Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-12-19
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Same Ones Followed Year After
Year in Many Homes.
elg Wicker Basket Which Receives
Presents Of Visitors Opened With
Fitting ceremony-one Estab-
Ilshed by Little Girl.

In many homes the same customs
are followed year after year at Christ
mas. Thus In one home, where there
are always visitors for the holidays.
an enormous square wicker hamper,
which has done service In the same
capacity for twenty years, Is brought
from the storeroom and placed in the
general hall. Festive holly wreaths
are tied to the handles and to the top
with big red bows, giving 1t decided
ly holiday appearance. As gifts ar
rive they go at once into the hamper.
On Christmas morning. after break
fast, the father Of the family opens
the hamper and with fitting ceremony
ard humorous remarks distributes the
gifts
A large bag resembling a mail
pouch and made Of brown and tan
denim with "U. s. Mail" marked In
large black letters on 1t hangs each
Christmas season near the fireplace
in the large living room OF another
house. Into this are slipped family
presents and those sent by outsiders.
The leather strap which fastens the
bag is regarded as sacred and no one
would think of tampering with Santa
Claus's property till Christmas morn
Ing.
A huge red Christmas stocking,
large enough to hold all the family
gifts, makes its annual appearance In
western home. 1t is constructed Of
a firm bright red cotton cloth and q
barrel hoop encircles the top, holding
1t open. 1t is suspended by wide red
ribbons from the second floor stairs
landing and before Christmas boxes
and packages of all sizes and kinds
are dropped in from above. On
Christmas morning the family gathers
beneath this we'll filled receptacle,
which is lowered and dragged by the
ribbons into the center of the living
room, where the contents are distrib-
uted.
Several years ago, the young daugh-
ter of another family established
little custom which is still carried out
each Christmas eve. On large red
placards, hung with red ribbons, she
writes with phosphorus the names Of
the different members Of the family.
These she places about the room.
The mothers card hangs over the
piano, on which her gifts are to be
laid. Over the library table is sus-
pended the fathers card designating
his allotted space. The deep window
seat, the davenport, ETC.. are other
places assigned to other members Of
the family. Late Christmas eve all
the lights, except a dim flicker in the
hall, are e1tinguished. the armfuls OF
presents are brought down and by
means of the bright signs the gifts
are put in their proper places.
For the past ten years, q miniature
sleigh. drawn by six papier mache
reindeers has appeared on the Christ
mas breakfast table of a New Eng
land family. Surrounding jolly little
st. Nick, who, seated in the sleigh.
holds the red lines, are piled the
choice gifts, those that fit into small
packages, such as jewelry and money.
The boxes are opened before break
fast is served and the Christmas tree
festivities come later in the morning.
A pretty custom observed by sew
eral musical families is for the entire
household to come downstairs togeth-
er early in the morning singing
Christmas carols.
In some homes the celebration be-
gins on Christmas eve. At country
place near New York the custom is
to have a small tree hung with joke
gifts in the center Of the dining room
table. Piled about the tree is the COL
lection Of substantial worth while 70
membranes. After the latter have
been distributed. the family and
house guests adjourn to the main
room, which is hung with garlands Of
holly and mistletoe. Then the Yule
log Is brought in and laid on the and
irons OF the big fireplace. The lights
from the blaze and from numerous
candles furnish the only illumination.
While the gifts are taken from the
miniature tree and the attached SEN
timents read, steaming punch is
served and the health Of Santa Claus
Is drunk.