New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-12-26
CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRIA.
Coretpsndence Of The N. Y. Tribune

Correspondence Of The N. Y. Tribune
VIENNA, Austris, Monday Dec 10, 1855.
There is tometbine grand in the idea OF makiog
a present, ever so small, to tie reading hosts of
TIE TRIBUNE, and in yew Of that cannot resist
cay ing few words about the celebration OF Christ
uas and New. Years Day 10 Germany, where both
Of these holidays are observed with the greatest
zest By children of smaller as we'll as Of larger
Growth. IL Vienna, at least, a lston OF uniVer-
sal ifs making prevails, which renders the festival
a very formidable affair for the heads OF families.
The presents intended for their frieods and chill
dren are suspended from the Christmas Tree. The
former are invited to assemble on the Heige 1tead,
or Christmas Eve, where the long closed door of
tie ny steriOus chamber is opened, especially to
the delight of the children, who Tor days previous
have been on tie tip-tOe of curiosity, to know
what the Christ kindtsiH (infant JesHs) will hang
upt tie Tree for them. all the servants Of the
family expect gifts from the guests on the occa-
sion On the morDiBg Of the New Year your
house mis.r launoress boot maker, tailor, let
ter.csrrer, snd, in fact, every person who has
served you in the least. present themselves with
Elm Giaekliohts Yahr, Happy New-Year,) and Gus
tom demands for each of them, preeens Ut greater
or LEES value, for which many thanks and kissing
of The hand are given ia return.
The history of the Cbristms stree Is not without
inierest 1t was ntrod ced here about forty years
ago by the Archducbess Henrietta, wife of cue late
AIchduke Charles. 1t is coming into general use
in relsn6 where TIE Christmas feast is enric 1ed
by larie plum pudding, Orn ,mented with twig
OF holly OF the II tetOe, and is by no meaos un-
known in the United States The tree itsefis the
top Of fir, set upright in a box filled with moss.
1t is Orpauepred with vaIiOusly cOlOred ribbons
oil hall far are ed Irnm
the branches ALEC wax impressions and the little
baskets containing the pre- nts. email figures Ct
Ad, and Eve ale placed at the foot of the tree,
BID ttTptpt is represented ss twiniDg around
its stem bright light is placed at the summit,
In the some manner as among che an lent Romans,
where the represeb tatiOn Of a radiant sun 0as ex
hiti,ed in honor of Ph9bus Apollo, 10 whom the
last three days OF December were dedicated.
Originally the Christmas Tree was used among
the u ptians long before the Christian era. In
fact, our Chri tmas sId New Year holidays, are
merely the moCifi cation OF festivals celebr ted
through period of maIy centuries by the Egyp-
tianf, RcmsDs, ard ancient Germans. The pyra-
mdsl tr comic Al shape Of the Christmas Tree also
suggests iis Egyptian origin, and have noticed
that msLy OF the poorer Nienpese families that
cspi OF afford TO buy tree, make use OF d little
pyramid oIpamenfed With festoons Of green paper.
The pslm-trte, which puts forth shoot every
month Of the yesr was used among the Egyptians.
AmOrg The ROmons, there were several festivals
about the tine of the Winter solstiee, the most
important of which were the Saturnal a, Hhen the
masters waited upon their slaves, and the lighting
of taDeTs aud giving OF presents were common.
After the SstUInalia came the Sigtlaria and Ju-
Vel ALA, two important festivals among the Romans.
On the former, presents Of wax impressions were
made a custom hat snD prevails in Germany, aad
On tie latter adults and children jo ned in rompng
spo1ts.
The custom Of observing festivals in mdwinter
y6s prevalent among the nations of Germany long
before they became acquainted with the insltu-
tioIs Of the Romans. The slew return Of the sun
10 is summer brilliapcy was welcomed with great
festivals tire period If which &C ,urriog Immediate
ly after the Winter sostice was termed fule. Wo-
Gin was the ed who scattered the fruits Of the
harvest, in which his wife Hulda or Berchts also
took part At Yule, when all the hsryests had
BEEN eattered and The festival Of the god was at
hand, he rode through the and on his white horse,
receiving the sacrifices of the people and scatter
ing lie blessings. 1t was then that the fue log
was beaped on the fire, aid the boar-an animal
obnoxious to the gcd-was roasted whole In the
open air.
lule was also the old German name for wheel,
by which the circlng year was apply represented.
IL vas also d ssmbOl Of the sun and even TO this
cav picture Of tina. lumiDary Is psced 10 lite cen
ter The above festival is still celebrated 10 STe-
dep and Norway, and the visits Of st. Nicholas, or
Santa Claus, ire obviously the same as those OF
he god Wodip Oh biz white horse. Toe rider of
the white horse lie known by some name or other
throughout Christi ndom.
Livery child has sn idea of that mysterious GER
solSge Wso besiOws SO many gifts in his ubiquit
Ous journey. In Southern Germany be is called
ST. Nicholas IN Middle Germany he bears the
pane Of Ruprtcbt, or is at least at ended by
servant of that osme He is represented a. riding
or the white horse with a rod In his haa5 and
sack filed with presents thrown over his shoulder
He asks If the children have been diligent and obe
otnf, aid gives them presents accordingly In
Vieppa tie cbildren believe that il is the Chris
kindlein QDfsnt Jesu,) who brings the presents.
IN other paris Of Europe the good st. Nicholas 10
known IS the child loving Bishop Burtel, Grampus
arc the lii e, uIder oil Of which nance be is MOTH
ing more dor lees than the old sun.eod Wodip. II
can easily be seen how all the above usages con
pected with the heather festivals cane to be
adopted by the early Christians Of Germany.