The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-22
CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES.
WAYS OF CELEBRATING THE DAY
IN MANY LANDS.


Spain and Italy-The Land OF Santa
Claus-A Mexican Christmas Eve.
From the Washington Star. "
Wherever the Christian religion Is known
no matter what the country, the race, the
people, the creed, Christmas-the birthday
of the great founder of that FAITHS the
most universally and joyously celebrated
festival, both religious aud social, Of the en-
tire year. But though Christians of every
shade OF belief unite In honoring the occa-
sion, yet every country and every people
impart to their observance of IL certain
distinguishing features, which harmonic
with and are the outgrowth OF the nationa
characteristics. To the traveller in foreign
lands nothing presents itself of greater in
terest than the different methods of cele-
brating Christmas in different countries.
CHRISTMAS IN ENGLAND.
The English Christmas is, perhaps, the
richest of all in that hearty hospitality and
merriment aud that profusion of substau--
tial good cheer which our people. like their
British cousins, so closely associate with the
occasion. The old English Christmas. as it
was celebrated centuries ago in the great
halls of the feu lal barous, may be best
known from the pages of Sir Walter Scott,
who frequently describes it, aud VINO in his
poem Of "Marmion" admirably sums 1t up
in few words when he says:
England was merry England when
Old Christmas brought his sports again.
Twas Christmas broached the mightiest ale
Twas Christmas told the merriest tale.
A Christmas gambol oft would cheer
A poor mans heart through half the years
The "December libertiss,n as the wild
gambols, pranks and mssquerades of Christ
mas time were called the famous Christmas
dinner of the barons with its dish of boar's
head borne upon q massive silver platter In
great state the whole length Of the immense
banquetlng hall by the major domo of the
household, attended by large number of
servants and vassals; tho "mumming" or
masquerading, the singing of Christmas
carols, the playing at snap dragon, hot
cookies and all the other Christmas sports
and games, presided over by specially APP
pointed officer Of the household called the
lord Of misrule or the abbot OF unreason-
all these and countless other features of tho
old English Christmas Scott, that wonder
full wizard Of the north" has described IA
only he could do it.
The modern English Christmas found its
apostle IN Dickens, who. In his vivid word
pictures, has most clearly and accurately
portrayed its every light and shadow. The
Wild abandon Of los predecessor Of centuries
ago has been somewhat restrained, but
within the limit OF becoming mirth there is
still no merrier Christmas. II Is strange
fact, however, that in England the day
after Christmas, or "boxing day" as 1t Il
called, Is an occasion of even greater
festivity among the working classes than
Christmas day itself. IL derives Its name
from the christmas boxes" or donations OF
Christmas spending money which are col.
lected on that day by letter carriers, milk
men. butchers boys, and other equally use-
ful members of society. v1osH
SPANISH CHRISTMAS.
The Spanish Christmas is largely an out.
door celebration, as / found while residing
in the city Of Seville some years ago. The
Spaniards, like the French, are much Ia
the streets at all times, and even more than
usual during the Christmas season. Fol
more than three weeks before Christmas
the magnificent cathedral of Santa Maria
de la Sede, as we'll as the noble churches Of
san Juan do la Palma, Santa Catalina and
Santa Maria la Blanca, are crowded &c
repletion with devout worshipers every
morning at the mass, which Is sung daily
thr oughout the year. AS boxing day is +.
the English SO is noche buend TO the Span.
iards. The words literally mean "thC
good night" but they are also used in Spain
TO designate Christmas eve, which is even
more joyously celebrated than Christmas
day itself. Then the whole city seems &c
have turned out en- masse into the thor
oughfares and the great public squares Of
the plaza del Triunfo, the plaza Nueva. the
plaza del Duque and the plaza de la Consti
tucion.
Even the most unlucky pedestrian In all
that great throng-he who has lost a loosely
fitting hat or has had his pocket picked
Spanish pickpockets are the most expert oi
ali artists in their line), or whose ribs have
been bruised or his corns troddsn upon
even he must find some alienation Of hi
misfortunes aud misery in contempl plating
the scene that meets his gaze on Christina
eve in any OF the places named. Numerous
flaming torches throw rich crimson glare
upon the winning briiliancy of jellies, art
fully heightened by a light placed behind
them TO display their transparency, REQ
festoons of chorios Csausages), jamonei
thams), both salt and sweet, q
thousand dainty combinations of hog,
fruit and sugar, luckless capons,
rejecting upon past misfortunes, and
matte heaps OF apples, figs, oranges. lemons
and countless other delicious fruits dis
pl Eyed by hundre Is Of vendors who have
converted the plazas into temporary fair
grounds. There IL the kaleidoscope ming
Il and changing of sex, nationality,
costume, and language, the angry remon-
strauces OF buyers against the exactions OF
vendors, the Joyous shouts Of children, the
music Of st eet bands, and your own ejacu
latlons Of pain as some big fellow plants
himself on your favorite toe form tbs
obligato accompaniment to the brilliant
scene presented by Spanish Christmas
eve.
The Italian Christmas presents many
features identical with tne Spanish, and the
scenes enacted ia the streets Of Florence
during the Christmas season closely resem.
BILE those Of Seville. Italy pays great at
tention to the Christn decoration Of her
churches, and have found ID more elabo
rate than that Of any other counrty. Or
Christmas eve you z men and women as
semble at the churches and aid in their dec
grafton, collation. being served to them
after midnight mass. The devout Italians
have poetic idea that to cheer and en-
courage the virgin through the pangs OF
maternity they must play upon instru nenti
and sing before her shrines on Christma'
eve.
KRIS KINGLE's LAND.
The German Christmas has supplied Us
with two of our est known CHRISTMAS
customs--hanging up stockings and attaca
ing gifts TO sprigs OF pine, called Christ
mas trees. From the German christina
also come Santa Claus and KRIS Kingle
The latter is a corruption Of Christ Kindlir
or Christ Child, of whom they have tbs
beautiful fable that with bis own hands b
places Christmas toys and sweet meats II
the stockings Of good children while those o
bad ones receive nothing but small bircI