The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-12-23

reigns is the yuIe night practice of
placing in a row every pair OF shoes in
each household, IMPLYING that during
the year the family will live together
in peace and harmony.
Scandinavia is truly the land of the
yule log, of Christmas stories and le-
gends of Thor and Odin. Then is the
time for skating, sledging, dancing and
general frolic 1t is customary for
every member of the family TO take a
bath on the afternoon preceding Christ
mas, and oftentimes it is the only
thorough bath that is received during
the year. When the ewes comes the
bible is read in nearly every houshoId
and family service IS held. In many
villages candles are left burning in the
windows all night to give light to Kris
tlne, who brings the gifts. 1t is also
the custom to set a cake of meal out
IN the snow as a Christmas Offering
The birds of the air are thought of.
and a sheaf of wheat is placed on
pole in front OF each house TO provide
them with food
On Christmas evening are the usual
games and they are more than likely
to be Interrupted with a knocking at
the door and the entrance of four or
IlVe boys dressed in white. One carries
colored Star-shaped lantern, and an
other an ornamental glass box con-
tanning two dolls, representing the viz
gin and child. The boys chant a carol
or two and after partak:ng of refresh
n1entS ara dismissed, 70 continue their
journey to the next house. The games
are likely to be interrupted again by
the coming of another band of merry
makers. This time it is masked Der
formers, wearing tattered uniforms
decked with tinsel, and carrying wood
en- swords. They perform tricks and
pantomime, and go through q mock
military review. These performances
are always enjoyed. and the perform
ers never go away from q house empty
handed. The festivities do not close
until late hour
From the frozen north, Of the mid
night sun, to the evergreen south, of
perpetual summer, is q long journey,
out in all the distance there is found
no land where the Christmas festival
is not celebrated.
a Christmas celebration in Peru has
peculiar features. In the cities. and
more especially in Lima, there are be-
W!ldering scenes OF activity on Christ
mas eve. The streets and square are
crowded with gaily dressed people.
Droves of asses are to be seen in every
direction, laden with fruits, bougns
from the NOUN tains, liquors and other
merchandise. Ice stalls, provided with
chairs and benches are crowded bv the
perspiring pleasure seekers, who find
ice necessary on suitry Christmas.
AS night approaches the streets are
packed with noisy people, and Joke
and jest and merry pranks become the
rule. THESE are participated in mostly
by strangely attircd persons in masks.
Music of guitars, Gathering castanets
and pebbles rafting in gourds fill the
air vita rainSling discOTdInt sounds
NO door is closed. There is music and
nj h =; e-H-- -
ents in every house. All are welcome
to enter. Strangers are sure OF
hearty welcome, anG to be q foreigner
is to have double claim on hospital
itX and to receive a dow welcome.
In many houses the love Of the Christ
mas drama is shown by thea trical rep
RESERVATIONS Of the nativity, with the
same characters as are seen the world
over.
Suddenly the scene changes. The
curtain falls on the play, the music
and dancing cease and the people go
from their homes. The midnight bell
at the cathedral has summoned all TO
mass. The houses and streets are near
" deserted. while the churcnes, with
their decorations and blazing tapers.
are thronged. Worshippers are kneeI-
ing before the many Shrines that line
their walls, and wherever they can
find one of the many waXen images
of the saints displayed. With the Or
CAMS peal. and the entering Of the
richly vested priests and plainly at
tired monks, begins the celebration Of
the mass.
Again, on Christmas morning, the
streets are crowded and TIE markets
are thronged, but at o'clock the
churches are again filed. After the
service comes the feast and the games
and the sports. OF all the sports, bull
fighting is the favorite, and the Christ
mas fight is generally the best of the
season, as eight q: ten bulls are fire.
quently killed on that day, besides
several horses. and not unfrequently
one or two Of the fighting men. In
this sport women appear to take more
enthusiastic pleasure than ehe men,
When night comes there IS a grand
procession, headed by the priests and