The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1914-12-19

hclent amlty with them for such conferences
In Virginia. where the Church of England was
strong and its adherents steadfastly observed the
holidays as in the home country. there was al
ways more of the Christmas spirit and abundant
cheer and merrymaking than elsewhere at this
season Here the fue log held its place and
here were the games and the feasting that made
1T indeed the merry season of the year Later
When New Amsterdam became New York and
the English came into power the character of the
christmas holiday was changed again somewhat.
although the Dutch influence continued dominant
for many years
OWING to the large number of Germans in Penn
sylvania Christmas there partook largely of the
nature Of the festival in the fatherland It was
largely family affair The children for months
before the day OF the Nativity saved their pennies
and bought material from which they fashioned
their gifts for their parents and for another.
These were presented Christmas eve, and the
next day the parents in turn spread out their pres
ents for the children large table in the best
room. Stockings were hung. too. and the good
children had them filled with sweetmeats. pepper
cakes and other goodies, but those who had been
bad sometimes found birch rod Christmas
gift There was custom that fraught
with great terror to children. One Knecht Rupert
went from house to house inquirng about the
children Christmas and recommending
wards punishments according to the reports
that he received of their conduct during the year.
The Pennsylvania Santa Claus was popularity
known as kriss Kringe, a corruption of Christ
Throughout the colonies in the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries toys an almost
known factor, but wherever Christmas observ-
Ances were not frowned upon by religion feasting
and good cheer abundant and bond and free.
rich and poor. old and young shared in the games.
abundant food and genial atmosphere. Not only
did the munificence of those who were well sup
piled with worldly goods extend to their depend
and to all within reach of their charity but
in some places the animals had an extra
allowance of food to let them know that Christ
mas had come again.
In the sightssnth century toys began to make
their appearance in the colonies Some of them
brought from overseas and had the enchant-
ing quality OF novelty Little girls who had helped
so mother their younger brothers and sisters were
delighted with dolls that all their own to
dress and undress to fondle and codde. punish
and reward. Simple and quaint those early
dolls. like the children they belonged to- One
'HfT fancy the. surprise and terror Of the timid
whef they 1frstApeheld Jack jump into the air
when aifjnnocentlooking box opened toy
Vas a thirfg, to be- cherished in those days. 1t
was indeed wondrous saint who could bring
such things in his pack. Some of the gifts we're
of real intrinsic value. for the shipping and trad
ing were growing to be important factors In the
colonies and men brought treasures Of all kinds
from the Far East to the seaports, whence they
we're distributed to other parts Of the colonies
The war for independence interrupted this and
the children shared in the selfsacrfnces and de-