The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-14
RussIA's CHRISTMAS TIDE.
How it is Celebrated BY Noble and
Peasant.
(By Isabel F. Hapgood.)

There Is a land where the snow bound
plains. the white pluned trees, the clear.
starry nights would serve as the ideal for
a frosted Christmas card; where the Bit
ing cold and the gay sledges are exactly
what jolly old fur-elad Santa Claus loves
lest. But in that northland millions OF
children and many more millions OF adults
are utterly ignored by generous Santa
Claus. and few and far between are the
Christmas trees on Christmas eve. That
land is Russia sim, the Russians get
as much fun and Christmas spirit, on Ito
whole, out OF the season as do the west
ern nations, even II their Christmas does
come on the 7th Of January. and New
Years day a week later, for their holI-
days include Twelfth Night. OF Epiphany
on January %. and ali these days are not
only legal holidays but great festivals Of
the eastern Catholic church to which all
Russians are supposed 10 belong. The
comparatively few among them who do
not and the foreigners in the land may
have their Christmas trees and gifts on
Christmas eve Il they like. and they DO.
especially in St. Petersburg and Moscow.
where there are many Of them. But that
is strictly q foreign. imported idea
The orthodox Russians are supposed
20 wind up the Christmas advent fast OF
four weeks with q particularly heroic e.
fort on the day before Christmas. and TO
eat nothing whatever until after the
grand vigil seIvice-and then only a little
rice boiled with honey, or something OF
that sort. This they repeat the day be-
fore the Epiphany. by the way. So they
are supposed to spend the eve at church
and in fasting not with trees and merry
making. Moreover, as Easter IS the great
day for gifts In the eastern church.
CHRISTMAS gifts are not. by any means,
as universal even among the higher class
IS. who understand and adopt most for
eign customs. as they are with Us. SIN.
there is a Christmas fair in the heart OF
each great town Con the Nevsly Prospekt
in St. Petersburg where trees Of every
size are on sale, decorated generally In
horrible taste. OF undecorated, save with
the beauty of natures handiwork. Cheap
TOYS abound in the bazaars; there are var
iety shows, concerts. and other popular
amusements for the populace in the huge
military riding-schools. and every one
seems TO spend as much time as possible
in the delicious cold air.
As America has certain viands proper 70
the Thanksgiving and Christmas season.
so Russia has ore dish, in particular
which is almost obligatory at Christmas
tide. Il is roast sucking pig, generally
stuffed with buckwheat greats IN Mos
COW. where the cooking is far superior TO
that in St Petersburg. piggy is very much
in evidence. and is even carried about the
streets perched knocked, IN frozen stat
nesoueness, on the trays. which the ped
dlers carry or their heads This promin-
euce OF the pig al this season is explain
cd bv ancient traditions and customs, &C
COMMANDED BY songs. which stil survive
from heather times. in various parts OF
the country. The Christmas carols are
called KoIydli. varlously derived By phil
olorists. from lzalo, a wheel, koloda,
Yule log or from the mama OF the goddess
Kolvsda. Although there IS no trace
Of such goddess in heather chronicles
she appears as the representative of the
sun IN the old ceremonial songs Of the
season: and It IS fairly certain that the
heather Slavonians. in company with
MANY Other peoples. celebrated at this
season the festival OF the suns return
when the gloom Of the long nights begins
70 Weld before the 4eilS tllr---ite -ttt1 H+~-
the winter solstice- IN many places this
sun goddess Kolyada is personated ~ a
Young girl. who IL dressed gayly for the
uart. seated in sledgs. and drawn from
house 70 house by the young people who
+ attend her. sing carols fkolyadkD and re-
+ ceire various presents n return The
+ mixtures Of heathcHlsIn and Christianity
zhich these son-s contain may be seen
from the following. which Is favorite:
+ Koiyada has arrived.
on the Eve Of Eatri:y.
We went aboct, We sought.
Hosy Koiyada
Tsroueh all The courts. n al the alleys:
we found Koiyada
II Peters Court
Round Peters Court there + a. irt1
fence.
n TIE midst Of the court there are three
Toouz-