Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-16
Some Curious Christmas Customs

The peasants OF the mountains of Mon
tenegro celebrate Christmas eve in a
strange manner They gather up all tie
pokers and shovels and hide them in a.
safe place while the Yule log is lighted
when this Is burning brightly the father
ana sons take candles and proceed to the
stables, where they stand for q moment in
each corner
Some one drives out all the animals in
single file. The mother sp-inls!es wine
over each female and kisses the animal
sottiy on the head. This ceremony over the
Wnoie family chuck like hens making
noises like little chicks, so that there
may De an abundance OF fowls for
the coming season. The first bit of
p , wood that fails from the Yule
log is picked up by one of the sons. who
uses ms teeth instead of his hands This
IS not particularly pleasant task, as he
must carry II into the yard and leave II
'uete' at the RISK of receiving a bad burn
ihen feilows general jubilee. as no
witches can have a ghost of A chance of
working evil In household which has OBJ
served this custom
Inc people OF Ldna-you remember Lima
Is IN Peru and Peru is IN South America
call Christmas night the good night and
the WhoIe city Is in an uproar preparing
for the joyous occasion
~ me flaza MAJOR or principal park, is
the central part of the celebration In the
nlddie IS magnificent fountain decorated
Win hons and. angels, surmouuted by a
statue of Fame. Here hundreds of je-s of
water reap up IL the air, filing the atmo-
sphere with freshness. Bands Of negroes
dressed in flowing red robes some masked.
sing weird chants and dance with wild fan
tastc steps to the accompaniment of gui-
tars and castanets. The Indian women,
their long. black hair sweeping in masses
almost to their feet wave We n6s as all
circle around with a graceful flowing mo-
tion 70 SOFT music played on lutte and harp.
Ice stalls are scattered over the square.
where the merry-niakers can indulge in
what they consider a luxury for Christmas
comes in midsummer in Peru.
In Russia TO choose a bride is a common
part of Christmas celebrations. Some per-
son OF Importance announces that the fete
will be held a his house. At the appointed
time all the young men ssemble-prompt
and eager. They are followed by the
maidens, who are tardy because Of their
modesty. Then follow games. songs and
feasting, but all these are but prelimi-
naries to The great event. At midnight the
hostess gives the signal and withdraws
into an apartment. followed by the girls.
The lasses are arranged upon long benches
while the hostess muffies each and every
maiden with long strips of broadcloth.
Faces are hopelessly yelled and so are
necks, shoulders and bodies until the
handsome women appear like pappooses.
Then the men, one by one, enter the room.
The muffled maidens are approached and
examined. Eyes and ears are useless;
touch everything. Nhen at last The choice
is made the swaddling clothes are removed
and the sutton beholds the identity Of his
choice. 1t is the custom that this pair
should become man and wife. If this Gus
tom Is broken a heavy fine is imposed.
This lottery is said to result in many happy
marriages, but the part we are concerned
IN is that 1t is one of the quaint Christmas
customs OF Russia.
The German Christmas Is the sweetest
Christmas in the world. 1t begins the Sec
ond week in December. In every park and
square forests of fir and pine trees spring
up These trees sell for from one to seven
marks. Every child shares In the Joy OF
choosing the tree, for tmutter always
goes to the square accompanied by her
rosy checked brood.
When Christmas eve arrives there Is not
a house In all Germany, except the house
of mourning, that does not light it's tree.
There need be no child IN the house. The
Ioneliest old couple or the most rigid of
this one day In the year. School books are
thrown aside. the house is IN perfect Or
der, the tree Is dressed, and at o. clock
all go to church, where on each side of the
altar Is splendid Christmas tree The
service lasts .one hour. and on their return
home the family stand outside their closed
door and sing carol solemn Christ
mas song from some great oratorio. Then
the door is opened, the tree with its bril-
tons. II German custom has been followed
consists of gilded nuts, apples and oranges
with q wflite-r0bed angel near the top and
the manger of Bethlehem beneath the tree.
It Is the 'Christkind'' that lights the tree
an. brings the presents. If St Nicholas
appears with his sack filed with toys he Ia
greeted with no familiarity.