The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-28

More picturesque than any other is
the Christmas merrymaking in the
Mexican embassy. with it's 'Naciamen-
to-" or manger, which, in accordance
with the religious custom of Mexico,
has the place of honor in the parlor.
This manger, which also forms a
feature of all the Latin legations, typi-
fies the birth of our Saviour and is
made as lifelike as possible. A beau
tifully dressed doll is in the cradle,
and figures of the holy family the wise
men, the shepherds, the angels, even
Saint AIMS dog, in life tinted wax
are grouped in adoring groups around
the infant Christ. The wonderful tree
that first took root in German soil,
did not spread it's branches in Mexico
until less than twenty years ago; and
then 1t had a great run of deserved
popularity, the little ones demanding
Christmas trees for every month in the
year. There was none this year in the
Mexican embassy, because the only
daughter of the house of the ambas-
sador-Senorita Dona Belem - is a
young lady, grown. The first secre-
tary of the embassy, however, and Sc
nora Goday are blessed with a lot of
boys and girls, who make merry in
their own way. Instead of a Christmas
tree, they prefer the merry frolic OF
the "Pinata." 1t is a great jar of
fragile earthenware, wreathed with
flowers, filled with candies, nuts, small
coins, toys, etc, and suspended by a
long string, from the roof of the back
porch. At the appointed time, every
body present is blindfolded. turned
around three times, given long stick
and told to break the jar. Generally
he, or She, strikes at empty space, or
whacks some luckless companion on
the head; but at last the jar is broken,
and a scramble ensues for the scat
tered goodies.
Peru and Chill have customs about
the same pertaining to "Noche
Bueno," the Good Night on which
Christ was born, including a manger
and procession of the children of the
household, each with a lighted candle,
to walk around the crib three times
and ask blessing. in song, in the
name of the Holy Child The great
Italian ceremony, known as the FIESTA
del Ceppo," takes place on Christmas
Eve in the Italian embassy. and to ii
are invited not only all the members
of the embassy, but all the ambassador s
countrymen and women of the better
class in the vicinity, including consul
lar officers of this city and Baltimore,
teachers, merchants, etc. Their cele-
bration of Christmas Eve is very sim
liar to the old AngloSaxon Yule-log
and wassail bowl, in the burning of a
great log in the fireplace and the
drinking of famous brew out of a
huge punch-bowl. In Italy 1t is the
custom of the people to attend mid
night mass after the burning of the
log; but as midnight mass is not us
ually celebrated in this country, that
portion of the traditional programme
must be omitted. The same guests are
invited next day to the Christmas din
ner, whose main feature is the Italian
roast turkey, stuffed with chestnuts
and stuffed cells, known as anguillas.
The little son of the former Chinese
Minister and Nine. WI, whom his
schoolmates called Chow Chow" was
greatly missed this year at the lega.
ton of the Flowery Kingdom. He is q
bright and lovable lad and never re-
scented the nickname, although his
more dignified title was really Chos
Chou Ting Fang. In spite of his
Oriental training, he enjoyed Christ
mas to the top of his bent, just like
an American small boy, and levied
gifts upon the whole legation. 1t was
also his custom to go alone on Christ
mas morning to the White House, car
rying hugh bouquet, to present to the
mistress thereof Gentle Mrs Nc
Kinley expected him with the greatest
pleasure and always had her gift ready
for him. The baby son of the present
charge d'affaires of the Chinese lega-
ton and Madame Shen Tung is too
small to care much about our festival,
as yet. He was born on the Fourth OF
July and his name--longer than he is
himself, begins with Washington" and
after half dozen or more Chinese
-dislocators, ends, of course, with
Shen Tung.