El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-12-24

III ~
hang UP their stockings. They put
- out their shoes, instead-the place
chosen for the purpose being usually q
window ledge. In that tropical latitude
HrshARXrom Hende, themr shr eta nui
windows are nearly always open, SO that
say, by the three Wise Men who came
there is ready admission for the gift
bringer.
Santa. Claus, however, does not visit
| the archigelago. In truth, the natives
do not know him at all. His place is
! taken by the Three Kings-that is to
to Sc the infant jesus while he lay in
the manager at Bethlehem. As will be
remembered, they brought gifts, and so
it is natural that on every anniversary
of the birth of our Lord they should be-
stow useful or pleasure giving presents
upon children.
Write Letters to the King.
A few days before Christmas arrives,
the Filipino boy or girl writes letter,
just as does an American child, asking
for certain gifts that are most desired.
But the parsonage addressed is one or
another of the three kings. who is ex-
pected to make a special memorandum
on the subject. The letter is placed
usually in a corner of a window, and
not in the chimney-for the very good
reason that in the Philippine islands
the houses have no ehimneys.
The houses do not require chlmney5
because, in that equatorial zone, they
do not have to be heated at any season
of the year. Fuel is burned only for
cooking, and a stovepipe stuck through
the roof serves to carry off the smoke.
The Three Kings could hardly be ex-
ted To- l. 2 ho,r pfro, 10 duo H.
ing by the way of the stovepipe. and so
it comes about that they deposit their
gifts ON the ledge of conveniently open
window. Most of the houses of the bet
ter class have bay windows, which are
highly suitable for this purpose.
Gift Day Is January 6.
Christmas in the Philippines is alto
gether different from ours. It begins on
the eve of Christmas day, and lasts until
the 9th day of January-what we call
and the grown-ups as well, do not re-
ceive their presents on Dec 25, but on
the morning of the 9th day of the fol-
lowing month. For it is on that day
that, in obedience to custom established
at Bethlehem more than 10 centuries
ago, the Three Kings come to bestow
their gifts. And it IS on the preceding
evening that the shoes are put out on
the window ledge, as a gentle hint TO
the visiting Wise Men.
The shoes are filled USUALLY with candy
or small toys-at all events if the in
tended recipient has been good and de-
serving of reward But it happens oc-
casionally. when a small boy or girl has
been persistently naughty, that he OF
she finds in the footgear, ON the much
wished-for morning, nothing more de-
sirable than a few pieces of wood or
Jumps OF coal. What more stern admon-
ishment could there be to juvenile re-
form?
The larger gifts are placed in the Win
dow, alongside the shoes. 1t can scarce
be said that, apart from these matters.
there is any great difference between
the Christmas of a Filipino child and
tina of youngster in the United States.
One thing in addition, however, ought to
be mentioned. 1t is that, in the Philip
pines. every young person has a right to
a present at Yuletide from his or her
godfather. Consequently, on the 25th of
December-that is to say on Christmas
day-the children all go to see their
godfathers, and receive from them an
'aguinaldo" or Christmas present.
Dance Until Midnight.
On the night of Dec. 24AChristmas
Eve-the native folk of Manila do not
go to bed at all; and the same custom
prevails elsewhere in the archipelago.
They dance all the evening. or walk
about the streets, and at II o'clock they
go to midnight mass. After mass they
eat a hearty meal, for which they have
an excellent appetite, having been re-
quired by their religion to fast since
noon on the oath. 1t is now the morning
of the 18th, of course, and the dancing or
other gayety is renewed until 5 A NJ.
when they go to church again. Usually