New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-25
gifts for the youngsters at the Hippodrome.


IN Germany in Austria or in England In
winch latter country is introduced by
queen Vlctorias German husband who still
remains known to this day as the good Prince
Consort"
IL was Queen Christina who first set up a
CHRISTMAS tree In the royal palace at Madrid
for her children. But although no Christmas
mas ever been allowed to pass at Madrid with
out Christmas tree at the palace since she took
up her abode there in 1879 the custor, hoe NO,
oeen adopted to any extent by the people, who
are averse to everything foreign, and who have
thelr own national ways of celebrating the
Noche Buena" Indeed, it is on this occasion
that Spain always appears to the stranger the
most picturesque For at the midnight mass
all the women invariably wear the national lace
mantilla, gracefully draped round their head
ana shoulders, while no Spaniard on his way to
church on Christmas Eve will hesitate to bring
out his old fashioned "capa," with it's bright COL
ored lining which he considers the best protec-
ton against the piercing blasts of wind sweep
ing down from the snowcad peaks of the Qua
darrama. The Christmas midnight mass in
Spain is known by the odd name of the "missa
del Gallo" or Cocks Mass" so called because
the rooster is of the first to herald in the
advent of Christmas. BY happy and quaint con-
ceit, Spaniards like to imagine that the bird is
eager on this night of nights to call them. even
as early as at midnight, to be awake and to
salute the advent of the grandest festival of the
year. In several of the Madrid churches the
"missa del Gallo is rendered with exquisite pas
toral music. Tambourines and castanettes play
an important part in the orchestra, while now
and again. by means of a special instrument.
pathetic, brdlike notes swell up with peculiar
beauty. Prior to this midnight many will
have taken in the performance at the Martin
Theatre at Madrid. where the Nativity is repre-
scented. The history of ChriSt'S birth Is deDicted
from the point of view which the Spaniards took
at the time when the play written, hundreds
of years ago-the shepherds as rough, ready
frolicsome herdsmen from the Guadarrama hills;
Joseph and Mary devout peasants from La
Mancha; the Magi as travellers from Murcia,
and Herod ancient king of CASTLE The
whole play is quaint to a degree. yet not
devout. and what is more it never seems to
lose it's attractions both for rich and poor alike.
For, although the performance is continued
every night from Christmas Eve to the Epiph-
any, yet the house is always crowded with
audiences composed of mobiles and peasants
from the surrounding villages, with great digId-
tares of the court, and cigarreras. with wealthy
bankers and some of those proud. intensely dig
nifed mendicants such nowhere but
in Spain. Christmas in fact. in Spain is rich
In characteristics national customs, many dating
| back from the Middle Ages. to which the people
II
twentieth century.
Although, as shown above, the cult of the hr
tree in connection with this season of the year
was common at Rome in the days of Virgil, yet
it has gone out of fashion in Italy, and, although
II has been my lot to spend several winters there,
I cannot recall seeing even hearing of any
Christmas tree But this does not mean that
Christmas Is not celebrated with due honor in
Italy Indeed, 1t is the family festival of the
year. par excellence; the one occasion when even
the most inveterate of clubmen feels 1t lncum-
bent upon him to dine with his family and, If
he is at Naples to partake of the traditional
vermicelle con vougouli and the succulent capa-
| ttone or eel though just why cells should be con-
sidered Christmas dish have never been able
to discover. Down in Sicily Christmas is made
In certain districts the occasion of a sort of
onion battle, the villagers fighting one another
armed with onions, the victor being presented
with bull. while in other parts of the island
the women Christmas Day drag all the old
bachelors they can find into the church, rum
ming them all around the sacred edifce beating
them with their fists, so to make them feel
thoroughly ashamed of their single state and to
induce them to take to themselves wives before
another Christmas comes around.
In Italy, in Spain Austria, France ana
other Roman Catholic countries, the creche or
representation of the Nativity is on view in
every church In some Roman Cathohc coun-
tries of Continental Europe the image OF the
Holy Child in its manger-cradle is conveyed IN
solemn procession through the streets on Christ
mas Day, and sometimes taken to the BEDSIDE OF
/ tI,Ss