The Idaho Springs siftings-news. (Idaho Springs, Colo.) 1905-19??, 1916-12-08

holiday ideas tree twinkled in every place that
housed a German last year, and though the BEL
giaEi 7rlI not allow their Christmas to be German
lied yet the trees appealed to them nightly Ger
tany the Christmas tree will be much more com
mon heuceforth in Belgium whether the Germans
stay there
Thousands of refugees waiting in England until
their country is redeemed will bring back with
them many ideas of the English holiday.
Until the marriage of Queen Victoria to the
prince consort, Christmas in England was chiefly
day of ehurchgong, of merrymaking ana OF mlehty
feastng. The prince brought with him from ms
German home the customs of the Christmas tree
and OF gift giving. The latter has never become
as firmly intrenched in England as it Is here but a
lighted tree loaded with decorations and presents
Is established part of every English celebra-
ton Christmas decorations of holly and mistletoe.
the ceremony of the Yule log and many of the ira
dtional Christmas dishes. notably the plum pud-
ding. all owed to English custom
But 1t is. sadder and wiser England that ap-
proaches Christmas this year. Hundreds of thou
sands of young Engshmen have died to make
her so. Today every Londoner has had graphic
lesson in what powerful and resourceful enemy
do in right little tight little island" As
further object lesson, England will pay for the
raisns for her plum puddings something like 200
per than she did last year. The
with Turkey has done that to her.
England has had other black Christmases. but
they farther away from home The Christ
mas of 1893 in South Africa one that she does
not Ike to recall, while the terrible Christmas of
1854, the Christmas of the Crimean war, when, as
writer of the day put it, Thanks to General
Middle, things about bad as they can be-"
was always bitter memory to that generation.
The year 1916 has not been good year for Eng
land, and she knows it. The knowledge has shat
tered her complacency and has strengthened her
determination. But she is not happy about 1t and
her Christmas celebration will be chastened feast
hr{S int ha Iottp has nj,
of a religious festival than a home celebra-
ton. In Italy It is customary to exchange
presents at New Years than at Christmas. Lighted
trees frequently seen but they the luxury
of the prosperous and not the habit of the people.
The day before Christmas is more Of occasion
than the day itself.
In the cities Of southern Italy booths erec ed
in certain streets before Easter for the sails Of
odds and ends and sweetmeats; wheeled traffi. is
barred and the people promenade slowly up and
down, exchanging greetings. Midnight Is
said in all the churches. In the churches, too
exposed the famous cribs, presepi representing
scenes of the birth and infancy of Jesus. The be-
ginning of this custom is ascribed to ST. Francis
of Assist.
Christmas eve is the great feast Of the season in
France. In the provinces 1t is celebrated with pro-
cessons In the streets, which were originally re-
lgious in character, but which have become pro-
famed by the gayety Of the maskers. In Normandy
and in Provence there elaborate puppet shows
street gayety terminates after mass in feasts In all
the homes.
In Paris there Christmas booths set up in
many of the boulevards. This year they will be
devoted to the sale of comforts for the soldiers.
Paris knows better than anyone just how black
a wartime Christmas can be- She has never for
gotten the Christmas of 1870. For ninety-eight
days the Germans had battered at the city. Every
sortie had failed miserably. The final lombard
ment was inevitable. On Christmas eve 800 men
froze death In the trenches just outside the city
Better, it seems. than any Of the other nations
did France realize from the beginning what this
present war would mean and, realizing, she conse-
Grated herself utterly She has made every sac
rice great and small, to giving up the crusty
rolls and light white bread that the breath
in her nostrs. When a Frenchman, every French
man, eats without complaint a grayish bread made
of a mixture of wheat and rice and entirely lack
ing In golden crust, he has indeed exalted spirit.
1t is small thing, perhaps, but 1t Is enormously
significant.
Last Christmas was a solemn festival In France.
million gifts, gifts OF wool, sent to the men
in the trenches. Every soldier had a glass Of
champagne But there was no ynerrymaking
Masses were said at open-air affairs erected back
Of the battle lines In the old church at Thanh In
Alsace a French Christmas was celebrated for the
first time in forty-four years. But It was a cele-
bration Of prayer, not Of rejoicing
This year, at least, midnight masses will be said
in the churches Of Paris, but afterward there will
be gayety in the streets as in former years. no
dancing pierrots and harlequins leading the mask
ers no brilliant round Of restaurant suppers, the
beloved re eillon Of the Partisan.
So Paris on Christmas eve will 20 home through
darkened streets with prayer in her heart for al
those who have died for France and for all those
who must Jet die.