The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1910-12-23


ItEf@sg2 the world is doing pre-
M f@<1ssS cisely the same thing
&SggY in a different manner.
Scarcely one-ffth of
me territory Of the globe is Chris
ian, and but proportionate number
d IT'S inhabitants celebrate Chrigtraag
yet even in this comparatively small
number Of people there are surprising
y diverse methods Of celebrating the
great day. Of course, all countries that
nave Christmas have a similar spfr.
lLual Observation-Disclosures and nrafse
ana worship to God for the birth Of his
only son in the manager 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.
ence il marked
OF ell Faces on Christmas, surely
the Holy Land-the birthplace of the
Christ child-is paramount in interest.
And, naturally, the celebration Of the
people Of tEat land centers in Beth
lenem, the humble little village where
the shepherds found the babe wray-
ped in swaddling clothes and lying in
2 manager" 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 RomaE
Catholic chapel in the Church Of the
Narivty. ...
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 ar 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, festive one.
Christians from all the countries Of
the Fast 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 darttng
hither and thither in the crowd in
wild exuberance of boytsh 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
plexions, are making merry with their
children. There is 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 it's 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
high stone wall, and one has to stoop
as he enters-thus insurtng bowling to
the crucifix opposite.
The building is believed to be the
eldest monument of Christian archi-
lecture extant, the basilica erected by
st. Helena In 1927 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, in
gorgeous robes richly embroidered in
gold and silver. Paeons of worship
peal forth from the grand old organ.
At midnight the music grows softer
and then there comes pause. The
silence is complete, except for the
neal of the Christmas chimes outside
in the village. Suddenly, as though
by an unseen hand, the curtain above
the chancel arch is drawn aside. re-
yealfng a miniature cradle holding an
image of the babe. From the organ
and the choir bursts forth. in glad,
triumphant cadence. the ringing
strains of the Gloria in Exce.sis."
The little cradle is lowered and the
'Bambino' reverently raised. The
worshippers PROSTATE themselves
upon the ground.
The sacred images are then borne
at the head of the procession to the
chapel of the manger. Priests.
monks and congregation. ell carry
lighted wax tapers and move in sol
emn cadence with the chant. The
Grotto of the Nativity is reached,
Once a subterranean vault, ii has
been converted into chapel lined
and foored with marble, Directly
over the manger is IN altar profuse!y
decorated in gold and silver and silk
on tapestries. Incense is burning
fragrantly. ard lamps that are never
allowed to so out cast their dim radi-
ance over the crowd. 4 large star OF
brass marks the spot where Christ
was born and bears the inscription IN
latin Here Jesus Christ Was born OF
the Virgin Mary"
The little marger. with its wax fig
IRE of the Christ child. Is deVoutIy
laid upon the altar. II rests there for
the remainder of the week, symbol
of alteration for the multitude, From
chanel to chapel, the long procession
slowly werds its way, with its chants
and lighted tapers. The services are
continued nearly all night long on
This SPOT where first came to the
faitbfuI shepherds the message Of
+eelt =. a. trt.rt...t I'D ON