Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-24

Odd Way. An wAish o~ssf.~nssi r~.ps-s
ose<hs~se TIE Day.

SuhfsrSAs IN EUROPE.
Odd Way. an which c~-ss.-,s., r~,-,-s
ose<hs~ss shs Dsy.
AN AMERICAN YOUTH WERE TOLD
L that when he married be voulS have 20
choose h,s bride bii.asold gree, would ~ hs
indignation. II NAV bs that In reality hs ~fl
DO sonsshins very lfks this sfs ths aid % D.a
osPia and his misshssveus tisks-wAst man
actually sses the girl Of his sAescs - osers -
hsr-sut - BE obliged b, ssssen 10 .s,sc, he
fusurs wife from snonss nunhsr 81 cls-siv
veisd naidsns sit,ins In . row voald s,era
very outrageous insesd. Such, hs-sv,r. 4. ca.
wsy couples are betrsshsd in ssn. parts q
ruri Russia. Christina. IA, among the.
pessanss is given sssrz charm snd rsndsrcd
much mere exciting by this osroneuy. which 10
conducted - follow;
The great man % the village IA. an .l.Aor-
stely trimmed tree. and - Il ~. iu.s,ed me
people from all the ceantrs round about 80
Pecisily the Young fslks of both ssxs. During
Tie evening. at . s,rual given b. The se.s Il
The giris leave the room where the russts are
assembled and so into srother. whore long
benches are placed against ire walls. Ga thee
the 9 rls scat themselves. snd then the hss,e.s
carefully thro~s over zach . large thea ~hits
cloth, which falls 20 their knee. not only hid-
ing their faces. but coupletsss disfuisifg thar
figures. This done. the do,- !. or.eueA snd ors
/ young man af = time is admitted into the apart
ment and chooses his bride ~ithost hitting he
Nells The choice once made a. binding %
both parties. The moment after fring IN .
maiden and before tho vci 70 removed rsusi 10
an anxious one FOR the sutton but Tor tlio-s
outside the door 70 must be almost equally ~
citing. for. while each one 10 a,.iting his turn
some Other fellow may select and valk OF via
l the girl OF his heart
Perhaps the mast curious part q tbs straur.
custom lies the hat u.
seldom known 20 occur. . man insArtabls aui
In spite OF al precautions packing out Ii. righs
somaa.
Another interesting CHRISTMAS ous,orn in
Russia 10 prsctscsd nv the children m lie
province Of Podolis. The people IN thi. rars
OF the country are very religiO Inclined aud
the ceremonies - tie great Christian holiday
take their character largely from tbs fact oa
Christmas evening he children start ~ scruss
the hard-frc,en SNOW IN pro~essian. HEADED BY
boy carving isrre chapel trsnstsr-nrv
on which 10 portrayed the interior % the s,ails
In Bethishsm ON that morning ne.ri. twenty
centuries ago Around Tn. star march the
boys. armed with spears and swords ana fol-
lowed by conrade who carries o miniature
theater. When they have reached . lsrs. farm
house they pause, the theAter q set ~ and the
marionettes act some familiar s,ene from fhs
Bible. while the boys who are not busy wo-kinr
the puppsts ACCOMPANY the play with hmm
/ tunes most ene-getically rendered. The t,er-
/ guest Of the good things 90 eat and othef pres-
ents that have been hidden for thsir benefit
In the province OF Ukraine the Chfis,rn.s pro-
cession ir masquerade. the BOYS dressing
themselves up like great s'orE.. wolves aud
bears, the last being the most popular dis
guise. In these fantastic costume thew ere
driven in relns BY their comrAAes from door %
! door and put through their tricks dance.. Ae.
They all Join In gaily singing cong. afppre-
pirate TO the Christmas tide. All th--e scenes
ar hrlf tod nf11N lNTf -.
| iron pots mounted on broom handles. aud TN.
effect OF the quoer-ioosing animals dancing
and waving their paws IN the uncertain light 10
weird and grotesGue In the extreme.
| The Russian college students % both .ere-
meet to honor the day and hold high revci,
drinking one ano;hors heAlths and .sugins
| patriotic songs
In Armenia crows very plentiful ara on
| New Year day the young women of Erzeroun
appeal to these birds TO learn thsir chances q
marrying during the coming wear. Their
method Of doing this \ most curious At av-
| break on tins most exciting day the nlAilrn
| rises and with Der own fair hand- kneads md
| bakes q sort Of cake made Il cornmeal. Then
arrayed in her finest clothes and ornauneut.d
| with such jewels as she NAV possess che goes Qua
upon the roof. Here she places her cake a.
| femptngly as possible aud hides herself bsniai
| the chimney, keeping sharp watch the whils fcr
the expected CROW. No matter hos cold shs
may be or how stormy the weather, nothing
/ WOulu xii 10 move LEtu tIe 80 TlfdffI
! crow has arrived. As soon he begins has
feast. however, she jumps suddenly from he
hind the chimney. frightening he hard. xhirh.
| it is hoped. will fy away with the cake b. his
bill. IL he does 40 he must BE- closely Watched.
for the house where he alighis 10 eai ~. dainty
morsel will be the one where dNeils thu future
husband Of the anxious watcher n be flee "a
| out OF sight poor indeed are her matrimonial
| chances for the nov wear. and she goo. down
from the roof a most discousolaie maidsn. II.
on the other hand. he selects a house near bv
| great Is her excitement. for she knows that Cut
of the house . aesignatsi musi coane her fu-
/ ture lord and master.
In Belgium interesting ana original Gus
| tom prevails on Christmas morning Its sun
posed that good lucs throughout the war vii
attend the girl who u fret wished merry
Christmas by little boy who brings her .
| gift Taking advantage Of this notion many
bows get up at sunrise on the 3hts Of Deoembey
and start out armed with good-siz.d boa q
waters. The cook IL USUALLY the f-.g person up
| in a house and sbe - boistsrously greeted ~
the smart small boy a- he present. her with
little cake. His idea Ia that. having brought
her good luck she will reward him BY giving
him some mOrey. and he u rarely di.nT pointed.
| Having exhausted all tie servants IL tho neigh
borhood, and the hour being later. be pone-
trates to the pariors. where be besto~s cAko-,
together with all the compliments " the ses-
son, upon the Young ladies Of the family. wl.o
are. OF course. charmed with the attention,
particularly II they have no small brothers %
fill the Office. In thi. pleasant way many boys
earn on Christmas morning .noagh money %
buy any coveted present which Saft Clsas InAy
have forgotten 90 put N their stockiEgs
At Frankfori-on-the-Msin a very pretty old
German custom is observed on New Gezr eve.
The day il usually oe,ebrated by a family gath
ering, and every member Of the hoasehols sits
up TO see the New Year m. from the feeble o,d
grandfather 20 the youngest occupant u tie
nursery. That the evening may not seem TO
long. punch or champagne. with cake even
more substantial Refreshments. are INDUCED IN
on these occasions Of hilarity. Just AZ The
clocks Of the town begin to strike The uitching
hour of II the windows OF the whole city are
thrown open. and in foAming beakcrs tho good
people Of Frankfort with one accord wish quo
another and the city a very happy New Year.
As the last stroke OF the hour dies away the
windows are all closed once more and the city
returns to its wonted calm.