Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1917-12-13
Some Christmas
Celebrations


are followed year after year at
Christmas. Thus In one home
where there are always visitors
for the holidays an enormous square
wicker hamper which has done service
In the same capacity for twenty years
II brought from the storeroom and
placed in the general hall. Festive hol
ly wreaths are tied to the handles and
to the top with big red hews, giving It
decidedly holiday appearance. As
gifts arrive they go at once into the
hamper. On Christmas morning after
breakfast tho father OF the family
opens the hamper and with fitting cere-
mony aud humorous remarks distrib-
ptes the gifts.
A large bag resembling mail pouch
and made OF brown and tan denim
with ~. s. Mail" marked In large
black letters on It hangs each Christ
mas season near the fireplace in the
large living room OF another house
Into this arc slipped family presents
and those sent by outsiders. The leath-
er strap which fnstens the bag Is re
garded as sacred, and no one would
think OF tamperlng with Santa Claus
property till Christmas morning.
A huge red Christmas stocking, large
enough TO hold all the family gifts,
makes ifs annual appearance in a west
ern home. 1t Is constructed OF firm
bright red cotton cloth and a barrel
hoop cncircles the top. holding II open.
II is suspended by wide red ribbons
from the second floor stairs landing.
and before Christmas boxes and pack.
ages Of all sizes and kinds are drop
ped In from above. ON Christmas
morning the family gathers beneath
this well filed receptacle, which Is
lowered and dragged by tho ribbons
into the center of the living room,
where the contents are distributed.
Several years ago the young daughter
of another family established little
custom which Is still carried out each
Christmas eve. ON large red placards,
hung with red ribbons. she writes with
phosphorus the names Of the different
members of the family. These she
places about the room. The mothers
card hangs over the piano, on which
her gifts are to be laid over the
library table IS suspended the fathers
card designating his allotted space. The
deep window seat, the davenport, etc,
are other places assigned TO other mem.
bers OF the family. Late Christmas
eve all the lights. except dim flicker
In the hall. are extinguished the arm
fuls or presents are brought down. and
by means OF The bright signs the gifts
are pat IN their proper places.
For the past ten years miniature
sleigh drawn by six papier mache rein.
deer has appeared on the Christmas
breakfast table OF 4 New England fam
lily. Surrounding jolly little ST Nick,
who, seated In the sleigh, holds the red
lines, are piled the choice gifts. those
that n Into small packages, such as
jewelry and money. The boxes nre
opened before breakfast IL serve ed, and
the Christmas tree Festivities come
later in the morning.
A pretty custom observed by several
musical families is for the entire house
hold 10 come downstairs together early
IN the morning singing carols.
IN some homes the cclehra ton begins
on Christmas eve At country place
near New York the custom IL to have
small tree hung with joke gifts 10 the
center Of the dining room table. Piled
about he tree Il rhe collection Of sub
s;aDtiai worth while remembrances
After the latter have been distributed
The family and house guests adjourn 10
the main room. which IS hung with
garlands OF holly and mistletoe. Then
the Yule log Is brought in and laid on
the andirons OF the big fireplace. The
lights from The blaze and from numer-
Gus candles furnish the only illumina-
ton. While the gifts are taken from
the miniature tree ana the attached
sentiments read ,he health OF Santa
Claus Is drunk