Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1913-12-26

rounds are made by Christmas eve.
The Christmas tree is unknown to
the Mexican child. but the religious
ceremony is always followed by the |
breaking of the "pinyata." If the
Christmas tree is JOY itself to the |
American child, the "pinyata" means
even more to the humble Mexican |
child
They are made of large or small
"Ollas" (jars Of pottery:, gaily dec
Grated with colored paper and tinsel
to represent some figure, either
grotesque or pretty. One may buy q
bride, clown, baby, goose. swan, pine.
apple, or anything the fancy has
dictated in the making. and at any
price from fifty centavos to twenty
five pesos. The jars are entirely con-
cealed in their fancy coverings, with
a stout rope around the top to sus-
pend them from the ceiling. A little
brown boy will trot along by your
side and carry your pinyata home
for you for a few cents, no matter
how heavy it is.
Thereafter they are filled with nuts,
candies, raisins, small oranges, bana-
mas, dates, pieces Of sugar-cane and a
few small simple toys as, dolls or
animals; the pinyata is hung ready
for use. The servants and their chill
dren are permitted to como in and
share the fun, NO distinction of class
being made at this time.
One after another Of the company
~: co1I
strikes each at the pinyata with a
heavy cane as it hangs, suspended
from the ceiling. When it is finally
broken and the contents tumble to the
floor Of the patio there is a grand
scramble for the good things that have
; fallen out, and each person is permit
ted to keep whatever he or she can
get hold Of first. Woe unto the poor
child who is timid and slower than
the others, she is liable to get very lit
, tie indeed.
After the pinyata the servants re-
tire, more or less elaborate supper
: is served, according to the station of
the host; favors are distributed, usual
ly some odd little figures Of china
r and music follow until late hour.
Y Wine or cognac is plentiful but very
few become intoxicated. The churches
+ celebrate these 'fiestas," leaving out
Q Of course, the social features. On
S Christmas eve at midnight is cele
: brated the mass, when the image OF
o the holy child is carried through the
Q cathedral by the high dignitaries OF
t the church, and the people are al
g lowed to kiss the toes of the sacred in
s. FAINT to show their alteration, after
h which it is placed in the grotto fol
l. lowed by the litanies, etc. After The
y mass is celebrated the bells ring ou
d joyously and noisily and one knows
l. that another Christmas day is al
i" hand.
9 No one gets up early on christina
e. morning except the devout womel
who in their black dresses and will
e their black mantillas over their head
d attend the ten o'clock mass.
le A visit to tho booths or "puestos
IL during the holiday season is full O
rs interest as we'll as surprises to tn
n foreigner in a Mexican city. TIL
- sight Of these queer and varied look
h ing booths going up on the side OF tn
* street adjoining the sidewalk on tw
Or sides Of the alameda or park is tn
le first indication OF the approachin
Or holidays Each booth is erected
Id the humble merchant who Is to o.
re cupy it, according to his own fame.
ch and as they do not conform to an
de rules or regulations as to size {
BY shape, they are queer tumble I
en- gaily lighted 'puestos."
r. There one can buy jumping-jacl
for two centavos; clay dolls for tw
lrt to four cents, beautiful and curio,
m pottery, made from the identical att
cir and toltec designs for from twen'
IL to fifty cents, beautiful baskets
'rs imperishable weave and color al
Ill every size and shape from twenty-d'
tc. cents to one peso: clay figures
he men and women with bits Of brig
Ito calico fashioned into clothes: hgur
ed Of ungainly looking animals shap'
or like nothing ever seen before. sacr
ne images, jewelry, clever whistles. n
Of ties, electric sparklers," fireworks
mt. all description, delicious candi
he fruits. conserves. in fact anything al
i'd. everything is to be found at the "put
'us tos." The Mexicans are especial
nd. clever at making candied fruits.
he All day and until midnight gre
It'll throngs Of people crowd and pu
each other, good naturally. going g.
ro- coming, crowding the walks in fro
age Of the booths almost to suhocatie
! q making their purchases. visitiI
is laughing and talking But at m
md night. when there Is no possibility
ted more sales the merchants spread tn
md blankets on tho mats or "petate
ms blow out their torch lights. drop do
ngs their one window in front and
the crawl into the one bed, or roll up
list their single blankets. and crawl unt
l L. A.