The Washington herald., 1922-01-22
XMAS CELEBRATION
BRINGS HAPPINESS
TO MONTENECRINS
Americans Present Inter
esting Program in Which
Children Take Part.

An old-fashioned Montenegrin
Christmas celebration given last
December. the first the children had
enjoyed for years, brought happi-
ness to the girls and boys in Dani-
lovgrad and Podgoritza. The Indus
trial Home School in Daniloygrad
and the Home School In Podgorttza
are aided by the Junior American
Red Cross whose representative
thus tells of the way Christmas was
observed In that far away land.
I'VE based our program for
Christmas Eve upon the old Jugo-
Slavic custom Of the Bandjak log.
Two days before Christmas the
boys went to the woods and cut
the two large logs. These they en-
circled with sprigs OF bay leaves.
rosemary and olive. A row of straw
was placed around the main build
ing and the decorated logs were
rested against each side of the en-
trance to bring prosperity ane
happiness during the next year.
the boys gave their entertainment
for which they were trained by the
teachers. In this program was ae-
veloped the Motifs" indicated In
the Montenegrin customs. in par
ticular the beauty and bounty OF
nature. the love OF home and the
Christmas message of peace and
goodwill.
The entire school Joined in the
kolas and songs. One of the teach
ers played the kolas on the plano,
but accomplishments were hardly
necessary as the children of Jugo-
Slavia are enthusiastic group sing
ers. A Jugo-Slavic fairy tale, Sir
Peppercorn,' was quite cleveriy
acted.
After entertaining their guests
for about an hour, the boys filed
outdoors in two lines, marching TO
the entrance where each leader
grasped one of the logs. The logs
were then carried into the house
and placed on an open fre, and =
little wheat. olive oil and wine were
thrown over them-a sacrifice for
bountiful harvest Then. joining
hands. the lads marched singing
through each room Of the house. As
they passed out into the yard again
the Christmas boxes sent to them
were distributed
Home School states: Our program
started with a health play for chill
dren, The Wonderful Window the
characters. sixteen in all-fifteen
girls and one boy-were well pre-
sented. The costumes were beau
tiful and unless one had the privi-
iege OF actually seeing the children
during a session of trying on, alter
ing. re-arranging and choosing
suitable colors for the pretty flower
dresses-for there were six little
girls in the Wonderful Window
dressed as ffowers-it is impossible
to have a mental picture of their
tense delight. Then twelve of the
most graceful little girls enacted A
garland drill and a baton dance. the
garlands and batons being made of
boughs Of trees. Two of the very
small girls danced the native kola.
The costumes for these two youns-
sters were a revelation. two pretty
little dresses having been made Of
striped pajamas sent across the
ocean so many months ago for an
other purpose. The boys. eight of
them, gave military drill. directed
oy one OF their number who had
been chosen for captain. They car
ried Jugo-slav flags. These sam.
boys also gave a very fine exhibit,
tion of athletics and gymnastics.
Individual recitations were given by
three boys and two girls. 1t Is hard
to describe the uncomfortable 10y
of the children.
AS grand finale to our Christ
man program there was held a
tombola for the distribution of the
christmas boxes that came from
America"