Evening star., 1921-12-25
FOREIGN CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS
RELATED BY D. C. STUDENTS
PUPILS in Americanization Schools Write
of Interesting Observance of Greatest of
All Holidays In Their Native Lands.

How Christmas is observed in for
eign lands is vividly described in es-
says of absorbing interest, written by
the students Of Washington's Ameri-
canization schools at the request of
Miss Maud E. Alton. principal. AL
though the compositions are not liter
ary gems, they manifest the progress
the foreign-born students have made
in acquiring a knowledge of the
English language after a few years
instruction in the AmericaniZation
schools.
Some Of the essays. from which ex-
cerpts are quoted in the following
paragraphs, were picked at random
from the numerous ones submitted to
Miss Alton by the students. Among
the countries whose Huletide customs
are depicted are Italy, Armenia. Porto
Rico. Philippines. Ruthenia, Hungary
and Poland.
Make Birds OF Eggs.
TN Poland we celebrate Christmas
December 25." said the essay submit
ted by Meyer Keisler. The boys go
to the woods to cut the trees. They
keSapples and potatoes and wrap
them with gold and silver paper and
they take eggs and make two little
holes and they blow inside and out
birds. The boys put dresses and masks
on and sing Holy Night"
Perhaps the most interesting COM
position is one written by native
Of Ruthenia. Lovingly rests the ma
tive upon the little province of the
former Austrian empire now belong
ing to the Polish republic said his
essay. Above clear, blue sky. with
a golden sun in the daytime and
frozen-like silver-colored moon al
night. and below a fertile, dark and
productive land.
THE people Of Ruthenia are very
religious and satisfied. AS soon as
they hear the monotonous but mu-
sical ting tang of the church bells
on Christmas morning they hurry
away to the church. Christmas is the
first Of the twelve religious holidays.
Pray at Sound of Bell.
Two weeks before the holiday, the
priest, in guard of his special, rides
all over his community and. stopping
in each house. presents the occupants
with so-called holy water and which
is kept by them for the whole year
as remedy for sickness. AS the
priest rides, his assistants ring a
bell and the people hearing this fall
on their knees, no matter where they
are: praying.
Christmas trees, but only the richer
class. and they hang on it all kinds
| of figures made from paper and fruits.
| 1t is the custom to prepare for this
holiday twelve kinds of food.
| ''On Christmas day the older people
go in groups with four or five musical
! instruments and sing at the houses
! Of their neighbors and. stopping be-
| fore windows. they play or sing some
religious or national song. After THIS
! the inhabitant invites them in. pre-
serts them with food and drIns: ard
sometimes with money. They do this
| for the whole night.
Youth Merrfly Sings.
| "on the second day Of the Christ
mas holidays the Older people stay
| out. On the third night We do not
hear any more of these separate
groups of wandering singers. but one
whole great orchestra Of young
voices, and you can find the entire
youth of the county singing.
! 1.-The preparation for this great
i holiday starts about four weeks be-
| fore The people clean their houses.
| painting then, inside and outside.
washing and cleaning"
Christmas in Italy is described by
day. he said. the streets are soon
crowded by churchgoers and market
! ing people. The children. in new
| clothes. get busy to enter the candy
stores and spend their little money
given by their parents
! Custom in Italy.
| Until noon. churches arc crowded
; by people going to the preScepe- That
! is an old-fa.hioned custom in Ital7
! All churches and many families fix
!out their so-called Irescepa. which