The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-12-26
CHRISTMAS INLATIN AMERICA
 IS A PICTURESQUE FESTIVAL

Innurnerable. articles in newspapers
 and magazines have told how Yu1etide
 is celebrated in every country of Flu
 rope Asia, Africa and Australia, but
 scant attention has been paid to the
 quaint and picturesque observanees that mark the day in the Latin-Aner-
 ican~ countries. Although in most countries of Central and South Amer
 lea there is an absence of the cold
 weather or snow closely associated with Christmas in the mind of the
 Nord Amerique, the holiday observ- nnces are none the less interesting be- cause of that
 Tn Mexico the &arring factions will take day off to celebrate the Nativity in manner peculiar to that unhappy but fascinating republic. Every Mex ican house is decorated on Christmas, and in the homes of the pious a room is always set apart to represent the stable at Bethlehem Straw is spread on the floor, and sometimes a horse, a COW, a pig is introduced to add a realistic touch to the stage setting. On Christmas morning the family as- semb1es in a procession, the head of the house carrying an image of the infant Christ, and marches to the door of the room which has been converted into a stable. The father, representing Joseph and the mother. representing Mary, chant a request for admittance. At first they are denied, but, after much pleading, the door is opened and the procession enters the sacred room. The figure of the babe is then placed in the improvised manager. and the as- sembiage bursts into happy song Jars filled with sweets are the staple Christmas gifts among Mexicans of all classes. and jugs filled with liquor are also much in evidence.
 In Cuba and in the republics of Cen tral and South America quaint religi- ous ceremonies mark the observance the Equator, as in South Africa and Australia. Christmas marks the begin ming of Summer, instead of Winter.
 Christmas in Jerusalem this year was a dull and dreary affair compared with the festivals of the last few years. Last year Christian pilgrims by tens of thousands. and nearly as many Jews spent Christmas in the holy city This year there have been few excursions to Jerusalem and Pales- tine. owing to the Balkan war. The holy land Is still in the possession of the Mosiems, and most would-be pill srims have decided that the temper Of the Turk at this time is not such past years the Turkish officials have welcomed the Christian and Jewish ex- cursionists. and have afforded them the fullest protection, in consideration of the large sums of money they leave behind For the dog of an unbe- lievsr'' Jerusalem at the present time ifs not the safest place in the world.
 A Christmas ceremony unique in these days. although once common, was witnessed at Queens college, Ox- ford. where there is an annual reviv- al of the mediaeval custom of car ryfng boar's head in procession to the Christmas banquet The process sion forms in the buttery, and is led by a soIoist, followed by two servants carrying the boar's head on a silver salver The head is surrnounted by a l fer~eIled crown and decked with bay and rosemary. A surpHced choir fol l lovs in the procession, and the stu l dent body marches after, into the 1 great dining hall. where, in the 572 years Of Queens College history, manyH of the greatest men Of England have4 dined