San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-20


found observing any such day as
Christmas or the like either by for
bearing labor, feasting or any other
way upon any such account" The
law remained in effect until 1862
Our present observance of the day
has evolved from the many customs
brought TO America by the immigrants.
The German immigrant brought the
Christmas tree and Santa Claus to US
and what would we do without
them? The feasting is relic of the
English observance and the use of
Christmas carols comes from Italy.
What would Christmas be without
melody. During the past week and
scheduled for next week, there will be
many Christmas musicales. The
Christmas cantata, The Coming of
the King" was presented last Mon
day by the San Antonio Musical Club
and the cantata, Santa Saves the
Day." was sung Friday evening by
the young people of Christ Episcopal
Church. Every church in the city has
planned programs of music for the
week.
The most popular men in the city
/
Now that the Christmas-card fad is so
popular everyone looks with antici-
patton for the friendly greeting from
dear friends. The invention Of the
Christmas card is accredited to Rome.
where pastry cooks often employed
poets TO write verses and mottos for
holiday bonbons. After a time the
idea of writing the verses on cards was
thought Of and so today we have the
beautiful cards we all delight in re-
ceiying. 1t is said that no other coun-
try in the world is as addicted to the
card sending habit as is the United
States.
There are many quaint and curious
traditions about Christmas Eve. It
is said that at midnight, the oxen
kneel in the stalls. Also it is de-
clared If one lies in a manger in a
stable at midnight Christmas Eve, the
future is open to his vision In Ger
many, the superstitious believe that
horses and cattle have the power of
speech at that time, and in some dis
triets Of Germany it is believed that
between IL and II o'clock on Christ
mas Eve water may be turned into
winel He who believes in ~spirits"
may try IL
The observance Of Christmas Day,
although universal, is very different
in the various countries Of the world.
In England, the day is spent in feast
ing at family reunions and in quiet re-
hglous celebrations. Germany in
which the symbolic Christmas tree
first developed, enjoys Christmas Eve
the most for at 9 O'Clock in the eve
ming the tree is lit and the family
gifts distributed. One charming fea-
ture of the German celebration is the
custom Of everyone, both large and
small, INDUCING in a hearty embrace
and kiss following the distribution Of
gifts.
In Holland on Christmas Eve. the
men gather in the public square and
march through the streets singing
Gloria in Excelsio," most i'm
pressiye scene 10 the visitor. In
Italy and France the observance of
Christmas centers about the church
and in some parts Of Italy, Santa
| Claus does not come on Christmas,
but gifts are received on epiphany,
January 9. Russia celebrates the sea-
son with an unbroken chain Of holt
days from December "a 10 January 8.
Belgium and Mexico also have re-
igious observances and delight es-
pecially in pageants.
- - ~
The home economies sale Of the
Council of Jewish Women will be
held Monday all day at the following
stores: Joske's, Wolff and Marx,
Washer, Dalkowitz and Kaufman.
| All varieties Of home made products
will be sold for the benefit Of the
building fund Of the Council House
soon 70 be erected. When completed
the building will house the free non
iectarian philanthropic activities Of
the Council which are the night school,
the kindergarten and the library.
Mrs. Ben Duhinski has charge Of
arrangements. All donations are TO
be brought TO Temple BETHEL Mon
day morning.
y ~ y
Frank B. Hail Of Atlanta and Full
ton Hall of Philadelphia will arrive
during the week to spend the holiday IS
with their brother and sister. Miss
Mary g. Hall and J. Croswell Hall.
- y -
The quarterly get-togetber Of the
Noman's Missionary Society Of the
Travis Park Methodist church is post
poned until December IS.
y - -
The Alamo Country Club will enter
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