The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-25

its sanctuary and exposed the high
altar for public view and worship. The
church is illuminated with thousands of wax
tapers. set in massive golden candlesticks. which
glitter in their blaze Draperes of gold and crimson
and the magnificent church services fill to repleton
a scene of splendor which would almost to the
laymen TO have been taken bodily OF the Arabian
Nights Without the lights from the church win
dows shine down upon thousands of men. women and
children Of all ages and nations. Here the Pie-
rari or Caabrian Mnstrels who have come down from
the mountains with their pipes and now go about
the streets. playing before tbs shrines of the Ma
donnas here they are grouped together. costumed
in their picturesque garb; strange. rude grotesque
beings from the wild Campagna lying upon the
ground with their faces half hidden from sight;
beings who at any other time in Rome.
and who live. knows how. on the waste out
skirts OF the city, Then the great procession forms
to bear the cradle to the chapel of Santa Croco.
where the services rendered and whence the popu-
lace return to their homes. Every family. however
poor manages to conduct some soFwRS. festival
this occasion. and for weeks the tls,xlion shops
havo offered images of the saints. hung about with
strings of sausages and festooned with Bologna pud
ding. The confectionery shops are full of virgins
and saints, done in candies and gilt gingerbrcads
There is scarcity OF TO feast upon, and in
some measure all feasts The churches in Rome are
usually decorated by their lady attendants. who
spend weeks in dressing. browning and jeweling the
various Madonnas.
THE FEAST IN SOUTHERN EUROPE.
Throughout Austria Bohemia, Hungary and Poland
the day before Christmas is observed q rigid fast,
meat being eaten In order to restrain the chill
dren from satisfying their natural desire for food
this occasion it is customary to assure them that.
provided they eat nothing this day. the evening
table. This is usually received with entire
satisfaction. and the fast is perfected Toward even
ing-in some parts when the first star appears
the tables are lit, and the great feast prepared
is partaken of by all with special zest on
account of their abstinence. At twelve O'Clock
guns fred, drums beaten in the streets and
every sort of noise is conducted until begins.
In Poland meat is prepared for the supper. but
the people eat sitting straw and hay. thus typify
ing in measure the circumstances identified with
the birth Of Christ. The day before Christmas too
is generally great hunting day. it is desirable
that the men should be out OF the way of the wives
while the latter conducting their preparations for
the Christmas festival. These occupy the time in
hunting for the various large and small game which
20 be found in abundance in the vast Hungarian
and Polish forests.
In France New Years Day-the Jour de L'An--is
that it robs much from the proper observance of
Christmas. However. the usual ceremonies Of the
church are performed here, elsewhere; and in
Provence particularly. they fast from meat and have
midnight But, socially, this is not at all the
festival which it is in other countries.
"In the Greek Church there is tho fast Of Lent i'm
mediataly before Christmas; otherwise the cere-
monies very much the same az among the Roman
Catholics. That is to say regards social customs.
games, amusements of various kinds, dancing, &C..
filing up the time.
THE cHRBTMAs rRKE.
Perhaps one Of the most remarkable methods az
making this season pass pleasantly is that one,
customary among the Germans. Of the Christmas tree
This is becoming more and more element in our
Christmas habits and thousands Of them will be
displayed in all the glory Of colored candles, coored
glass and other effects of drapcry and
mentation not to speak Of the innumerable gifts
with which they will be hung. and which form
naturally the chief attraction to the Juvenile
mind. In our land, SO cosmopolitan are we by
the circumstances and the extent of the free
dom Of our laws and manners. have Dor
rowed ceremonies and customs from every country to
which we have just been referring. Roast beef and
plum pudding, roast turkey and mince pie. chimes OF
church bells, at midnight gifts the Christ
mas and gifts in the stocking hung in the chin
ney corner balls. parties. athletic games. panto-
mimes--these and all others of the cheering and
pleasant and sacred social and religious observanccs
to which we have fallen heir, come to as they
to those Others from the remote past and
with with them. to remind us of onr religious
duty and not less of duty Of charity and forbear
ance toward all the world.
Let to it on this special occasion, that while
we observe chSerfuuy and faithfully these festi-
vities the duties which have been handed down to
with them be not forgotten.
This was what tho kind lady told out of her ex-
perience of travel to the poor lame boy. who might
never hope to enjoy it himself And it is all true
perhaps it will not less interest the readers of the
HERALD than it did him. However this may be, some
consideration to what vast brotherhood hu-
mainly forms-as it is scattered through many
countries the globewill not be without it's value
to all of precisely at this Christmas time OF the
year.