The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1900-12-21
H | 5 JULY
XMAS.
An Odd Custom of the Day.
BY PETER M'ARTHUR.

IL had my last Christmas dinner in
the middle Of july" said the new re.
turned traveller to his friends, when
the subject OF Christmas festivities
and the consequent financial drain for
presents happened to be brought up
by the impecunious member of the
group.
July" exclaimed the clergyman in
Quiringly. Haven't you made a mis-
take? Christmas is not one of the
movable feasts of the church."
What l mean" explained the
traveller, sis that If you had Christ
mas here under The same conditions
you would have it in July. / had my
last Christmas dinner in Australia"
In reply t. various inquiries he ex.
planed:
"As you, OF course, know, they have
summer in Australia when we have
winter here, but what struck me as
strange was that, although Christmas
is the most adaptable feast in the
world the people of Australia cele-
brate it just as we do. Last CristmaS
in Coolgardic there was Il sandstorm
instead Of blizzard, and the ther-
mometer stood 80 degrees in the shade.
but the windows OF the stores were
dressed with cotton snow and tnsel
ice and evergreens. just as If the festi.
val were being held in England, where
most Of those who we're participating
had been born. On Christmas eve
Santa Claus came with jingle OF
>leivhhelIs and stamped around to
shake of the artificial snow and al
most suffocated with mufflers and
robes. The Chritmas dinner was just
as heavy as ever was served in mid
winter and the plum puddings. that
had been sent out from England by
thoughtful friends, were brought on
burning"
This led to a discussion of Christ
mas as IL is celebrated in different
parts Of the world, and the fact was
brought out that though Christmas
revels often admit OF variations the
Anglo.Saxons, not using the term in
the all embracing sense described by
Mr.. Dooley, have IA tendency tn cele-
brate it in the same manner wherever
they may be. Different arctic explorers
have given accounts of how they cele-
brated Christmas within the arctic
circle, and the whole energy was di-
rected toward making the event as
close a duplicate OF similar celebra-
tions at home as fresh seal meat and
canned goods would allow
I'll noticed" said the clergyman,
that where YER Christmas Is introduc.
ed among heather people by our mis-.
sionaries when the festival is ceebrat-
ed they always regard it as supplant.
ing some Of their barbaric feasts and
give II some OF the characteristics of
what they have gwen up for it.. l spent
une Christmas at Il mission station
among the Indians Of the northwest,
and when they gathered around their
Christmas tree they sang the hymns
they had been taught and besides
chanted weird. monotonous songs OF a
maddening rhythem that made me fear
that the festival would degenerate IN.
To y ghost dance or something Of the
SORT"
THAT sort Of thing was what re-
ferred o." said the traveller, "when l
spoke Of Christmas as being an adapt
able feast. Itsrems t0 change In char.
actcr TO suit the different nations that
celebrate. II. and as we have 1t now 1t
has gathered features from many sour.
ces. Its liveliness, while being u rellgl.
ous institution, IL attributed to the
fact that II supplanted the old saturn.
J ALA Of pagan Rome and took some.