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Dec. 11, 2019

My Aunt Lucy's Textile Christmas

By KEN WELBORN

Record Publisher

It's Christmastime and I, like most folks, find myself remembering childhood Christmases and the like.

Christmas was never a big deal with presents as such, as my daddy the preacher, Carley, very much emphasized the religious aspects of the holiday. Nonetheless, we always had a Christmas tree and we always got something for Christmas.

But I was a kid. I thought like a kid and wanted toys and games.

Enter my Aunt Lucy. My dad's oldest sister—one of my dad's 12 siblings. As sweet a lady as you would ever want to meet, but life wasn't as kind to her as she deserved. As I understand the story, as a young woman, my Aunt Lucy had a wonderful man who she loved dearly and planned to marry. As fate would have it, he got "the fever," became sicker and sicker and literally died in Aunt Lucy's arms.

Some time later she had met, and came to care about, another man. This young man joined the armed services soon after the start of World War II and I'm sure you are thinking that I am going to tell you that he got killed in the war. Actually, in its own way, it was worse than that for my sweet Aunt Lucy—she picked up a copy of the Mount Airy News one day, and, as she thumbed through it, she saw a wedding announcement—for her boyfriend and another woman.

Aunt Lucy was devastated and basically gave up. She then literally spent the rest of her life being the kind soul she was to everyone in her very large extended family. This included taking care of her daddy, Arthur Herbert, who died in 1947, and then her mother, Laura Peele, who died in 1959.

Aunt Lucy never had any children of her own, but raised more children than anyone I know. You might remember me telling of the summer I spent as a 6-year-old kid with my Grandma Welborn. My mother, Cary, was sick and I got stuck with the sternest woman God had ever let live, and one who felt as though if you were eating at her table, you had earned a seat. Never mind that I missed my mother and cried myself to sleep every night. My Grandma Welborn even criticized Aunt Lucy for petting me so much, and trying to console me. I will never forget that sweet soul holding me close and rocking me when I would cry for my mother.

And, she was that way to everyone.

In addition to caring for every stray dog and child in the Banner Town section of Mount Airy, my Aunt Lucy held a full time job in a textile plant.

When Christmas rolled around each year, the biggest package I received was from her. Invariably, it was full of T-shirts, underpants, and socks. Now, many a kid would turn up their nose at that kind of gift at Christmas—but not Kenny. I was the baby in our family with three older brothers—one of which was only four years older than me. I was so tired of wearing someone else's hand-me-down clothes, that I was positively thrilled to see my own personal underwear and socks from Aunt Lucy.

I heard some grumbling from my cousins about Aunt Lucy's textile Christmas treats, but I always stuck up for her. As long as she lived, she put her family and friends ahead of herself and seemed always content to see others smile.

I have often said that Aunt Lucy, who dearly loved my mother, Cary, was natured very much like her—and that is as kind a comment as I could ever make about her.

My Aunt Lucy was one for the books.

Merry Christmas; made in Israel!

By AMBASSADOR EARL COX and KATHLEEN COX

Special to The Record

Radical hate groups from both the left and the right have interjected their anti-Semitic philosophies and teachings into America’s culture and education system but the problem does not stop at our borders and it is nothing new. This is a global epidemic ancient in nature but coming to us today in modern packaging and, just as in the past, many eyes seem blinded.

Throughout history the very people who held the power to effectively put an end to anti-Semitism either became complicit or lacked the will to stand up against this evil. I’m referring to the Christian church. It seems we are again failing to recognize and combat anti-Semitism even when it comes knocking at our doors preferring instead to embrace ideas of political correctness and social sensitivities even when they collide with our Biblical teachings.

Earlier this month the mayor of a small town in Norway approached the local Pentecostal church demanding that it remove the Star of David from its Christmas decorations which are on public display in the town square. The reason, the mayor said, is that the Star of David is too closely associated with Israel and the Jews which makes it an inappropriate image for a public venue. What? Mayor Irene Heng Lauvsnes of Strand, Norway has obviously forgotten the reason for the season. Christmas is a time for celebrating the birth of the Messiah - the Jewish Messiah. Jesus the Christ was born to a Jewish virgin "in a Jewish town in a Jewish stable in a Jewish country" where he lived a fully Jewish life. No one is forced to celebrate Christmas or participate in any of its associated festivities. Those who find Christmas offensive are free to simply "opt out.” Sadly, proponents of BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) against Israel and the Jews, have pitched their tents squarely in the camp of anti-Semitism and many who are numbered in this group faithfully occupy church pews every week.

