The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954)(about) |
Previous issue
Friday 28 December 1951
Next issue
Send to:
|
No corrections yet
"Père Noel" Is
Burnt ; At The Stake ;
STAFF CORRESPONDENT |
LONDON, Dec. 27.-A I young French priest, Abbe '.
Nourrissat, of Dijon, has j
caused a country-wide con- troversy by burning Father
Christmas "at the stake" in '
the town square before j 2,000 cheering children and j parents. ,
The priest explained: "Wo ' considered Pere Noel (Father . Christmas) had become an im
poster, causing people to I celebrate a pagan festival and to forget the true religious meaning of Christmas."
But pro-Father Christmas | parents organised a counter , demonstration and a "real .
life" Father Christmas was j hoisted on to the roof of the [
town hall, brilliantly lit by
searchlights, while a second. , mounted on a scooter, sped . defiantly through the streets I scattering the anti-Father ¡
Christmas factions. ,
As the controversy raged on the front pages of French newspapers, a leading, lawyer
and French M.P., protested: ¡ "This persecution of Father
Christmas is idiotic and I
lamentable."