Evening star., 1925-12-25
CUSTOMS OF CHRISTMAS DIFFER
WIDELY in OTHER COUNTRIES
Christmas Tree Largely Confined to Northern Eu.
rope - Southern Nations and Russia Have
Picturesque Ceremonies on Day of Nativity.

sists of roast goose stuffed with
chestnuts, pork boiled with sauer
kraut, beef with sour sauce, black
pudding. smoked goose and baked
apples. To the Germans may be at
| tributed the creation of Santa Claus
and the introduction of the Christmas
tree. The inauguration of the Christ
mas tree, accredited to Martin Luther,
is of much interest and has gained
wide acceptance. The story goes that
the idea came to Luther when he was
travelling alone one Christmas eve.
The snow covered country, the trees,
the sky with it's cleaning points of
light, made such deep impression on
him that he could neither shake 1t off
nor express it. Sunddenly the ire
pressble feeling assumed practical
form. He went into the ~arden and
cutting a little fir tree, brought 1t
into the nursery, put some candles on
its branches and lighted them.
The original Santa Claus was an
aged figure with snowfiakes on his
large beard. dressed in fur. rod in
hand and a large bag on his back who
was known In Germany as 'Knecht
| Rupert" This character long ago took
the place OF st. Nicholas, saint OF the
primitive church and the special friend
to children. One of the duties of
! Knecht Rupert or Santa Claus Is to
distribute gifts from the Christmas
trees and from his large bag in which
he carries presents, but his first wish
is TO impress the children with his
authority as shown by the rod, for the
| naughty child never receives gifts
from knecht Rupert. After the gifts
are distributed the distinctive German
custom of indulging in a hearty en-
brace and kiss follows No one Is ex-
cused, young and old. friend and rela-
tive, rich and poor. take part in this
ceremony.
1t Italy the Christmas festivities
center around the church. Nearly all
the Roman Catholic churches have a
reproduction of the stable of Bethle-
hem with the prominent figures of the
Nativity. Fea sting and merry making
are common in Italy. The dinner may
be served at any time In the evening
between 8 and midnight: eels, served
one to each guest rolled in laurel leaf.
Is the principal dish. No legendary
Santa Claus with snow-covered cap.
furS and bells is known to the Italian
children. Their Santa Claus Is a
very good and very honlely old woman
who brings them dolls, trumpets, little
watches, marbles and other toys the
night before the Epiphany january
81 az the wise men of the East brought
gold, frankincense and myrrh as gifts
to Mary and the Child.
1t is the custom of the Italian
tradesmen as we'll as the German and
| Russian to send to their patrons com
plimentary gifts at Christmas time.
These tokens are recognized in Italy
by the "Nancie," a small sum of
money given in return.
The celebration of Christmas IN
Spain is much the same now that it
has been for centuries. Its customs
and ceremonies are those of the Latin
Church in which the performance of
mystery plays occur. The game of
hiding shoes and slippers is substi-
tuted for the Christmas tree and the
hanging Of stockings by the Spanish
children, whose chief TOYS are the
colored clay models Of the Christ Child
in the nlanger, is common. The din
ner begins with soup of sweet almonds
and cream, followed by fish toasted
before the fire and basted with lemon,
chopped garlic and oil.
Christmas in Holland is of peculiar
| interest. In all the towns and villages
! at midnight on Christmas eve-the men
begin chanting the Gloria in Ex.
celsis" and a large star lighted with
many candles but shining AS II lighted
with q. single candle. is mounted on a
pole and carried through the streets
in the midst OF Il long procession
chanting the Gloria The star is
symbolical of the star that guided the
wise men of the East and is deeply
impressive. Holland is indebted for
the popular Christmas tree TO Queen
Caroline. who introduced it 10 the
| Low Countries in 1880.
Holidays in Russia.
/ The Christmas holidays in pre-war
| Russia lasted from December "a to
January S. All work was stopped and
| schools closed, and there was one un.
broken line Of holidays. The first day
was devoted to a quiet family reunion
when the Christmas tree was laden
! with gifts. The following days were
devoted TO congratulations. Carriages
and cabs Whirled through the streets
, bearing callers to extend the national
form of holiday greeting. The leading
| dish of every Russian Christmas din.
ner Is the national soup. a mixture Of
beef bouillon, boiled cabbage, sour
| cream and the fermented Juice Of
beet roots which may be had at any
| time during the day.
Among the common people a pecu-
| liar local custom was indulged in at
| Christmas. The peasants gathered In
| groups, as in old English times, to
| sing carols In front of noblemenis
| houses and eagerly accepted the gifts
of coins thrown TO them from the win
| a.
| These serenaders dressed in the style
of different animals In commemoration
| Of Christ's having been born In a
| stable.
For the most interesting of modern
celebra tions of Christmas one would
| naturally look to the place of Christ 8
nativity, where the anniversary is OBJ
served with impressiveness worthy of
its historic environment. The usual
quiet of Bethlehem is greatly dis.
turbed the day before Christmas.
Crowds of strangers throng the
streets-some interested to take part
in the ceremonies and others eagerly
! curious to see what is happening
| The services begin Christmas eve in
| the Church of the Nativity, the big
natural cave under which Is what has
long been regarded as the actual scene
of Christ's birth. This room Is 40 by
II feet and about 10 feet high. 1t is
hung with tapestry and lighted with
81 lamps suspended from the ceiling.
At the east end of the cave is a recess
under the altar. Here, set into marble
pavement, is silver star around
which, in Latin, are the words: Here
| of the Virgin Mary Jesus Christ was
born
CAILLAUX GIVEN SEAT