Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1885-12-25
CHRIS MAS IN MExEo.
Dramatic Religious Ritcss akingied with

Dramatic Religious RitesF Mingled with
Stately merry -szas1ing.
r.. A. B. in Philadelphia Press.l
The holiday season in Mexico shows
as strong contrast with the celebration
in our country as Providence presents it
in climate and people It has religious
traits that are attractive, and many of
them dramatic. In fact, every phase of
| life in that Catholic country is singularly
tinged with the forms of religion Dur
ing Christmas they are shown In
their best lights. Like all commu-
| mites that worship their patron saints,
| their holidays begin earlier and last much
longer than bIlrs The celebratioff Of the
birth Of Christ begins there with the Pill
grimage of Joseph and Mary from Naza-
reth to Bethlehem, where the Child was
born. For nine days before the natal day
| everything is given up to the first act of
this crude Passion play. The lower
classes spend most Of their time in wor-
ship at homo and in the churches But
those who arc Weather lake upon them
selves the duty of celebrating every stage
of the pilgrimage of nearly 1000 years
ago. Those moving in the same circle OF
society gather in groups each evening and
20 as Surprise party to the housellof one
| of their circles They sing and rap Wig
orously at the door, when those within
ask:
7 aWho seeks adnittance9 z,
The Virgin Mary and ST. Joseph ask
| lodgings in your house
The doors are thrown open, and the.
visitors are welcomed and conducted to
| the nacinaiento, d little altar erected In
the private residences of the better classes,
representing the birth of Christ Here
each one repeats q prayer with the rosary
/ These ssimple religious services over, all
are invited to the parlor, where refresh
ments are served and the host makes pro-
clamation that he is honored by the pre-
sence of Mary and Joseph, and invites
them all to make merry. Music and
dancing succeed eating and drinking, and
there is prolonged merry making.
= Christmas Eve ushers in new scene,
| the most dramatic and beautiful of all the
! holiday season. The richer people who
have represented the long pilgrimage. give
way to the poorer classes, who now take
up the celebration by giving the @Pas-
torela,n a dramatic representation of the
birth of Christ. The largest room that
can be procured in the village is fitted up
for the representation, and the humble
| people, who have few wants and little to
/ supply them with. come in to represent
the characters in the drama.
The shepherds in the field observing the
Star of Bethlehem, are cleverly repre-
scented, as is their journey under its guild
ance The birth in the manger. the his
torie cow, the angels and st. Michael are
all shown in the simple, picturesque, but
impressive play. The spectators who wit
ness and applaud the humble players, who
are thus properly representing those who
welcomed the birth of our Savior, are
sometimes those who made the cmble-
j matte visits of the eprevious nine days, but,
generally the play is for the poorer classes.
This charming introduction to Christ
mas Day ends little before
midnight, when those who have
witnessed it are expected to enter
tain the performers. Then all classes &C
to midnight mass, where the greatest
crowd of all the year, except Holy
are seen. The food furnished aft
representations consists usually OF
nuelos, wheat -four cake cooked much
like our doughnuts. and tesquino, a kind
of beer or f6Frnenteds drink, Of which the
poorer classes partake freely during holt
day time.
Christmas Day is celebrated in quiel
way. Nothing Of the boisterous ioviality
of the American day is apparent Gift
from friend to friend are rarely inter-
changed. The servants often get their
aguinaldo. Christmas present. but even
this custom is not general Hearty and
happy as is the Mexican's Christmas. 1t is
enjoyed more IS a religious festival than
as feast