European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 25, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 8 the stars and stripes wednesday december 25, 1985 twas the night before Christmas in 1822, Clement Clarke Moore published is now famous poem. A visit from St. it changed the Public perception of Santa s appearance As a gaunt old Man into the round and Jolly Man we All know and lore today twas the night before Christmas when All through the House not a creature was stirring nol even a mouse the stockings were Hung by the Chimney with care in Hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there the children were nestled All snug in their Beds while visions of sugarplum danced in their Heads. And Mamma in her kerchief and i in my Cap had just Scull cd our brains for a Long Winter s Nap when out on the Lawn there arose such a Clatter i sprang from the bed to Sec what was the matter. Away to the window i flew like a Flash Tore open the shutters and threw up the Sash. The Moon on the breast of the new fallen Snow gave the Luster of midday to objects below. When what to my wondering eyes should appear bul a mini Alurac Sleigh and eight tiny Reindeer with a Little old Driver so Lively and Quick i knew in a Momcil it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came. And he whistled and shouted and called them by name now Dasher now dancer now prancer and Vixen on Cornel on. Cupid on Donner and Blitzen to the top of the porch to the lop of the Wall now dash away dash away dash away All As dry leaves that before the wild Hurricane Fly. When they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky. So up to the House lop the coursers they flew. With the Sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas too. And then in a twinkling. I heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each Little Hoof. As 1 Drew in my head and was turning around. Down the Chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed All in fur from his head to his fool. And his clothes were All tarnished with ashes and soot a bundle of toys he had Flung on his Back. And he looked like a peddle just opening his pack. His eyes How they twinkled his dimples How merry his checks were like roses his nose Ikic a Cherry his droll Little Mouth was drawn up like a Bow. And the Beard on his Chin was As White As the Snow the stump of a pipe he held tight in his Teeth. And the smoke it encircled his head like a Wreath he had a Broad face and a Little round belly that Shook when he laughed like a bowl Ful of Jelly. He was Chubby and plump a right Jolly old Elf and i laughed when i saw him in spite of myself a Wink of his Eye and a twist of his head soon gave me to know i had nothing to dread he spoke nol a word but went straight to his work. And filled All the stockings Ihnn turned with a Jerk. And laying his Finger aside of his nose. And giving a nod up the Chimney he Rose he sprang to his Sleigh to his team gave a whistle. And away icy All flew like the Down of a Thistle bul i heard him exclaim Ere he drove Oul of sight Happy Christmas to All and to All a Good night Hawaii greetings kalikimaka1 Honolulu a Mcle Kali Himaka freely translated from hawaiian pidgin thai Means merry Christmas and if you spend Christmas in Hawaii expect to do some translating. These Beautiful multiracial Island of the Pacific produce a picnic of Tongue twisting Good will this cheery time of year. How arc the ways they say merry Christmas in Hawaii in japanese Kurisu Masu Omedio More than 203,000 americans of japanese ancestry live in the islands. In chinese Dunaho sen there Are 33,000 chinese americans in the islands. In filipino Malig Yang in the Soth stale there Are 65,000 filipinos. In korean it s Kuju Sung Tun Meg there arc 8,000 koreans in Hawaii. People eat Many different foods besides Turkey on Christmas Day in Hawaii japanese Sukiyaki korean Kirn Che filipino Bacayo hawaiian Laulaau chinese mow goo Gal. Bul All have something in common the spirit of Christmas. Caramba Oue Pasa a through the Casa this parody of Clement Moore s poem appears yearly in Many papers in the american Southwest. A knowledge of Spanish is not really necessary to enjoy it. The author is in the night before Christmas and All through the Casa not a creature is stirring. Caramba que Pasa the stockings arc hanging con Puclio pm Dado in Hopes that Saint Nicholas will feel Blig ado to leave a few Cosas Aqui and am for Chico y Chic i y something for me. Los Ninos arc snuggled All Safe in their Camas some in ves Tidos and some in pyjamas. Their Little Cabezas All full of Good things they re esp Randu que Santa will bring Santa cola in the Corner Saloon Muy Borrachio since mid afternoon. Manna is silting beside la Vantana shining her rolling pin Para Manana when Santa returns to his Home Zigzag Rucando. Lit up like the Star spangled Banner can Dando. And mama will Send him to bed con a right merry Christmas a Todos y a Lodos Good night. Is there a Santa Glaus yes Virginia there is7 editor s note a Long time ago before even your dad or mom was Horn a Little girl named Virginia was unhappy because some of the kids she knew laughed at her for Belic Ting what the grown ups said or what her friends Lold her. She wrote a letter to the Sun a new York newspaper which she believed always told peo ple the truth. The newspaper s editor a very Wise Man named Francis phar Cellus Church printed Vir Ginia s letter and his answer to her question. We reprint this answer because we think that it is the truest one that can be Given to the important question is there a Santa Claus and that it May Settle any doubts you May have on the subject just As it has restored Faith in the. Spirit of christinas to millions of older people who have read it since it was first published nay Back in the year 1897. We take pleasure in answering at once and thus prominently the communication below expressing at the same time our great Galifi Calion Hal its faithful author is numbered among the friends of the Sun dear editor i am 8 years old. Some of my Little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says if you see it in the Sun it s please Tell me the truth is there a Santa Claus Virginia o Llalon 115 West 95th Street Virginia your Little friends Are wrong. They have been affected by the Sec Lical age. They do nol believe except what they Sec. They think nothing can be which is not comprehensible by i hair Little minds. All minds Virginia whether they be men s or children a arc Little. In this great universe of ours Man is a Mere insect an and in his intellect As compared Wilh inc boundless world about him. As measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Yes Virginia there is a Santa clans. He exists As certainly As love and generosity and Devotion exist and you know they abound and give to your life it s highest Beauty and Joy. Alas How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus it would be As dreary As if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike Faith then no to cry no Romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment except in sense and sight. The eternal Light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus you might As Well not believe in fairies you might get your papa to hire men to Walch in All chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus bul even if icy did not see Santa Claus coming Down what would thai prove nobody sees Santa Claus. But thai is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world Are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you Ever Sec fairies dancing on the Lawn of course not but that s no proof that they Are nol there. Nobody can conceive or imagine All the wonders in arc arc unseen and use table in the world. You tear apart the baby s rattle and Sec what makes the noise inside but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest Man nor even the United Sorc nth of All the Strong Cal men that Ever lived could tear apart. Only Faith fancy poetry love and Romance can push aside that curtain and View and picture the supernatural Beauty and glory beyond. Is it All real a Virginia in All this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus thank god he lives and he lives forever. A thousand years from now he will continue to make glad the heart of child Hood. Corl need by Courliss new York world Taiwan and Sun. Night before. Revised twas the night before Christmas an Al through the pad not a hip cat was swinging and that s nowhere dad. The Slove was Hung up in that stocking Rolinc in Hopes that the fat Man would soon make the scene. The kids had All had it so they hit their sacks an me and my Bride had begun to relax. When there started a rumble that came on real frantic so 1 opened the window to figure the panic 1 saw a Square Short that was Makin fat tracks bin pulled by six dogs who were wearing hat Racks. A funny old Geezer was Flippin his lid. He told pm to make it and Man like they did. I could t help Diggin the scene on the roof. As i stood there just Wailin for old Chubby to goof. They stood by the Chimney in Bunches an clusters til Chubby Slid Down cumin on like gangbusters. Like he was the squares the most absolute bul face it who cares when he left All that loot he Laid the jazz on me and fled from the gig Wailin have a Cool Yule arid Man later like mrs. Heike Paulson Stuttgart
