The times., 1900-12-25
CHRISTMAS IN PORTO RICO.
Children Receive Their Presents in
n Box OF Grass.

SAN JUAN, Porto Rico, Dec. 15.-
Christmas in the tropics, with the ther-
mometer registering so degrees, is not
Christmas at all. The American colony
here tries to observe the day as at home
Those who are keeping house invite their
friends who board to partake OF Christ
mas dinner In most instances this din
ner is composed of the time honored
turkey and the usual accessories. All
make merry and try to forget that they
are not at home. To help to carry out
the Illusion the interiors of most houses,
particularly the dining rooms. are
dressed in green. But royal palm leaves
and tropie shrubs prove poor substitute
for evergreens and ivy. Mistletoe is en-
tirely lacking
A feature of the Christmas ohservances
here is the part taken by the coiored peo-
PIE from St. Thomas, Antigua. st. kits,
and other neighhoring islands where Eng
lish customs rule. There is considerable
colony Of these people here, mostly labor
ers imported because they are English
speaking. They travel in groups from
house to house at daybreak Christmas
morning. singing old English carols. They
expect to be asked inside and to take re-
freshmelts. preferably rum.
Porto Rican people to the extent one
would imagine. The day is a holiday. of
course, and is given over to feasts and
balls. The real Christmas Day in Porto
Rico. at least as much of it as pertains
to the giving or receiving of gifts. comes
twelve days late January 6. Three Kings
Day, La Dia de Reyes" is the day of the
year for the Porto Rican children. 1t
differs from Christmas Day in the United
Tot d0r mi IN %h.a
the youngsters have of receiving their
'aguinaldos," or gifts. While the Ameri-
can youths hang up their stockings, their
cousins in this little island place their
shoes and a pasteboard box filed with
fresh grass on the window sills or on the
verandas. The custom has its origin in
the Bible story.
The grass is intended for hungry mules
on which the three wise kings are sup
posed to have ridden to find the infant
Jesus. The children takes considerable
pains in gathering the grass, often work
ing the whole week before. San Juan Is
SO compaetly built that there is hardly
a grass plot in the whole city. Last year
a plot of few square yards of luxuriant
grass WIS razed, every blade being picked
by the children. After the little ones re-
move the presents they usually find at the
bottom of the box short note written
of the three wise men The note states
that as the child has not been good dur
ing the past year, the king doesn't think
it proper to leave a better present than
the one found in the box. The note then
states that magnificent present will be
left next year ii the children behave them
selves during the ensuing twelve months.
And then. in postscript. is added that
the mules were angry at some little sins
committed by the children and couldn't
eat the grass.
Grabbing their toys the children rush
into the streets with trumpets and drums.
singing:
eva sc van los reyes,
Bendta Dies.
Elos van y yuelven
nosotrOs no."
which, literally translated. is:
Wow the kings are gone.
Praised be God.
For they go and come
And don't"
The day is observed as general holi-
day, business is suspended. and bands go
from street to street. trusting to the
passer-by for contributions. Policemen
firemen, and letter carriers, and ones
servants. ask for "aguinaldos." Small
parties with stringed instruments and
rasping horns solicit aims from house to
house. The day ends with grand bali at
the Spanish Casino.