The Washington times., 1903-12-25

church to form a realistic feature of
the drama OF the Nativity.
Site of Pagan Temple
In witnessing the touching devotion of
the Romans to the Mother and Child
at Santa Maria Ara Coeli. one almost
forgets that this church stands on the
site Of the renowned temple Of the pagan
goddess. Juno Capitolina. Few church
es in Rome have a more interesting his
tory. Up the steps which many pious
pilgram climbs on his knees, Julius
Caesar came also on his knees. in full
fillment Of a vow to the Capitoiine
Jove. AT the base Of these same steep
steps. Rienzi. the last of the Tribunes,
sank and expired from the wounds in
flicted By the popuIace
1t was in this Church of Ara Coeli,
that Gibbon first conceived the ques-
tionable idea of writing the decline
and Fall Of the Roman Empire" And
lastly. this church. Ara CoeH. Church
Of the Altar of Heaven. is derived from
the ancient legend which says that the
sybil Of the Tiber appeared TO the En-
Peror Caesar Augustus. whom the sen
ate proposed to elevate 10 the rank OF
a god. and disclosed to him the myster-
les of the religion Of Christ
Christmas Dishes.
In Rome, and in fact in all Italy.
presents are exchanged on Epiphany
or Twelfth Night, as in the Western
world On Christmas Day the Roman
has great dinner. although the names
of the dishes have a strange sound TO
American ears. All day long on the
Feast of the Nativity the Romans eat
toroRo and pangiallo. He is poor. in
deed. who cannot afford a few cantes-
sino TO buy torono, a kind OF hard
candy, made of honey and almonds,
and crusted over with crystallized SUI
gar. Pangialli is a more pretentious
dish. and is eaten as the English and
Americans use plum pudding and mince
pie. Substantial dishes, such as stuffed
turkey. or stuffed goose, play a small
part in the Roman Christmas dinner
If he is well-to-do, he has stuffed capon
and stewed .eels, but the greater pro-
portion of the Roman people are con-
I tent with their dinner of macaroni
followed by the various kinds of
sweets!
Twelfth Night
The Eve of the Epiphany, or Twelfth
Night, is to the children of Rome what
Christmas Eve is to the children of
America. The Befana, a corruption of
Epifania, is the Italian Santa Claus,
but the happy care-free children of
America. who write letters to good old
st. Nicholas, can scarcely realize with
what awe the Roman child contemplates
4 Befana. The American children are on
terms of intimacy with Santa Claus. his
Jolly, round face, pack filed with toys
and good things and his string of rein
deer. are an unfailing source Of ioy
to the little ones. The Befana is a
| tail. dark woman. of an ugly, severe
cast Of countenance and a terrible
frown- She comes down the chimney
on the Eve of Epiphany. ringing a stri-
| dent bell and tapping on the floor with
q long cane. She puts playthings and
/ sweets for the good children. but bags
Of ashes and letters of severe repri-
mand are left for naughty ones. The
Roman child does not. therefore. look
forward to the Befana with the bappv
assurance that the legends Of Santa
Claus bring.
Exchange of Gifts.
| In Rome. as in America. the custom
Of giving gifts is not confined to chill
dren. The Holy Father exchanges pres
ents with the members of the College OF
! the Cardinals. In the numerous sem.
/ inaries the students present tokens n
| their superiors. Among the old nobu-
! ity the custom has survived Of present
ing every servitor no matter how hum
bic his occupation with a substantial
/ gift
Those parents who do not wish "a
subject their children TO the whims of
the Befana. provide an amusement
| called the urn of fate, the substitute
! for the American Christmas tree. A
| large bowl is placed In the center of
the table and each child is allowed TO
take from IL one package. II this pack
age does not bear her name. she must
return ii. As children are usually nu-
merous in Italian families there is great
| opportunity for sporJ ,sntil the correct
| gift is selected. Another source of
amusement Is game of nuts some
| thing like Jack straws. inasmuch as
the nuts are piled In a pyramid in the
| center OF the table and must be re
| moved one by one without disturbing
! the remainder. On the Feast of the Ma
tivity the amusements are OF a oaiet
order: there is no dancing. and ONLY
those Of reckless natures attend the
playhOuses.