Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1943-12-23
GHristmras 6rrrtitrss
From Elsie White Haines

Ma Sia x M M Nh siia xls Ma Ma Ssil:s SSis
christmas gift!" rather thar
the present "Merry Christmas
was the usual greeting when W.
were young-and, indeed, member.
Of old Maryland families still use
the expression more often than not
If you are around forty or fifty
and native of the county you viii
remember now the "cullud" mer
folks of the neighborhood would
visit the white folks early or
Christmas morning, singing anc
laughing and calling out Christ
mas gift" in hope of getting g
drink and a piece of cake. Pity
these old customs have died.
Few homes will have a really
merry Christmas this year-nc
matter how gay it may seem there
will be an under current of sad.
ness-for most every family has a
member that will be having fa1
different day-perhaps in some
land across the sea. But won't the
fathers of tomorrow have wonder
full tales to tell of Christmas in far
off lands 3? We imagine, too, that
our boys, where ever they are, will
leave vivid impressions of the
American way of celebrating the
day.
, They will find that the English
most nearly match our combination
of merry-making, hospitality and
religious ceremony. Many of our
customs came from the English.
Christmas cards-the merry greet
ings-plum puddings-mince pies.
The custom of hanging mistletoe
also came from England by way of
the ancient Druids. North England
end Scotland feature the "Yule
Log" which must be lighted by a
charred brand of the previous
years log.
Denmark has quaint custom
called Blowing In The Yule". At
sunrise the town band climbs to the
top of the church tower and plays
four old hymns, one to each corner
of the compass, so that no one is
forgotten. They always begin with
Martin Luther's "a Mighty Fort
ress Is Our God"
All Scandinavians prepare for
Christmas by a thorough house
cleaning, for they believe that
cleanliness is next to godliness"
They begin to bake for the feast
weeks before. If you have tasted
the good Swedish bread and cakes
made by Sigrid Stevenson MRS
Guy Stevenson of Norbeck) or Ray
Watkins of Rockville, or many 9th
er countians who have come here
from the midwest you know that
we mean when we say "good".
In both Norway and Sweden do
emstic animals are given extra feeC
on Christmas day-nor are The
birds forgotten-they get punches
of wheat or other grains and suet
tied high in the air.
We read that the celebration in
| Holland even before the war was
very different-no feasting OF
merrymaking but lots of church
going. In Belgium the day was kept
much the same. Children of Holland
have their fun on December 9Th
the birthday of Hollands patron
saint, st. Nicholas, or "Sinter-
klass" from whom they expect a
visit-instead of hanging their
stockings they set out their wooden
shoes.
Russian children look for "Ba-
bousca" to bring them toys. Tradi-
ton says the three wise men fol
lowing the star stopped at Ba-
bousca's hut to inquire the way to
Bethlehem. In Italy the "good
Bonfana" a character much like ouI
Mother Goose rides to the door and
leaves gifts for each child. Instead
of the Christmas tree they use a
large urn from which gifts are
drawn.
The Germans, you know, are
credited with the custom of light
ed Christmas tree-also with bring
ing "Kris Krinkle" to our country
Radio reports state that there will
be no lighted trees for Germany
this year, because of scarcity Of
candles. and that it will be tht
"scantiest" Christmas the natio~
has ever known. T'us arr the sin'
If the fathers visited upon the
aL;IJ,ox