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

the Christmas tree. yet this Ia never
in full blaze until the night Of Christ.
mas day In Germany. There is no
week Of festivities lasting until the
first day Of the year. al in this coun-
try.
Christmas festivities in England
are probably more fully enjoyed than
in any other country. Many of the
old English customs have been trans
planted to America. but many Of them
are still known only in the country
across the sea. In no other country
are the festivities more joyfully well
coined than In England, where the
"old honor as 1t is called, has not
fed. In that country it is the custom
on Christmas eve, after the usual de-
votions are over, to light large can
dies and throw on the hearth a huge
log, called the Yule log, or Christmas
block.
At court and in the homes Of the
wealthy an officer, named the Lord Of
Misrule, is appointed to superintend
the Christmas revels. In Scotland a
similar officer is appointed and Is
called the Abbot of Unreason. This
is merely n mode Of creating an
abundance of fun, but long years ago
this officer was really appointed to
superintend the festivities. In the year
1916 the Office was abolished by an act
of parliament. The reign of the orig.
inal Lord of Misrule started at Halo
ween and continued until Candlemas
day. The favorite pastimes which he
now presides over are gaming, music,
conjuring, dipping for nuts and apples,
dancing and fool plough" hot cock
les, blind mans buff, etc. In England
the favorite dish for dinner at this
season Of the year is the boar's head
with an apple or orange in his mouth
and set of with rosemary, plum pud-
ding and mince pie.
The English children look forward
even more eagerly to the Christmas
season than the American children.
1t is their Thanksgiving and Christ,
mas combined.
The English Christmas season lasts
from the night before December rs
uuLll tu0 ln0t O6y VI tA0 ACW yO0hp
and everything is merry during that
time. The season long years ago was
celebrated to a greater extent In
England than 1t is today on account
of the fact that the heads of many Of
the churches complained that the sea-
son should be more sacred and not SO
much given over to the joyous pro-
rovrc This Co110A q holt IN tho fnu.
'tivities, as the churches were then
the ruling powers Of the country.
Since that time the change has been
!. felt right along. The Santa Claus Of
the English children Is an all-powerful
being and they are stern believers in
;. the neurological gift giver until quite
!. up In years. Many of the English
|, Christmas customs date back hun
=. dreds Of years.
Right at the very door to our own
!, country-Ellis Island-a Christmas
!. celebration of more than passing In
I terest takes place every year. There
, IL never a Christmas that does not
. find at least one steamship %depositing
!, its load of immigrants from Europe.
0lIdU&SI6 III q btA du60 ld3lQ VI SuIioI-
: mas day! Surely they are worthy of
} all that can be done for them to make
! them feel a little of the Christmas
/. cheer! And much is done.
/ The little immigrant children are
treated to all sorts of Christmas gifts
, dear to the heart Of childhood and
t their fathers and mothers come in.
> too, for Yuletide membranes. Sew.
= eral months before Christmas dona.
> lions come in from all over the coun.
. try. From the middle\ Of December
( packages begin to arrive, some con.
!. tanning touching little offerings OF
0 cheap tops, candies, ornaments and
r fruits. From the Ghetto. from little
: Italy, from the crowded alleys and the
Q sitting tenements come the gifts.
0 There is always a big Christmas
= dinner and a Christmas tree on
}. Christmas eve. Many Of the little
Q ones have had SO many good
s--A -. 49, = LO