New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-12-23
CHRISTMAS IN
OTHER

AS Christmas Day draws near, and
our minds are filled with the true
holiday spirit, it is appropriate as
well as interesting to think about
Christmas celebI atoms in other coun-
tries.
1t might be well to first notice
some of the customs very near our
own homes. A regular Christmas
performance in Alaska is known as
going around with the star" A
large figure of a star covered with
bright colored material is carried at
the head of a procession of people
who go in this form from house to
house every night during Christmas
week. They are warmly welcomed at
each place and after singing carols,
and enjoying cakes and other good
things they go to the next house.
The natives of Hawaii say that
Santa Claus goes over TO the islands
in a boat. Perhaps he does, for he
gets there some way. He is looked
for as eagerly there as he is in the
lands of snow and ice and even if
he does nearly melt in his furs, he
never d%isappoints these children.
The Filipino looks upon Christmas
as a great religious festival. On
Christmas Eve the churches are
opened and the coming of the great
day is celebrated by "a mass at mid
night. Mass is held every hour dur-
ing Christmas day so that every II
may have an opportunity to attend.
Many religious plays are also given
in the Philippines. During Christ
mas week the young people hold
merry gatherings in the open air,
where they dance and play games.
In Russia it is not Christmas day
but Christmas Eve that is the great
time of delight. 1t is then that the
beautiful bright Christmas trees are
enjoyed. Every one in the family
receives numerous presents and
great merry making takes place.
Christmas day is spent in prayer and
fasting.
Christmas Eve is the greatest day
in Spain, also, That night large bon
fires are built everywhere, especially
around the churches. Shops are bril-
liantly lighted and crowds of people
gather in groups, after doing their
last shopping, and join in singing
and games around the fires.
Everyone, including the poorest,
in Denmark, has a Christmas tree.
Banquets of roast goose, apple cake
and rice porridge, take place in many
homes. An almond is always put in
the porridge, and the person who
finds it gets another present. The
trees are lighted at dusk and the
children dance around them and
sing. This performance opens the
festivities; then the presents are
given, after which the young people
dance.
st. Nicholas is the yearly visitor
in Holland. On Christmas Eve the
children place their wooden shoes by
the chimney where they believe st.
Nicholas, with the help of his little
black slave, will fill them.
The Children of France watch for
the baby Jesus instead of Santa
Claus. The night before Christmas
they place their shoes by the chin
ney, where they know the child Jesus
will be sure to find them and fill
them with candy. Christmas is a
real gift giving day in France for
every one gives and no one is slight
ed.
There is no nation in the world
that makes as much of Christmas as
the Germans. II is said That the
ladies of the family spend months
preparing for it. Several weeks be-
fore Christmas the shop windows in
Germany are decorated. In the small
Ter towns where Christmas shop win
dows are impossible, the Christmas
spirit is still there, for rows and
rows of Christmas trees of all sizes
are put on sale.
The young folks of Germany are
proud of that fact that, as far as
can be learned, the tree which is so
important a part of Christmas in
many lands was first used in Ger
many. Before Il ancestors came
to the United States the little child
rem of Germany were decking Christ
mas trees with candles and presents.
In some places the only presents that
are put on the tree are those intend
ed for the parents. The other gifts
are hidden in the pockets of the Civ
ers and presented after the parents
have had theirs. However the tree
is never missing in any home, and
sometimes every child in the family
- II, $40