The Washington herald., 1920-12-30
Youngsters
Haze Treat
Dress in Daddy's Clothes
And Lock Mamma
In Cellar.

Belgian children, according to
Glimpses furnished in recent dis
patches, 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
folks receive gifts from everybody
they meet. The day corresponds TO
the Christmas stocking Of the An
glo-Saxon child. although the Bel
gian Juvenile gets also a second
edition of presents on Xmas day as
well.
In the rural districts. in houses
infested with mice, the children on
the feast of Saint Nicaise. December
II, write that saints name over
the front door, the result being. sc-
cording to the tradition. that the
saint will clear the house of mice
/ ere the close of the year.
Dec. Il st. Thomas's Day.
The shortest day, December 81. is
dedicated to Saint Thomas, and
confers upon the offspring the
right, IL they can find the opportun-
fly. to lock up their parents in the
cellar or elsewhere, liberating them
orly on solemn promise of a ransom.
which may take the form of remis-
sion OF punishment. a present, an
outing. a holiday. a toy, or even a
new suit. This custom is very deep
seated. and is in full operation. even
in the big cities.
On December 2S. which is limo
cents Day, the children have the
privilege of wearing their parents
clothes, and adding thereto parental
authority. The young people be-
come real bosses, practically taking
the place of father and mother, Civ
ing orders, 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 a
large extent. but retail establish
merits remain open, places u amuse-
ment are in full blast, and the only
family foregatherings are those that
take place at church.
Let Loose for New Year.
Not till New Year Day does the
Belgian let himself go right to full
bent. But there are no half-meas-
ures that day. Rounds of family
visits in the morning, with unlim-
tied lots of spirits at each one Of
them are followed by a bully repast
of a dozen courses: an afternoon
walk, games at cards, or visit to the
theater. tea at the house of a rela-
tive, and a full evenings, or rather
nights, jollification at the house OF
the Oldest member of the family.
Presents are EXCHANGED on New
Year Eve. after which ceremony
IL Is usual TO see the old year out
and the new year in, either at
church, or at a ball, or at a public
or family supper, or even IN the
relative quietude Of the family cir
Gle.
Exhausted with the exertions Of
such a strenuous New Year start, it
is but natural that the second day
of the year should be kept as a
public holiday likewise. Generally
speaking. the second OF January In
Belgium corresponds approximately
to Boxing Day in England. Should
the day happen TO fall on a Monday.
no Belgian workman would think
Of doing any work, however urgent.
drinking being the first considera-
tlon on the FIRST Monday Of the year.
II is the one day Of all the 365 that
drunkenness is anyway noticeable
In this country. Belgians leave
church and make q bee-line for the
nearest saloon,