. page 10, December 22, 1976 - Nozth Shere News. MANY GERMAN-BORN CANADIANS remember Christmas scenes like this - Yoletide decorations in the Cologne of the 50s [Noel Wright photo] Countdown to Christmas © fuleti de mosaic Christmas i is a delightfully predictable festival in Canada—and not least in cosmopolitan Greater Vancouver. Each year families. gather together to eat the same food, follow the same rituals and experience the same joy as they ate, followed and experienced the previous year. But that does net mean the traditions of Christmas are without variety. . European customs “have lent a special touch to Christmas in Canada. Tradi- ‘tions are influenced by differences. between regions and even small villages in the homelands. Italian festivities are a good example. Families from southern Italy share a special supper on Christmas Eve, while northerners celebrate the following — day. Since December 24 is traditionally a day of abstention, the meal is a.metaless one. Various | seafood dishes are served, with eel being the most popular. Codfish, smelts and anchovies are fried in oil. Vegetables and fancy past- ries complete the dinner, and desserts are made with seasonal fruits. The entire family attends midnight mass, then returns home for an evening © of” playing cards. ‘Children have their day on December 25. when gifts are exchanged in the morning. Though southern Italy has no ‘fir trees, Canadian tradition makes a Christmas tree’ a must. Little people visit the nativity scene at their parish church. And homemade spa- ghetti is usually prepared for the afternoon meal. - Northern Italians serve **panettone’’, a breadlike cake with raisins, at their noonday breakfast. One custom common to both northern and southern _Italo-Canadians is the visit of the “‘Befana"’ on January 6. — **Befana’’ is a Latin abbrev- iation of Epiphany, the day of the wise men’s visit to Bethlehem. Legend has it that good children receive gifts from an old woman who carries a sack. Those who misbehave get nothing but a chunk of coal. TREE-LIGHTING RITUAL German - and - Austrian- Canadians spend Christmas -inland people. Wine and a variety of fancy homemade cookies put a ‘Eve with the family. Austrian. families love to serve breaded filet of sole. This dates back to the days when fish was a2 luxury for an Hot spice finishin ner. touch on the din- veryone attends church together after supper. - Then the beautiful tree- | - lighting ritual begins. The youngest child recites a short prayer, and the family sings — . Silent Night in German. Anyone who plays a guitar or accordion is invited to accompany the singers. The , tree dazzles as it is lit for the first time,-a reminder of the days when real candles were used. Everyone j joins. in the merriment of giving out the Christ child's gifts. In German-Canadian homes, December 25 is a joyous family celebration, highlighted, if possible, by a visit to Grandma’s, Hers is a special tree, decorated with handmade ornaments, mar- zipan and chocolate treats that are there for the eating. Tlie Christmas feast in- ‘cludes goose or duck, a roast . pig, sauerkraut and potato dumplings. Desstrts are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth -- Black Forest cake, Christmas raisin loaf, and special cookies baked a’ month in advance. Each child is given a colorful plate of goodies to nibble during the day. ORIGIN OF “SANTA” | | Canada's Dutch immi- grants spend the Yuletide season quictly. Gifts are exchanged about two weeks earlier on St. Nicholas Day, December. 6. This is ‘a children's holiday, and they still hang their stockings “by the chimney with care.’ St. Nick was a third century bishop known for his - immediate : generosity. English colonists in New York eventually adapted his name to Santa Claus. Christmas Day is spent with the family. In accord- ance with Canadian customs, turkey and vegetables are - usually prepared for dinner. Colorful Polish - and Ukrainian customs have also found their way to Canada. On December 6 St. Nick leaves each child a present — under his pillow. Polish festivities begin Christmas Eve when the first star appears in the sky. With that, the Christmas feast is | under way. A blessed host of unleav- ened bread is shared among family members, and good wishes are exchanged. The white tablecloth covers a layer of hay, reminding everyone of Jesus’ birth in a manger. EXTRA PLACE Since no one should be alone at Christmas, an extra | place is set at the table. Legend says that any weary traveller could stop by and feel welcome at once. A figure of the Christ child is somewhere on the table. sometimes in the | centre- piece. The dinner hearty one. there were itself is, a Traditionally 12 courses, ‘representing the 12 apostles. Borsch, a beet soup. begins the meatless supper. This is followed by jellied fish and ‘‘pierogi’’ -- dump- lings stuffed with potatoes and cheese or cabbage. Fancy cakes and sweets complete the meal. The youngest child ‘gets the privilege of distributing the gifts after supper. Homemade ornaments adorn the tree. The family gathers to exchange stories, then usually attends midnight niass together. _ TWO WEEKS LATER Almost the same rituals take place in Ukrainian homes, but not until two weeks later. The, Julian calendar moves Christmas celebrations to January 6. Just for this special occa- sion, “‘kutia’’ is prepared. All birds in North America have ‘“‘official’’ names. The body which regulates these names is called the American Ornithological _ Union (A.O.U.). Names in general use today in bird books are from the A.O.U. Checklist (Sth edition). In 1974, some major revisions in -bird names were made. . Fer example, the Slate-coloured Junco and Oregon Junco were combined into a single species, the Dark-eyed Jun- co. In case of Traill's