Page 19 - 200712 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - December 2007

19 Christmas Facts 19 Christmas Facts CHRISTMAS WHO WAS BORN ON WHO DIED ON CHRISTMAS WHO WAS BORN ON WHO DIED ON ACTS CHRISTMAS DAY CHRISTMAS DAY F FACTS CHRISTMAS DAY CHRISTMAS DAY Continued From Page 18 Continued From Page 18 1642 - Sir Isaac Newton 1921 - Hans Huber composer, dies at 69 - Saint Boniface is said to have substituted a fir (mathematician) 1926 - Yoshihito 123rd Emperor of tree for the pagan oak in the eighth century as a 1821 - Clara Barton (nurse: founder of Japan (1912-26), dies at 47 symbol of faith. Martin Luther fostered the American Red Cross) 1930 - Harvey Worthington Loomis Christmas tree cult by using a candlelit tree as a 1887 - Conrad Hilton (hotel magnate) composer, dies at 65 symbol of Christ's heavenly home, while trees 1899 - Humphrey Bogart (Academy 1938 - Karel Capek Czechoslovakian decorated with candles, fruit and paper flowers Award-winning actor: The African Queen author/antifascist (Bílá Nemoc), dies at 48 were introduced into Britain soon after Queen [1951]; The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca 1946 - W[illiam] C[laude] Fields Victoria's marriage. (Bogie's character never says "Play it again, writer/comedian/actor (Bank Dick, It's A Gift), - The Celts used to bring a large log indoors as Sam." He says: "You played it for her, you can dies from pneumonia at 67 a tribute to the sun god. In Cornwall, revellers play it for me. Play it!", while Ingrid Bergman 1951 - Harry T Moore Florida NAACP would chalk a symbol of a man on the log in a says "Play it, Sam. Play 'As Time Goes By'".) official, killed by bomb cheery reference to the human sacrifices who 1907 - Cab (Cabell) Calloway 1954 - Johnny Ace ballad singer, dies at used to be thrown on the bonfire. ('Highness of Hi-De-Ho': bandleader, singer: 25 in a game of Russian Roulette Ancient Roman observances of the Natalis solis Minnie the Moocher, Blues in the Night; films: 1957 - Frederick Law Olmsted US invicti and the Saturnalia occurred in December Stormy Weather, St. Louis Blues; The Cotton architect (Central Park), dies at 87 and involved much feasting, singing, parades Club Comes to the Ritz) 1977 - Charlie Chaplin actor (Modern and other forms of celebrating. Not to be 1914 - Tony Martin (Alvin Morris) Times), dies in Switzerland at 88 outdone, when the Church adopted Christmas it (singer: It's a Blue World, To Each His Own, 1979 - Joan Blondell actress (Real introduced a major Christian celebration and Kiss of Fire, Stranger in Paradise, Here; actor: McCoys), dies at 70 feasting became a part of the festivities. As the Casbah, Hit the Deck; married to dancer Cyd 1979 - Lee Bowman actor (Ellery centuries wore on, depending upon the country, Charisse) Queen, Miami Undercover), dies at 64 a Christmas goose, turkey or other animal was 1915 - Pete Rugolo (bandleader, 1980 - Oscar Romero archbishop of El adopted as the main course in the Christmas arranger: Stan Kenton; scored TV's The Salvador, murdered feast. Fugitive) 1983 - Joan Miro Spanish surrealist, dies - The Christmas tree was first decorated with 1918 - Anwar el-Sadat (Egyptian at his home in Majorca at 90 lights in the 16th century. It is believed that president; Nobel Peace Prize winner with 1985 - George Rhodes orchestra leader Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, was the Israel's Menachim Begin [1978]) (Sammy Davis Jr Show), dies at 66 first to add lighted candles to the tree. He was so 1924 - Rod Serling (scriptwriter: The 1989 - Billy Martin New York Yankee taken with the Christmas night sky that he Twilight Zone, Requiem for a Heavyweight, manager, killed in a car accident at 61 wished to bring "the lights of the stars" into the Planet of the Apes, Seven Days in May) 1989 - Elena Ceausescu wife of home of his family. From this, decorating the 1932 - Little Richard (Penniman) Romania's dictator Nicolea, executed tree with ornaments, messages and notes, and (singer: Good Golly Miss Molly, Tutti-Frutti, 1989 - Nicolae Ceausescu dictator of small gifts emerged in later centuries leading to Long Tall Sally, Lucille, Keep A Knockin') Romania, executed our customs today. 1937 - O'Kelly Isley (singer: Grammy 1995 - Dean Martin singer/actor (Return - Hanging the Christmas stocking on the hearth Award-winning group: The Isley Brothers: It's to Me), dies at 78 on Christmas Eve in the hope that it will be Your Thing [1969]; Shout, Twist and Shout, 1996 - Jon Benet Ramsey, Colorado filled with presents the next morning is a That Lady, This Old Heart of Mine) child beauty queen, murdered at 6 custom that goes back about 400 years. It 1945 - Ken Stabler ('The Snake': 1997 - Denver Pyle actor (Dukes of derived from the custom in Holland of children football: Oakland Raiders quarterback: Super Hazzard), dies at 77 placing wooden shoes next to the hearth the Bowl XI) 1998 - Bryan MacLean, Rock & Roll night before the arrival of St. Nicholas. The 1946 - Jimmy Buffett (songwriter, singer & guitarist (Byrds), dies.[] children would fill their shoes with straw and singer: Come Monday, Margaritaville, Changes food for St Nicholas's for the donkey that in Latitudes - Changes in Attitudes; main 'Parrot carried the gifts. In exchange he would leave Head') them a small gift such as small cakes, fruits and 1946 - Larry Csonka (Pro Football Hall other gifts. Stockings were substituted for the of Famer: Miami Dolphins running back: Super shoes in Britain, most of Europe and in North Bowl VI, VII, VIII) America. 1948 - Barbara Mandrell (CMA - A wreath with holly, red berries and other Entertainer of the Year [1980, 1981], Female decorations began from at least the 17th century. Vocalist of the Year [1979]; Standing Room Holly, with its sharply pointed leaves, Only, I Was Country When Country Wasn't symbolised the thorns in Christ's crown-of- Cool, Sleeping Single in a Double Bed, If thorns. Red berries symbolised the drops of Loving You Is Wrong) Christ's blood. A wreath at Christmas signified a 1949 - Sissy (Mary) Spacek (Academy home that celebrated to birth of Christ. Award-winning actress: Coal Miner's Daughter - On Christmas morning since medieval times, [1980]; Missing, The River, Carrie, The church bells have been rung to announce to the Migrants) world the coming of the saviour. It was 1950 - Manny Trillo (baseball: customary from the 18th century to wear clothes Philadelphia Phillies) and carry a small bell to signify the birth of 1950 - Barry Pearson (football) Christ. The ringing of the bells was to signify 1953 - Dave Wasick (football) the importance of the His Birth. 1958 - Ricky Henderson (baseball: Oakland Athletics outfielder: Baseball Writers' Award, American League [1990]; NY Yankees) LISTEN TO THE ‘X’ ZONE RADIO 1968 - Klea Scott SHOW, MONDAY - FRIDAY FROM 1971 - Noel Hogan (Cranberries) SEND YOUR LETTER TO SANTA 10 PM TO 2 AM EASTERN / 7 PM TO 11 1982 - Alecia Elliot AT PM PACIFIC EXCLUSIVELY ON THE HAPPY CHRISTMAS BIRTHDAY! santa@xzoneradio.com TALKSTAR RADIO NETWORK.