordinary needle, on the cardboard, and by simply moving your hand about under the cardboard you make the needle run about on top of the cardboard. You . see you have a magnet hidden in your . hand. That’s all! You can buy a magnet for a pennv or so at a toy-shop. Move it slowly about under the cardboard, starting just under the needle and holding the magnet close under the cardboard. The needle will roll along, following the magnet wherever you move your hand. Of course, you don’t let anyone know about the magnet. That’s the secret.

iiiliitiiiiitiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiaiiiiiiimiiiiiiHirtiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiH “All-Heal” ou account of its supposed medicinal powers. A special rite which they performed at Yuletide (corresponding to our Christmas time) was that of “Cutting the Mistletoe.” A golden axe was used by the Chief (or Arch) Druid, and cloths were held beneath each tree lest the mistletoe fell and touched the ground, which care suggests they believed iti the old Norse legend. It was then distributed and hung up in each house for the coming year as - a protection against witchcraft and lightning.

Up in the moon, as you very well know, tilings are all turvey-wise. Even trees grow with their roots in the clouds, and the people in crowds, always stand on jheir heads, like the acrobats do, and the ape at the zoo. And so. do y;ou see, when Christmas time comes, with itg showers of currants and sweet-sugar plums, and feasting and dancing, are times of delight, there are people enough to enjoy it, all right, but instead of the humans having the fun, in the moon,

quite another way it is all done, for the turkey who frizzles ■ and steams on our table, reverses tlie process, and thus he is able to buy a nice human, a plump one, not tough, and carry him home, where he is cooked soon enough. The man in the moon though, they think, is too old to be taken to market, and there to be sold. So that is why he sits up there looking so sad, he is dull by himself, and so ean’t be glad, not even when Christmas bells peal through the air. Poor Man in the Moon, he’s so lonely up there. —A.S.