Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1917-12-29

kneels; in the German Alps the cattle have
the gift of language given them on Christ
mas eve; in Austria candles are put in the
windows so that the Christ Child may not
stumble as He goes through the village
streets on Christmas eve; in Scandinavia all
the shoes in the household are put together
on the table, signifying that all the mem
bers are to live in peace and harmony dur
ing the coming year; bath is also taken
by every member of the family on the day
before Christmas: in Norway sheaf of
wheat is placed on a pole in front Of each
house for the BIRDS in Peru every door of
every house is open and hospitality abounds
to the stranger as well as to the friend
And in every land is there a different
legend or custom celebrating the Christ's
birthday.
Santa Claus is buried in Italy-that is,
the man from whom we got Santa Claus.
He was Saint Nicholas-an archbishop of
Myra, in Lycia, who passed away on De-
cember g. 342 He was supposed to be a
holy parsonage Of unusual attributes. with
an especial love for children. In Russia
this day is church day; in France it is
the grand fete day Of children; in many
provinces of Germany it is celebrated as a
preliminary to Christmas in the Neither
lands it is the real day for gifts, with De-
cember % as church day: in South Aus
tria it takes the place Of our Christmas day
Nicholas was abbreviated to "Klaas' by
the Dutch and from this our "C1aus" is
easily apparent. At Bari, on the southeast
ern coast of Italy. the bones of Saint Mich
olas are Inferred and on every December
H. - IL
and great ceremonies are held So. when
children ask if there is real Santa Claus.
we can at least answer that there was!
The Christmas trees birthplace is Egypt.
The tree there used was the palm: and the
ceremony was in full force long before the
DAYS of Antony and Cleopatra The palm
puts forth fresh shoot every month. and
Od-Y ear parties were given with palm
spray. with twelve shoots symbolzing the
completion of another year The custom
passed into ITALY. where the fir tree was
emDloved for the purposes of celebration:
and it's pyramidal TIPS were decorated with
burning candles. in honor of Saturn. This
festival. the "Saturnalia - was observed at
the winter solstice. ranging from the seven
teenth to the twentv-frst of December.
Then came the "Sigillaria days for inter
changing presents of figures in wax. like
those on the Christmas tree. and, finally.
the "Juvenalia." when men became "bovs
with bovs.' matroned turned children once
AGAIN. and young and old INDUCED in the
solemn romps with which the festival closed.
and which used to mark our own old-fash-
Toned festivities at Christmastime. Then the
Christmas tree passed into Germany, but
there still may be seen the pyramids which
sometimes are substituted for the tree.
We were fined for keeping Christmas
once. Yes, in America! In 1859 the GEN
eral court of Massachusetts enacted that
anybody who is found Observing by alb
stinence from labor feasting, or any other
way, any such day as Christmas day shall
pay for every such offense five shillings'
This law held and was enforced for %
years and even when it was finally repeal
ed in 1851 the Puritans grew bitter and for
years never recognized the day.-Exchange.