More astounding than the mayor's petition to remove the Star of David from the church's Christmas display is the fact that the church agreed to the demand saying, “We do not want to provoke in any way." Well, in the Bible I read, standing up for what is right is often offensive to some, and provoking to others. The Christian church failed to speak out in force during World War II and that silence resulted in the death of six million Jews. The social and political climate that paved the way for such an atrocity did not crystallize overnight. Step by step the Jew was demonized, mistreated and reviled in ever-increasing degrees until it became socially acceptable to openly proclaim the Jews as worthy to be hated. The Bible instructs us to stand firm against evil and to be wrapped in truth; and the truth is Jesus is a Jew, and Christmas is a time for celebrating His birth on earth. For those who want to cleanse the Jews and Israel from everything associated with Christmas, this is an infringement upon the rights of those who want to celebrate in full truth. There is no denying that without the Jews, there would be no Jesus and without Jesus, there is no reason to celebrate. Anti-Semitism is an ailment that threatens not only the Jewish people but every country and society in which it rears its ugly head. Eradicating this evil is both a moral duty and a spiritual necessity. Killing the root will kill the plant and the roots of the Christian faith are very Jewish indeed.

As Christians around the world gather to celebrate the birth of Jewish Jesus, let us remember and embrace the fact that it was God Himself who chose the Jewish people through whom to bring Salvation to the world.

Christmas Trees and the Big Question

By CARL WHITE

Life in the Carolinas

One thing is certain; we sure do love our Christmas Trees; it’s like it’s in our emotional DNA.

Well as it turns out it just may be, or at the very least it’s part of our multigenerational tradition that spans hundreds of years and seems to bring about a feeling of happiness for many.

Our friends at the National Christmas Tree Association tell me that there are between 25 and 30 million fresh/real Christmas trees sold every year in the United States.

In North Carolina alone five to six million trees are sold every year and South Carolina sells a good number as well. This production translates to more than $250 million in retail business every year. We also have more than 1,500 Christmas tree growers in the Carolinas.

Farmers are well known for doing good for their communities, tree growers are no different. The South Carolina Christmas Tree Association has adopted the Trees for Troops program, where growers donate new trees for our troops.

For many the quest for the perfect Christmas Tree starts near Thanksgiving. Family traditions vary on the timing; some people enjoy having the tree up the entire month of December or even before and some families put their trees up just a few days before December 25 and leave them up for 12 days after Christmas. I have even met some folks who leave them up for months. It all depends on what you want to do.

I love seeing cars, vans and SUV’s driving back from the mountains with Christmas trees tied on top. I know their homes are going to smell of the fresh cut trees and everyone is going to have an excellent time trimming the tree with their favorite ornaments.

Have you ever wondered how this tradition got its start? Curiosity got the best of me, so I traveled back in history for a lesson.

Going way back, we know that the ancient Egyptians, Chinese and Hebrews used evergreen trees, wreaths, and garland to symbolize eternal life.

However, as it turns out, we mostly have our German and British heritage to thank for the modern aspects of this most joyous of holiday activities. While it has changed over the years, the essence of the experience remains remarkably unchanged.

In the early 18th century the custom of Christmas trees had made its way to parts or Germany, and in the 19th century, it was a regular part of the German culture.

Britain’s King George III married the German Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and it was she that first displayed the Christmas Tree at a party for Children in Britain. At the time, Princess Victoria was 13, and on Christmas Eve 1832 she entered into her journal: “After dinner…we then went into the drawing-room near the dining-room…There were two large round tables on which were placed two trees hung with lights and sugar ornaments. All the presents being placed around the tree…”

There are two fascinating points to this charming story. The first being that Charlotte and Mecklenburg County are both named after Queen Charlotte.

The second being that Princess Victoria became Queen Victoria in 1837 when she was 18, which was only five years after her journal post. She would marry her German first cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotham in 1840, and it would be him that would import the fresh green Christmas trees from his homeland to decorate Windsor Castle.

It did not take long for this amazing display of Christmas merriment to be documented and shared with the world.

It was an image of a beautifully decorated tree surrounded by loving family members, not so different than what we hope for today.

So now we know how it all got started. We are all aware what happened next, just look around.

Yes, of course, there is more, much more, but that’s all we have room for this time.

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