The daily Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1916-1917, 1916-12-24
CHRISTMAS IN THE PHILIPPINES
Celebration In Island Possessions Begins
Early and Lasts Late
Religious Ceremonies.

Joseph and Mary leave and WANDER
finally taking shelter in a barn.
which is built in the Church with a
manger to represent Bethlehem. AT
twelve O'Clock the bells ring in jubi-
liant rapture, announcing the arrival
of the Savior of the world, and every
one is glad. In the Church the priest
holds in his arms for hours the Holy
Child in order that the worshipers
may kiss the Infant of Galilee. As
the people leave the Church, MERRY
Christmas and Happy New Year.
greetings are pronounced by all lips,
and everybody is smiling and happy.
On arriving home, every member of
the family is served a "Noche Buena
or Media Noche," a midnight meal,
which has been prepared beforehand,
lasting until four o'clock in the morn
ing, and then. although tired, the peo-
pie think once more of attending "Mi-
sa de Aguinaldo," "Mass of the Gift Z"
Thus comes the twenty-fifth. with
it, Christmas, however, does not con-
clude with one day. 1t lasts until
after the feast of the Three Kings"
held on the first Monday of January
The giving of presents continues all
this time.
1t must be mentioned also that the
giving of gifts in the stores ends on
the twenty-fifth. This starts about the
middle of December Presents are
given to every customer in proper
ton to the articles they buy.
Christmas cards are few, if used at
all. But girls embroider articles to
give to their boy friends, and the boys
buy presents for the girls, usually
perfumes, silk handkerchiefs, and the
like. The parents give their presents
to their own children before Christmas
day comes. Their presents consist of
new suits, dresses, gold watches. dia-
mond rings and other gifts accord
ing to the means of the donars. But
every child in the town has the privil-
ege of a present on Christmas Day.
For this reason the elder ones keep
ten pesos in small change to give
the children who call at every house,
saying Merry Christmas" as they
kneel and kiss the hands of the eld- |
ers.
Every family prepares a meal to
iced each passer-by. On the streets
may be seen crowd of young peo-
pie strolling. From every window
will be heard the cordial invitations
o Come in,' hospitality being a dis
inctive characteristic of the Filipinos
f one happens to pass twenty houses
n half day, one will be expected to
inter- each home and eat,-something
10 matter how much, nor how little,
o long as one eats. The natives are
sed to this custom; so one always
aves room" for what one wants at
he next house But the poor stranger!
Ie must be excused. He does not
now! +
But December % is the one excep-
onal day of the Filipinos' Christmas
me. 1t is "Nions Inocentes" Qnno-
ent Children Day., and is likened to
he April Fool Day in the United
tates. But in the Philippines one
lust be on the lookout! There,
aving many Christmas Days and a
ing present-giving time, one fire.
nently forgets, and on the twenty |
ghth is often fooled.
Although the Christmas season is
ot over, the native forgets all about
an Nicolas on December 80. 1t is
le day that DR.. Jose Rial, the great
It Filipino, was shot by the Span
rds on the Luneta, Manila, in 1896.
is one of the causes of the Revo-
tion, and is celebrated as the great
It day in the year.