Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-04-05

FIN WANNA SAS &AAAS S0A lug
~ floats where two Christmas
days are celebrated. This ap-
plies especially to the Alaskan pen
instl:a and adjoining islands, where
many Of the natives belong to the Rus
sian church with her Julian calendar.
1t is only since the coming Of the
American public school and mission
that the american Christmas" has
been introduced In those parts. Ac-
cording to the Julian calendar, Christ
mas, Dec. Is, falls OF the day that is
Jan. z in the calendar elsewhere. .
According to the Russian church In
Alaska, Christmas begins at 2 o'clock
In the morning, when the church bells
announce the birth of Christ, and
when the natives come out Of their
huts they find a bright and beautiful
star Of Bethlehem over the church
reckoning them. The church is a
small wooden building decorated with
pictures Of saints, lighted by candles,
without seats or heat. The two sexes
are ranged on the opposite sides of the
room, either standing or kneeling. On
this particular morning service is held
from 2 until 6 and is made up of sing
Ing and reading. Although to white
people 1t would seem n very great
hardship to stand on the feet for four
hours on a cold winter morning, yet
the natives would consider 1t the worst
kind Of punishment should they be
forced to stay away.
After the service the feasting and
rejoicing begin. In the evening there
takes place a very picturesque repre-
s%entation Of the wise men following
the star Of Bethlehem to where the
Christ Child Is. As soon as It Is night
the young people separate into groups.
One of the group goes before, carry
Ing q large, beautifully trimmed star,
In which. q candle burns. On entering
a house the party sings hymns and
carols. as It was done centuries ago.
These sc1gs are either in the old
Russian or In the Aleutian language.
Many Of the voices have the softness
and sweetness 80 peculiar to Indian
races. and this, combined with the
charming old church music, produces
q very Agreeable effect. When they have
sung ana have been entertained the
wise men proceed to the next house.
This singing ID kept up three nights.
During the remaining nights Of the
Christmas week anotbxr Biblical scene
iis presented-Harod,s men searching
for Jesus TO MI him. Some one knocks
at the door, and when 1t Is opened a
small masked party enters very softly
and mutely and occupies itself in
searching, and after someslittle time n
y passes ont 10 silently as Il came.
The new year Ii welcomed Ia with
I'M grand masquerade ball, generally
given by the chief Of the Village. The
dance hall ~ small room. lighted BIZ
dripping candles, II just about high
enough for one to stand up straight
and tho 6oor u far from smooth a
squawy Aleutian boy and half breed
furnlsh the music on an accordion
harmonicon and guitar. Such airs ID
Tho 6QnaM Harbor Quadrille. can h
played. well only by such an orchestra
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