means different things to different people and is celebrated in various ways around the world — from church services and carols to family gatherings and dinner parties to gift-openings and fireworks. For three international students attending Freeman Academy, James Xian, 17; Kate-Lyn Tivert, 16 and Sheron Ke, 18, this holiday season will be spent far from their homes in China and Rwanda and, instead, with host families in Freeman. But they will think back fondly on their own traditions in their native lands, with their friends and family back home. Read their stories starting on page 3

This Christmas greeting section is included with the Dec. 21 edition of the Freeman Courier and made possible thanks to the generous support of the businesses represented on these pages. We invite you to look through the pages and enjoy the messages and well-wishes from our friends. Merry Christmas! December 21, 2017 | Page 2 Merry Christmas! December 21, 2017 | Page 3 Christmas across the sea The international community at Freeman Academy includes nine students, most of whom live in China. Among them are James Xian and Sheron Ke from Shenzhen, as well as Kate-Lyn Tivert, who lives in Rwanda but also has connections in France. James, Sheron and Kate-Lyn sat down with the Courier for this special section, helping give these pages a robust and fascinating international flare. are younger, some are made using Story & Cover Photo by milk from cows, others from milk from goats. The cheeses come in The Republic of Jeremy Waltner | Publisher a variety of colors, too, and — oh Rwanda is located When Freeman Academy junior yeah — there are a large variety in the central and Kate-Lyn Tivert thinks about of breads that are passed around, eastern portions of Christmas, it’s not the lights or the too, “because this cheese goes decorations, the songs or the gifts with that bread and this cheese Africa and is one that she enjoys the most. For her, goes with that bread,” Kate-Lyn of the smallest it’s the food served on Christmas explains. countries on Day — and there’s plenty of it to Yogurt follows, and then comes the continent’s go around. dessert — a cake topped with mainland. It That’s the tradition she grew up cream cheese and chocolate. covers about with. Kate-Lyn says because the cake “We eat a lot,” says Kate-Lyn, is so difficult to make, it’s usually 10,000 square who lives in her mom’s home reserved for Christmas meal, and miles and has a country of Rwanda, but also is a real treat. population of more travels for the holidays to her “It’s really good,” she says. than 11 million, dad’s home country of France. Oh, and there’s ice cream, too. according to the Kate-Lyn says the family meal Kate-Lyn’s family Christmas 2015 estimate. on her dad’s side of the family is dinner in Rwanda is similar to a particularly refined and orderly the one she enjoys in France, Official languages process. except that, there, soup is typically are Kinyarwanda, “Before the meal everybody reserved for evenings and the English, French will sit at the table, and we’ll talk, main course features even more and Swahili. and we’ll have some chips so you food. SOURCE: don’t get too hungry,” she says. “In Africa, when they say fill WIKIPEDIA The salad and soup course your plate, it’s seriously filling follows, which leads into the your plate,” she says. “You have a main course — dishes full of food mountain of food, and they don’t passed from person to person. care what it is. They’re going to “That’s a lot of different stuff mix it all together. That’s fine. — a lot of meats and a lot of It all goes to the same place, potatoes in different ways,” Kate- anyway.” Lyn says. “So you can choose from all of that.” Shenzhen, China Next comes the cheese which, based on Kate-Lyn’s account, The feast that Kate-Lyn enjoys appears to be the Main Event of with her family while in France the day. and Rwanda for Christmas is both “Cheese takes a long time,” similar and different to the one she says. “There’s a lot of it, and enjoyed by Sheron Ke, 18, and everybody’s like, ‘You should try James Xian, 17, in their home city that one, because it’s better.’” of Shenzhen, China. So how many different cheeses Ke and Xian are also students are we talking about? at Freeman Academy and, like “More than 50,” she says. “For Kate-Lyn, will be spending this Christmas? Yeah. Because my Christmas and New Year’s here family comes from different parts with host families and far from of France, they all bring, like, five their own family and friends back different cheeses. And they all home. come together at my grandparents’ The foods they enjoy are house.” Some cheeses are older, some SEE THE NEXT PAGE: FOODS

