The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24
THE CHRISTMAS
OBSERVANCES.
How the Day is Celebrated The World
Over.
ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT
Family Reunions the Order in Every
Land ard Cline, aud the Gus
tom of Giving Uni
yersal One.

The custom of giving presents on
Christmas day probably has its origin In
the gifts Of the three Wise Men to the In
FAINT Christ while It's said the original
Christmas tree was sacrifice to the
pagan god Odin
In New Mexico, on Christmas Eve,
Judas Iscariot is hung I'm efiigy. There
is a formal trial at which the traitor IS
convicted. his will read and his property
put no for sale. The efiigy is then drawn
several times around the gibbat, kicked
and cuffed by the jeering multitude and
finally hung.
Christmas Eve in Germany and the
Northern Safes Of Europe. generally, is as
Christmas day with us. The day is de-
voted to giving presents by means Of the
so-called Christmas tree. \ large yew
bough is erected in one of the parl0rs,
lighted with tapers and hung with man.
fold gifts, sweetmeats, apples, nuts, play
things and ornaments. Each Of these is
marked with the name Of the person for
whom It is intended and when the whole
party Is assembled the presents are dis
tributed around the room, according 10
their labels. amid joyful acclamations
and congratulations.
Formerly. and still in some OF the
smaller villages Of North Germany the
presents made by ali the parents were
sent TO some one person. who. in high
bGcksk ns, a white robe. "A mask and an
enormous flax wig. becoming the bug
bear of the children known as Knecht
Rupert. goes from house TO house. is re-
ceived by the parents with great pomp
and reverence. calls for the children, and
bestows the intended gifts upon them ac-
cording to the character which he hears
from the parents after severe inquiries
SANTA CLAUS COUSIN.
Knecht Is a kind of German relative
of Santa Claus. and Is his counterpart IN
character and appearance.
An old Swedish tradition tells that AZ
the festival of Christmas the men liv-
ing in the cold northern parts are sud-
denly and strangely metamorphosed into
wolves; and that a huge multi
tude Of them meet together at
an appointed place during the
night. and rage so hercely against
mankind and other creatures not fierce
fierce by nature. that the inhabitants II
that country suffer more from their at
tacks than ever they do from natural
wolves
In England the reves used to begin on
Christmas Eve and continued often until
candlemas A lord Of misrule" was az
pointed whose duty it was 10 prepare
pleasure for the household il was an
old English superstition that on Christ
mas Eve the oxen were always found on
their knees. as in an attitude of dey0-
ton. and that after the change from old
10 new style they continued 10 do this
only on the eve Of old Christmas day.
Tbs was derived from "A prevalent me
diaeval notion that an OK and ass which
were present at the nativity fell upon
their knees In a suppliant posture But the
Christmas celebrations I'm England have
lost their primitive boisterous character.
the gambOls and carols are nearly gone
by. and family reunions and evergreen
trimmings are nearly all that remain OF
the various rough merrimeuts which used
to mark the festival
IN THE HOLY LAND.
The Christmas ceremonies az Bethle-
hem are. Of course, impressive. After SER
vices held I'm "A church dedicated 90 the
nativity. the bishop who performs the
ceremony proceeds with his attendants
TO the cave where the Christ Is said 10
have been born. How different now IS
the cave I'm which the child Jesus came
into the world as the savior Of mankind.
This gloomy vault on the hillside Of the
mountains. with it, stone manger. the
dark. chill cell. wherein the Son OF God
was born nineteen hundred years ago. IS
now Uttered with costly lamps Tho
floors are lad with costly marbles and
an altar with heavy candelabra and
sweet insensc he's been erected In the
place The only light That shone there
at the nativity was the light N the
Immortal Presence. the only floor. the
Mother Earth. The music that greeted
n m on his advent to mortality was only
the bray ~ the OK ~ " knelt. Ike the
tradition tells 10 add its homely rover
once 10 the joy OF the few who peopled
the cave.
Amid much chanting the bishop contlu-
ues the ceremony tin > O'Clock I'm The
morning when the service Is over. and the
worshippers Withdraw.