Evening star., 1917-12-23

G. PATROSKY of the French
In Polish commission, which re-
Gently came to the United
AOstates in the interest of rails
ing an army of Poles for service in
France. was in his native country last
year during the Christmas holidays
The kinship to poetry that dwells in
every Pole, be he Of Paderewskfs pro-
fession or only q mountain peasant,
makes people look to Poland for pic
turesque legends and traditions, par
ticularIy concerned with religion. And
now this last tragedy. that of war.
riding SO hard over the country which
has been called "the buffer nation.
adds sympathetic interest. quite suf-
ncient to inspire a curious correspond
ent with courage to camp on the trail
OF even the descendant of the last
King of Poland. Z. G. Patrosky. and
ask him something as to Polands
Christmas customs. past and present.
People of the United States. Mr..
Patrosky, have keen sympathy for
your country. Pulaski and kosciuszko.
Paderewski and Modjeska are honored
names among US. 1t is said that
Christmas in Poland has ever been one
of the great days of the year"
True" was the quiet answer. True
before the war. but not now. l was
home last year during the holidays.
but IL hardly seemed like home. have
spent a great deal of time in England
but many of my happiest recoliecuons
are of the celebrations OF Christs
birthday in country that has cher
ished its faith through many vicissi-
tudes. When l was a child the month
OF December was the most mysterious.
enchanting month Of the year to even
my vivid imagination. because in 1t
Christmas came
This was not because Of the gifts
every child loves to receive. for in
Poland Sift-giving at Christmas time
was then little known. Presents were
made TO children on name days. when
the birthdays of saints were observed.
but not on the 25th of December. The
custom is now quite popular in the
larger cities. / have been away from
my country during many Christmas
times. and the custom Of gift-giving.
of Santa Claus and the chimney and
all those things. L think very pretty.
] might incidentally remark here. too.
that while In the Balkans last year l
happened TO be associated with party
OF Americans and understood some
thing for the first time of the American
Thanksgiving. / recall. perhaps pro-
saicaliy enough. that my frst Gran.
berries with turkey tasted excellent.
Mr.. Patrosky smiled here and then ms
face sobered.
''Matke Boska. mother of God. as
the humble Pole calls the Virgin Mary
is the representation of all that Is
beautiful and unattainable. Celebra-
ton. then. OF the birth of her Son Is OF
moment. for the love of symbolism IL
signified in every one of the many dis
tinctfve customs OF this period or tins
year.
Christmas ceremonies in Poland an
tedate the advent of Christianity ir
that now unhappy land. Inconsruou:
as this may seem. 1t is true. at leas
In regard to those rites and custom:
which accompany the festival. ordi
narily SO merry among Poles. Ther'
is more than one characteristic in Il
that points to an origin far older thar
the presence of Christianity, which
reached us in 965.
ITO begin with. Christmas festfvitfe.
among US begin on the oath of De
cember. on Christmas eve. and not OF
the morning OF the day. as elsewhere
The origin of this can be. traced bacl
70 pagan times. when the winter fss
ftval took place on the shortest day o.