Evening star., 1947-12-22
A Fairly Merry Christmas
That Is the Forecast for Europe With Santa Claus
Battling Shortages and Initiation Everywhere
By AIvin J. Sfeinkobf

LONDON, Dec. ~ Ep.-santa Claus will skip
q lot of people in Europe this Christmas, but
for the inhabitants of few lucky lands 1t will
be fairly merry
A fraction of the continents millions will have
roast goose and cheerful bit of holly to
brighten the day. But for other millions
Christmas will be another day of worry over
rations and coal for the kitchen stove.
Santa Claus" survey of the Christmas pros
poets of 20 countries indicated that in ma
terial way, 1t will be somewhat better Christ
mas than last year. Except in corner Of
Greece and few drought-stricken regions Of
eastern Europe there is little more food for
the holiday than there was year ago.
There are some toys for the children and
times have been quiet enough to enable men
to revive some of the colorful observances of
the traditional Christmas season. There were
indications everywhere the midnight masses
will be attended by great throngs
One complaint was universaEprices are high
and going higher. A doll which doesn't look
like much costs $40 in Italy. Forty dollars is
not unusual for small boys tricycle. In France.
$23 turkey in Switzerland is not an impress
sive bird and Christmas tree in Portugal costs
up to SO.
Nowhere has income kept pace with the rising
spiral of prices The traditional carp was a
luxury in Czechoslovakia and rice porridge,
which belongs to Christmas eve In Denmark,
was outside the range of many a family's
budget.
For most Italians Christmas will be better
than at any time since the war-but the we'll
stocked restaurants and shops in italian cities
give a misleading impression Prices Of even
articles which would make modest gifts, are be-
yond the reach of average Italians.
But the Italian in average circumstances
has not been overlooked entirely. Since the
end Of UNRRA supplies the new United States
Relief Mission to italy has sent 122 shiploads
OF food, coal and other products, and many
thousands Of gift packages have been pouring
into the impoverished country. Exchanging OF
gifts will take place January 6. when Fefana.
the good witch, will bring toys to we'll behaved
children.
Some improvement in Germany.
Germany, too, will have a slightly better
Christmas. There are even few Christmas
trees-rationed-with priority being given to
families with children. There is little enough
to eat, and many houses will be cold, but the
Old Weinachts Mart christmas Fair is being
revived in many OF the battered cities. In
Berlins Luftgarten there are swings and rides
for children and there are some toys, expen-
sive and not up to prewar quality
In Russian, British and American occupation
zones there will be small extra distributions of
flour and sugar. Americans in Berlin will give
Christmas parties for $4,000 children and the
British will do the same in Hamburg and other
cities.
Austrians, said a message from Vienna, will
be thinking about calories, and If all goes well
there will be the usual 1,700 day for the aver
age consumer. There still is no margin to
permit the traditional soup and whitefsh
Austria will have Christmas trees and there are
q few toys for children.
In France high prices dampen the Christmas
spirit. Goose, wel-regarded as a Christmas