The Spirit of Christinas.

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3846, 16 December 1936, Page 14 (Supplement)

The Spirit of Christinas.

AGAIN the dying year reaches the festive season of y Christmastide. The spirit of goodwill and peace jj *■ is universal. With the passing of time some customs J j wane and" disappear, but the spiritual significance of j U Christmas that has passed down the centuries is still f j pre-eminent to-day. Christmas is by right the claim of the young. The . traditions of Yuletide, with the mystic Santa Claus, ... have been cherished by the children of all generations S | and of every race and nation from time immemorial, j J The joy of giving, and the rapturous pleasure of receiv- j | ing manifest by the young, make this season truly a jj | time.of rich blessing. The visit of Father Christmas is contemplated with ■ If the maximum of happy anticipation for months ahead. B i It is a spur to diligent effort, an encouragement to model ■ conduct, a never-failing instrument of persuasion, lyid ■ a scarce of speculation giving pleasure unalloyed, g H What will Father Christmas bring? . This is the quesg tion of the moment on the lips of every child. Elaborate 1 J and ambitious “indents” are sent to Universal Head- | quarters of the Provider of All Good Gifts, and the jg ■ eagerness with which the day is awaited is equalled only g | by the infectious joy of realisation on Christmas morn. | These childish pleasures are enjoyed by elders, too. S f; Ihe exchange of tokens of good wishes, cementing B | friendships, the renewing of confidences, and the mark- B g ing of mutual affections, constitute an element that 1 | makes life worth while, helping to dim the memory of H ■ trials that are past and throwing ahead the beacon-light ■ j of hope and encouragement. On the lips of all is the old, old wish— A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.