Evening star., 1934-12-25
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

A reader can get the dnsUer to
any question of fact by uriting The
Washington Evening Star Information
Bureau, Frederic J. Hdskin, Director,
Washington, d. c. Please incIose
stamp for reply.
@. Why is December Is celebrated
as the date 81 the birth of Jesus
Christ?-E Y.
A. There appears to be no good
reason why the 25th of December
should be celebrated as Christmas
day except that this was throughout
the civilized world an almost uni
versal time of feasting, and that it
seems appropriate for the event of
the Nativity to be universally observed
joyfully. 1t is far more probable that
the birth of Christ occurred either
in October or in March.
@. Why do people who are not
Christians observe Christmas?-G. C.
A. Non-Christians frequently Join in
the social observance of the day. To
them. it simply has no religious sig
nificance.
@. Were candles used at Christmas
time first in this country or in Eu-
rope?-C. G.
A. The custom was introduced into
this country from Europe. In Scan
olnavia, particularly, it is usual to
pace candles in the windows on
christmas eve TO light Kristine who
brings the gifts. Bayberry candles
are particularly appropriate because
they are green, aromatic and an en-
Diem OF triumph.
@. Is Christmas mentioned in
Shakespeare's plays?-C. H.
A. 1t is mentioned but twice and
then incidentally. Yuletide was. how
ever, an important time in his life
because 1t was then that his plavs
were produced by command at the
courts of Queen Elizabeth and James
l. with Shakespeare in the casts.
y. Does the giving of presents at
CHRISTMAS commemorate the gifts of
tne wise men to the Christ child?-
M v.
A. 1t Is thought not It springs from
an old custom of priests putting on
board of all outgoing ships boxes for
aims. These were opened at Christ
mastime and masses said for the
glvers Of the aims. The box was called
Christ mass box and from this comes
the custom of Christmas boxes and
gifts.
O. Where does England get her
miStletOe?-R F.
A. The mistletoe SO extensively used
in England at Christmas Is largely
| derived from the apple orchards of
Normandy, but some comes from the
apple orchards of Herefordshire.
@. How far from Jerusalem is Beth
, lehem?-O. N.
A. 1t is miles.
@. How long has the custom of
sending Christmas cards been prac-
ticed?-H. B. S.
A. The sending Of Christmas cards
by way Of friendly greeting and re-
/ membrance has grown up since about
1860.
@. How long have we had the
Christmas seals?-E. T.
A. The Christmas seals were intro
duced into this country from Denmark
in 1907. The first ones were adapted
by Miss Emily P. Bissell of Whining
ton. Del. Since 1917 the seals have
been solely distributed by the National
tuberculosis Association.
@. Where is Christmas Island?-
c. r. B.
A. This is the name given to three
oceanic islands, of which the most i'm
portant is situated 200 miles south
east Of Java. This island, which is
supposed to have been originally a
coral atoll, and to have been raised
by volcanic forces, rises to the height
of nearly 1,60C feet and is in shape
an irregular euadrilateral 9 miles
long and about miles wide. It was
annexed by Great Britain in 1888.