New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-25
MANGER AT CHRISTMAS.
4 Feature Of the Latin Celebration-only
Memory with the Busy Immigrant.

All through the Italian and Hungarian quarters
IN New-York may be found traces OF the mangei
a. Christmas time The Italians call it the 'Prese
pio" which means manger; the Hungarians the
Bethlehem" The manger Is exceedingly old
and Interesting devotion n the Catholic countries
OF South Europe St Francis OF Assist, who
born IN 11s2 introduced il into Italy. and il is still
the sign OF Christmas II South Italy. much
holly il the windows is the sign OF il in New-York
Il IS not many years since q carpenter could not
be had Tor weeks before Christmas in Rome
Naples They were al busy putting up managers
N the houses OF the quality; while the poorer folk
busy fabricating their OWL This quaint old
devotion Is fading out OF the cities Of the main
land but IL conservative Sicily IL remains in full
force Every family there sui erects its presepio
some time from the Ist to the 18th Of December
II IS not ulanser alone but whole mountain
side. made OF the rough, flexible bark OF the cork
Uee. Peaks a1o Grass anq preclplces abound. with
INV mes ID f1rrisp brooks s77a 1slss In NE
centre Is the grotto. with The holy family within,
stretched above, with he star Of Bethiehem upon
T. over the nils come shepherds bearing gifts 70
ne infant, ana tho4gh they are IN Sclllan cos
tune and carry good sIciAal cheese and wine upon
thelr donkeys. they axe 81 The more interesting
Sometimes the presepio alls only q corner. some
times the whole side OF 4 room. according 10 the
worn out but il needs 10 be freshened up each
yeaT always welcome task 10 the mother ana
q merits in the same vicinity. and much neigh
bo-ly calling 10 examine new and elaborate speci-
Spain Ike Sicily, has never abandoned the prese-
pic. Every Spanish household has lis manger al
Christmas time, and booths are erected in the
street FOR the sale Of miniature shepherds. rnagL
holy families ard al the accessories.
s.. Erancls's preseplO spread 70 Flanders, where
= called 'E3etleln. and 70 France. where they
made al home IN France, as In Southern
Europe. bug II part Of The Christmas decora-
lions q ever. church There "a many & pollshed
cOsmOpOlLe II Paris to-day VINO can remember
working busiy for days before Christmas IN child
hood help fresEen up ana reJuyenaIs the Old
cgeche OF his parish church IN some little village
o. France. And ia villages close by Paris to-day.
children who go aDOut the streets singing Christ
mas carols carry Little creche IN box upon their
II those queer foreign colonies below Fourteenth
I've in quarters TOO cramped TO build the manger
IN their homes. they used TO. But Il IS still TO
be al the Christ nas masses II Italian and
Hungarian Catholic churcEeS. IN one Hungarian
church the lower East Side there is z Beth
leheII brought py the priest from Europe, which
s. a marvel Of the and delicate woodcarv4ng. q
gem OF haudlcraft-
The Hungarian housemother. also, does not for
get make the Christmas cakes which she made
every Christmas OF her lie her home in Hun
gary They round balls Of dough. covered with
honey and poppyseeo and then baked, and are
very tOOthsOnle and delicious.
The Siclian housewife also has q traditional
cake Christmas time 1t is a ring OF dough,
hoe in the centre-Lhe Italian fried k.
probabiy-fried and sprInklsd with sugar when hot.
Every IN Sicily rich and poor, eats these cakes
Christmas time and also lsh anc caulidower
The msnger Iyplhes the difference between the
Latin and the TeutOnlc Christmas. The manger is
rhe sign OF the southern the tree OF the northern
Christmas BY rights the Christmas tree belongs
10 the CfernlaLic and Scandinavian peoples Where
borrowed II The Latin Christmas Is a religious
celebration. more social or domestic festival
than other feast Of the church. IT is the
great TeutOn family Of nations that gives presents