New Britain herald., 1924-12-03

Village is almost buried Tn sparkling, pure-driven snow. A marvellous vision In white with its lecklcss beauty still accentuated by tho sapphire blue of the sky. the healthy sepia tan of the chalets and the sombre green of the stately pines.
 That indescribably sweet perfume Of the Christmas season floats through tho air and every bush and tree wears proudly the dazzling decorations which nature has so Iavishly provided in her own ar- tistic designs, We behold new world, glorious,y beautiful and humble in spirit at the same time; world full Of mystic charm as 1t appears now in tho delicate illumi- nation of q crescent moon and It's endless company Of stars.
 Here and there merry tinkling of bells! Sleigh riders homeward bound. eager to reach friendly hearth in time for the celebration Of the pladdest and greatest festl- val of the year -- Christmas, the anniversary of the birth of Christ, when the Christkindli, the Christ child walks on earth.
 The Christkindli
 And To, as we look penslvely down the narrow village street, there ap- breaches a sleigh, drawn by six magnificent reindeer Its occupants, a radiant angel -- the Christkindli .-- is the poetic successor of jolly old Santa Claus wlto in many parts of Switzerland and not so long ago, used to be hailed as tho generous donor of all Yuletids gifts. On Christkindli's sleigh there are Christmas trees Of every sizs, decorated with the many gltterins things which Are so fascinating to young hearts, and heavily laden with rosy apples, oranges, nuts and fragrant cookies. A truly appetizing and sensible array! There are packages too Of tantalizing shape and with the aid of her helpers Christkindli distributes trees and gifts in her own fairy-like way.
 Christmas trees everywhere, not house is forgotten and before the youngsters are allowed to play with their toys the whole family gathers around the tree and sings some carols: heartfelt. joyous offerings to God for his sublime gift to humans. In many a home the story of the nativity is read from the voluminous old family Bible and the actual origin of the Christmas tree may even be brought up for discussion by some college-bred member, for no matter how isolated a Swiss village is, there is not one inhabi- tant who does not regard education as the greatest asset in modern life.
 When Christmas Was First
 Observed
 History indicates that 1t was only in the year 354 A. D. that the Ro- man bishop 1.iberius designated De- cen,ber 25 as the birthday of Christ. On this day was observed the Ro- man feast of Saturn, when candles were not only used for illumination purposes, but they were also ex- changed as gifts in token of cheer funess and goodwill. The Jews too were accustomed to burn candles at that time, which happened to be their Feast Of Dedication and it is thus not improbable that thou sands of candles were burning throughout Palestine when Christ was born. Our present day custom of burning candies on the Christ mas tree is therefore of very an cent origin and the Greek Catho- lies actually call Christmas The Feast Of Lights"
 There is pretty legend which relates that the history of the Christmas tree dates back to the ninth century, when certain St. Winfred went to preach Christian fly 10 the people in Scandinavia and northern Germany. One Christmas Eve these people were gathered round huge oak to offer a hu. man sacrifice, according 10 Druid rites. but St. Winfried hewed down the great tree and as it fell there appeared In its place tall young fir When st. Winfried saw 1t he said to the people;
 Here is 4 new tree, unsained by blood. See how 1t points to the sky! Call it the tree of the. Christ Child. Take it up and carry ith 10 the castle of your chief. Henceforth you shall not so into tho shadows Of the forest to hold your feasts with secret rites of shame. You shall hold them within tho walls of your own home with ceremonies that speak the message of peace and goodwill to all. A day is coming when there shall not be home in the north wherein on the birthday of Christ the whole family will not ory of this day and to the glory mory of this day and to tho glory Of good"
 Since the passing of those days the custom of the Christmas tree has found its way into the remotest corners Of the earth. Its slgnif- canoe and purpose have been erys- tallized in Christian minds and hearts and yet. there somehow re- mains here and tehre the observance of certain quaint customs in the Christmas season.
 Christmas Customs
 IL Is Christmas Eve and after the last candle has fIckered out on the tree some of the simple peasant folk in the sequestered Swiss noun tain vales set out to observe cus- toms which have been handed down to them by many generations Of sn- cestors Grandmother hastens to the cellar for the most perfect speci- men of an onion. This she outs into half. peels of twelve layers, one for each month of the year 10 come and in due rotation she fills the anna with salt On thA foliopyine q