The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Merrily

By Dessa Rodeffer
Quill Editor/Publisher

Henderson County Republican women enjoyed a merry time at the historic Phelps house in Oquawka as they were served Christmas dinner Saturday.

As a treat President Joan Siegworth, introduced Jenny Ferguson of La Harpe, a recent foreign exchange student to Denmark, who talked about Christmas traditions and showed homemade Christmas ornaments that are placed on trees in Denmark

Almost all ornaments are home made, she said, as she passed several around.

The small country (about 1/3 the size of Illinois) celebrates "Nisse" who live at the north pole, rather than Santa, and they do not put much emphasis on the birth of Christ.

Instead, "Nisse" are nice elves who live on your roof during Christmas time and either blesses you if you are good, or plays tricks on you if you are bad. After Christmas they return to the North Pole.

The Danish also use real candles on their trees and never use fake trees.

Jenny said they decorate them in their hallway and do not bring it out until their Christmas which is the 24th.

It sounds like a merry time, Jenny said, but says Christ is missing. Also missing are the strong family ties, as in the United States.

They do take great care of the elderly, there are no hospital fees, dental fees, and schools are free with each student getting paid $200 a month to go. Most don't go on to the University but get jobs and/or travel.

Jenny said they are in much better shape than us, because they walk and ride bikes a lot. Gasoline is $5.00 a gallon and cars cost about 3 times our prices and it cost $1500 to go to driving school.

Danish are very accepting, she said, saying they welcome immigrants and give them help, money, and jobs.

The negative side is the 50% tax on wages and 25% tax on purchases.

As you make your Xmas purchases, fill your gas tanks for travel, you can still be thankful you live in America where most importantly, the holiness of Christ is remembered all year, not just at Christmas.