Evening star., 1938-01-02
Santa Is Due
FOrAnOther
Trip Here
Legation Has Its
Christmas on
January 7.

7-year-old Pola Fotitch at the
Yugoslav Legation, 1920 Sixteenth
street NV, on December 25. But
Pola isn't worried She knows her
Christmas is not due until Friday.
Then she'll have a Christmas tree
and party, like all her little friends.
She'll also observe lot Of Christmas
customs unknown to many Americans.
Pola is the daughter of the Minister
Of Yugoslavia, Constantin Fotitch,
and Nine. Fotitch, who observe holi-
day customs of Belgrade, the capital
Of their country.
In Belgrade and in all places where
the Orthodox Eastern religion is prac-
" ticed the modern calendar is followed
: In reckoning ordinary daily events,
but holidays are celebrated on the
days designated by the old Julian
calendar
Thus. while Catholics and those Of
other faiths in Yugoslavia celebrate
Christmas December 25, just as we do,
members of the Greek Orthodox
: Church have their Christmas observ-
ance almost two weeks later.
Pola's Christmas celebration is a
combination of the American customs
t and those of her country. The gayly
dressed Christmas tree which will be
set up on the second floor of the
Legation and all the gifts piled under
e meath will be typically American.
j, Pola will be remembered by Santa
Claus, too. because just before Christ
mas she made the rounds of the toy
stores here and explained her situa-
ton. Santa promised he would make
a special trip to deliver her gifts at
the proper time.
Santa Claus. however. does not visit
children in Belgrade. though they re-
: ceive many gifts before Christmas.
= Pola mother said. The two Sundays
preceding Christmas are set aside as
Mothers day" and Fathers day"
= Strangely enough to us. parents do
. not receive present on those days but
are expected to give them-not only
= dren they know.
An amusing little ceremony goes
, with this custom.
- On Mothers day, for instance. the
child who expects a gift first secures
a piece of string or bright ribbon.
e Then he goes out looking for his own
: mother or another mother and, slip
ioc
mother cannot be released until she
. has delivered present.
.. When Fathers day arrives. fathers,
too, are victims of the string and
must give presents before they are
released Mothers and fathers, you
can see. must have plentiful supply
of trinkets on hand if they are to get
. through the day safely.
On Christmas Day no gifts are ex-
changed. On Christmas Eve, however.
the table where the family has its
meals is carefully arranged with an
abundance of food and must not be
disturbed for two days. Thus, If the
Christ child should come in quietly,
He would find food, Nine Fotitch ex-
planned.
Cereals and honey are the principal
foods on the table. The cereals are
a symbol for abundance and the
honey for sweetness. and the family
following this custom can look for
abundance and sweetness in the new
year.
Also. straw is placed under the
table and in the corners of the room
>. as a symbol of the creche.
A single candle is lighted and burns
on the table as long as it is laid.
Pola observes all of these customs
at Christmas each year. Also, her
holiday dinner will include a cake
in which a piece of money has been
baked. This coin is considered
lucky piece by the person who finds it.
One Belgrade Christmas custom
which Pola will not see in Washing
ton is the annual Christmas tree
pageant. In her native city boys and
girls. men and women, and even whole
regiments Of soldiers go out into the
woods for oak trees. These are cut
down. brought back to the city in
parade like formation and then are
thrown down on the hearth to be
burned later.
Christmas trees as We know them
with strings of lights and ornaments
are not native custom Of Belgrade,
though Nine Fotitch says many fami-
lies have adopted them.
Pola is delighted with Christmas in
washington. however, and on Christ
mas Eve played Santa Claus to the
servants of the Legation. She has a
little red suit and a set of Santa
Claus whiskers and she dressed her
self up just like the old santa before
she delivered her gifts.
Pola, who after three years in Wash
ington speaks English very well, also
attended a number of holiday parties
and took part in the international