The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-12-27

their state calls to the foreign residents
Long, red Christmas cards filled out
with Chinese characters are presented
to the Christian host, and after the
general exchange of courtesies, John
Chinaman returns home to pay his
debts and prepare for his own Christ
mas and New Years festival which
comes "a few weeks later, when all
China resounds to the fire-cracker.
The Russians carry Christmas more
than half way around the world-trom
Behring Straits to the German frontier.
1t is not a hilarious celebration. for
their are 90,000,OO0 peasants to receive
presents from a few thousand prOprie-
tors. They gather Christmas morning
before the great house of the over-lord
and with bowed heads stolidly await
his coming forth to distribute in ST.
lence a few simple presents. Easter
is the day when all Russia goes mad.
Christmas is not set in winter scene
everywhere. In India the day is cele-
brated by the white residents in pic
nicking under the trees, while the
native servants operate ponderous fans.
In Australia, Christmas Day falls dur
ing the hottest period of the year.
Horse racing takes the place of foot
oall, and there is yachting instead OF
ice boating.
1t is but natural to expect that the
Jews would celebrate their Christmas
in advance of the Christians. In Box
hara, the first Jewish Christmas festiv-
tiles begin with the "Feast of Taber-
nacles," which is celebrated at the end
of the year. Perhaps in this feast
originated the idea of the Christmas
Tree, for from time immemorial it has
been the custom to gather leafy boughs
from which open booths are made and
in these live the Jews until their
: "Christmas" season is over. 1t is the
) Oldest celebration of the "Year's end"
! of which we have any authentic record
} The dawn of Christmas has passed
: almost half way around the world be-
fore it touches the spot where Christ
was born.
Shepherds still watch their flocks by
s night during the Christmas season
: around Bethlehem. 1t is the most
Z peaceful scene in all the Holy Land
0 Yearly they watch the procession of
Q pilgrims that wends it's way from the
t Church of the Holy Sepulchre thru the
,. Via Dolorosa, out thru St. Stephens
9 Gate, where the martyr was stoned tc
o death, and across the plains to Bethle
g hem. All night long the footsore
It travellers, who have gathered from
5, every part of the world, may be seer
/ trudging by starlight toward the little
e village of Bethlehem. Thousands g(
singly, other thousands in procession'
with emblems and banners. The Rus
SLAMS carry their sacred pictures before
them and anathematize the Roman'
who bear aloft their sacred images
The Copts appear in gorgeous rituals
"a tic array, while the Abyssinians Sc
j. forth from their humble settlement be
n hind the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
"a in the dark robes that distinguish them
,e All meet at the gates of Bethlehem
j. where special guard of Mohammeda1
rs soldiers is in waiting with musket
o- loaded, to keep order at the midnigh
,e mass held over the spot where Chris
:" was born. 4
"a Escorted by infidel soldiers, the Greel
"a Catholics approach the Church of tn
g. Nativity and are protected durin
,s their devotions; the pilgrims of al
,e sects are treated with equal considers
re- tion at this shrine, which is the commo
nt property of all who regard it as thei
w own.
,e In Syria the native Christians ar
apt to celebrate Christmas indoors, hu
s. In Greece, recently escaped from Turl
he ish rule, the day is celebrated wit
at song and dance.
lis In Italy either bells or bombs call th
ut devout to early service. Many beaut
st full customs prevail thruout the Ian
We with regard to the managers that al
a. built everywhere for the Holy Child.
ay About Naples, at Christmas time, tt
tie peasants come down from the moul
be tains and 60 from door to door askin
,e- aims. At each house they are receive
sll and invited to play weird music upo
ay their homely Instruments before Il