The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-12-19
CHRIS MAS IN
FOREIGN LANDS
Marie johnson, High School
Pupil Writes Paper On
Varied Customs
STRANGE L[GfNDS OF THE TREES
Great Feast Marks The Season
In Armenia Naples Beats
Them All

High school wrote the following pa
per on Christmas eve customs and
read it as part of the program at
the High school last Friday:
20 peaceful night! O, holy
night,
So begin the carols which welcome
the eve Of Christmas Day. Yet an
old legend says that on Christmas
eve the sun stops an instant in its
course, and at that exact moment is
rent a split in time through which
eternity is seen with all its wonders.
Mountains open. treasures rise to
the surface Of the earth. all the wa
ter which flows over stones is turn
ed into wine, the Wild Huntsman
rushes through the air. and the dead
rise and hold a midnight service.
Horses in the stable receive the
faculty of speech for an hour, and,
for the same period, the whole plant
world is endowed with blossoming
powers.
Tree Blooms Every Christmas
There is no night in the world
about which so much is said that is
strange and wonderful. Near Muir
emburg, Germany is said to stand a
wonderful tree which every Christ
mas eve in spite of the coolest wea-
Their, puts forth blossoms and apples
as thick as a mans thumb.
In Iceland certain mountain ash
4 is declared to be covered every
Christmas eve with glittering lights
which the strongest wind cannot put
out.
Comes Down From Heaven
/ In Holland, old st. Nicholas comes
down from heaven, clad in full re-
gala. his robes shining with gems
and gold, and his mitre. his crozier
and his jeweled gloves in his hand.
In Armenia. the natives of which
country have celebrated the coming
of the Christ since the third century
an enormous feast is held in the
churchyard to which the entire town
/ is hidden. and the festivities con
tlnue for three days.
The noisiest, brightest and gayest
feast in the world takes place in
Naples. where the streets resemble
a huge fair until the bell of the
great tower strikes for midnight
mass, when the immense throng
falls on its knees.
Bells Ring at Midnight
! Some of the most ancient customs
still survive. and at the stroke Of
twelve on Christmas Eve, all over
the world of civilization, the bells
sound the coming Of the Christ-child.
Germany is the home Of the
Christmas tree. For uncounted CEN
turtles the glow of its candle laden
branches has shed cheerful light
over the land. The bright ref1ec-
tions Of these candles. and the tinsel
and silver trimmings of the tree
seem to battle in light the small in.
dividual tables on which lie the pre-
sents for each member Of a German
| family.
/ Mingled Sentiments in Germany
Christmas In Germany is mingl-
ing of social and religious sentiment.
The little children sing their youth
full hymns with an air Of holy SOL
emnity. standing before their par
ents. who join in from time to time.
encouraging them by looks of ar
dent affection. The final dance
around the gayly lighted tree in
which the family. neighbors and
friends all join is the browning scene
IN DAY OF industry. enjoyment and
| love.
Little Wooden Shoe Christmas
The little wooden shoe Christmas
takes place of course in Holland.
st. Nicholas, the patron saint of
Holland, is awaited by every child
/ with hpafinU HEARTS. foy. he ic worry
likely to appear suddenly in the
doorway. call each child by name.
and ask if he has been good during
the year. If the parents answer in
the affirmative which they usually
do, St. Nick magically disappears.
and the children with shouts of JOY.
rush along the house passage to an
inner room. which holds table coy
cred with clean, white linen cloth.