St. Landry democrat., 1890-12-20
THE SLAV CHRISTMAS,
HOW THE HOLIDAY "FPT II
SOUTHERN AL .-

f1OW tF1G T1OIIDNf - tlS
SOUTHERN AL .'-
Superstition Among the G. pie
About Amin als-They Are ..>..vsed to
Talk ut Certain Times-Stcange 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, rs i'll all
Catholic countries, Dec. 20 is a church
festival, and the gath a fast, the onl y
joyous fast of the year. The supper Is
unusually good and plentiful, but no
meat is served at it unless it be wild duck
or-otter, both of which are regarded by
the ecclesiastical authorities as fish. The
foreign visitor will probably receive half
a dozen invitations; the proper thing to
do is 10 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 Carlnthla,
which is chiefly German, has been prop
erly admired, and in all cases the neces-
sary presents have been given to the
children, and they have gone to bed,
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 one
may attend or not, just as one likes.
IMPRESSIVE SERVICES.
The three morning masses when heard
in a village church in Austria are among
the most impressive services Of the
church, though they are, of course en-
tirely wanting in pomp. The choir sing
songs about the nativity in the national
language and in such way that both
the words and the music correspond to
the service at the altar. The stranger
who has learned to look upon the mass,
in spite of its entirely classical Latin, as
one of the greatest poems of the Chris
tan period is at first inclined to resent
the introduction of modern hymns and
languages, but the fervor of the singers
and the way in which they are Joined
by the congregation, similar to that
which many readers may have remarked
in the churches of Scotland, clearly show
that the usage is dear to the heart of the
people, though to us it may seem almost
as offensive as if the divine comedy
were publicly read with the accompani-
ment of music selected from Ofenbach.
Popular verse and music are always in
teresting and sometimes extremely good;
but they cannot quite supply the place
of the Gloria and Agnus Del, especially
for foreign admirers of the church who
do not belong to its communion Still
the midnight mass in an Alpine village
is thing to see. The long walk through
the snow and darkness; the friendly light
from the windows of most houses; the
groups of furcoated worshipers whom
one overtakes or who overtake one, with
their hearty Christmas greetings; the
blaze of light on the altar, which con-
lrasts equally with the night outside and
The other unlighted parts of the church
within, are all impressive.
AN INTERESTING PROCESSION.
This Christmas in Slay village has
purely religious character, though, as it
obliges one to sit up la ~ f. rise early,
it may serve as an CS@g fox il l1sa-.a"
chat than usual and a.. -t~@ ,-s. -
Advent is not, as in Ger - -.t.o
tant 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 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, a duet or
double chorus follows. The attendants
of the saints ask for a nights lodging,
those within ask who the travellers are,
and so gradually the 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 in hymn of praise, and evening
prayer begins in their presence. On the
following afternoon the two saints are
carried to the next house, and the scene
ls repeated. 1t may seem to the reader
that the whole ceremony must be child |
ishly grotesque; this is not the impress
sion it makes ON the non-C Catholic but |
stranger. These peasants
are evidently sincerely worshiping the !
true God after their own fashion. In |
where children are educated |
the Same usage is practiced, but there
Ehe sacred guests are carried from cell
TO cell instead of from house to house.
DEVOTION OF THE KINGS.
This custom is purely Christian, an at
benpt 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 ARE slightly different. They bear
he trace. not of heathenism so much as
sf struggle against heathenism The
'aanee appear in full costuule-the one
With his face conscicntiously BACKED
Ha4h holy water and censers filled with
burning incense. They bless every room
n the house, and still more carefully
he stalls and stables, and upon every
ioor they make three crosses, in order
o keep out Fra Perchta, who is the I'M
laliowed and unhonored shade of the
reat goddess whom heroes once wor-
hiped as Freya. That twelfth night.
he last of the twelve days of the great
winter festival, which was celebrated
.lika nv the S1avs and tho carn,,-
hould be chosen for these strange cere-
Monies is noteworthy; though one can
lot help feeling a certain sympathy for