The Detroit times., 1911-12-28
THEY DON'T KNOW SANTA
CLAUS IN THE FAR-OFF
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
But They Celebrate Christmas IN
Uncle Sans Possessions
in the East.
COCK FIGHTS POPULAR.
Every Day is Day For This
Pastime-Here's Story of
How They Do 1t.

MANILA. p. l., Dec. 27.-What do
you think they're doing in the Phiiip-
mines during the holidays? II you
think Christmas in Uncle Sans far
thest possessions Is anything ike yoi
folks are having in the homeland
you'll find something TO interest You Al
what follows. -e.-.--,.
No flying snowfiakes and jingling
sleight bells: no hurrying, well-dressed
and fur-clad crowds OF merry-makefs'
no cold, not even a tingle In the ar
that's Christmas here.
Instead OF the warmly-clad folks az
home there Is a brown-skinned race,
clothed in white drill or dusky KHAKI,
children with scanty skirts playing on
the plazas, and the tropic sun and
moon suggesting rest rather than hus-
tie.
Those OF the white race who live
from choice or necessity in the Islands
are clad as are their dusky neighDors'
In white cotton suits and sun nell
NETS Instead of the chilling breeze
OF the northern climate, the monsoon
waves the leaves OF the palms laziiy
and everything points and suggests
dangerous ease.
The American teachers In the pub
lie schools have done much TO spread
the Christmas customs OF the states,
and in MANY of the schoolhouses in
the islands these pioneers arrange
Christmas trees and special program
OF holiday music for the children
At the provincial capitals and other
arfn
gathered during the holiday season
perhaps just for a couple OF days,
there are more elaborate celebrations
Men ride fifty and hundred miles 10
get Just a touch Of Christmas. Gaiety
q the spirit Of the day With parades,
dances and cock fights the time OF
holiday week is we'll taken up.
There are church parades, with hun
dreds OF men, women and children IN
line. each dressed in his or her best
and carrying a lighted candle. Wo-
men with white or black ''mantillas
over their heads and men in shirts
outside of their trousers, bare heads
and feet. as seen In the provinces,
make an interesting spectacle.
Every Clay Is a day for cock fighting,
the men coming into town in the morn
Ing with their ROSTERS under their
arms. picketing the birds on the plaza
while they go 10 mass. and after mass
to the cock pit.
II is especially time for dancing,
this holiday season, and nearly every
afternoon in the week dances com.
mence soon after the sfesta hour tn
the middle OF the afternoon and con-
tinue until dawn breaks the next
morning. There may be big dance
in the town hall oil at the house OF
the presidente, but there are a dozen
others In town. Half the population
nlay the violin or guitar and IL takes
no time TO get up a dance.
AZ the birthday of Jose Rial, the
FflIpino Washington who was exc
ented by the Spaniards in 1895 comes
during holiday week, IL adds much
To the celebration. This day, Dec. 80,
and Jan G. the fiesta of Three Kings.
are The TWO biggest days of the year
for the Filipino
.'San Nicolas" the Filipinos call
our Santa Claus. but the myth OF the
reindeer coming across the snow and
santa himself coming down the chin
ney has no place i'm their mythology
for such conditions they could not
conceive.
Parties OF from six TO ten musicians,
singers and dancers go around the
houses of the better class OF natives
and foreigners during the week with
guitars and mandolins. These must
clans are called the 'pastores" and
In every house they 20 they are given