Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-13
Christmas as Lit
Is Observed i'm
Other Lands
Home Making Helps
BY Wanda Barton

IN ANY OF us who do the most
VE OF our travelling through the
AT4 pages OF the Atlas, or In
Guide books. do not knew as much
about the customs OF other countries
a. we would like. The holiday Gus
toms OF other lands. particularly.
are OF great interest.
The Hungarian Christmas. Karac.
sony, begins on December 10th n
lasts two days. "AiikulaS win
white beard. and red coat. distributes
the gifts around the lighted tree ana
presides at the hearty supper ina
follows the tree ceremonies a tea-
ture or the supper is tho cake maue
OF honey. nuts. and POPPY SEEDS inc
evening n devoted TO games ana a.
midnight the gates or the church are
thrown open and people gather t"f
the midnight mass 49,,
The Norwegian and Swedish "Jur'
Il celebrated with a trimmed tree'
lights. and a Christmas EEe supper
with ''lutefiEk". a specially prepared
fish dish. Dreaded spaTeribs. pepper
minis. and favorite cakes. A rice
pudding IL baked with raisins and a
large plum tn the center and b one
who gets the plum Is the lucky one.
Before serving the pudding each one
must contribute "A rhyme Or their
own composing. Games and dancing
fin the evening and at midnight the
presents are distributed and all
circle the tree and sing special
hymns.
Lithuanians gather for the Christ
mas Eve supper, kucia, poppy seed
bread, fish cakes and "Kisielius". a
sweet favored blanc mango. eaten
with sugar and cream. Thin. bright
| coIored waters are passed 70 each
one present as greetings are given,
the waters come from the church
rectory and arc called "Plotkeles'
At midnight all attend the mass,
The Poles celebrate in much the
| same way, with the added custom
or carol singing in the streets
In Italy a Novena Is begun nine
DAYS before Christmas and little
models OF the Nativity are set up ~
each village home. Bands OF mus''
clans 20 from house 10 house and
play special music. In some sec
tons a yule log IS burning and the
| children, blindfoided. tap the log with
a stick and demand their presents,
and when the fold ~ removed there
| on the hearth the gifts lay. quite q
bit OF quick work Is necessary or the
part OF Santa.
The Czechs have many interesting
| customs. among which Is remember
ing each animal on the farm with a
delicacy suitable 70 their feeding. the
COWS getting a taste OF everything
on the holiday men "Vanocka'
IN A special bread with raisins and
almonds IN Il The Serbs strew their
houses with straw like a manger,
they grow wheat IN a dish for table
decoration and have a special ring
cake, in the center OF which they
place three lighted candles They
also attend midnight mass.
Germans make a special point oi
their tree. Its shape. placing. trim
ming and lighting being Of the Ut
most consideration. Songs are suns
around the tree. and gifts are piled
under its branches. Two days are
taken for fun and feasting. The
children are the central figures o.
interest and everything Is done FOL
their amusement.
The Russian Christmas Is Away:
cay though IL centers around tn
| church. The celebration ~ carried
on al our Christmas time by moderr
| Russians though In reality. accord
ing to their calendar. II "a thirteer
DAYS later. Special cakes or differen'
kinds take the place OF our puddinl
and pies. The Russians r excel
lent cooks and IL q safe 70 say tina
In the simplest home the Christina
dinner Is well worth enjoying
New Americans who. nt home. dir
not make special holiday plans. soor
change their ideas when they CONF
70 America and open their hcartl
70 the spirit az the season and trl
TO make M for all they have misseS
In the past.