Flycatcher, two new species were created, the Alder and Willow. Names of living things can never be obsolete. New information is being _ gathered all the time and relationships among species better understood. The best advice about the ‘‘new’’ names is to wait until the field guides catch up to the changes arid the names come into general use. Likely, some of the species ‘‘lump- ed”’ today will be ‘*split’’ tomorrow. For many years, bird study was the province of museum men with shotguns and collecting bags. until . the development of the ‘“‘field guide’" system by Roger Tory Peterson changed ali this. The Peterson -System uses combinations of conspi- cuous features t6 separate’. ‘the various species. These features include bird top- ography (bill. wings, head, - and belly), _ ‘habits (actions, patterns of legs, breast, movement), and habitat (liv- ing place). Many experienced birders do their observing by sound ‘rather than. sight. Learning This is a delicious dessert of cooked wheat. kernels and ‘poppy seeds, sweetened with honey. The father serves the “*kutia’’ . wishing each family member in turn a Merry Christmas. _ All these traditions com- bine to make Canada's Christmas mosaic the cele- bration it is.. Canadians young and old jointto mark a season of peace and goodwill. ‘is rare _ difficult to identify, always bird songs and calls ‘may ‘seem like an awful chore, but it’s worth the effort. In fact, some birds . would. almost pass unnoticed were it not for the .fact that they make sounds. The fact that breed- ing-bird surveys are done largely by ear illustrates the importance of sound in bird-watching. To help you in your efforts to learn bird songs and calls, the following methods may prove useful: (1) Learn birders. (2) Hear a bird, track it down. (3) Use professionally pro- duced records and tapes (the Peterson’s Field Guide people, for example, have a set of records to accompany _the bird guide). PENCIL AND NOTEBOOK The importance of keeping accurate records cannot: be stressed too emphatically. Records should contain in- formation such as geographi- cal location. weather, spec- ies,-number of individuals, and behaviour.“ When kept over a period of years, these records may prove to be a_ valuable contribution to or- ~ nithology. Be sure you Visit a wide variety of habitats such ‘as woods, fields, and marsh- es. Many birders choose a favourite area and try to keep records over the whole year. This. way it is possible to get migration and-nesting infor- mation. If you see a species which in your area or make a written description in the field. Notes must be, made on the spot and not later, with the help of your field guide. A colour photo- graph of a rarity is very valuable and can be added to the photoduplicate file (PDF) of the Provincial Museum, Victoria. The rule isto check out very carefully everything you see. After all, birds can ‘fly, so it’s possible for almost ~ anything to show up—so expect the unexpected. The Vancouver checklist. for example, has had unusual visitors from Eurasia such‘as the Redshank and Bram- bling. stanley laursen “T offer personal service and installation, coordinated and esti- _ mated in your home. Free estimates given with no obligation. I carry hundreds of drapery samples and | can show you exactly what your new drapes will look like - in the room . they’re designed to complement. Phone 987-2966 and leave a message. Pit feturn your call as soon "as possible." from other | ; WEEK RK). * \ConTiNUED: ‘FROM t Last ~ Birders can n get involved i in a wide variety of activities, including - Pelagic counts (birds of the: open -ocean), raptor surveys (birds of. prey), waterfowl counts, breeding-bird~. surveys, - Christmas. counts, and nest ‘record schemes: : Bird photo- graphy is ‘an activity which offers unlimited possibilities. Once again, you can be as involved or as-casual as you - want to be. Even a- ‘simple camera can be used to ‘take good photographs of ducks, geese, . and ‘Swans ‘jin. city parks. The: enthusiast, -how- ever, will want to get a single lens reflex (SLR) camiera and a telephoto lens. as a basic set. The SLR allows the. user to see through the camera lens; in other - words, you know exactly what you're © getting. Don't be too quick to buy the longest telephoto in the shop. for its use will be somewhat limited. ° These long. (400-1,000 mra) lenses generally do not focus very © closely. Instead, consider a 200 or 300 mm. lens or even a medium-sized zoom ‘(85-210 mm). An clectronic flash is also useful for difficult lighting situations. Get_a unit with a. guide number of .at least 50 (with ASA 25). ‘The impor- tant thing to remember in . bird photography: (indeed, in all nature - photography) is that . the welfare of.. the subject(s) must .come- first. Causing nests’ to be ‘aban- doned or young to be killed in the name. of ‘naturé photo- ‘graphy is a Practice which cannot be tolerated. _ FEEDING? THE BIRDS _Many- _ peopie put up backyard feeders. The best time ‘to start a feeding program is after the migrants : have departed. Once you start feeding. you must keep | it up. Birds will come to rely on a steady supply of food. When snow is deep, the — temptation is to stay indoors. continued on page 11 JACK N. FRAINE At a recent meating of the full nine-man Board of Direc- tors of the British Columbia Railway, Mr. J. .N. “Jack”. Fraine, was elected Chair man of. the Board and Mr. Glenn W. McPherson Vice- Chairman of the Board. Mr. Fraine, who. was. ap- pointed to the Board this past April tst, is Chairman of both its Executive Committee and Operating Committee. Following a career In rall-. | roading’ which sparined ‘al- }:most 50 yoars, Mr, Fraine ra-. tired from the. Canadian: Pacific in, Vancouver, BC. in 1974 af Senilor Rogional Vice- | Prosident.