Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-25

Finally the Professor consente TO tr.y,
and the following interesting account is
the result Of his effort
Christmas in Germany is a day for
games. for music, and q day for the
children, when with presents and kind
words parents. friends, and relatives do
their utmost TO make glad the hearts OF
the young people.
Christmas is also q great religious
festival in the Fatherland. On this day
the churches are crowded TO the doors
with immense concourses Of people. The
attendance OF men on this occasion is
very large indeed. This is rather sur
prising, but it is fact that on festival
days like Easter. New-Year's day, and
Christmas, the men make it point to
attend church, while on other days they
arc conspicuous by their absence.
CBBIsTMAs-TRREs IN DEUTSCHLAND.
"The Christmss-tree, with its pyramid
OF green and tinsel. gilt and spanRles, and
its laden limbs ablaze and ornamented
with lights is distinctively German
custom, and nowhere can it be seen to
better perfection than in the families in
some OF the big cities in Deutschland.
" In Germany three days are celebra-
ted as Christmss-day-the 9th, 26th,
and 9th Of December. The holidays
come to an end on the 2d Of January.
The great festival after Christmas is New
Years eve, which is called in Germany
st. Sylvosters day. when cake, punch,
and wine are served in the evening"
WHEN GIFTS ARE GIVEN.
"The dressing OF the Christmas
tree" Professor Cnkel continued, "is
very important task and as general
thing is performed day or two before
Christmas. on Christmas eve and not
before the interchange Of gifts takes
place. THIS think is as IL ought to be.
A very stupid fashion IN Richmond with
some people il the giving Of presents
day or two before Christmas.
The tree is usually placed on large
table covered with spotless pure white
cloth and set in the middle OF the room.
When ornamenting the tree the children
are not allowed TO be present.
MUSIC MINGLED WITH JOYOUS EXPECrA-
TIoN.
"On Christmas eve when it is dark
some member of the family sits at the
piano and plays and sings choral and
then the children are all assembled and
await IN joyous expectation the sound Of
the first chord of choral. At last tits heard,
and the doors of the room are suddenly
thrown open and from the darkness
shines ont the beautiful tree. and the
children troop in. followed by their pa
rents, servants. and such young friends
or relatives as have been asked in for
the evening. After the distribution OF
presents games are introduced. The
presents are placed beneath the tree or
on table near by. The gifts are not
tied on the tree, rs many people are led
TO believe, and it is a good plan, for they
would be ruined by the dropping of
hot wax from the lighted tapers.
mon AND LOW EAT CAKE FOR DESSERT.
Weeks before Christmas the good
mothers are busy making all sorts of
fancy cakes and what seems rather queer,
especially to an American, should he
happen TO be in the street, is the large
number of servant-girls carrying large
bakers pans filed with cakes, hurrying
10 the bakery TO get them baked in the
oven. Housekeepers prefer having their
fancy cakes, etc, baked at a bakery.
"Dinner is served at noon after church
amongst the working and trades people.
of course with the nobility a later hour
a III mode. Roast goose and venlson
is the great dish for Xmas dinner with
plum pudding and the greatest variety
of homemade cakes for dessert. Fine
wines, punch, and champagne are not
wanting.
on THE RHINE.
"Tell me what you know about
Christmas-day celebrations in Ger
many said the DISPATCH reporter to
Mr.. August Pohlig. "Oh, there is not
much 70 tell, =" was the reply. But tho
DIsPAHOH's demand evidently threw Mr..
Pohlig into Illuminating mood that was
by no means unpleasant. for he quit
work, lit cigar, offered his visitor one,
and leaning back upon table re-
flected for some moments, while a
genial smile played over his face.
= oh" he resumed finally, "Christmas
is a great day in Germany, great day !;
vet. as have said, there is not much to
tel. Where / came from, Wald, near So
lingen. which is III Rhine province,
the day is very quietly but happily spent.
There is a Cbristmas-tree in the house, OF
course. and the presents are distributed
in the morning, vet the day is a rell-
gious festival. The people so to church
morning and evening and the children
are not allowed to run in the street.
The next day, however, the merriment
begins and at night there is ball IN
every public hall. During service on
Christmas-day the doors of the saloons
are locked, and those who happen to be
caught in them cannot get out until
church is over"
IN NORTH GERMANY.
To the same demand made on Mr..
John L. Kohler, that gentleman replied /:
"In Hanover, of which | am native,
Christmas morning is ushered In by the
ringing Of all the bells. Religious SER
vices are held in the churches which are
beautifully lighted up, and at intervals
during the day bands discourse music
from the church belfries. The celebra-
tion of the day is religious one, but
there is the Christmas-tree and the sea-
son is a children's season.
Staid scotland.
"Christmas-day is not much observed
in Scotland" said MIR. ID. Buchanan.
"They have Christmas-trees and give
presents, but never saw Christmas
tree in Sunday school before l came
here. New Years day is the great fes-
tival OF the year in Scotland-the occs-
sion for merry-making and exchanging
greetings.