Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-12-16

Ad5 country place goes thefs lD- sRelE tae holidays. Theee is 2enef- ally q house party, with dlnrfug in tbp evening and skating tu ;He morning i if ice ean be found IL is meHe ltkr the American FhanksstyinS day HH like Christmas in this cdun5gy. The i houses and churches age usually dec orated with holly, grccns anl mistlc= ] toe. tree is an almost indespens- able article it Christmas time dnd the 1 evening is given over to amHsin2 the i children. who play all kinds oi house games, the older people udul2- ing in q dance
 The proverbial Christmas tinnrr generally includes roast beet aud plum pudding. The true and devoted F,m9- liShman always attends church on Christmas morning, and in some eo,H- try parishes the waits" still go from house to house singing their Christ mas carols on Christmas eve.
 How tue Russians Celebrate.
 In Russia Christmas k celebrated { ten days later than in this country. but 1t is celebrated very much in the same way as in En2Iand l'pon that day families meet and country par ties are made, The tree is Il Christ mas NeW and is beautifully decorated i Near it on small tables the gifts are i Il lG G,Ic T f.I,, all decorated with green, but, unlike ] the English euStom no mistletop iS Used. Al Christmas til. two or three days are given over to festivities and the people greet each other with "A ] happy feast to vou
 N fhc Russian Christmas dinner 2 ] huge pyramid of rice with raisins, blessed al the church, is served, and ] the meats are goose, duck and suck l ing pig. \ great delicacN Oh Christ mas in Russia is veal which has been fed entirely upon milk for thai spe cial day. Every servant receives a gi ii of dress OF something equally as valuable, and the peasants on the es- tate generally bring gifts of embroid= cred towels 10 the lady of the castle, and in return they receive presents. The poor and destitute are always fed OH Christmas day.
 MeXicans Celebrate for Nine Days.
 Throughout the Mexican republic and especially in the City of Mexico, | Christmas is celebrated in q unique and interesting manner At different houses, for nine continuous days, the people have what they call possades, meaning shelters" On a table in the i center of the room is placed d large aarthen jar filled with toys, bon-bons i and other presents. Long StreamerS of different cGlored ribbons. are at tached to the jar. The people assem- bed on these occasions begin the cerr- monies by singing hymns at the same i time walking around the jar. When the singing is finished each in turn strikes the jar until il is finally brok- en and the presents fall out upon the floor. The gifts of the older people are brought in later on silver trays and distributed. An elaborate dinner is then served in commemoration of the birth of Christ A salad made of fruit is always served at this meal and is considered as a necessary adjunct 10 the Christmas feast
 In Spain and Portugal.
 II is general custom throughout Spain and Portugal for families to as semble at their family home on Christ mas day, no matter how far away theJ may be they usually make an effort that day. Santa Claus is not known in these countries, but in his place are the "Three Kings" The religious fes tivities are the most elaborate of any country on the globe, and it is the custom of every one to attend church on Christmas day.
 Fasting in Poland.
 FaSting on ChrlStmdS day IS an oDll- gation among the Poles, and this de- votion is most strictly observed The Advent season is observed nearly as strictly as Lent, but it's latter days are enlivened by the preparations for the coming of Christmas At the close of the day and at the appearance of the first star the meal of the day is serv- ed amid a blaZe of lights even in the