Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-12-22
CHRISTMAS IN GERMANY.


Have any of you ever spent Christmas
in Germany? [ think [ hear chorus of
yeses and noes, but the noes have the
majority. IF therefore the little ones
will draw up their chairs around the fire
will tell them what I know Of Christ
mas In the 'Fatherland." Two weeks
before the festival, Weihnacht Messe,"
or Christmas fair, begins This fair is
held in IN booths, built up roughly in
some public square; In these booths are
found toys OF the commonest kind, sell
ing for few pennies, and at one end,
may be found Christmas trees of all
sizes, from the tiniest pines to the stately
tree of the forest. Here it is, that two
or three days before Christmas the peas
ant women come, for this fair is in
tended only for the poorer classes. Early
IN the wintry morning, when the snow
lies thick upon the ground and the last
faint stars are twinkiing overhead, these
sturdy peasants set out from their homes,
carrying heavy basket of butter, eggs,
ETC., how do you think, children? Why,
on their heads. First they put on little
padded cushions, made to fit the crown
of the head, and then the basket is placed
on that; In this way women carr very
heavy loads greater distance By sun
rise these peasants reach the market
place, and a busy scene follows. The
careful "hausfrau " comes to make her
bargains, and, being Christmas time, she
cheerfully allows the poor market women
to add a few pfennigs (sman coins like
our cents) to the price of Yellow butter
and plump goose. The market being
over, if we follow the peasants still far
Their, after they have carefully counted
the proceeds of the mornings sale into
stocking kept for the purpose, we will
enter with them the Christmas fair; here,
after the practical purchases of some
warm conforters, mittens, socks, and
hoods Qor these little German children
must often take as holiday gifts what are
really necessities), they pause at the toy
stall, add doll for little Gretchen, q
whip for Hans, and tiny tree. For no
mother. how extreme the poverty, if
there are any gifts at all there must be
tree also. We can imagine how the blue
eyed, haxen-haired girl and boy Will re-
vel in the gifts that the "Chrlst-kind"
brings them. German children believe
that little child, called the "Christ-
kind" gives them all their gifts.
About two weeks before Christmas; on
the 9th of December, each little one
writes to the Chr1st-child, and lays it by
the window; it contains the desire of
each heart. The following morning the
letter is gone. When Christmas comes
the wishes are all gratifed. So you see,
children, the Christ-child is as kind to
the little German children as Santa
Claus is to American girls and boys.
Now come with me into the pleasant,
brightly lighted home of rich burgher
family on the oath of December, for in
Germany Christmas eve is celebrated
more than the dav itself. The children
all gathered in the large room, eagerly
watching the closed doors that lead into
the room beyond; all listening for the
bell to ring, for it Is 6 o'clock, and the
Christ-kind must soon arrive. When he
has silently entered and placed the gayly-
lighted tree on the table prepared for
it, he rings a bell and the doors fly open.
SO the children see the Christ-child?
No, dears, they only see a beautiful tree,
hung with many candles and bon bons,
while from the very top little figure
with wings and folded arms look down
upon the happy faces, but the dear
Chrlst-chlld has gone to carry Joy to
OLHc1 houos' h1Ier auHurluS tuo GIoc
with delight, and when the lights begin
to die out, the children turn their atten-
ton to the small tables placed around
the room. Upon these tables the gifts
are arranged, a card with the owners
name, showing for whom each table is
intended. Here you will find everything
that belongs to Christmas, toys, books,
games, and last but not least plate of
Kerche,s, or sweet cakes, dear to the
heart OF every German child After the
lights have quite died out, games are