The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-12-14

tables under the trees are tue CUTS
surprising gifts they would seem 10
snme-a sOap-rUse, an artlhclal Howell
knitted lace, Christmas cake, OF
sausage or cheese. Most of them nave
verses attached. written in curious me-
ter Not until six o'clock in the eve
ming are the doors open for the les
tiyity of the trees. Tonight the horses
and cows of the German farmers nave
ueculiar gifts. 1t is said that the cat
tie kneel on Christmas eve ana say
n few animal prayers. 1t is Il very
great sin to listen 10 their cohVers"-
ton, else il would be recorded heie'
Ii reindeer could talk on ChrlstilinS
eve, the ones that pull the lahhiS
sleighs of the Lapps of Laplahu' wat
wouldn't they tell of long Journeys over
lee and snow for days before Chrlst-
mas in order to have their masters
and the children at church on Clris'-
mas morning! Miles over the snow
come the people of the North 10 near
fhe familiar monOtOned message Oh
tbe birth of the Christchild from their
pastors. There is no lightneSS Ill tht'
ceremony, nor any gifts for the cllli-
dren. nor gay music. The tent or nut
homes are filled with guests for the
Christmas holidays, so full that tllere
is no room for evergreenS or cahules'
They take their Christmas with laces
us solemn as mummles ana make 'ie
attendant ceremonies as unJoylul Us
possible. Marriages are performed our
| ing the season, children are sent u
school for a few weeks, babies are
christened, the dead are buried ana
Houor is sent around with lavishness
This is Christmas for the Lapps. VINO
will change with themF
Norway outside of Lapland has q
more ioyous time of it. Norwegian
children have Christmas trees ana III
tle gifts that are hidden in out-ot-the
way corners for them to find. Every
bird in Norway must know OF an ap
proaching Christmas, for the boys ant
girIs tie oats and corn on the trees
the fences, the tops Of houses ant
barns, and on high poles they erect II
their wards so that the birds may feas
, with them. What n Chattering there
must be in Norway on Christmas morn
ing! After a day of feasting ant
church services, little boys with whlt'
mantles and star-shaped lanterns, car
rying dolls to represent the virgin
Mary and the Christchild, sing carol
in the homes. StrOlling musicians
serenade at twilight.
To be clean for Christmas Is tn
problem that haunts the Swedish
housewife. For days she scOurs ant
scrubs and washes. Not piece o
trimming or furniture is left unpol
ished All dirt is sinful, and must no
be tolerated at this holy season. Will
the cleaning is going on. there is tn
baking of Christmas breads, ring
shaped, that must dry under tn
beams for a week or two, and tn
brewing of spiced drinks. A wine tina
the Swedish women make with a
monds and spices is an aromatic quai
with n holiday smell. Never can ther
be a proper Christmas in Sweden witt
, out homemade cheeseS, especially tn
sweet ones made of boiled sweet mil
and nodded Enthusiastically. Santa Clau
. appears in person to Swedish childre
and distributes his sled of gifts. Whe
he has disappeared as mysteriously a
he came, they join hands and sin
, Christmas iingles until they work u
! q fine appetite for Christmas muSl
! an indispensable sweet-rice boiled
e long time in milk with cinnamon an
surar. with blanched almonds for flt
: vOr, to be eaten with cream. Chris
mas fish in Sweden has the same shar
! of responsibility that rare roast bee
, has in England. 1t is buried for day
| in wood ashes, then boiled and serve
: with hot milk. Sled parties of fort
or fifty sleds each go to church o
5 Christmas morning, with the ringin
5 Of long rows of sleigh bells and festiv
trappings. The day itself is one {
: peace and quiet. But on the next da
the fun begins, and continues until a
! their four holidays are over-Chris
mas, the day after, the twelfth da,
: and the twentieth. The ceremony {
: untrimming the tree is as much of
! frolic as it's decoration. There are 4
l house green's to take down. becaus
: this is their sign OF mourning, bI
= there are flowers If they can be oI
] tanned.