The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-12-20
Our 0liu.
Christmas Customs.


No two nations, two families, or two
persons have the same way Of celebrating
Christmas, or any other holiday. The
Chinese have feast which corresponds to
our Christmas. 1t is popular festival
devoted almost entirely to the amusement
Of children, and in offering sacrifices aud
paying homage to certain deities, male
and female, who are supposed to take an
interest in the welfare Of the young.
Special honors are paid to the "Seven Star
Mother or "Mother of the Measure" who
is supposed to dwell among the seven
stars which form the dipper 10 the Great
Bear constellation This goddess is be.
lieyed to have power to give children long
years Of life, and her favor is especially
sought
The cakes they cat at this time must be
round, like the moon; and the candies, Of
which they devour great quantities, are
made in all sorts Of queer shapes. This
Chinese festival takes place early in 0c-
tober
The Christian idea Of Christmas, with
its love, charity and forbcarance, is most
fully realized in Sweden, where some Of
the pagan ceremonials are INDUCED in.
The courts are closed; old quarrels are set
tied; old feuds forgotten; while on the
Yule evening the shoes, great aud small
of the entire household are set close to-
gether in a row, that during the coming
year the family may live together in peace
aud harmony. Isn't there something par
ticularly pretty aud appropriate 10 that
custom In ancient Rome all walls of
separation were broken down during the
Saturnalia, or feast Of Saturn, which cor
responds with our Christmas holidays; and
in Italy, at the present day, masters aud
servants not unirequently meet, and are
seated at common Christmas table.
In the time of Queen Elizabeth the
Christmas holidays lasted over a month;
everybody made merry under the mistletoe
bOugh, and fun aud iroIic ragged furiously.
The Germans have grated many Of
their ancient religious obseryanccs upon
the present mode OF celebrating Christmas,
and all their ceremonies are symbolical
They beat the fruit-trces, or shake crumbs
about their roofs, that the year may be
fruitful, and are much given to process
sions ia which the Christ child figures
conspicuously.
st. Nicholas is the Santa Claus Of IIol-
land; in certain part of Switzerland he
has wife, who Is known as St. Lucy.
She distributes gifts to the girls, aud he
looks after the welfare of the bows. In
many parts of Switzerland, Germsny and
the Netherlands, St. Nicholas still distri-
butes his gifts on st. Nicholas eye---she
fifth Of December of on Christ
mas eve.
In Belgium, on the eve of the rood
bishops voyage among the chimney tons.
the children polish their shoes, and filling
them with hay or outs, or carrots for The
saints white horse, then put them on the
table, or set them 10 the fire.placcs.
The room is then carefully locked.
Next morning il is opened in the presence
Of the assembled household. when, won
derful to relate the furniture Is found 70
be topsy-turvy; while the little shoes, in
stead Of horses fare, are filed with sweet.
meats and toys for the good children and
rods for the bed ones.
In France, though New Year is gener.
ally observed rather than Christmas for the
distribution Of presents, il IS the Christ.
child who comes with an escort Of angels
loaded with books and toys with which 10
gil the little shoes 50 carefully arranged BY
the fireplace.
Ia Poland, and elsewhere, II is believed
that on Christmas night the heavens are
opened, and the scene Of Jacobs ladder
re-enactedi but il is onIy permitted to the