The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1910-12-23

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I'm VA III VI the birth OF the
~ Christ child we are ant
W. 10 overlook the fact
NxSSC mat another portion Of
I'M the world is doing pre-
WG> 4. cisely the same thing
9SS IN a different manner.
g. Scarcely one-iifth OF
.ae territory OF the globe is Chris
Ian and but a proportionate number
u its inhabitants celebrate Christmas.
iet even In this comparatively small
humber of people there are surprising.
" diverse methods of celebrating the
great day. OF course, all countries that
nave a Christmas have a similar spir-
ituai celebration-thanks and praise
ana worship to God for the birth of his
only son In the manger at Bethlehem.
But the diversity of celebration along
material lines and the great variety
OF Christmas customs in other lands
are surprising, indeed. Even between
countries SO closely allied as the
United States and England the differ
enceH In marked.
or ell Places on Christmas. surely
the Holy Land-the birthplace of the
Christ child-is paramount in interest.
And, naturally, the celebration of the
people of that land centers in Beth
lehem, the humble little village where
the shepherds found the babe wrap-
ped In rwaddling clothes and lying in
q uanger." On Christmas eve the
Christians Of Jerusalem and from all
over Palestine and visitors from other
lands flock to Bethlehem tc witness
the gorgeous ceremonial in the Roman
Catholic chapel in the Church Of the
Nativity.
One by one, and in groups they
come, with their caravans Of camels
Or on foot down the road from Jeru-
salem to bethlehem. leading through
stony. rolling plains with here and
there an olive grove or an orchard.
Under the wonderful radiance Of an
eastern night they wend their ways
through the crooked streets Of the
quaint little town to the market place,
opposite the church.
The scene is, indeed, a festive one
Christians from all the countries Of
the Fact are ~congregated here in gala
attire. Vendors Of sacred relics are
selling their crosses and pictures in
olive wood, and small boys, dressed
in many-colored garments, red fezes
and bright red shoes, are darting
hither and thither in the crowd in
wild e%xuberance of boyish spirits.
Sheep are being killed by family
groups for their evening meal after
the ceremonies in the church. The
mothers of Bethlehem, with their
large, lustrous eyes and brilliant com.
plsziOns, are making merry with their
children. There ID a babel Of many
voices and a great running to and fro.
The door of the church opens and
the crowd presses in. The Church of
the Nativity belongs to the Latins, the
Greeks and the Armenians, each sect
having its own convent adjoining,
The Latins are holding their service
now. the Armenians later and the
Greeks 10 days afterward. The en-
trance is through a small door In q
high stone wall, and one has to stoor
as he enters-thus insuring bowling ia
the cruciix opposite.
The building ia believed to be the
Oldest monument Of christian archt
lecture extant, the basilica erected by
st. Helena In 327 A. D. The services
are held in an adjoining building and
the worshippers are all seated on the
marble floor. The priests and monks
enter in solemn procession to the
chant of the grand TIE Deum. The
bishops and archbishops follow. II
gorgeous robes richly embroidered II
gold and silver. Paeons Of worship
peal forth from the grand old organ
At midnight the music grows softer
and then there comes q pause. TIT
silence Is complete, except for tn
peal of the Christmas chimes outside
: in the village. Suddenly, as though
by an unseen hand, the curtain abov'
the chancel arch is drawn aside. re
vealing a miniature cradle holding al
image of the babe. From the orgaI
and the choir bursts forth, In glad
triumphant cadence, the ring1nl
strains Of the Gloria In Excelsis.
The little cradle is lowered and tn
"Bambino" reverently raised. tn
worshippers PROSTATE themselve
upon the ground.
The sacred images are then born
at the head Of the procession to tn
chapel of the manger. Priests
monks and congregation, all carr
lighted wax tapers and move In so
emn cadence with the chant. Tn
Crotto of the Nativity is reached
Once a subterranean vault, 1t ha
been converted into a chapel line
and aoored with marble. Directi
over the manger is an altar profusei
decorated in gold and silver ana Sill
en- tapestries. Incense Is ournln
A"C