The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-02-04
CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRIA.
Picturesque Customs Among Peopl

Composed of Seventeen Races.
 The independent peculiarities of thu
 Austrian people, composed as it is O
 seventeen nationalities, are never mor,
 strikingly apparent than at Christina!
 time. In the center of the empire, a
 any rate in Vienna and among the Ger
 man inhabitants of Austria, the Christ
 mas festival is kept in the same way
 On Christmas eve the Christmas tree is
 lighted amid the cries of the children
 and is followed by the distribution oi
 presents. After the tree has been
 stripped a sort of dessert follows, con-
 sistng of fresh and candied fruits
 cakes and tarts, and 1t is an understood
 thing that this evening belongs to the
 family, and is to be spent at home.
 Much more picturesque is Yuletide, as
 kept by the non-German population of Austria. On Christmas day the Poles
 in Galicia first attend mass, and then | sit down to the family supper. The | chief dish on the table contains conse- crated eggs, which the father distrib-
 utes. After eating, all eyes are closed
 and heads bowed down to the table, in
 the belief that Jacobs ladder is then descending from heaven to earth, and down the ladder angels are coming to bless the worshippers and to carry away their earthly troubles to heaven. Among the Czechs in Bohemia the fes- tival begins on December 24, which is observed as a strict fast only water and bread crusts being allowed. The legend runs that he who most strictly lasts will see the Holy Child in his dreams that night.
 Tn the evening the real celebration begins with reading aloud, reciting and declaiming everything connected with the history of Christ's birth. All lights are then extinguished in the house; no fire, no light is visible. The children crowd together in fear and remain per- fectly silent, as otherwise they know they will receive none of the presents brought by the Christ Child and laid at the entrance of the house. The older children amuse themselves later on with throwing heated lead into water and gathering from the forms it assumes some hint as to the appearance of their future husbands On Christmas day mass is attended three tines-the first time at four in the morning. Between the first and second mass, in the morn ing twilight, the Christmas tree is lighted and the presents are distributed. A festal meal with much good red wine constitutes the chief repast of the day. Very characteristic is the celebration of Christmas by those holding the or thodox Russian faith in the Bukowira. To these the Christmas feast is the greatest festival of the year. It Is in- troduced by repast called coaczie. Before eating the head of the family elevates the host, breaking 1t amid loud prayers and calculations, and then gives fraction to each member of the To refuse it would be sac rilege. After the meal, consisting mainly of meat and cakes baked by the father himself, the family remain to- gether until midnight, singing religious and national songs. The nerriest is kept in Austria by the Italians They attend, indeed, early mass, but then devote the day to eat ing, drinking and enjoyment. Olive oil and macaroni are the chief components in their cookery for the Christmas feast. The wine for the occasion is strong, and made of fresh grapes London Telegfaph's Vienna Letter.