The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-25


over" Mrs. Hard
ing recalled. Every one attends
midnight mass on Christmas eve.
Children receive gifts, not from
Santa Claus, but from the Three
Magic Kings from the East. In re-
cent years Aztec legends, reviving
the Indian past Of Mexico, have be-
come a part of the celebration.
THE pagan and Christian tradi-
tons mingle," Mrs. Harding ex-
planned.
Instead Of exchanging Christmas
cards, Mexican people send New
Years greeting cards, which run to
the Indian and Spanish motifs with
gold lettering. Instead Of bearing
printed names, the cards bear
facsimiles Of the actual signatures.
Religious Note Stressed
As in Mexico, Mrs. Gino Ratti
emphasized the more religious sig
nficance Of Christmas in France.
After midnight mass on Christmas
eve, carols at daybreak and church
chimes officially begin Christmas
observances. At midnight 20 Holy
Night" is sung. From the midnight
mass, the French go to their homes
for feaStS, called reveillon, an oc-
casion for happy family reunions.
French children anticipate the ar
rival of ST. Nicholas, also called
Pere Noel or Bon Homme Noel,
down the fireplace chimney or
through window They place
their shoes neatly before the fire.
place, and next morning find them
filled with gifts. Adults exchange
gifts at New Years and the Epi-
phany on Jan. 6, which ends the
Christmas season.
Card Custom Varied
AS in Mexico, Christmas cards are
not exchanged, Mrs. Ratti said, but
at New Years people send greetings
to everyone they know socially and
to those who serve them in any
capacity.
For more than a hundred years
MarSeilleS has been famous for the
cribs and figurineS of the nativity
scene, which are reproduced in ev-
cry home, Protestant and Catholic,
and in churches. This custom in
recent years has been adopted in
America.
There are no real national Gus
toms, explained Mrs. Ratti, who
spent Christmas in Paris in 1925.
for aspects Of celebrations of neigh
boring countries have become a part
OF traditions in various parts of
France"
Christmas at Sea
SOne of the most interesting
Christmas days I ever spent was at
sea, about five days out of New
York" said Mrs. Demarchus Brown.
world traveller. "Of course. there
was excitement on the boat, for
Christmas is Christmas no matter
where you are.
THE day before Christmas the
weather was dull and the skies were
filled with lowering, gray Clouds"
recalled Mrs. Brown. Suddenly nv
young son ran into my cabin to tell
me that a water spout was ahead.
we rushed out and saw a great
gray column Of water that rose
from sea to clouds. It Swayed from
side to side, but still it rose stead
lily, dark and terrifying, but wonder
full and beautiful. Once it wavered
and broke, but soon formed again.
1t sank at last into the sea-"
Mrs. Browns son broke the silence
OF the awed passengers with:
Il think that God sent us that
water spout for a Christmas pres
ent."
Tree Tied to Mast
On Christmas day the sailors tied
q Christmas tree to the top of the
forward mast.
"All day long that brave little
tree rocked back and forth against
a cloudleSs blue sky. 1t was warm
and sunshiny, and we walked on
deck without wraps" Mrs. Brown
remembered. Inside the ship all
was gayety. Presents came out of
hiding. Bouquets of flowers at the
dinner tables had been brought from
Algiers and kept on ice for the cele-
bration. A Christmas tree was
lighted. The band played; We had
speeches and songs. and for those
who liked it. champagne"