The San Francisco call., 1908-12-27

IN all Catholic countries there is today Christmas
scene OF the Nativity arranged in various
] churches in cities. towns and country The ex-
hibtion usually lasts month and crowds of people
visit the churches with pious pleasure.
Persons of means with large houses often have the
scene of the nativity arranged for the children and
send out cards of invitation weeks in advance.
These exhibitions are a sort OF representation Of
the visit OF the shepherds and Nag to the stable
where reposed the infant Jesus. There is a back
ground of painted scenery against which are
ranged lifeike puppet figures of the Virgin and
Child Joseph the wise men and others. Usually there
is representation Of the Eternal Father and his
angels looking from above.
It said that Francis OF Assisi the first
to separate the scene OF the Nativity from the
remainder of the Passion and that he invented tho
cradle which was used a manger for this occasion
II was his object place before the common peo-
pie realistic picture of the stable IN Bethlehem
with accurate surroundings and with the puppet
in the great drama dressed in the of
s. the period. He sought the realistic instead of the
conventional manner OF the presentation. He sue
'ceeded well that the custom, with slight varia-
tions has been followed since.
The figures made of composition in most cases
and are very lfelike and natural; they are from
eight inches high and regarded with super
stitous awe by the ignorant. In some the Christ
child lies naked in manger; in others, where the
oriental idea is strictly adhered to- the child
wears a wadded cap, tied round with kerchief
turban wise and striped gown-in Jerusalem called
a guzlyhr-wound about with strips Of cloth or rib
bon, as the babies of southern Europe are swathed
about. One often sees sheaf of wheat used as a
pillow for the Blessed Child; the wheat is symbol
OF the Bread Of Life
An exhibition of this kind is more common in
Italy and Spain, perhaps than in any other country
of the world In each country has different name
In Spain it is called the Naciemento in Italy the
Perspio; in France, the Creche; and in Mexico, the
Posada.
The children of royalty in all Latin countries have
exhibitions of this kind particularly fine was
arranged for the present king of Spain when he was
quite young child It shown in Madrid for a
considerable time and is now being carefully con-
served for the of the kings children Clay
figures of the Christchd are the favorite Christmas
toys of all Spanish children.
The arrangement and the ceremonies in Spain and
Mexico do not differ very materially, so that a
description of will answer for both.
The exhibition in Mexico takes its name from an
inn "posada." The bible story tells that because
there was for them in the inn Mary and
Joseph were obliged to take quarters in a stable.
We read that when Joseph and Mary made the
Journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem in response to
the order of the Roman emperor they nine days
on the way and obliged to beg their lodging in
a strange inn every night 1t is in remembrance of
this journey that the strange surrounding the
nine days novena are kept up.
Several Mexican families usually arrange to hold
their posadas together, and each family entertains
the others on one of the nights of the novena The
party assemblies early in the evening at the appointed
house, each family bringing its servants and every
one being provided with lighted candle.
The company heads procession, headed by two
pilgrims representing Joseph on foot and Mary an
ass Mary wears frock of the Virgins color, which
is presented to her and is often handsome The
procession marches through the corridors of the
house singing the Virgins Litany of Loretto.
While the chanting is going on they knock at
various DOORS Joseph pleading for admission for his
wife in the following words: "In heavens name
beg for shelter; my wife and can go no further"
Renlu comes from those within: NO inn is this