Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-15

sufferlngs. they forget them when christ
mas comes around, and arr as Hsn.-
hearted and merry as any people -"
earth. ..,,o,+
mo star of the East Is the pre-emiheh1
symbol Of Christmastide IN the IN an"
District Ii can be seen moving "el 80
tba suov-covered hills and roaos OF lhe
Ukraine in numberless pfOcessloH9' ,.i.--
star Is the guild OF hundreds of chiluiSH
nrocessions in honor of the blessed iesli-
val AS soon as midnight is near ana the
htue XIV blending above the snJW-helus
IS sowu with stars, companies oi 10.
SOL forth one marches at t-e heac VII"
,ha sacred symbol in the shape OF IAN
tern cut into star form ana mounted Oh
the END Of "a stick The transparent papeI
which conceals the candle Is PANT u W."
8 scene from Bethlehem. young sudiu'
armed with a ha4beru. M rches beside 1he
boiv ikon and behind him trudg an
other boy, carrying smah pa'A'eN
theatre on hls back
ANiUSE THE FARM FOLK.
A. each farmhouse they halt and ask
permission to give performance winch
l. usually very simple. rev puppets
renresentlnc the three Kings, are shown
ana IS me couplets are sung about the
nativity After The spectacle ana sohsS
the liltlc artists take up COLLECTION.
procession OF children Is less sacred III
character. 4 few boys disguise them
selves as animals. and. held In leash Dy
their companions, they 80 from farm
house 10 farm house. giving srotesque eh-
tcTtanments
The stork and the bear are the crea-
lures principally portrayed, ana they
sometimes sing comical couplets toselher
The great wooden doors OF each house
are thrown open. and the whole iahllly
assemblies in gala costumes upon 'hs
threshold. -,,-,r,,,,
CHOOSING THEIR BETROTHED.
Another and a curious Christmas night
custom In Russia is choosing, Of the
nancee which might, one would think
now and then lead to some serious mis-
adventures on Christmas-Eve the giit
tree IS set up I'm the house OF the chlei
official Of the neighborhood, ana an
worthy persons In the village are invited
Alta given time all the unmarried women
leave the festivities and go and take
their seats on benches in a shed. There
their faces. arms and shoulders are
swathed I'm linen. so as pretty effectualiy
TO conceal their Identity. and after
tim young peasants are admitted one
by one IN search OF their girls. Each *
betrothCd TO the girl from whose brow
he uus the veil and the engagement
cannot be broken without the payment by
both lovers Of a heavy fine TO the village
funds.
But so adroit are the maldens in giving
some sign OF Identity to their SWANS
that the fines are rarely levied.
IN STRICKEN ARMENIA.
Armenia ordinarily is an interesting
place "a Christmas-tme. but II VIII be a
sad suval for tens Of thousands Of the
people Of this trouble-torn country this
year.
one OF the unique Christmas customs
OF The country is that practiced by the
young girls and women. They climb 10
the Nat roofs Of their houses. and. placing
plates Of coTn-cakes In the sun. they
watch the crows or "choucas.' as they
are called. always lowering near.
II crow plunges down on piece OF
corn-cake and flies away out Of sight
with the prey In It's greedy beak, then
the young girls happiness is gone for The
year.
But II the bird files only a little way
and lights on neighboring roof, then
IL Is from beneath that roof that she
expects her husband to come within the
year
IN SPAIN AND ITALY.
Christmas In the churches OF Spain and
Italy Is always the time for some OF
those wonderful pageants which seem 70
have been forgotten or ignored else
where In Southern Italy In particular
the bambino Is the object Of passionate
alteration. and the sacrodness Of Christ
mas sheds it's mellowest light into the
darkest osterla, and the humblest via
where the ancient houses seem ready I,
fan against each other
The local pride displayed by the various
parishes in the decoration OF their chapeli