New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-11-14
Foreign Correspondence Of rne Tribune
Glantes at ttlooern g'rrmanp.
sr \ YOUNG AMERICAN.
SOCIAL CUSTOMS AsD MANNERS.

social CUSTOMS AID MANNERS
There i no trait OF q nations character which IS
observed With more pleasure and profit than It's Pc
culiar social customs There Is naturally great
deal OF resemblance. among modern nations, IN
these habits because they nearly all date from the
establishment OF Christianity and are connected
with the principles OF that religion Very lie. OF
the social customs which the Greek mythology
gaze rise H. or the rougher and simple rites OF the
barbarian races escaped the general Revision OF
affairs brought about by the Introduction OF true
religious belief Nevertheless thu same original Gus
toms ara celebrated among modern nations with sui:i
cient difference 10 be in some degree characteristic OF
each one. Thus the merry convigial English ch,ist-
mas which We have rranspanted in the New World
differs greatly from The same festival IN Germany and
o: many Others.
There are some very beautiful and poetca customs
n this latter country that could wish adopted
elsewhere il Il were psa=snter celebrate
I'VE anniversaries IN the honest hearty way that
fathers Tor generations before Us have done rather
than copy The do:nss OF others The manner OF Cele
bratng Christmas IN Germany L one OF the most de
lirhtfu things nave know not how i originated
but il has been N practice for many centuries and
sail kept up spirit OF zeal and generation. May the
food inuoy ation which l. sweeping away from the
world the moss and mould OF ancient feelings and
ci.nt practices leave untouched uese beautiful social
customs-hese relics OF poetry and feeling cast up
Ike gems from the OF the past
Instead OF being the festival OF day with us Christ
mas extend over several weeks IN German That L.
the preparations commence sometime before hand and
the Joy which dluses i ef long before arrives and
long after II gone 20 that the eve Itself i only the
climax or turning point OF the whole iestlvy The
custom among families Tor each person 70 prepare
cretv presents all the Others before the arrival OF the
day These are confded to TIE mistress OF the house
vino the conndsnt OF every 20 tina; knows
what the others have given what ne Is going 10
ceive The day before Christmas the room in which
the presents are be exhibited carefully closed TO ali
except the lady the Christmas large branch of
pine or fr fastened upright stuck all over win wax
lights and hung with -ilded nuts and sweetmea,s =
then brought. and around this, large table.
ranged the presents destined tor each person Al length
the appointed hour OF evening arrives Dell Is rung
as signal TO the impatient family the door IS thrown
open and amid the blaze OF the lights and the shouting
o the children each seeks his pile of presents and
they all embrace III jog aud friendly attachment
his Is the universal custom among III classes the
poorest laborcr has his little for hi- children hung
with the few trifn. giis which his poverty may afford
For days before the time the streets are hled with
crowds eager Joyous people going about 10 purchase
lifting presents Tor their friends relatives and
may remark a smile OF secret pleasure lurking on every
coun,enance. II Is interesting 10 through the Ger
man cities on Christmas eve. The houses all iu.
minated with the blazing trees; through the windows
be the groups oil happy aud rejoicing inmates
and sounds OF mlrth and pleasure are heard everywhere
! have often wondered why this beautiful manner OF
celebrating the day has been brought into
country By the cmgrants. Is il because the constant
excitement ut trade and enterprise leaves no time for
the enjoyment ot such things
The approach OF New Year is also hailed i'll peculiar
and very German manner. Every body sits up spend
Ing the and conversation. till midnight
When the last quarter before twelve has struck they
grow silent and wait Tor the hrs stroke that sends
other year Join the past and happy ls he who first
hears it. When sounds they all start up and embrace
another with many wishes OF happiness and fortune
Tor the dawnng year. Then all pour into the street
and march through all parts OF the town. shouting
Pross, .veu rdhr 90 to every they meet The
nd tho ont
below this particular night they can do 80 with
fear OF the police and tor AN hour or Two me "hoe
city resounds with NewYear greetings This is rather
a boisterous OF ushenng III the nay' out u Is
pleasant from its hcartness
There are many friendly customs among them which
nre unknown to us-a the offspring OF their warm.
hesrtsducss Friends and relatives use toward one an
other the tender confidential thou instead OF the cere
nonous v0u (Ur hey which l. the polite term IN Ger.
mauy1 They have custom called >ciaols which IS the
universal seal OF Friendship IL simply consists IN drink
ur 10 each other with locked and then embracing.