The People’s Republic of China (PRC), is located in East Asia and has a population of around 1.4 billion; it is the most populated country in the world. Its land covers about 3.7 million square miles. It has the world’s second-largest economy by Gross National Product as of 2016. SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA Merry Christmas! December 21, 2017 | Page 4 FOODS: CONTINUED FROM THE PREVIOUS PAGE From All of Us similar in that there is plenty to go either. To All of You around, and eating is a hallmark “We celebrate the New Year for, event of the season. But their meal like, half the month,” says Sheron. Our very best wishes for a is different since it is hosted in “So we eat that kind of stuff every HAPPY bright and beautiful season. conjunction with the Chinese New day.” Thanks for the gift Year, which in their country is HOLIDAYS of your friendship! celebrated with more enthusiasm Other customs from Et Cetera Shoppe than is Christmas. And, whereas Food, of course, is a big part Albrecht Insurance Agency AND Kate-Lyn’s dinner table in France of the holiday celebrations here KEVIN ALBRECHT Global Gifts is a more formal setting, and the in the United States, too. On serving of food a more deliberate many dinner tables, and in many 605-925-4659 affair, James and Sheron say their dining rooms, ham is to tables are piled high and what turkey is to Thanksgiving. wide with food, and Cheeseballs with the guests have at it. crackers, various For Christmas dips and candies it’s just chicken — Quotable are often rolled or McDonalds,” “For Christmas it’s out, and friends James says. “For just chicken — or and families take New Year’s, we eat McDonalds.” their time around almost everything. tables enjoying the Every category, we fellowship that goes pick some.” along with the food. There’s fish, In that regard, dumplings, chicken, Christmas in beef, lamb, noodles Freeman and other and seafood, they rural American say. communities like “They make it is no different everything and try from the holiday to fill the table.” celebrations in James continues. China and France. “No matter how big the table But all three international is,” Sheron adds. students acknowledge that the And, because the scope of the United States places far more party is so large, it’s not always emphasis on Christmas than they just one table that’s filled; it’s do back home. several. That’s particularly true in “It’s your friends, your friends’ China, where the New Year’s friends, your grandma, your holiday takes the cake. grandpa,” says James. “Basically, “It is weird if you don’t from theyou canstaff fill andfour, five,students six tables. at celebrate Chinese New Year,” You can eat everything you want says James. “Other people will Dale Strasser — stay there for the whole day. be like, ‘Hey, you’ve got to meet FreemanIt’s not a big problem.”Academywith your parents. You’ve got to Diana Randall And it’s not just on one day, meet them to have a meal;’ that is from the staff and students at Ev Weier Freeman Academy Gina Fuhrmann Wishing you a letter-perfect holiday

20/17

With glad tidings from our entire staff this holiday season. We thank you for your kind patronage and look forward to seeing you again, soon!

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In China, red bags — or hongbaos — are frequently used to give Ray’s money on special occasions, including at Christmas. Cabinet the opportunity to meet with your That’s true in China, too. In Valley Electric family.” fact, Sheron and James both say Shop Says Kate-Lyn: “In the U.S. that most people give children (Christmas) is really important, money, and do so packaged in but in France a lot of other things a red bag — a specially-made are going to happen throughout envelope — called hongbaos. the year. Christmas is important Sheron says it is also because they sell a lot of food, but customary to give apples as it’s not the most important thing of gifts on . Apples, the year. In the U.S., everybody is he explained, represent peace so hyped up about it.” because the Chinese word for Kate-Lyn says in both Rwanda “apple” — pingguo — sounds and France, Christmas trees are similar the word peace. decorated similar to the ones here, The religious aspect of but few light the outside of their Christmas celebrated by homes. Christians around the world — the “There are rules that you need celebration of the birth of — to save electricity — save the exists in their home lands, as well. planet — so we can’t do that,” she However, Sheron says, “At least says. “Or, if you do, you need to in my city, Christmas is not related pay taxes, and no one wants to do to the religion. It’s just a normal that.” festival.” As is the case here, Kate-Lyn Still, he does say that some says gift-giving is customary churches do mark the season where she is from, but money as through a religious story or play, opposed to toys, clothes, gadgets usually on both Christmas Eve and Tote Inc. and other gifts common in Christmas Day, and many attend. America, is a popular option for many. SEE THE NEXT PAGE: CUSTOMS

