The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-12-25
Christina Customs.

No two nations, two families, or two
pefsous have the same way of celebrating
Christmas, or any other holiday. The
Chinese have daasts which correspond to
our christmas, IL Is O. popular festival
devoted almost entirely to the amuse-
ment of children, and in Offering sacri.
fices aud paying homages to certain del.
ties, male and female, who are supposed
TO take interest in the welfare OF the
young, Special honors are paid 20 the
NSeven Star Mother" or Mother of the
Measure" who 10 supposed to dwell
among the Seven stars which form the
d!pper in the Great Bear constellation.
This goddess is believed to have power to
give children long years of life, and her
favor is especially sought.
IE The cakea they eat at this time must
be ronnd, like the moon; and the can
dies, ofWhich they devour great quanti-
ties, are lnade into, ell sorts of queer
hhnpes. Thio Chinese festival takes
place early in October.
The Christian idea of Christmas, With
its love, charity and fo:bearanGe, ig most
s.!F realised L; s5weiaeTi, whore some OF
che pagan ceremonials are still indulged
IN. Ehe courts ara closed; old quarrels
settled; old seuds forgotten; while on
NslS oA0 1EOleutSs tbo l6l0eSt BtStlG anu
small, or the entire household are set
close tegsthsf in 2 row, thss during the
coming q year the family iiby i've together
il, peace and harriony. Isnn,t there seme.
thing particularly pretty and Appropriate
in that custom 2 In ancient Rome All
wnils OF separation weys broken down
during the Satturnalia, or feast Of Saturn.
which corresponds with our Christmas
ilQiidayass & aud In Italy, At the present,
Sdgys mRAtera and saRvautsnot unftesuent-
~ meet, and ara seated at o common
Christmas table.
In the time OF Queen Elizabeth the
Qhglstmas holidays lasted over q month !;
everybtdY made marry nnder tie mistle.
toe bough, and fun aud frolie ragged flu
fipusiy. q
Tho Germans have grated many of
the ancient religious oesesyances upon
their present mode of celebrating Christ.
mas, and all their ceremonies are SYM
holical. they beat tho fruit trees, or
.alls ke ernhths about their roots that the
year may he fruitful, and are much given
TO PROFESSIONS In which the Christrchiid
figures sconSpicuously.
8 st. Michelas is the Santa Claus OF. .Hoi.
land Ia O certain part of Switzerland he
haB "a vile wiio Is known as 81. sifIssicy.
She distributes gifts 10 the girls, and he
tllsnAai Z far. 4la q ..ei care Of the ;ioys. In
many parts Of Switxerland, Germany and
the 4 eshsrlanls, Sc. Nicholas stiil distri-
(. butea bis gifta on st. Nicholas eye-.the
fith Of December instead f6f on Christ
mss ayes ss,ssss4ss..lss.-ss.
In Belgium, on the eve Of chs good
blahop's yoyage araoIg tho cliim&ey topa,
I9 ssize ss=s, s 4.ss an
Ing them with hay, or oats, or carrots, for
thH Eaints white horse, then put hem or
the table, or set them in the. fire-places.
he room Is then carefully locked.
= oxt l1taing &C Ii opened in the pfea.
seF:se 81 Che ablei household, when,
swonde f1l u relate + the furniture is
found to, be topsS .tgrvy; while the little
ahoeal an tesa Of hofaes' fare, arc filed
with and toys for the good
ehill aIIl iog Ike 5at qle
l1USlgn ~ eys = tiap - iyo5ls
sssAly rat than Christmas
zoy tlte 1istT ibut lon ssy pfesents, is 3 the
ChEiss, child Who colhas NTH an escort of
angels loaded s1itls books and toys with
Hhieh tn ~ tho le ahssss so carefully
arTnnged by the Fireplace.
that on Chsietma ni ii Z the heavens are
e enacted but IL X only perrai tod to ]
the gainse to eee Tntoug gIieub DpztTl.
esa g eros any chs sSbicB !, . eoseafl. and
The siEhts lsts hHEsling DARING tho eIll.Ts
tho laTe and the
nfIges sFslo Peas indy sleeps,
may And som tlina. 10 eft. =
ssee s sf G herman OH
gin, and y tbsss prinsip1i feature af che
iioEitY Of tlie ii featigitfes ia 4
acllls rs oyir ,Si q ~. e a Il Ssir3
d been ssa lansed fseIn the
hc RasSbssa Is sEie tants CLAUS os
4tallf ki Eloli ef Ehe ifs
savS9nfs haine i Ching inoTs NOT sseas
thets = largs ichEy ,ed and
cIsgls
10 iiina r.lt1Is ii a
.yesY ~ pnstora Atil psnctfced, tc
sslis i; ~. yiafsa ~ 1s land, tas-
Iaaslg aas md a aus us
isip iaisnfises aogifi thu
.sis sf f "a s sorss sissit 2sils Fliog I
nj llslg of the siln ttg and tegfe