The Washington times., 1923-12-11
WORLDS XMAS
FETES DIFFER
WIDELY
Jollity .Reigns Only Among
Northern Races-Quiet
Services in France.
BY FRANK SAVAGE,
international News Service.

By FRANK SAVAGE,
International News Service
NEW YORK, Dec. 11.-Tradition,
handed down through many centu-
ries and interpreted according to
individual and national tastes in far
flung lands of Christendon, has de-
veloped widely varying customs for
celebrating the anniversary of the
birth of the Christ child.
Z Between now and the end of the
year Christmas bells will peal from
many church towers and carols will
be sung in hundreds of tongues,
but !, their manner of Ginning and
caroling are likely to be in Sstrik-
ing contrast to the yuletide melodies
to which we are accustomed in
America,
There is considerable difference,
also, in the feasting, or lack of it;
the gift-making, and the supersti-
tions that charge the atmosphere
at this time of the year with that
vague, indescribable element which
we call "the Christmas spirit"
Lambs WOOT' OF Erin.
While Britain gorges itself on
plum pudding that wouldn't float
i'm, a mercury bath, and America
devours flocks of turkeys and
mountains of dressing, Sweden
kneels in deepest humility and The
Lapps bow meek heads in solemn
homage.
While little children in Italy
throng the streets reciting Cody
verses, the Russians chant the
myths Of the Goddess of the Sun,
and most anything might happen
in New York--from special theatfi-
cal attractions to Bachanalian revels
that seem never to have heard of
'Volstead nor the Eighteenth Amend
ment.
AS inevitable as England's plum
pudding, famed for it's specific
gravity, is Ireland's Lambs Wool, /"
q drink made by bruising roasted
apples and mixing them with ale or
milk. -
Lona draughts of this concoction
usually are served with liberal slices
of English plum pudding, for Ire
land is addicted to the dish also.
JOIIity Of AngIO-SaxOns.
In England, and in fact through
the British Isles, the groaning
board and the brimming bowl are
the chief characteristics of Christ
mas celebrations.
And II mirth and jollity may be
measured by ones physical fullness,
there can be no doubt of the ap-
plicability3 of ''Merrie England" dur
ing the yuletide.
s There's are no distant echoes of
century on century of Christmas
IN Hynf 70
that couptry's present unhappy eco
'nomic plight, it is safe to assume
that the Christmas spirit will roll
like a tidal wave over the land
even this year-and Danish for the
moment the cares and sorrows of
the saddest period in German
annals. -
Normally there are no rnerrier
yuletides than those of Germany.
"A week before Christmas the Ger
mans bring into the towns and cit
les loads of pines and hemlocks until
the communities are veritable for
ests of evergreens. Each family
must have at least two trees, and
If a family is too poor his neighbor
usually comes to the rescue and
provides a tree or two.
Where Santa Leaves Switches.
The German Christmas festival
actually begins on December 6, the
eve of st. Nicholas day. 1t is then
that German youngsters watch their
Fps" and "q's," for retribution goes
hand in hand with reward An i'm
personator Of st. Nicholas makes
the rounds and make inquiries re-
garding the conduct of the youth
during the preceding twe1ve-month.
Woe betide those who. have chafel
and rebelled under parental re.
straint. The saint" leaves a bun.
die of switches for them instead of
yuletide gifts.
Good German housewives toll for
days in advance preparing decora.
tons for the trees and making the
gifts; baking, knitting, sewing and
wrapping their handiwork In bay
colored paper, with verses attached
Even the cattle kneel and pray
in Germany-but no one has ever
heard OF the text of the bovine sup
plication-it would be sin to
eavesdrop, SO no one listens
Among the Laplanders.
In Lapland reindeer have a some
what more prosaic task than thew
do in more southerIy climes where
their duties consist of one nights
work year-and that spent in
dashing gaily over sparkling. snow
capped homes of good children
pausing here and there to toast
themselves beside some warm chin
ney. .....
The Lapps drive their faithful rein.
deer teams across vast frozen
stretches, hitched to "A sleigh. in
order that the family may attend
the solemn church ceremoniaIs ir
the distant village.
There they listen attentiveIy tc
the oft-repeated, monotoned repeti
ton of how Jesus of Nazareth was
born.
With glum faces they greet guests
in their huts or tent houses - bury
their dead, and appear as unjoyfu
as possible. To make the season
less inviting to the children. the
little Lapps are sent to school foi
few weeks during the Christmas
period.
Marriages are solemnized, but
there are no festivities, except fol
the liberal libations of spirituou<
| liquors that are generously passed
around and freely imbibed.
Can Easter Egg Hunt.
The children of the remainder OF