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

IN ALL LANDS.
New York Herald


ON earth peace, good will toward
men"
This is the keynote to the festival OF
Christmas. 1t is the golden cord on
which are strung the varied gems OF
1.-THE celebration. Such it has been
through the ages; even before our era.
History Or tradition tells of no time
when there were not festivals at about
the date of the winter soistice. After
the birth of Christ the season received
Christian baptism, and became one
of the great festivals of the church.
Christmas in England is scarcely a
shadow of it's former self. In ancient
times the celebration began on All Hal
low eve and continued until Candlenlas
day During this time the Lord of
NIisrule' reigned and presided over
the games, conjuring and dancing.
The Christmas table groaned beneath
the weight of the prepared feast, the
favorite dish of which was a boar
head. with an apple or orange in it's
mouth. Our little pig, holding a lemon,
is the shadow OF .tnis substance.
Though tapers lighted and gift bear
ing green boughs brighten the hearth
stones of many lands at the time of the
great festival, the Christmas tree IS
made especially an institution of the
German-spealling people. With them
the tree is to be found in every home,
no matter how humble. Poverty can-
not exclude it, for any sacrifice will be
, made and any charity extended to nave
the enbiemat:c green tree. even II it
must be reduced to a single Dough. 1t
is in the novel as well as in the palace.
In Germany the tree is in course of
NV no e,ti ion, fny> r,oro NV hafnrA
Christmas, and there is pleasure in
every family in anticipation Of the JOY
that the surprises will bring. Every
large household is full of weighty Sc
crets, and much industrious work is
done in hidden places. None are for
gotten. The poor tenants and the most
lowiy in any way connected with the
household are remembered in eavorJ-
dishes and warm clothing.
During the week of Christmas carts
are going about the streets carrying iir
trees, benbons, cakes, apples, gilded
nuts and ribbons are being prepared,
and toys are being bought. Generally
the Christ Child is supposed to bring
the gifts. and ne is frequently repre-
scented by a child dressed in white
with a gold crown and wings, and
wearing a long white veil ornamented
with gold.
In southern Germany during holy
nights" choristers walk through the
streets singing songs and carols, ara
go about from house to house, knock
ing at the easements, anu throwing
peas and beans, and sometimes ether
articles against the doors and btlAoS.
Frequently their carols are lost IN the
lnerriment and boisterous behavior
IN Austria, they are particularly
thoughtful of the bringer of the gifts
and Joy. The people place lighted can
dies in their windows that the Christ
Child in passing through the city or
village or along the country roao,
shall not stumble and fall.
In Holland, St. Nicholas is a reality,
but he comes driving a white horse
and not reindeer. The children are
taught to be thoughtful for the welfare
of the white steed, and on Christmas
eve each pair of little shoes is carefuliy
cleaned, and, being filled with oats ana
hay, are placed on the hearth. The hay
and oats are for the good saints white
horse. In the morning the hay and cats
are gone, and in their place are found
toys and sweetmea'ts for the good chill
dren and rods for the bad ones.
France has the Christmas OF Ger
many Italy and of itself. The season,
though one Of church services, is es-
sentially one of social dissipation: AT
the gay capital society. is in its giddi-
est whirl, and public oalis and amuse-
ments are at their height. Parisians go
to the very extreme in enjoying what
nature, imagination and art can pro
vide them with The only limit is that
of Inability to go further.
Here IS nearly everything that has
been described in Germany, only the
people are further from the green
boughs OF nature and nearer to the