Evening star., 1933-12-25
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

OF the vast number Of questions
answered by this department., only lew
can be published In this column. The
ones that are printed must be OF general
interest and not personal In their ma
ture. Do not, therefore, merely sign
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q. What Is the earliest mention OF
December IS as Christmas day?-D. M.
A. The earliest reference Is found
in an ancient catalogue OF church fes-
tivals about 354 AID.
Q: When were Christmas cards first
made2-C. 8.
A. The earliest example Of the art
Of making Christmas cards Is attributed
to j. c. Horsley, r. A., who in 1916
made designs of this character. Subse-
quently the demand for these tokens has
become enormous, and at present
Christmas cards are often Of much artis-
tic merit in both design and coloring.
@. Is Christmas celebrated in France
as it is in America2-W. w.
A. Christmas in France is observed
as religious festival. The emphasis
is on the religious side Of the anniver-
sary much more than 1t is in English
speaking countries.
@. Are Christmas carols always sup
posed to be joyful?-E. L.
A. The carol was originally joyous
dance, a sign of liberation from the re-
ligious austerity of the Puritan era.
Percy Dearmar, writing in "The oxford
Book of Carols" says: THE carol, by
forsaking the timeless contemplative
melodies of the church, began the era
Of modern music, which throughout has
been based on the dance
@. How many Christmas trees are
sold in this country every year?-K. J.
A. The United States Forest Service
estimates the number sold annually at
from five to ten millions. However
there is no way of ascertaining the
number Of Christmas trees used that are
not bought and sold.
@. How is Christmas observed in
Chile?-B. D.
A. Christmas In Latin america is a
religious or a secular festival 1t is not
| day of gift giving. In Chile it comes
in the early Summertime The day is
celebrated with old mystery and miracle
plays by those religiously inclined. and
by merrymaking by the rest of the
populace- Good will seems to be the
keynote of the observance
O. When were Christmas trees first
used in the United States?-W. F.
A. Christmas trees became popular
in the United States about the same
time that they were introduced into
England. In England the first Christ
| mas trees were set up in the Royal Pal
ace of st. James at the time Queen
Victoria married the prince consort in
1910.
Q What is the Christmas ceremony
homes?-A. r.
a. The family ceremony called the
presepio is set up in the home In just
the sequence in which they appeared
nearly two thousand years ago in Beth
lehem. the Blessed Virgin. St Joseph
and the Christ Child, also the cattle.
! take their places near the Holy Crib"
as it is called today in the little town
where Christ was born. Figurines of
wood, or some other durable substance
represent the Holy Family and the gen.
tie beasts. After few hours have
passed, the adoring shepherds are added
to the group. A few days pass, and the
magi appear. Soon they withdraw.
Time elapses; then the Holy Family de-
parts on its flight into Egypt.
Q. When does the Christmas shop
ping season open?-F. G. J.