Happy Holidays FROM THE ENTIRE STAFF AT FRED HAAR CO. INC. A Division of C&B Operations Merry Christmas! December 21, 2017 | Page 6

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Kate-Lyn says the religious back home, and certainly being Kate-Lyn at Todd and Suzanne aspect of the holiday is with their family and friends. But Koerner’s home, Sheron with emphasized more in France than they are — and will continue to be LeRoy and Janette Epp, and James in Rwanda. — participating in the Christmas with Jay and Lynelle Allison. “If you go to a certain church, celebration here in the Freeman And that’s fine with them. you’ll have a sermon in the community. Because, in the end, Christmas morning. And some people eat Frontier Hall, the dorm on the is about traditions that are at church with everybody else, Freeman Academy established by some go home and eat with their campus where people regardless families. the international of where they live. And on weekends leading up students stay during Quotable The celebration of to Christmas, she says, “there will the school year, “... They’ll just be the season, whether be someone who will be wearing is decorated for walking through the it’s directly related a costume like Jesus or Mary or Christmas and all streets and telling the to the Christian something like that, and they’ll three took part in story, and the kids observance or more just be walking through the streets the Yuletide meal about the family and telling the story, and the kids and concert at the will be walking next to gatherings, has a will be walking next to them school last Thursday them listening to the universal element. listening to the story. and Friday. story.” “Our many On for the different cultures Christmas holiday notwithstanding, This year itself, when Frontier Hall closes there’s something about the Knodel Kate-Lyn, Sheron and James for the break, they will celebrate holidays that makes the planet all say they will miss aspects of with their host families and their communal,” writes actress and Contractors their own holiday celebrations host families’ own traditions: author Marlo Thomas. “Even nations that do not celebrate Christmas can’t help but be caught up in the collective spirit of their neighbors, as twinkling lights dot the landscape and carols fill the air. It’s an inspiring time of the year.”

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Glenn Roth Law Office Merry Christmas! December 21, 2017 | Page 8 99 Christmas facts from around the world Christmas is celebrated in many have a red nose. In that day and winter, however, so the reindeer countries all over the world and in age, red noses were seen as an pulling Santa’s sleigh are more a wide variety of ways. Many of indicator of chronic alcoholism than likely female or castrated. the customs and decorations we and Montgomery Ward didn’t want 6. Some leave food out for use to make the holiday special him to look like a drunkard. ’ reindeer as have developed in interesting ways To complete the original Norse children did, and their origins may be hidden picture, he was almost leaving hay and treats in history. With these interesting named Reginald or for Odin’s eight- facts about Christmas, test your Rollo. legged horse Sleipnir knowledge of Christmas trivia as 4. Clement hoping they would you read through. Moore’s poem stop by during their 1. The image of Santa Claus introduced eight hunting adventures. flying his sleigh began in 1819 and more reindeer for Dutch children was created by Washington Irving, Santa’s sleigh and adopted this same the same author who dreamt up the their names were tradition, leaving food Headless Horseman. Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, in their wooden shoes for 2. The Montgomery Ward Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Duner and St. Nicholas’ horse. department store created Rudolph Blixem (for the German words for 7. Dutch children also left out the Reindeer as a marketing thunder and lightning). These later food and drink for St. Nicholas gimmick to encourage children evolved into Donner and Blitzen. himself to honor him on his feast to buy their Christmas coloring 5. Most of these names are day. Today we leave milk and books. male-sounding names. Male cookies out for Santa, continuing 3. The original Rudolph did not reindeer shed their antlers in this very old tradition.

