Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-01-10
oHRIsrMAs IN sERMAsy.
HOW the Affectionnto German.
Celebrate In tho Eatherinnd,



Celebrate In the Eatherinnd.
Good Housekeeping.
We have always thought Of the Gar.
mana ~ q stolid, Unconditional rooe. bnt
We ind them quite the reverse. Ibey
have not, TO be sure, the sensitive. ner.
sous organizations Of the Americans
They endure petty trials more philosonh.
ioelly, and are never In a hurry. Tbay
are, however, warm. hearted and ann.
sionRl, easily moved to laughter or tears
They are demonstrRtiye and nffoctionate
and have hundred loving dimiuutiyes
in their language where we have ons
All holidays are kept with great enthu.
slasm, and christmas day In particular is
the greatest day OF the year. Ali per.
sons, from the highest to tho lowest, give
and receive presents, and all have their
Christmas tree.
Not one, but three days are celebrated,
The "Erste, zweite md Dritte Foier.
tage." In most families not only one
large tree Ia provided, but small one
for each member of the family is placed
by the plate in the morning, with smaller
gifts upon II. Tho religious character OF
the festival is remembered by tho Ger
mans even more than with us. At tho
celebration of the tree, the night before
Christmas, the little ones form circle
around the tree and sing carol. Then
q short prayer of thanksgiving is offered,
and the presents are distributed. The
little German children have no legend OF
Santa Claus coming down the chimney,
as indeed would be utterly impossible
with these tall white stoves In place OF n
fireplace, but in the afternoon the wia.
dow iB opened, that "Knecht Ruprechtn
may come In and Rdorn tho Christmas
tree, and indeed the tree appears adorned
by angels. Little patches Of cotton sim
ulate snow. Gilded nuts, cones, paper
flowers, chocolate and gingerbread hni
mails, tinsel butterflies and colored can
dies arc on every bough, and over all are
floating threads of geld and silver, called
the Christ child's hair. At the top ia a
large waxen "Ohristkind" with Rauzy
wings, in whose name ell the gifts are
distributed. The gifts all show some
sentiment or loving Thought, the true
spirit Of Christmas. For weeks before,
any chance wish or desire ia treasured
up, that tho Christmas gift may be a vel
come one.
The poor are most lovingly remem.
bered at this season. All over the city
are Christmas trees for the poor children.
Warm clothing and other necessaries are
generously distributed. The servants,
who are so poorly paid here, welcome
OhristIdas most joyfuily. Each servant
has a gift of 40 marks $50 in money, a
STOLEN (which Is lopg frnit cake), q
now dress, and some little gift from each
member Of the family. A black wooden
dress is considered the finest dress TO be
given. The postman must also he re-
membered, and the chimney sweeps call
during the week for their fee. For weeks
beforehand, the open squares in the city
are allied with Christmas trees and their
spicy odor fills the air.
Eight days before Christmas the
"Weinachts Market" Ia opened, aud the
fair continues till Christmas day. The
large square In the centre Of the city is
Allied with wooden booths, aud the peas
ants come from miles around to sell their
wares, 1t has been custom for centu-
sies, and Is very interesting. Toys of oil
sorts, baskets, Pfeffer kueher Of all sorts,
gingerbread men, and wonderful ginger.
bread houses with sugar doves On The
roof, transparent windows, and candle
inside 70 lighs them mp gilded nuts,
cones, and al sorts of things to deck the
Christmas trets, and especially knitted
and orochete& articles Of every descrip
tion. As you walk through the market
the noise is denfening, all crying out
"Was suchen sic, meme Dame," and
holding up all sorts of trinkets. Little
girls and boys, running around with
jumping jacks end gingerbread men, and
tiny haxen. haired maidens with dolls and
flowers. The stores are magnificent with
pictures and brio-a-brac, the toy stores
running over with wonderful things, and
each window surrounded by crowd Of
admiring children, Every one is good
natured. There is no hurrying or push
ing. Each one bides his time. The
night before Christmas was In one OF
the largest toy shops. poor man stood
at the counter with 50 pfennigs (l2A
cents) In his hand. He was looking
with great interest at some small dolls.
The pretty, rosy-cheeked shop girl, in.
stead Of snubbiDg him, was very atten'
tive, and discussed the relative merits o:
light and dark hair with kindly interest
most pleasant to see.
The flower stores are like glimpse Of
fairyland, and even the meat shops are
beautiful. A German meat shop has Q
floor of mosaic, q frescoed ceiling, marble
slabs and counters, and perfect festoont
OF sausages. A pretty girl, in white car
and apron, serves yea. At Christmas
time the window ia Allied with tempting
viands, garnished with green, and flowers
cut from bets and turhips. In the centre
is q boar's head, we'll garnished, and
with wreath OF flowers.
The Christmas festival is followed By
the New Year. The night before IL
called Sylvester Abend. Every one sits
up to see the old year out and the New
Year in. The streets are filed with
jewellers, oil calling ont to each other
'.Prosit Neu Jahr." AT midnight the
windows are opened to let the New Yeal
in, and hymn is sung. The next morn
ing you receive from every one caro-
with New Years congratulations. The
postman comes laden. No presents are
given AT New Year, but loving messages
and flowers. The kaiser receives oon
ordinations on New Years day, and the
display ia magnificent.
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