Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-24
CHRISTMAS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.
How the Festival IL Observed In
Cubn. ItaIy. md NortNnN.

How the Festival IL Observed In
Cuba, Italy. and Norway.
The manners and customs which mark
the observance Of Christmas I'm countries
outside America are of peculiar interest
/ Mr.. Christian Evensen writes Of the way
it is observed in Norway as follows
Christmas is the most enjoyable season
Of the year in the little far-away land
OF the n0rth-Norway. Tt is customary 10
visit friends and relatives, and the host
spreads before his guests all the good
things obtainable The holiday does not
obtain for a day as in this country. but
usually lasts about two weeks Music
( and dancing are tho chief features Of
entertainment, for they have no fire.
works display. as in America.
Snow generally prevails at this season,
and lasts for months. and everybody has
a good time sleigh-riding. Church SER
vices are held for two days. and the
sacred edifices are arustically and elabo-
rately decorated. a feature OF the season
is the feeding OF the birds. every house
/ holder providing a stack on his prem
Uses, which Is abundantIy supplied with
food for the winged messengers. Christ
mas trees are displayed by all families.
and every member is expected 70 receive
a present. This year the celebration OF
Christs birth in Norway viii possess ex-
/ traOrdinary interest from the fact that
the old flag has been rejuvented by the
withdrawal of the Union Jack from It's
face. the colors now consisting OF the
famous red. white. and blue. with cross
I'm the centre. The question OF iiag has
strained the relations between Norway
and Sweden for years, until recently,
when King Oscar attached his signature
10 the viii OF the Norwegian people.
I.IF fU.
/ shall ever maintain pleasant recollec-
/ lions 81 PARKWAY little Norway as this
Joyous season recurs. G.. ENENSEN.
THE OBSERVANCE IN ITALY.
Mr.. NJ Massei writes Of Christmas
/ Day I'm Italy:
Christmas in italy Is different from the
/ Christmas i'm the United States. in Italy
/ it Is a day TO visit the churches
/ ON the eve Of Christmas. about O'Clock,
/ there is a grand supper with large fish
! and many delicacies but no meat as 1t
| is day Of abstinence. At this supper
| the whole family is reunited and there is
/ 90 be found grandfather. grandmother
| father. mother and children. At J.
o'clock the church bells ring and the
| good peor4a go to the midnight mass.
After the midnight mass they 20 nome,
/ wishing each other a Merry Christmas"
In the latter part Of the day the people
/ go visiting the churches % see the repre-
sentation Of the Nativity" the star OF
Bethlehem" the shepherds" or the
"Three Wise Men," which are made in
wax Some of these are very large and
| very beautiful
on Christmas-Dav there is a grand din
| ner. after which the people play Tom
! bala" or Lotto" It is on this day that
/ the adults receive their presents, but not
/ the children. The children receive their
! gifts ON the 9Th day of January or Lit
/ tie Christmas" In Italy the people do
not use fireworks because it is a viola
/ tion of the law.
At The suppers and dinners vegetables,
! cakes. candies. chesmuts, and wine are
/ mostly used. but hot punches are some
| times used in preference TO wine. Every
/ large city has its own cake.
In the country the people who cannot
! 80 20 church chop certain tree and lay
the trunk on the hearth. AT y o'clock
/ the trunk Of the tree is expected 20 be In
/ full blaze. They then sit around the fire
and read the Bible.
CHRISTMAS IN CUBA.
The Observance Of Christmas IN Cuba
| f. very different from the Observance I'm
! America OF Europe, says the New York
| Herald. Santa Claus is unknown TO Cu-
| ban children. for New Years is the day
| for gifts. and but few presents are given
| al Christmas. Miniature representations
/ Of the nativity, the manager. and the
wise men OF the East are exhibited in
/ churches and private families as object
/ lessons for children
/ tmas-Eve. not Christmas-Day, is
celebrated by both high and low with
! late supper. and is the occasion for fam
/ uv reunions The chief dishes are roast
| turkey. baked ham. tied no I'm colored
huted paper. and a roast sucking pig
with a quirk I'm his tail and a lemon
| stuck i'm his mouth between his grinning
! teeth: sWeetmeats, confectionery, and
| fruits.
After supper people usually go 70
! church 10 the cock crow mass, and youag
people often forget the sancuty OF the
! place and indulge IN unseemly leNty ana
! an sorts OK pranks.
Spaniards Of the lower classes living
| I'm Cuba often cOngregate IN the Plaza
and dance around IN a ring, with joined
| hands. singing their national dltues
| Many Cuban families celebrate the
| Christmas holiday with house parties on
their country estates. and their favorite
uastimes are horseback rides and dane
ing
since cuba has been under American
control the waltz or two-step has super
/ seeded the Cuban DANA. and from present
Indications. unless the natives become
more amenable To reason and common
sense they will have TO dance double
/ otriek step TOO.