The Coolidge examiner., 1940-12-24
Bv Ina Mae Reinhardt

in MANY countries throughout the
world. but since so much trouOle
prevails in the countries toda!
the usual manner of celebrating
Christ's birthday may not be the
same. No. in face the holiday may
be very different. Since giving
gifts at Christmas is an import
ant part of Christmas happiness
let's climb upon the Magic Carpet
and discover for ourselves no"
giving gifts up to the present
time has been observed in differ
ent countries. OF course we must
turn the time back in some coun-
tries about year or so.
We have heard that the custom
dates back to the ancient Romans
who distributed gifts at their mid
winter festival and we have
heard, too. ever since we were
knee high to grasshopper,
the Bible story of the Three Wise
Men who brought gifts to the
baby Jesus on the twelfth day of
his birth.
Climbing aboard the Magic Car
pet we sail first to the war torn
country of England Here things
seem very cloudy. Oh, yes, we
know the reason; perhaps Christ.
mas there will be changed this
year, but up until the present
time the Bo%gg Day has been OBJ
served. On this day it was the
custom of bestowing Christmas
boxes containing money on serv'
ants, tradesmen, and various per
sons who render services to the
people. Christmas day in England
is particularly a childrens festl-
val. The English children expect
visit on Christmas eve from
Father Christmas, just as the
American children watch for San
ia Claus. Their stockings are
hung in a row before the fire
place. Their Christmas tree is
one taken from the yard. This is
put in a tub of dirt; when holi-
days are over it is repeated to be
used for another year.
Leaving England we travel to
the Scandinavian countries. Upon
inquiries we find that the celebra-
ton here starts on Christmas eve
and lasts 13 days. ending with a
twelfth-night party. We see,
though rather dimly at first, Il
Christmas tree! 1t is covered with
gold and silver stars, strips of
colored paper, and, oh yes, flags
of other nations.
1t is Christmas eve and the
family is gathered around the
lighted tree. They are being visit
ed by Tomtes, or little brownies.
One is an old man, with a long,
white beard, who wears a red
cowl and rings bell. The other,
an old woman, who is carrying a
basket of presents.
Now to Germany, where we see
a man dressed like Santa Claus,
going from house to house on the
eve of st. Nicholas day inquiring
as to the behavior of the chill
dren during the year. The good
children receive gifts and the bad
children, switches. We find that
here there is an exchange of
gifts among the family. Some
times Kriss Kringle distributes
gifts.
In Norway we find children
searching for gifts, which have
been hidden away in unexpected
places.
Oh, how nice! We arrive in
Belgium and Holland in time for
the children's special day, Dec. s.
We see St Nicholas, wearing his
red bishops robe and peaked cap,
calling at each home to inquire
about the behavior of the children
We see a white sheet spread on
the floor. What is the meaning
of this? His arrival is announced
by a shower of sweets on the
sheet.
We see the children scrambling
for them. st. Nicholas enters, ac-
companied by his black servant,
who holds an open sack in one
hand and a rod in the other, both
meant for naughty children. Then
st. Nicholas disappears to return
later. The children set out their
wooden shoes in the window, or
fireplace or hang their stockings,
or in some places, set out bas-
kets to receive st. Nicholas gifts,
and in each shoe, basket, or stock