After this they always use thu IN speaking To each
p,hcr A TO relative This lasts long the live,
and 1t very rarely happens that friendships 50 coa'c
Grated are broken later IN lite
Married people VINO have lived twenty iye years,
celebrated that anniversary u their nupals by grand
festival which is attended by all their near relatives
iGdresse. o.. love and reverence are prepared and
cited Ia them by their children and the husband with
word, OF tenderness and praise places on the head OF
mis- wife silver crown This i called the rCr weddHg
II III, fortunate pair live another quarter Of century
ohcr the nitieth anniversary * celebrated stll
soernuy aud the wife l. this time crowned with gold
There are many such beautiful household practices,
which keep up and strengthen the union OF all and throw
around the domestic hearth kind OF poetry that hal
lows II TO their hearts
Then the children have songs and ballads lnnumera.
BILE for all times and seasons They 20 begging on
Whltsuntde they hail with singing the coming OF the
-tork and viocts, and talk with the msychaf.r= and
lady birds
There is peculiar romantic hue about all these
toms ch perfect accordance with the spirit OF
the people and the writings OF their 4uthor= 1t bresthes
Of the wild enthusiastic, chivarous past which lives
combined with the present. IN the German soul.
OF the manners and modern etiquette observed n
fashionable society there not much to be said OF
latter wears and particularly since the country was
oyerrun by the French troops and under the domination
OF Napoleon society ha, much changed IN this respect
The open hearty socially OF former years mas gwen
wsv 10 the a:fectatiou gay tlns French
or sometimes the hGtsr and reserve OF the English
This foreign dress sis them OF course very unnatu
rav for the German composed OF very different ec
rnnt, from hes. other nations and the volatile gaety
OF Ii. one MIN a. the chilly reserve OF the
other This remark does not however apply 70 the
part OF the middle class VINO SUI retain the Old
faith and fidelity.
The position OF woman In society rather strange
one Il would neither be untrue partial say that
she Is not regarded with much respect and reverence
or allowed 80 many liberties and privileges IN Eng
land or America Many Of them issl this keeny, but
they can do s prevent l. and they would rather
suffer silence than D. rldicusd or blamed 10: eA
ideas contrary the general opinion u would
he very lcult Tor Young woman 70 travel unattended
by one OF the public conveysces and : not even con
sdere ceuteI for her walk out alone she dare not
take the arm OF an intimate acquaintance though at
bali an entire stranger sy clasp her around the was;
ana whir with her IN the revolutions OF the waltz The
po!tsuess and regard shown 70 her n pubic aEe much
les An W. are accustomed 70 seeing az home Hence
!; follows that the possesses n much siae. Dc
ree that h:s intellectual and rehned character IT bea.s
aIncnc Us. This x perfectly natural gt IN proportion
A woman Is loved and -eycrenced VIII she pru7e Ger,
sell worthy TO be 50
Those no are as yet uncon;aili1ssd with this fash.
iouabe yc-ulence preserve TIE sincerity and soca.
feeling Of their ancestors There x people
knd and hospitabe than t= ca=s and aoDe specially,
who WIN sooner the attachment OF stranger They are
acquaintance MAKES one seem 10 nave known tnen Tor
years They .,; retain me PLAIN manner: OF former
times without beng al al Toush OF unIeee ana 7" ME
they favor the march OF improvement discard al ne"
customs which letter the heart
OF The higher classes OF Inc robAry can say little
hsvn rad 10 intercourse with them Il : not 70 these
hovysvs- INA. one looks for the characteristics OF PEG
pie There number n Germany & very small compared