FESTIVE FACTS
DID YOU KNOW …
How Santa got his name
Father Christmas, or Santa Claus as he is also
known got his name from St. Nicholas a Chris-
tian leader in the 4th century AD. He was a shy
man but very generous giving money to the poor
anonymously. One night he climbed on to the roof
of a house and dropped a purse of money down
the chimney and it landed in a stocking a girl had
hung by the fire to dry. Hence the belief that Santa
Claus comes down the chimney and leaves pres-
ents in childrens’ stockings.
Penny post
The British custom of sending Christmas cards to
family and friends started in 1840 when the first
‘Penny Post’ delivery began. It was a revolution
of its day, just as e mails would become. The
Royal Mail handle 100 million cards a day in the
weeks before Christmas although many folk now
send festive greetings via the free e mail.
Alms for the poor
Why is the day after Christmas Day called Boxing
Day? It originates from the Middle Ages, 800
years ago when churches would open the alms
boxes in which people had put gifts of money to
be distributed to the poor of the parish
How did it start
Christians have celebrated the birth of Jesus from
about 400 AD. Christmas is derived from ‘Christ’
meaning Messiah, a title given to Jesus and ‘Mass’
a religious festival. Sadly, the true meaning of
Christmas and the wonderful story of his birth in
a stable in Bethlehem has been lost for many.
The first gifts
Today, Christmas is all about expensive presents,
but the first gifts the Three Wise Men gave to the
baby Jesus were Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.
Christmas trees
The traditional decorated Christmas tree was
introduced by Prince Albert husband of Queen
Victoria to entertain their children.
FESTIVE SPIRIT AT THE CATHEDRAL
There is no better way to get into the spirit of Christmas than to go to a
service or event at Hereford Cathedral. It is, after all a religious festival.
Singing carols brings on a warm glow.
These are just some you could attend.
December 1 at 1.15pm. Christmas Sparkle Concert. An organ recital of
Christmas favourites.
December 15. Christmas Fair with 40 plus stalls.
December 22 &23 7pm. A festival of nine lessons and carols
December 24. 3pm. Christingle Nativity Service . A much loved service
for children.
FESTIVE NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 • PAGE 33
R John Watkins Automotive Ltd
MOTOR REPAIRS & REFINISHERS
Lock’s Garage, Allensmore,
Hereford HR2 9AS
01981 570372
e: [email protected]
www.johnwatkinsautomotive.co.uk
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
"
%
&
%
&
"
#
#
* -
& ! )*-,+
/.)+.+
$
(
$
$
/HRPLQVWHU 7UD Y H O
H erefor d sh ire Branch
is 125 Y e ar s Old
A m a s s i v e T H A N K Y O U t o a l l t h e
c o m p a n i e s a n d g r o u p s w h o h a v e
r a i s e d £ 1 2 5 + o v e r t h e y e a r
T e l e p h o n e 0 7 8 2 7 0 1 1 6 1 1
l h u r d s @ a o l . c o m
E m a i l
F a c e b o o k N S P C C H e r e f o r d s h i r e
E V E R Y C H I L D H O O D I S
W O R T H F I G H T I N G F O R
$ Q G I U R P S U L Y D W H G R Q R U V
Z K R G R Q D W H G W K H P V H O Y H V
R U K H O G S X E O L F H Y H Q W V
+ H U H I R U G V K L U H
R e g i s t e r e d c h a r i t y E n g l a n d a n d W a l e s
2 1 6 4 0 1 . S c o t l a n d S C 0 3 7 7 1 7
$
$