Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-17
Quaint Christmas Customs.

While the American children are hang ng
up their stockings, their cousins in Porto
Rico are placing their shoes and a paste
beard box filled with fresh grass on the
window sill S. The custom owes its origin
TO the Bible story. The grass is intended
FOE the hungry mules on which tie three
wise men rode to find the infant Jesus.
The little Porto Ricans find great difficulty
in getting this grass, for the cities are so
compactly built that scarcely grass plot
is to be found. Last year plot of a few
square yards was raised, every blade being
picked by the children.
After the presents are removed a note is
usually found at the bottom of the box.
The note states that the children have not
been good they should have been,
therefore the wise men do not deem it
proper to leave better presents. Magnificent
presents are promised for the next Christ
mas providing the children behave them
selves during the next twelve months. Then
a postscript follows, stating that the mules
were offended at some little sins committed
by the children and couldn't eat the grass
Christmas lasts a long time in Norway
and Sweden-nearly half the year. This IS
because several months are spent preparing
for it. When it does come 1t lasts from
December % to January b. Nowhere is
|
sure to crackIe under foot and the stars to
glitter like diamonds in the keen, frosty
air Besides this is the home of jolly ST.
Nick. and from palace to cottage all Is
gladness Fragrance from spruce and pine
meets one everywhere.
One gracious custom still obtains of fas-
tening sheaves of wheat or corn on the
housetops, that the snow birds may have a
merry Christmas, too. In every household
visitors are offered the "fattigmandes," or
poor mans cake. This cake has nothing poor
about it except its name. Every person
must battle on Christmas eve. The Bible is
then read and prayers said. after which a
candle is placed in the window to safely
guide Kristwe, the bountiful Santa Claus
Good will toward men is evident through
out Norway. The prisons thrown open,
courts closed, family feuds forgotten and
old quarrels adjusted. Criers go through
the streets proclaiming that any one who
violates the Yuletde peace will be doubly
punished. Every member of the family
puts his shoes, great and small, by the fire.
place. This they believe brings peace and
harmony for the next year.
| The French do not look forward to Christ
mas as eagerly as do the children of other
| lands. Beyond religious observance there
| is little celebration, except in the province
of Alsace and in Paris itself. One pretty
French custom is the going of the little
children to meet the three wise men. No
matter which way they take the little devO-
, tees never meet them. When they return
| to their homes al dark their parents con-
Sole tneil DS saying llldt the wise men must
| have come 'the other way" and are even
now up at the church Later the children
| are carried thther, where they glad
| dened with sight of the wonderful wise
| men. who, decked in the robes of the
| priests. are bringing costly gifts to the in
| FAINT Savior. Later this Savior deposits
| his gifts in the shoes of the devout little
children who watched all day in vain for
| the three wise men.
Christmas box means a gift of money.
| which was a prevailing custom in England
! the day after Christmas. The day was
called Boxing day, and the money was
given to servants, tradesmen and govern
| ment officials. The custom became so mis-
| used that it was discontinued in 1886. Speci-
| mems of the Christmas box or thrift box,
| are still to be found in England. These
| boxes are three to four inches high, are
bottle shaped and have imita ton shoppers
| They were made of thin clay the upper
| part covered with green glaze. On one side
| is slit. in which the coins were deposited
| The original Christmas celebra ton lasted
twelve days, from December % to January
| 6. This period was Epiphany. the time sup
posed to have been consumed by the jour
ney of the wise men to Bethlehem led by
the star in the east.