Evening star., 1915-12-19
zS&es'

the longer Badnyi. the logs being left
outside the house each side of the door
The whole day Is spent in making
preparations for the following day, the
pigs and chickens, and other good
things, while the men folks get a fat
pig ready for roasting. Just at sunset
one of the men is given new woolen
gloves. to go out and bring in the
Badnyak.
AS he passes the threshold the mother
Of the family throws at him handful
Of wheat from a bowl in which she has
kept all day the chip brought her in
the morning. The young man greets
all present. And then, IN many remote
parts of the country, the father drinks
a glass of wine to the health of the
Badnyak, and pours wine on the log.
It is considered most important that
the great log be kept brightly burning
all night. When the log is lighted, the
young folks run out and fire off guns or
pistols, and when the roast pig Is done
that fact also is announced to the
neighborhood, with much noise and the
popping of firearms.
The first visitor in every Serbian
home on Christmas morning must al
ways be the "Polaznik" He is usually
a neighbor's son. who arrives very
early armed with glove full of wheat
At his knock the door is opened and
he merrily throws the grain at the
company at the freside and into the
corners of the room, saying: Christ is
born! To which the house mother re-
plies by throwing wheat on him, while
all join in exclaiming: HE is born in
deedr
Taking up heavy shovel, the Christ
mas guest now strikes the Badnyak
fly. while he pronounces good wishes
for each of the family. the cows, goats,
horses, sheep, bees and fields Having
kissed his host he falls on his knees
always Is placed on the fire so that
one end protrudes into the room. The
Polaznik crosses himself a number OF
times and then places a small coin on
the log as his Christmas gift.
An amusing part of the ceremony is
the custom of pulling out the chair
just as the Polaznik is about to seat
himself by the fire. the idea being to
the good wishes he has just uttered.
Afterward he is wrapped in a shawl
and seated by the Badnyak, while the
young people exchange kisses across
the log. The shawl or blanket is sup
posed to insure thick cream for the
coming year. and the kisses of the
shepherds and shepherdesses to secure
peace and love among the sheep and
other live stock.
Before the principal meal of Christ
mas day is eaten all the members OF
the family gather in a circle around
their father with lighted tapers in their
hands. Reverently bowling their heads,
they listen to his fervent prayers for
good luck. Then all embrace and kiss
one another before sitting down to the
roas pig and the rest of the savory
repast. At the end of the meal all
stand and drink ito the glory of God
and to the glory of Christ's BIRTH" aft
er which special toast the Christmas
ceremonies usually are brought to a
close.
While the sultan's subjects In Con-
stantinople. the great osmanli capital.
are mostly ,Moslems. Christmas day
there is observed by many celebrations.
The Greek Catholics. Roman Catholics
and -Armenians, as well as other ma
tionalfties. hll celebrate in their own
way the feast Of the nativity. AS the
Mohammedans honor Jesus and the Ko-
ran even maintains the sinleas birth Of
Mary. His mother. the day is one whose
observance IL looked upon by the Turks
in a more tolerant spirit than any other
Christian holiday.
Christmas in Constantinople to the
Greek boys of the city 10 as full of
noise and hrecrackers and the shooting
I on OF pistols as was our own observ-
ance Of the Fourth Of July before the
safe and sane method Of celet rating the
day came in vogue. After services the
Greek Church congregation exchange