8 Merry Christmas! December 21, 2017 | Page 9

8. America’s first batch of was made in the Jamestown settlement in 1607. Its name comes from the word “grog,” meaning any drink made with rum. Non-alcoholic eggnog is popular as well. 9. Want to know a useful way to recycle your ? Some zoos take donated Christmas trees and use them as food for the animals. 10. Between the 16th and 19th centuries global temperatures were significantly lower than normal in what was known as a “little ice age.” Charles Dickens grew up during this period and experienced snow for his first eight . This “White Christmas “ experience influenced SEE PAGE 12: DICKENS Merry Christmas! December 21, 2017 | Page 10 Merry Christmas! December 21, 2017 | Page 11

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Walter’s Funeral Home Merry Christmas! December 21, 2017 | Page 12 DICKENS: CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 his writing and began a tradition of with lights. The trees lit up when expectation for the holidays. the guerrillas (terrorists) walked 11. The Christmas tree in by and banners appeared asking Trafalgar Square is donated to them to surrender their arms. The the people of London every year campaign convinced 331 guerillas by the people of Oslo, Norway in to re-enter society and also won thanks for their assistance during an award for strategic marketing World War II. excellence. 12. Since 1918 the city of 15. Bicycle, the U.S. playing Boston has received a giant card company, manufactured Christmas tree as a gift from the cards to give all the POWS in Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Germany during World War II as Boston lent considerable support Christmas presents. These cards, to the city of Halifax during their when soaked in water, revealed an 1917 explosion and subsequent fire escape route for POWs. The Nazis disaster. never knew. 13. In 1914 during 16. The Christmas wreath was there was a now famous Christmas originally hung as a symbol of truce in the trenches between the Jesus. The holly represents his prosperity and goodness at 24. Famous saxophonist Boots dyed goose feathers. Next the British and the Germans. They crown of thorns and the red berries Christmas. In fact, spiders and Randolph played the saxophone Addis Brush Company used their exchanged gifts across a neutral the blood he shed. spider webs are often used as solo on “Rockin’ Around the machinery that wove toilet brushes no man’s land, played football 17. The three traditional colors Christmas tree decorations. Christmas Tree “. to create pine-like branches for together, and decorated their of most Christmas decorations According to legend, a spider 25. Paul McCartney’s Christmas artificial Christmas trees that were shelters. (Read more about it in the are red, green and gold. Red wove baby Jesus a blanket to keep song is widely regarded as the less flammable and could hold book “Silent Night: The Story of symbolizes the blood of Christ, him warm. worst of all the songs he ever heavier decorations. the World War I Christmas Truce “ green symbolized life and rebirth, 19. was invented in 1610 recorded yet he earns $400,000 a 31. You would have to use your by Stanley Weintraub.) and gold represents light, royalty in Germany and was once made of year off of it. artificial tree for more than 20 14. In 2010 during the and wealth. real silver. 26. If you gave all the gifts years for it to be “greener “ than Christmas season, the Colombian 18. In Poland spiders are 20. The tradition of hanging listed in the Twelve Days of buying a fresh-cut tree annually. government decorated jungle trees considered to be symbols of stockings comes from a Dutch Christmas, it would equal 364 32. Nova Scotia is the world’s legend. A poor man had three gifts. leading exporter of Christmas daughters for whom he could not 27. In Dublin in 1742 the trees. afford to provide a dowry. St. Christmas oratorio, “The 33. Since Denny’s restaurants in SEASONS GREETINGS Nicholas dropped a bag of gold Messiah,” by George Frederick the U.S. were originally designed down his chimney and gold coins Handle was first performed. to be perpetually open their fell out and into the stockings 28. NORAD’s “Santa Tracker buildings were built without locks. We would like to drying by the fireplace. The “was born from a misprint in the This became a problem when wish you and yours daughters now had dowries and newspaper. A 1955 Sears ad was they decided in 1988 to close on the best of times this could be married, avoiding a life supposed to print the number of Christmas Day for the first time. holiday season. on the streets. a store where children could call 34. Almost 28 sets of LEGO 21. The old English custom and tell Santa what they wanted are sold every second during the Thank you for your of was to toast for Christmas. The number Christmas season. support and patronage to someone’s long life at printed was to the hotline of the 35. The Christkindlesmarkt over the past year. and was the Director of Operations for the U.S. in Nuremberg, Germany was forerunner for the tradition of Continental Air Defense. Colonel first held in 1570 and is one Christmas caroling. In the 13th Shoup ordered his staff to give of ’s oldest Christmas Happy Holidays From Everyone At century St. Francis of Assisi began the children updates on the flight markets. It is also the largest in the custom of singing carols in coordinates of Santa. Europe. Folks from all over the church. 29. A tradition began and world visit it annually. LAWNS UNLIMITED 22. “White Christmas,” continues until this day. NORAD 36. Christmas is celebrated Freeman, S.D. - 925-4352 “Rudolph the Red-Nosed (North American Aerospace on the 25th of December, which Reindeer,” “Winter Wonderland,” Defense Command) continues to marks the birth of Jesus Christ. “Your Total Lawn Care Specialists!” “The Christmas Song” and “I’ll provide flight updates on local However, the exact date and month Be Home for Christmas,” plus the news, the Internet, and even a of Jesus’ birth are unknown. melody for “O Holy Night,” were special iPhone application every 37. And interestingly, even all written or co-written by Jews. Christmas. though the majority of the 23. Brenda Lee recorded 30. The oldest artificial population believes that Jesus (was “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Christmas trees date back to the born on this day, they spend more Tree “ when she was only 13 years late 1800s and were made of green time visiting shopping malls than old. raffia (think grass hula skirts) or studying the life of the messenger. 38. “, “ the popular Christmas song was composed by James Pierpont in Massachusetts, America. It was, however, written for thanksgiving and not Christmas. 39. “Jingle Bells “ was the first song sung by astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra in space, on December 16, 1965. 40. Christmas might be a public holiday; however, it is not a biblical holy day. The Bible does not say anywhere to keep Christmas as a holy day. 41. Our modern day Santa Claus has to travel at more than the speed of light to deliver gifts to all the kids in the world and he would have 31 hours (considering all the times zones) on the Christmas day to get his favorite job done. 42. Coca-Cola was the first company that used Santa Claus during the winter season for promotion. 43. There is also a website – Christmas.com. However, the site Fensel’s is a commercial space on the web. You can shop a variety of things Electric and products related with this giant festival celebrated in various parts of the world. & Hardware 44. A law in Britain to this day forbids you from not visiting church on Christmas day. And you cannot visit the church in a vehicle. However, this law is just sitting on a piece of paper and is not followed actually. Merry Christmas! December 21, 2017 | Page 13

