Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20
IN FOREIGN HOMES
PARKWAY Country Customs
Observed Here.
OLD TRADITIONS KEPT
ST. NICHOLAS COMES IN MANY
GUISES.
Heads Of the Families Make Merry for
the Little People, and

Written for The Evening Star.
Yuletide at the national capital Is given
foreign favor by the Christmas customs OF
the diplomatic corps.
Old world traditions are observed more or
less in nearly every one Of the thirty-six
embassies and legations conferred here. Ma
tive dishes are eaten, folklore stories told
and toasts drained in loyalty to our sister
Americas and the monarchies and republics
on the other side Of the sea. -
Herr Won Holleben, the dean Of the corps,
being bachelor, Christmas at the imperial
German embassy on Highland Terrace
means nothing more novel than a dinner at
which his excellency and the gentlemen of
his staff. as loyal sons Of the fatherland,
will drink to the emperor and their loved
ones far away.
Christmas does not reach the Russian
embassy until twelve days after ours has
gone. Just as Washington has dismantled
her trees and taken down her holly, the be-
lated festival is celebrated by the young
Countess Cassini in variety Of pretty
ways. One feature of the festivities will be
a fir tree which will be imported from the
Canadian SHOWS. 1t will be placed in the
sitting room on the second floor, and the
countess. who, with all her social triumphs
Is at heart merry child will invite few
girl friends to help her to snip gold and sill
sian decorations, which, with souvenirs IL
Illustrative Of home customs. will adorn the
shaggy branches Of the cone-shaped tree.
Then on what we call twelfth night-after
Christmas gone and forgot'-the ambassa-
dor and his adopted daughter will invite
their friends, giving to all a merry Christ
mas greeting and to each some suitable
gift.
The wonderful tree that first took root In
German soil spread it's branches into the
land of the Montezumas about fifteen years
ago. At the Mexican embassy, however,
there will be no tree this year, as Sonora
Dona Belem Is almost a young lady grown.
On the other hand, the first secretary OF
the Mexican embassy and Sonora Godoy
are blessed with family of six boys and
girls. AS usual, a tree will be one feature
OF their celebration, though 1t will not COM
pare In Importance with the "Nacimiento''-
or manager-which, In accordance with the
religious customs of Mexico. will fill the
place of honor In their home. This manager
which will also form a feature Of all the
Latin legations. will represent the birth of
the infant Savior. The figures of the holy
family, shepherds and wise men will be of
life-tinted wax, and will be grouped in
adoring positions around the infant in his
crib.
Her Faith is Strong.
The youngest daughter of the house.
Adele. is a tot of four years, who was
born In this country, and is longing for
Santa Claus coming with the eagerness of
any other small American girl. The elder
sons have outgrown their faith In the tow
laden saint, but Mercedes who was sponsor
at the launching Of the Vera Cruz at Eliza
bethport. N. j., last September. is as enthu-
siastic over Christmas as the younger chill
dren though she Is a tall slip of a girl
nearly fourteen years old. George was
born on Washington's birthday, eleven
years ago. and bears the immortal name.
Julio, the youngest son, is nine
AS near possible the family will OH
serve the customs of their native land. An
especially attractive feature will be the
wreathed with flowers will be filled with
nuts and bonbons and suspended from the
rear porch. Those present will take turns
| to be blindfolded and strike at the Jar with
long stick. When some lucky stroke
breaks it. there will be general scramble
for the scattered goodies, and after that
phase of the jollity is through with
| basket will be passed around from which
each will choose gift.
Michael Herbert, tr, young son of the
British ambassador. Is about the age of
Kermit Roosevelt, and will celebrate Christ
| mas after the fashion of any other Amert-
can or English lad Of his rank and years.
Roland. the only child Of the charge d. af-
flares of the French embassy and Madame
de Margerie. is a bright little fellow of
three years, who Is twice well off as any
other child of the corps. for he has already
celebrated one Christmas and Is waiting
eagerly for the next. On December Gin
NlcuoidS, accompanied DY
group of saintlets. dressed in fur and carry
ing toy packs like their leader goes from
house to house. leaving gifts for good chill
dren and switches for the bad. These
switches are hung on the beds Of the I'M
lucky little villains who get them, and there
they remain in conspicuous readiness for
sixty nights and days. The holiday proper
is celebrated in the name of Father of
Christmas, when all the children, good and
bad. receive gifts of candy and knick-
knacks. Each baby culprit. mindful of his
switch and all that 1t implies, makes one
good resolution, which he succeeds more or
less in keeping until the world overtakes
him and he comes to know that St Nicholas
and his followers were only papa and the
boys"
Roland found no switch on his bed, for he
is bonny boy and well deserves the finest
toys that his ST. Nicholas can bring Amer
lean children hang up their stockings; little
French boys like Roland place their shoes
in the chimney place. where the saint will
be sure to see. Roland Is two weeks older
than his little playmate, Mia. who lives In
the big Austrian embassy nearby.
A Fairy Tale Baby.
Mia looks like a bit Of a girl out Of q
fairy tale. her hair is so golden and her
eyes so blue. She wears white lace frocks
and blue ribbons. and when she was a still
| timer girl she used to go riding in a Won.
derful coach OF pale enameled blue She
was born in Vienna, but was brought to this
country when only few months old She
has an English nurse and speaks our lam
guage as well as any Of her small American
playmates. This year she will have what
she calls ''gweat big Cwismas twee" In the
reception hall of the legation. 1t will twin
kle with hundreds OF lights, and the tinsel
ornaments. like those Of last year, will
shine like the jewels that you never come
across outside Of the "Ara.lan Nights" SO
1t Is quite plain where Kris Krfngle went to
get them. Throughout Christmas week
Milas handsome mamma will invite all the
children of the diplomatic corps and many
other little boys and girls to see the trs&
and to every one the small hostess win
give some pretty gift.
And the parents who come with their
children will congratulate Mila's mamma,
for Dame Fortune. who can be quite as lib
eral as Santa Claus when she wants to- has
given the minister an ambassadorship,
which means a great deal indeed.
There Is no Santa Claus at the Haitian
| legation. All gifts are brought by the In
FAINT Jesus and it wasn't so long ago that
George. the younger Of the two sons OF the
Haitian minister and Madame Leger, Told
, his parents. with big eyes and excited voice,
that he had seen the Holy Child when he
came and left the gifts by his bedside.
Christmas at the Peruvian legation will
he Tor tbap