Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-12-24

The CHRISTMAS TREE-CHRIsT.IAs Eve
In Germany, Christmas Eve, is for children the
most joyous night in the year, as they then feast
their eyes on the magnifcence of the Christmas
tree, and rejoice in the presents which have
been provided for them on its branches by
their parents and friends. The tree is arrang-
ed BY the senior members Of the family, in the
principal room in toe house, and with the ar
rival Of evening the children are assembled il
the adjoining apartment. At a given signal,
the door of the great room is thrown open and
in rush the juveniles, eager, and happy There
on 8 long tablein the centre of ther room stands
the Christmas tree, every branch glittering
with little lighted ,,tapers, while all sorts of
giitsand ornaments are suspended from the
branches, and possibly also numerous other
presents are deposited separately on the table,
all properly labeled with the names of the re-
spective recipients. The Christmas,tree seems
to be a very ancient custom in Germany, and is
probably remnant of the splendid and fsnci-
tul pageants Of the middle ages. Though
thoroughly an innovation on our old Christmas
customs, and partaking, indeed, somewhat of
prosaic character, rather at.variance with the
beautiful poetry of many Of our Christmas
usages, he would be cynlc indeed who could
derive no pleasure from contemplating the
group Of young and happy faces who cluster
round the Christmas tree. ..4,g
Coleridge says, in letter from North Ger
many: 49, !.
There is a Christmas custom here which
pleased and interested me. The children make
little presents to their parents and to each 9TH
er, and the parents to their children. For
three or four months before Christmas, the
girls are all busy, and the boys save up their
pocket money to buy these presents. What
the presents are to be is cautiously kept secret;
and the girls have world of contrivances to
conceal it-such as working when they are out
on visits, and the others are not with them;
getting up in the morning before daylight, &c.
Then, on the evening before Christmas. day,
one Of the parlors is lighted up by the children,
into which the parents must go; great yeW-
bough is fastened on the table at little DIS
tance from the wall, multitude OF little tapers
are fixed in the bough, but not so as to burn it
till they are nearly consumed, and colored pa
per, &C., hangs and futters from the twigs.-
Under this bough the children lay out, in great
order, the presents they mean for their pa
rents, still concealing in their pockets what
they intend for each other. Then the parents
are introduced, and each presents bis little
gift then they bring out the remainder, one
BY one, from their pockets, and present them
with kisses and embraces Where I witnessed
this scene, there were eight Or nine children,
and the eldest daughter and mother wept aloud
for 10Y and tenderness and the tears ran down
the face Of the father, and he clasped all his
children SO tight to his breast, it seemed as if
he did it to stihe the sob that was rising within
it. | was very much affected. The shadow
of the bough and its appendages on the wall,
and arching' over on the ceiling, made pretty
picture; and then the raptures OF the very
little ones, when at last the twigs and their
needles began to take FIRE and snap oh 1t
was delight to them On the next day
christmas day, in the great parlor, the pa
rents lay out on the table the presents Tor their
children scene of more sober joy succeeds