The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-12-24
THE sLAv CHRISTMAS
How The Holiday is Kept IN
Southern Austria.

nioIa had DO Christmas and tins = True
in tie sense in which We understand the
word. Ofc0urse there, as in sll Catholic /
e,un-r;es. Dec. > Is church festival, /
and the asth last, the only joyous fast
Of the year. The supper Is unusually I
good and plentiful, but no meat IS served l
AZ II unless il be Wild dark or otter, both /
OF which are regarded br the eeelesiasti- /
ca authorities as fish The foreign visi- /
tor VIII probably receive half dozen in /
viixtions the proper thing to do Is to /
accept the one that comes from the land /
lord. in whose house one usually dimes, /
and the falfIlnent Of this social duty Is /
generally is own reward The dishes /
are strange out agreeable, and after the !
Christmas tree IN CArinthia, which j.
chiefly Gernsn, has been properly ad- /
rnirsd. and in al cases the necessary Z
presents have been gwen 70 the children
and they have gone 10 bed, a tone OF
quiet satisfaction becomes the leading
note Of the evening. Every subject that
could lead 70 contention j. avoided. and
50 one sits together till the time for the
first mass. which Is read st OF shortly
after Midnight, and which one may a.
tend or not Just as one likes
IMPRESSIVE sERyICEs-
The three morning masses when heard
il s village church in Austria are among
the most impressive services Of the
church, though they are, Of course, en-
tireiy wanting IN pOmp. The choir sing
songs abou. the nativity in the national
language and in such a Eay that both
the words and the music correspond to
/ the service at the altar. The stranger
who hzs learned 70 look upon the mass.
{ in spite Of Us entirely classical I-ssin. a.
one Of the greatest poems Of the Chris-
/ tian period : al frs inclined 10 resent
( theiintroiuerion Of modern hymns and
+ languages, but the feryor Of tAe singers
and the way in which they are joined
BY the congregation. similar 70 that
which many readers may have remarked
IA the churches Of Scotland. clearly show
that the usage Is dear 20 the heart Of the
( people. though 70 us it nsy seem almost
as offensive - II the divine comedy were
publicly Rad with the accompaniment
Of music selected from O1snbsch. Pop
ular verse and music are alEsys interest
1 ing and somstimes extremely good but
they cannot quite supply the place Ct
the Gloria and Agnus De-, especially for
foreigners admirers Of tie church who
( do not belong 10 lis communion. Stil
the midnight mass 10 an Alpine village
isa thing 10 see The long walk through
the snoE and darkness; the friendly
light from the windows OF most houses
/ the groups Of fuueoated Eorshipers whom
/ one overtakes or who osertake one. With
their hearty Christmas greetings; the
blaze Of light on the altar, which con-
trasts equa'Iy with the night outside and
r the other urlliissItsd pzrss Of the church
within, are ali impressive.
AS INTERESTING FzocEssl0S.
ms Christmas IN a SiaE village has a
purely religious character. though, ss it
obliges one TO ST up late or 70 rise early,
It may serve IS an excuse Tor a longer
CHAT than usual and an extra glass. But
Advent Is not as in German or PrOtes-
iant countries, concentrated into the
single festival. In many villages on the
first evening kind Of homely procession
Is formed. and the images Of the Holy
Virgin and s. Joseph are carried 10 tne
inst house IN the place, the Inhabitants
Of which know exactly what Is going 70
happen then. where they sing, as they
generally do in Carniola. a duet OF 3
double chorus f0llows. The attendants
I Of the saints ask for nights lodging
those within ask who tie travellers are
and 50 gradually the whole history o.
, the nativity Is told in OH World verss
and music. Then the doors are thrown
vide Opsn AL who are within kneel, the
images are borne to the altar that has
been prepared for item. the two ehoruse
JOIN in hymn Of praise, and evenin.
prayer begins IN their presence. Oa tn
following afternoon the two saints ar
carried 70 the next house, and the seen
= repeated. II may saem = the reade
+ that the whole ceremony must be child
: ishly gIosesque this is lot the impres
= sion Il makes on the non-Cztholic bu
Y unpreiudiced stranger These peasant
y are evidently sincerely Eorshiping th
true God after their own fashion L
: convents where children are educate
e the sane usage Is practicsd, but then
5 the sacred guests are carried from cell
4 cell instead q from house 70 house
: pEv0TloS OF THE KISss-
1 This custom is purely Christian, Al al
, tempt TO bring the sacred story home
the Imagination ofthe people thereoers
q monies performed on the day sei apai
Y for devotion 70 the three holy kings
d the wise men Of the east soar txelft
K night-are slightly different They bes
= the trace, n1t ofhsaihenisn - much /.
IN Of 4 struggle against heathenism- II
= three appear in fall cosfume-the on
70 with his face conscientiously blaeked-
with holy water and oenses filed wit
ie burning insense. They bless every rooi
~ in the house. and still more carefally To
~ Stalls ard stables. and upon every do
y they make three crosses, in order . kee
y out Fra Perehts, whs Is the unhaliOEt
q and unhonorei shade Of the great %
~ dess whom heroes once worshiped
as Frsys- That twelfth night, the last
the twelve days Of the great winter fes'
i val. which Vas celebrated alike by Il
y Slav and the Germans. should be chos'
lie for thess strange ceremonies IL not
TO worthy. though one can not help f-elu
10 a certain sympathy for the goddess ~
~ Is thus shut out Of human habitatioas {
1 the very day when her presence Was 4
ng meriy invoked Il may be added tn
ne the crosses are treated with the create
i respect what would happen TO any O.
IL who xllfuily rubbed them out no o.
knows 4 COW maid Eho BY chance O
iAI Iiterated txo had 70 dance for who
II night over ro1gh stones with you
en nan. whom she supposed 70 be the dey
ne fell into 4 fever zfterward- PArtig