45. The Statue of Liberty was was Oklahoma, in 1907. although it can take 15. gifted to the US by the French 55. Christmas trees were first 63. Once a Christmas tree on Christmas day in 1886. It decorated with fruits (mainly is harvested, two to three are weighs 225 tons and thus you apples), and then later on people planted in its place because it could consider it as the biggest started using candles, and then takes many years for the trees to in the world. electric lights (1895) to decorate be fully grown before they can be 46. Did you know that the these trees. harvested. first Christmas was celebrated on 56. Germany is credited 64. The tallest living Christmas , AD 336 in Rome? with starting the Christmas tree tree is believed to be the 122-foot, 47. Other names of Christmas tradition. 91-year-old Douglas fir in the town from the old times include – 57. The Friday and Saturday of Woodinville, Washington. “Midwinter “, “Nativity and before Christmas are the busiest 65. Christmas season sales “.” shopping days and not the Black account for almost 1/6 of all retail 48. More than 3 billion Friday. sales in the US. Christmas cards are sent in the 58. California, Oregon, 66. According to a survey, U.S. alone, every year. The Michigan, Washington, Wisconsin, it is expected that in the 2015 business of Christmas cards is Pennsylvania, and North Carolina Christmas season, $830 billion will huge, if you are looking for one. are the top Christmas tree be spent alone in the US towards 49. The other name of producing states from the U.S. Christmas gifts and 47% of these Christmas Tree is Yule-tree. 59. Thomas Edison’s assistant shoppers will buy gifts online. 50. Did you know that came up with the idea of electric 67. A Christmas tale from old Christmas trees are grown in all lights for Christmas trees (though wives believes that if you bake 50 states including Hawaii and we are not sure). bread on Christmas Eve, the bread Alaska? 60. In the world, there are two will stay fresh forever. However, 51. Hallmark introduced their islands that are named “Christmas” there is no evidence to prove that first Christmas cards in 1915. – one is in the Pacific Ocean and this tale is true as nobody has tried 52. Christmas tree decoration is the other in the Indian Ocean. keeping the bread up that long. believed to have originated in the 61. The largest floating 68. In 1962 – the US issued the Broders Trucking 16th century in Germany. Christmas tree in the world — 278 first Christmas postage stamp. 53. The “X “ in X-Mas, as we feet tall — is in Rio de Janeiro, 69. Christmas trees were all use today, comes from the Brazil. banned–due to environmental Greek meaning of “X” i.e. Christ. 62. Christmas trees are sold concerns–in the White House in 54. Alabama became the first in the US since 1850, and on an 1901–by the then President Teddy US state to declare Christmas as a average it takes 6-8 years for a legal holiday in 1836 and the last Christmas tree to be fully grown, SEE THE NEXT PAGE: FACTS

