The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1890-12-20
THE SLAV CHRISTMAS.
HOW THE HOLIDAY IS KEPT IN
SOUTHERN AUSTRIA.

Talk ut Certain Times-Strange Stories
to Account for the Phenomenon.
It has been said that the Slavs Of
Carniola had no Christmas, and this is
true in the sense in which We understand
the word. Of course there, as in all
Catholic countries, Dec. 25 is a church
festival, and the 9th fast, the only
joyous fast of the year. The supper is
unusually good and plentiful, hut no
meat is served at it unless it be wild duck
or otter, both of which arc regarded by
the ecclesiastical authorities as fish. The
foreign visitor will probably receive half
a dozen invitations; the proper thing to
do is to accept the one that comes from
the landlord, in whose house one usually
dimes, and the fulfllment of this social
duty is generally its own reward. The
dishes are strange but agreeable, and
after the Christmas tree in Carinthia,
which is chiefly German, has been prop
erly admired, and in all cases the ncccs-
sary presents have been given to tho
children, aud they have gone to bed, a
tone of quiet satisfaction becomes the
leading note of the evening. Every sub
ject that could lead to contention is
avoided, and so one sits together till the
time for the first mass, which is read at
or shortly after midnight, and which ono
may attend or not, just as one likes.
IMPRESSIVE SERVICES.
The three morning masses when heard
i'll a village church in Austria are among
the most impressive services of tho
church, though they are, of course, en-
tircly wanting in pomp. The choir sing
songs about the nativity in tho national
language and in such q way that both
tho words and the music correspond to
the service at the altar. The stranger
who has learned to look upon the mass
i'll spite of its entirely classical Latin, as
one of the greatest poems of tho Chris
| tian period is ut first inclined to resent
| the introduction of modern hymns and
languages, but the fervor of the singers
and the way i'll which they are joined
hy tie congregation, similar to that
which many readers may have remarked
i'll the churches of Scotland, clearly show
that tho usage is dear to tho heart of the
people, though to us it may seem almost
as offensive as if the divine comedy
were publicly read with tho accolnpani-
ment of music selected from Offenbach.
Popular verse and music are always in
teresting and sometimes extremely good;
but they cannot quite supply the place
of the Gloria and Agilus Del, especially
for foreign admirers of the church who
do not belong to its communion. Still
the midnight mass in an Alpine village
is a thing to see. The long walk through
the snow and darkness; tho friendly light
from tho windows of most houses; tho
groups of furcoated worshipcrs whom
one overttlses or who overtuke one, with
their hearty Christmas greetings; the
blaze of light on the altar, which con-
|rasts equally with the night outside and
Tho other unlighted parts of tho church
within, are all impressive.
AN INTERESTING PROCESSION.
This Christmas in Slav village has a
purely religious character, though, as it
pbliges one to sit up late or to rise early,
1t may serve rs an excuse for n longer
chat than usual and an extra glass. But
Advent is not, as in German or Protcs-
tant countries, concentrated into the
single festival. In many villages on the
first evening q kind of homely procession
is formed, and the images of the Holy
Virgin and ST. Joseph are carried to the
first house in the place, the inhabitants
of which know exactly what is going to
happen; then, where they sing, as they
generally do in Carniola, duet or
double chorus follows The attendants
of the saints ask for q nights lodging,
those within ask who the travellers are,
and so gradually tho whole history of
the nativity is told in Old World verse
and music. Then the doors are thrown
wide open; all who are within kneel, the
images are borne to the altar that has
been prepared for them, the two choruses
join i'll a hymn of praise, and evening
payer begins in their presence. On the
following afternoon the two saints are
carried to the next house, and the scene
is repeated. 1t may seem to the reader
that tho whole ceremony must bo child
ishly grotesque; this is not the impress
sion it makes on the non-Catholic but
unprejudiccl stranger. These peasants
are evidently sincerely worshiping the
true God after their own fashion In
converts where children arc educated
the same usage is practiced, but there
the sacred guests are carried from cell
to cell instead Of from house to house.
DEVOTION OF TIE KINGS
This custom is purely Christian, an at
tempt to bring the sacred story home to
the imagination of the people; the cere-
monies performed on the day set apart
for devotion to the three holy kings
the wise men of the east (our twelfth
night)-ale slightly different. They bear
the trace. not of heathenism 80 much as
of a struggle against heathenism The
three appear in full costume-the one
with his face conscientiausly plackcd-
with holy water and censers filed with
burning incense. They bless every room
in the house, and still more carefully
the stalls and stables, and upon every
door they mako three crosses. in order
to keep out Fra Pe1chta, who is the I'M
hallpwel and unhonored shade of the
great goddess whom heroes once wor-
SHIPPED as Freya That twelfth night,
tho last of tho twelve days of the great
winter festival, which was celebrated
alike by the Slays and the Germans,
should be chosen for these strange cere-
monies is noteworthy; though one can
not help feeling certain sympathy for
the goddess who is thus shut out of hui
man habitations on the very day when
her presence was formerly invoked. 1t
may be added that the crossesare treated
with the greatest respect; what would
happen to any one who willfully rubbed
them out no ono knows. A COW maid
who by chance obliternted two had to
dance for whole night over rough
tones with young man, whom she
supposed to be the devil, and fell into q
fever afterward. Particularly devout
persons often endeayor to connect the
crosses so that they form one Of the
names OF symbols of our Saviour. II
they succeed it is a favorable omen.