The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-12-25
GLAD CHRISTMAS TIDE.
HOW DIFFERENT NATIONS OBJ
SERVE THE HAPPY DAY.
Customs Of "Merrie England"-Ger.
many's Glittering Christmas Tree
Habits Of the French and
Other People Of Continent
al Europe.


Other People Of Continent
al Europe.
The traditions and legends connect
ed with Christmas have an interest
peculiarly their own, and it is worth
noting that the spirit Of charity and
/ goodwill, which is the leading char
acjeristic of the happy time, pervades
them all. Some of the most interest
| ing of these customs we will endeavor
to briefly describe.
In England the custom Of staying
up till midnight 20 hear the Christmas
''waits" is still observed, although
many good people if asked the ques-
| tioa woIld find it difficult To give a
reason for doing 50. The tradition
that Christ was born at midnight
originated this cIStOm. At one time
bands OF singers used to 80 about from
house to house singing Christmas car
OILS. These were the "waits,r and by
degrees the quaintly beautiful carols
which they sang degenerated into
mere dogserel, and the cGstom for
time fell into disase. Latterly, how
ever, it has been revived somewhat, Is
also the custom OF singing Christ
mas carols in Protestant Episcopal
churches.
In the feudal times when the Old
baronial halls gloried in vast fireplaces
the bringing in OF the Yule log, am en-
WnJIe, was great event anil. -. ........rned
by peculiar ceremonies and great RI
ioicing. Then feasting followed; the
mighty wassail bowl was introduced
and the solid pleasures of the table fol-
lowed and were kept up with Il zest
and ability to pat away vast quantities
of provisions that would astOnish most
people OF the present generation The
central dish was boar's head, flanked
by ether spOils Of the chase. AZ the
present day the crowning ideas of
Christmas pleasures in England, ~,
indeed, in everywhere else throughout
Chfistendom, are still the grosser joys
of eating and drinking. The ''roast
beef and plum pudding" of old Eng
gland has Yuletida smack about it
and solid plenty IS the Characteristic
of Christmas cheer at English tables.
First comes the savOry goose roast,
which is the recognized Christmas
dish among all classes, peer and COM
moners alike, and the plum pudding,
which is brought in steaming, causing
young hearts to rejoice AMI bringing
in a vista OF future stomach ache and
physic TO small boys. Throughout the
land charity expands her wings, and
in all the large cities a general move
ment is heartily made to let the poor
have al least one good dinner.
In America the custom of hanging
up the stocking is as heartily observed
as ever, and little boys and girls in
town and country for weeks before
Chri. TINS speculate on what Santa
Claus will bring them. The North
| German enjtOm OF the Christmas tree
has been largely revived of late years,
and in many households has become
regular observance every year. Both
the Christmas tree and the Santa Claus
Customs are the relics Of the days when
Thor, Woden and Erica were wor-
SHIPPED, but modified by Christianity
| till they are now emblematic of the
charitable feelings of the day of glad
| ness.
In France, many years ago, il was
the habit for pcOpie To stop all kinds of
labor at noon on the day before Christ
mas, and masters kept open house and
feasted their employees. 1t was also
the fashion for the people TO assemble
on the outside of churches and eathe-
drals long before midnight, and the
time was passed away by singing of
Christmas carols, the Monks teaching
them how to sings the carols as well rs
ths Latin cdnticles of the church. As
the Saturnalian element began TO come
uppermOst, the carols became scuTril-
Gus and obscene, and no regret was felt
when the custom was done away with.
In sunny Italy the most visible char
acteristic i the excessive love and de-
votion felt for the Virgin, which shows
itself in many quaint ways. The
whole scope of the Church tends to
make the people realize the birth OF
Christ as an actual yearly occurrence.
This has led to the manifestation OF
the pifferari, the bagpipe players, who
are all from the mountains OF Calabria.
The pifferari divide themselves into
three bands, which march down the
streets, stopping at every shrine and
pouring out wild music characterized
rather by loudness than melody. This
is one of the sights at Rome at Christ,
mas time. Ii is the mission of the pif
ferari to go through the city aud pray
before all the shrines to the Virgin Il
cheer her spirits while undergoing tn,
anguish of accouchement. In Ger
many, Christmas is observed with De
euliar heartiness. There Santa Clau.
has an abiding home, and the Christ
mas tree, with its cheerful light, il
found in every house where meme,
can be raised to procure it. Like tn
people of England, the Germans plac
eating and drinking among the fore
most Of pleasures at Christmas-t tide
The Russian Observances at Christ