Evening star., 1939-12-24
Germans Doing Best
For Festive YuIe
Under War Burdens
Some Compare Holiday to
1917; Rotion Coupons
Must Be Used for Gifts
BY FRANK SMOTHERS,

BY FRANK SMOTHERS,
Chicago Daily News Foreign Correspondent.
BERLIN, Dec. 23.-The German
people-civilians in their homes,
soldiers at their posts of duty-are
not letting the war and its hard
ships prevent preparations for as
festive Christmas as the times
permit.
The chill streets and the sparsely
stocked stores of Berlin this week
have been crowded with a brave
army OF shoppers trying to buy gifts
for husbands, wives, children and
friends.
Evergreen, red ribbon, tinsel and
ornaments brighten many shops and
windows and in accordance with old
German custom, it appears that
most homes, as always, are going
to have Christmas trees.
Each individual German will men
tally ascribe to the fest whatever
significance he wishes. In Nazi
theology, it is the winterfest con-
nected by many with the old pagan
winter solstice. To countless in
Germany the day will be little more
than time of extra food, extra
drink, Christmas trees, the giving
OF presents, the visiting of friends
and the having of as much jollity
as possible. But for many others.
who retain their Christian faith, it
will be the same tender Christmas
with Bethlehem dominating their
festivity-and for Catholics, that
Christ mass as of old The churches
for example St. Hedwigs Catholic
Cathedral on Inter den Linden,
have their Christmas trees in place.
Slim Picking in Gifts.
Here in Berlin it has been slim
picking indeed in the choosing of
gifts. Older Germans compare this
Christmas with that of 1917, the
fourth year of the World War. as
regards the availability of presents
Some say that the supply is even
lower now, some say it is not quite
so low. Countless persons planning
gifts to relatives and close friends
have asked the prospective re-
clplents to give them ration coupons
Tor clothes as the slender total of
100 coupons for the year allowed to
each individual will buy far too
little to permit using them for
others. Except for clothing and
food. ration cards are unnecessary
but the trouble has been that stocks
OF almost all lines are so depleted.
Shoppers. realizing this to be the
case, began the Christmas rush
early and by this week the finding
of gifts became still harder.
Shop windows often look attrac-
tive with their variety of wares
but when you 90 inside you re-
peatedly find that the articles in the
windows are not for sale. Toy de-
partments, two weeks ago, had what
appeared to be imposing arrays
military toys, dolls, furry animals
and so forth-but the stocks rapidly
diminished.
One lady had her heart set on
buying an umbrella for a friend and
thought that it was safe bet, but
after a considerable search she
failed to get it. Book sales went
away up as books are easy to get.
Also, large business is being done
In porcelain and glass knickknacks
as they are among the few things
available for gifts.
Extra Butter and Meat.
Germans have been permitted an
extra 125 grams of butter and an
extra 125 grams of meat for Christ
mas week. Big gingerbread and extra
chocolate are also allowed. Queues OF
patient women before candy stores
and women and men before tobacco
shops have been a familiar pre-
Christmas sight. In the poorer
homes where little or no coal was
stored before the present distribu-
| ton difficulties arose. coal for
Christmas season warmth is a prob
lem, purchases being limited in some
districts, to very small amount
daily.
Wine shops are crowded today.
From the hustle and preparation, it
is apparent that Berliners are going
to put their best foot forward from
the traditional Christmas Eve cele-
brations, when gifts are distributed
and the festivities begin, on through
Christmas Day. the day of family
parties and visiting. There has been
a big advance booking for theater
seats.