The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-12-28
NOVEL HOLIDAY STUNTS
FOR BELGIAN CHILDREN
By R. H. Sheffield

Omitted Press Staff Correspondent
Brussels 49, (By MaiD - Belgian
children get the time of their lives in
the last month of the year. First
and foremost, there is the feast of
Saint Nicholas, the, patron saint of
childhood, on December 6, when from
morn to night, the young folk re-
ceive gifts from everybody they
meet The day corresponds to the
Christmas stocking of the Anglo
Saxon child, although the Belgian
juvenile gets also second edition
Of presents on Xmas day as well.
. In the rural districts, in houses in
Tested with mice, the children on the
feast of Saint Nicaise, December IA,
write that saints name over the front
door, the result being, according to
the tradition, that the saint will clear
the house of mice. ERE the close of
the year.
The shortest day, December 81, is
dedicated to Saint Thomas, and con-
fers upon the offspring the right, if
they can find the opportunity, to lock
up their parents in the cellar or else
where, liberating them only on solemn
promise of a ransom, which may take
the form of remission of punishment,
a present, an outing, holiday, toy,
or even new suit. This custom is
very deep-seated, and is in full op-
GRAFTON, even in the big cities.
On December 28, which is limo
cents day, the children have the
privilege of wearing their parents
clothes, and adding thereto parental
authority. The young people become
real bosses, practically taking the
place of father and mother, giving or
ders and acting generally as masters
and mistresses of all the domestic
ceremonies. -
Christmas in Belgium is more Of a
religious than a general festival
True, business is suspended to large
extent, but retail establishments re-
main open, places of amusement are
in full blast, and the only family
foregatherings are those that take
place at church.
Not till New Years day does the
Belgian let himself 60 right to- full
bent. But there are no half-measures
that day! Rounds of family visits
Ill Iuc IuOEIlNSS Will u1AlAIuACCU tOI1
of spirits as each one of them are fol-
lowed by a bully repast of dozen
courses; an afternoon walk, games al
cards, or visit to the theatre, tea al
the house of a relative, and a full
evenings, or~rather nights, jollifica.
, ton at the house of the oldest member
of the family. Presents are ex'
, changed on New Years Eve, after
= which ceremony it is usual to see thu
!, old year out and the new year in
, either at church, or at ball, or at :
public or family supper, or even il
F the relative quietude of the famil!
/. circle. .e
, Exhausted with the exertions O.
+ such strenuous New Year start, i
! is but natural that the second day O.
v the year should be kept as publ
Z holiday, likewise. Generally speal:
:. ing, the second of January in Belgium
corresponds approximately to Box
ing day in England. Should the d.
happen to fall on Monday, no Belgia1
= workman should think )of doing an
] WORK, however urgent, drinking be
ing the first consideration on the frs
Monday of the year. It is the on
day of all the 1865 that drunkenness
:. is anyway noticeable in this country
Belgians leave church and make
e Decline for the nearest saloon.