South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-02-05
AMERICA Is SANTA
TO RUSS CHILDREN
One Million Riddles In Fam
inc Stricken Land Are
Made Happy by L. s.

MOSCOW. (By Mai)-One million
Russian children were made happy
Christmas day by the A. r A.
throughout the VoIga famine zone.
in Petrograd. and in Moscow.
In Russia. however. Christmas
day came Jan. instead OF Dec. 25.
The Orthodox church has never
recognized the new calendar. and all
religious festivals stiH follow the old
time. now 14 days behind the mod
ern calendar.
Christmas dinners we're served IN
al the A. r. AS 600 feeding de-
pots throughout Russia. These were
the first Christmas dinners the chill
dren had for four years. For the
smaller ones. 90 was the first Christ
mas dinner IN their lives.
Christmas gifts were distributed IN
tho A. r. A. branches in Moscow 20
about 5000 children. and IN Petro-
grad 10 more than $4,000. Gifts
were given in the provincial depots
in the famine zone wherever pos
s.ble.
Volunteers Aid Poor.
Thousands OF little kits were
prepared by the Russian volunteer
workers fu The A. r. A. in Moscow.
Women OF noble families, shopkeep-
ers' wives manufacturers wives and
peasant woman sewed side by side
for weeks IN the warm rooms OF the
Hermitage restaurant, formerly Mos
cows gayest and fastest cafe, now
central children's feeding depot for
tho A. r. A.. making little knitted
things for the children, making toy
sewing outfits for the little girls, as
sorting warm socks and stockings
little sweaters. etc. There were real
pocket knives for the older boys
and rag dolls for the girls. To
others. Santa brought much needed
warm gloves and mufhers.
While the winter SHOWS piled
deeper upon White Moscow-Mos-
COW is called White Moscow during
the four months OF winter when the
bare earth is never visible and the
snow grows deeper and deeper with
the deposits OF many stor1ns-3e, 900
bright eyed children gathered
around IL Christmas trees in Mos
COW. Santa spoke I'm accents strange
20 their Russian ears, but IN &C
cents they have grown TO love. And
although the children did not under
stand the meaning OF the words. they
did understand the message Of love
and Christmas behind them.
"Grandfather Frost"
The Russians do not make 90
much" Of Christmas. however. as the
Americans, English and Germans.
Easter. not Christmas. is the prin-
clpal religious festival OF the year in
Russia Christmas is observed, OF
course. and gifts are given. Before
the war nearly every homo had its
little tree for the children. But
since the revolution, circumstances
OF life have seldom permitted even
this observance.
Santa Claus comes to Russian chill
dren under the name OF Dyedushka
Moroz Grandfather Frost.J He has
a pack. Just as during his visits TO
America, but he draws II ia a little
sled behind him over his shoulder
Santa sings a Christmas tree when
he crosses the Russian frontier. He
comes afoot. He has no RENDERS.
on account OF the intense cold, he
r. obliged to discard the merry red
testers costume he wears IN America
for huge white Russian "Shouba'
Clsrge fur coat. and instead OF the
Jolly little red cap, ne has a tall
pointed ounces cap. also Of white
fur. Instead Of squeezing down
chimney to a row OF stockings,
Santa slips IN through the window
and slides his gifts under the pillows
OF the sleeping children.
Merry Christmas" does not exist
as a salutation Christmas morning
in Russia. ct wish you a happy feast
day is the nearest equivalent, but
this IS said on other feast days as
we'll as Christmas.