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Craig Maloney Trucking & Excavating Craig and Julie Maloney Merry Christmas! December 21, 2017 | Page 14 FACTS: CONTINUED PAGE 13 Roosevelt. 70. Franklin Pierce was the first president to place a Christmas tree in the White House. 71. In Italy, Christmas dinner can last for more than 4 hours. Yes that’s right. Most of the Italian families have more than 7 courses for the dinner. 72. Japanese spend their Christmas Eve eating in KFCs. This is a popular tradition in Japan so much that customers have to book their seats 2 months in advance. 73. Approximately 35 million Christmas trees are produced during the Christmas season to keep pace with the demand. 74. In Guatemala adults do not exchange Christmas gifts until New Year’s Day. 75. In 1843, one thousand

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FreemanRural RegionalMedical ClinicsHealth AServices department of Freeman Regional HealthClinics Services Merry Christmas! December 21, 2017 | Page 15 copies of the first Christmas cards Santa from kids all over the world. were sold. A civil servant Sir The postal workers at the Canadian Henry Cole in London is credited Post Office also started answering with making the initial sales of the some of these letters. cards. 90. Christmas is celebrated to 76. “White Christmas “ by represent the “spirit of giving “ Bing Crosby is the best-selling which is why so many gifts are Christmas song ever. It has sold exchanged on the occasion. It is more than 50 million copies also important to remember and around the world. help people that are less fortunate 77. Santa Claus, Father than us. Christmas, , and 91. In the U.K. only, 2.4 billion , are associated with Pounds is spent on uneaten, bringing gifts to children during discarded food and unwanted gifts the Christmas season. Though as per a survey by The Money these figures are closely related Advice Service. This is a huge and are often interchangeable. amount, which if put to other 78. December 25 – January 5 is useful purposes, can break or make referred to as “Christmastide “ or the future of those people who are “Twelve Holy Days “. underprivileged. 79. King William I of England 92. The bizarre Catalonian was crowned on Christmas Day tradition of caga tió (or “defecating 1066. log “ in English) involves creating 80. On a Christmas feast in a character out of a small log – 1377, hosted by King Richard II often complete with a grinning of England, twenty-eight oxen and face and hat – which sits on the three hundred sheep were eaten. dining room table during the 81. Between 1640 and 1958, the fortnight leading up to Christmas. Parliament of Scotland officially It has to be fed every day with abolished the observance of fruit, nuts and sweets, and then Christmas. – on Christmas Eve – the entire 82. Christmas was much family beats the log with sticks, popular in Germany than in while singing traditional songs, America during the 18th forcing the log to excrete its treats. 83. Charles Dickens has You couldn’t make it up. written a novel on Christmas – “A 93. The most expensively “. And it became dressed Christmas tree – valued very popular and it took him 6 at $11,026,900 – was seen in the weeks to write this novel. United Arab Emirates last year. 84. In Hawaii, Santa is called 94. The most lights lit Kanakaloka. simultaneously on a Christmas tree 85. Before turkey, the traditional is 194,672. Christmas meal in England was a 95. One-third of the 20 highest pig’s head and mustard. grossing movies were released 86. In 2014, approximately 10 during Christmas. million Turkeys were consumed in 96. Visa cards are used 5,000 to the U.K. during the Christmas. 6,000 times every minute during 87. Different names of Santa the Christmas season. Claus around the world include: 97. The first Christmas was Kriss Kringle in Germany, Le celebrated in America in 1539 and in Italy, Pere Noel in a bunch of people gathered for the France and Deushka Moroz celebration devoid of any gifts or (Grandfather Frost) in Russia. trees. 88. A movie titled “The Santa 98. The Rubik was the highest Clause “ was released in 1994. A selling Christmas toy in 1980. That man in the movie inadvertently time it sold for $1.99 and today it killed Santa and was magically retails for $10. recruited to take the place of 99. Gifts are shared during the Santa. You can watch this movie Christmas season to symbolize the on YouTube and iTunes store for a gifts given to Jesus by the three small fee. wise men. 89. Santa has a real postal zip code – H0H 0H0. Every year SOURCE: thefactfile.org/ millions of letters are addressed to interesting-facts-christmas/

