The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-12-23
CHRISTMAS IN MANY LANDS.

sweet slumber, on Christmas Eve,
writes A. l.. Hughes, in Home and
Country the Christians of Japan
awaken to the celebration of the day
Of Christ's birth, and from the Land of
the Rising Sun is echoed the hymn of
the Nativity, carried by the advancing
day, around the world. For centuries
Japan would not tolerate the voice of
Christian praise, and it meant torture,
Ii not death, for him who dared to
raise his voice, in hymns to the Higher
Being, on the anniversary of the birth
of the Infant Jesus, or any other
Christian celebration. Now, under an
Imperial gift, perfect religious liberty
is permitted and the songs, and cele-
brations of Christmastide, begin for
the world, and in Japan, where of its
population of fifty millions, perhaps
one hundred and fifty thousand only,
are Christians, it is marvellous how
well Christmas is celebrated. The
name of Christ, is familiar to thou
sands of people there, but only in such
sense as the name of Buddha is to
US of America. Entirely incompre-
hensible to the majority of japanese,
are the terms-"Santa, Claus" "Nativ-
ity," "Twenty-fifth of December" Babe
of Bethlehem" Prince of Peace"
Merry Christmas" or 'Yuletide." The
Christian in Japan is, as rule, a
stranger in strange land, yet at
Christmas there is a peculiar kinship
in The Land of the Rising Sun, with
that of home. There is a joyous stir
in the atmosphere, and streets take on
an American hustle of preparation.
Temples, public buildings, streets and
houses are decorated for the occasion,
and everywhere are signs of festal
celebrations. The streets are turned
into avenues of evergreen, by the en-
ployment of pine and bamboo trees, to
line the ways. Nearly every portal is
festooned with seaweed or bern, inter-
woven with fruit and flowers. Though
the festive spirit is not among the
Japanese celebration of the day,
because of the Nativity of Christ, it
is nevertheless, supreme.
In the Christian missions and homes
scattered throughout Japan, the feast
of Christmas is always made an event
of the greatest Importance, and even
in the most unchristian parts Christ
mas is not wholly unknown. In the
great treaty ports, such as Yokohama,
Kobe, and Tokyo, are colonies of mer-
chants and students from christian
countries, who with exuberant spirit,
and lavish generosity, observe faith
fully the great feast of Christmas. In
many of these homes, the color line is
completely lost sight of, when the
Japanese and Americans, mingle in
joyous groups to celebrate the birth
day of the Babe of Bethlehem, who
was born in a manger on Christmas
day. Sometimes in a matted room,
where never a harsher tread than a
sandalled foot was felt, is placed an
orthodox Christmas tree, laden with
trinkets from the bazaars of Japan,
and gifts sent especially from shops
several thousand miles away. Richly
colored Japanese lanterns are hung
about the room. The Japanese are a
gift-giving people, and the prettily
wrapped presents are suggestive OF
friendliness, while their blending of
Asiatic and American colors, is a
pleasing sight. The merry-makers
mingle in happy games-then the
screens are removed from about the
Christmas tree, when East and West
are forgotten in the JOY of the scin.
%i1lo4ino nrncnnfnH II &c oh
the same as an American tree, save
for it's Oriental setting and Japanese
trinkets. The children caper about
the tree-the servants have their
happy hour, then there is served an
elaborate dinner, for the grown-ups, OF
the mingled races. Good cheer
abounds. In the majority of cases the
hosts are Christians, while their guests
may be Buddhists, yet the followers Of
both faiths realize the beauty of the
hymns carolled anew, that proclaimed
to the world, Christ's mission of kin
ship to all men.
Five degrees from the equator, anG
with summer temperature, Christ
mas in the southern Philippines, is
celebrated in joyous manner The
military chapels at the various posts
are gaily decorated. Tropical green:
that retain their color, are used fol
decorations and Christmas trees, bu
those participating in the festivities
are clad in the hghtest of clothing
the men invariably in ducks, tn,
women in muslin frocks, while fan:
are kept swaying to coax the vagran
breezes. There is, of course, not {
vestige of snow, nor breath of COLI
air, so if Santa Claus appears as ht
usually does, wearing his Northern
garb, he gets through his duties al
quickly as possible, in order to dis
card his uncomfortable furs, or hastel
to cooler climate. Gifts are orderet
many months in advance, and SAINT;
Claus boxes are in readiness, long be
fore the advent of Christmas morn