The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-12-08

That great loosely knit empire. Where the Greek
church prevails the celebration occurs fortnight
later than ours that is, on January T. 1t is ac-
cOmpaned by feastng and by various local
toms. The Slovacs of Bohemia and Moravia have
curious Christmas uSageS in which superstition
has entirely triumphed over religious significance.
This is the great day ftthe year when the peas
ant appeases all the invisible world of spirits.
On the afternoon of Christmas eve the whole
household marches I'm solemn procession to the
stables and cow houses carrying bread salt and
beans. These are offered TO the animals with GER
tain hallowed words and great is the disnay If
any COW or chicken is Indifferent to the offering.
Returning TO the house, the parents sprinkle
all their unmarried daughters with water sweet
Cned with honey, thus inSuring them honest. good
tempered husbands The entire family then sip
of slivOvitza strong native liquor distilled from
plums. a small quantity of this is then poured
on the floor to conciliate such other spirits rs
may have been overlooked Everyone then falls
on the Christmas feast without ceremony
But this year war has reached out to the re-
mote districts and blighted even such simple
Christmas celebrations as this. The men of the
families are all gone. Only the very young and
the very old remain There will be no blessing
of the kline this year. for there no kline to
\ bless. All have long since gone To supply the
'army There will be no Christmas feasting, for
food was long ago reduced TO the smallest quanti-
ty that will sustain life. And every day, in every
grows longer and longer.
Vienna is known rs n gay, light-hcarted city.
It's Christmas observance is ordinarily n happy
combination of religious ceremony and TeutOnic
good cheer But this year the brilliant midnight
masses will be attended by black-robed mourners
and there will be no good cheer i'm Vienna.
The Christmas celebration i'm all the countries
where the Greek orthodox church prevails are
much the same. As the holiday itself is preceded
10y severe fast the Christmas feast takes on
highly important character. In many parts of
Russia, especially i'm the cities, the gift-hung
Christmas tree has been borrowed from the Ger
mans, while pudding Of rice and raisins is the
feature of the Christmas feast From this
feast has now been taken its crowning glory, the
vodka bottle
In only one other part of Europe has the heel
of war pressed hard rs in Russian Poland; in
only other place has the land been utterly
devastated by fierce and continued fighting: in
only one other place will the of peace
and good will be such bitter mockery TO
the hunted and starving Poles.
And this is I'm Serbia poor, brave, beaten Ser
hfa. with its whole population, an entire people.
fugitive before hated and terribly feared invad-
crs. During three years Serbia has been swept
by three wars. the present one so relentless and
so overwhelming as literally TO wipe out the ordi-
nary relationship Of the people to life They have
ceased 10 have homes they have ceased to pos
property; they must burrow in the earth for
shelter ana forage Tor tncr uncertain 1000 IKE
wild animals. With her army making n heroic
and desperate struggle with her people dying with
their spirit yet unbrokcn, the birthday of the
Prince OF Peace will not be celebrated this .ear
i'm Serbia.
The sorrows OF Belgium this year compared
with last are more of the spirit than Of the flesh.
The voice of Christmas OF peace and good will
does not speak very loud to captive people.
with it's army terribly decmated, it's beloved king
all hut driven out of his own country. with its
daily life subject To the scrutiny and the con-
troll of n stern captor there is no room in Belgium
for any of the old light-hearted Christmas spirit
that used 10 show itself In crowded churches for
midnight masses and guy sll-nglt supper parties.
Belgium waits all Europe waits for the end
OF the war-waits with faith and hope and de-
termination as grim as il must be silent
Happily the physical condition of the stricken
people is better than last year. There is not the
frightful confusion. the separation of families.
the pltifu terror ana want that went with the
flight before the invaders. All relief measures
are organized Belgium Is no happier this year
than last. but she Is less cold and hungry.
II the Belgian people ever again have a united
Christmas they will find themselves with many new