Flawless Nail & Hair Salon 239 S. Main Street, Downtown Freeman 605-925-4181 Merry Christmas! December 21, 2017 | Page 16 Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus “Dear Editor: I am 8 years great universe of ours man is a sight. The eternal light with which and unseeable in the world. EDITOR’S NOTE: One old. Some of my little friends mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, childhood fills the world would be You may tear apart the baby’s hundred and twenty years ago, say there is no Santa Claus. as compared with the boundless extinguished. rattle and see what makes the noise 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon Papa says, ‘If you see it world about him, as measured Not believe in Santa Claus! inside, but there is a veil covering wrote a letter to the editor of by the intelligence capable of You might as well not believe the unseen world which not the in The Sun, it’s so.’ Please the New York Sun, and the grasping the whole of truth and in fairies! You might get your strongest man, nor even the united tell me the truth: is there a response was printed as an knowledge. papa to hire men to watch in all strength of all the strongest men Santa Claus? Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa the chimneys on Christmas Eve that ever lived, could tear apart. editorial, written by veteran -Virginia O’Hanlon, 115 Claus. He exists as certainly as to catch Santa Claus, but even Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, newsman Francis Pharcellus West Ninety-Fifth Street love and generosity and devotion if they did not see Santa Claus romance, can push aside that Church, on Sept. 21, 1897. exist, and you know that they coming down, what would that curtain and view and picture the “Yes, Viriginia, there is a Virginia, your little friends abound and give to your life its prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, supernal beauty and glory beyond. Santa Claus” has since become are wrong. They have been highest beauty and joy. Alas! but that is no sign that there is no Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all history’s most reprinted affected by the skepticism of how dreary would be the world Santa Claus. The most real things this world there is nothing else real newspaper editorial, appearing a skeptical age. They do not if there were no Santa Claus. It in the world are those that neither and abiding. in dozens of languages in believe except [what] they see. would be as dreary as if there were children nor men can see. Did you No Santa Claus! Thank God! books, movies and various They think that nothing can be no Virginia. There would be no ever see fairies dancing on the he lives, and he lives forever. A publications, as well as on which is not comprehensible childlike faith then, no poetry, no lawn? Of course not, but that’s thousand years from now, Virginia, posters and stamps. We’re by their little minds. All minds, romance to make tolerable this no proof that they are not there. nay, ten times ten thousand years Virginia, whether they be men’s existence. We should have no Nobody can conceive or imagine from now, he will continue to happy to share it here again. or children’s, are little. In this enjoyment, except in sense and all the wonders there are unseen make glad the heart of childhood.

Behold

theFor to us a child is born,Miracle to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

May the miracle of His birth fill your heart with light at Christmastime and all year. Rejoice!

Prairie House Restaurant We couldn’t have done it without your support. We wish Highway 81 • Freeman, South Dakota every one of our neighbors the jolliest holiday season ever! 605-925-4496 • www.prairiehousefreeman.com Freeman Shopping Center Freeman Ace Hardware