Show v sfa saw 32 t N the pleasure bail bustle ot at our own co celebration ol of the birth of at tho the I 1 christ child wo we are apt to overlook the fact that another portion of ir the world la Is doing precisely tho the same thing in a different manner scarcely one ditth ot at the tha territory ot of the globo globe la Is christian and but a proportionate number it its inhabitants celebrate christmas yet let avan in this comparatively small number of people there are surprisingly diverio methods of celebrating the great day ot of course all co that navo have a 0 hristeas have a similar spiritual celebration thanks and praise lud ind worship to god for the birth of his only son in the manger at bethlehem dut but tho the diversity of 0 celebration along mat orial lines and the great variety of christmas customs in other lands are surprising indeed even between countries so BO closely allied as tho the united states and england the difference IP IF marked ot ol all paces on christmas surely tho the moly land the birthplace of 0 the christ child Is paramount in interest and naturally the ho celebration of th the people of that land centers in bethlehem the humble little village where the shepherds found the babe wrapped I 1 in w addling clothes tend and I 1 lying ing in a manger mang r on christmas eve the christiana christian of jerusalem and from all over palestine and visitors from other lands nock flock to bethlehem tv lr witness the gorgeous porge ous cere ceremonial montal in the homan catholic enamel in the church of the me nativity one by one and in groups they come with their caravans or camels or on foot down the road from jerusalem to bethlehem reth Tetti lehem leading through stony rolling plains with hero here and there an olive grove or an orchard or chaid under the wonderful radiance of nn an eastern night they wend their ways through the crooked streets of the quaint little town to the market place the church chinch the scene Is indeed a festive one Christ christian laW from all the countries ot of the gael are congregated here in gala attire vendors of sacred relies relics are selling belling their crosses and pictures in olive wood and emam boys dressed in many colored garments red dezes and bright red shoes are darting hither and thither in ili the crowd in wild exuberance of boyish spirits sheep are being killed by family groups group tor for their evening meal after the ceremonies in the church tho the mothers ot of bethlehem with their large lustrous eyes and brilliant com plex ions lons are making merry with their c hildren children there Is a babel of many voices and a great running to and fro the door of the church opens and the crowd presses in the church of the nativity belongs to the gatins the greeks creeks and the armenians Armen ians each sect having its own convent adjoining the gatins are holding their service now the armenians Armen lana ians later and tile the greeks 10 days afterward the entrance Is through a small door in a a high stone wall and one has to stoop as he enters thus insuring bowing to the crucifix opposite the building to Is believed to be the aldest monument of christian architecture extant the basilica erected by st helena in A D the services are hold held in an adjoining building and the worshippers wor shippers are all seated on the marble floor tile the priests and monks enter in solemn procession to the chant of the grand to te deum the bishops and archbishops arch bishops follow in gorgeous robes richly embroidered in gold and silver dacons of worship peal forth from the grand old organ at midnight the music grows softer salter and then there comes a pause the silence is complete except for the peal of the christmas chimes outside in the village suddenly as though b by y an unseen hand band the curtain above the chancel arch la Is drawn aside re a mInla miniature turp cradle holding an imago image of 0 the babe from the organ and the choir bursts forth in glad triumphant cadence the ringing strains of 0 the gloria in the little cradle la Js lowered and the bambino reverently raised the wor shippers prostrate themselves upon the ground the sacred eacret images are then borne at the head bead ot of the procession to the chapel of the manger priests monks and congregation all cary lighted wax tapers and move in solemn cadence with the chant tho the ratio grotto of tho the nativity la Is reached once a subterranean vault it has haa been converted into a chapel lined and floored with marble directly over the manger to is an altar profusely lec decorated orated in gold and silver and silken milken tapestries incense Is burning fragrantly and lamps that are nevar allowed to go out cast their dim raaf roce over the crowd A large star of brass marks the spot where christ was born and bears the inscription in latin here jesus christ was born cot 0 the virgin mary the little manger with its ita wax figure of the christ child Is devoutly laid upon the altar it rests there for the remainder of the week a symbol i of t adoration for the multitude from chapel to chapel the long procession slowly wenda its way with its chants and lighted tapers the services ser vicea are I 1 continued nearly all night long on this spot where first came to the I 1 faithful shepherds the message ot of glory to god in the highest find and on an earth peace good will toward M dpn P n from palestine to france of the 4 ii flo I 1 W j P tw aro z 0 p ai present day Is a far cry ta in point of time distance and customs of celebration aside from tile tho church services there la Is much of interest in the land ot of Mos leur at christmas the tiny day Is in for children though of course tho the grownups grown ups lose loae sight of tho the teal real mealing ng of it no lio more than do tho the fathers and mothers of our own land in france the great symbol of Christ niva la Is the mistletoe all over northern franco franca it Is cut in carloads carried to the quaint quays ot of seaport towns and shipped to england for john bull comes nowhere near supplying tho the christmas demand tor for mistletoe in hla his own land just before christmas the french lads and lasalla lassies go out into the hoary old forests and search for mistletoe too tile boy who seen the first tuft gives given a shout about ot of joy climbs the tree cuts it and la Is carried back in triumph with his prize its as king ot of tho the feast the mistletoe Is hung above the entrance to a door and ana the young girls girla pass be neath it oua by one to be kissed by the tb first lad who catches them on all parla paris streets at miallo too is for or sale ald it to la wreal a real christ mas necessity A queer superstition clings to this winter blossom in the minds of the ignorant french peasants the burning of the ugly practices and crazy exaltation have been known guowa to take hold ot of an entire village with the superstitious excitement attending the burning of tho the mistletoe the custom Is apparently an ancient one from aiom the celts belts A part of tire blossom Is broken up into little bits placed in a pan and held over the blazing fire the ashes are carefully collected placed in little bags and distributed to bd worn vorn around the neck 4 as tails men frequently these little bags aro are burled buried la in the middle of a held field to bring good crops some wives of tho the french peasants pc asanta hold that these little bags are marvelous in preventing their husbands from coming home borne drunk and ferocious all that la is necessary Is to sprinkle a little of the ashes of tho the mistletoe in his drink when ho be looking and his appetite for drink will dec rease the ashes will at least keep him soberer than he 1 would bo be without them in many sections of at germany christmas Is celebrated in many diverse ways yet all the festivities cling together by tradition and havo have many parts quite similar santa cla claus a Is the main feature and he great deal from tho the santa claus of bf america the german kris kringle never distributes any toys but he be carries a large bag of nuts these nuts are aie distributed among the german children on christmas day santa Is pecullar peculiar in that he also carries a bundle of switches they are for the children who havo hava been disobedient during the past year when the mute aro are distributed the bad children receive a twitching instead of their portion ot at tile the nuts in distributing the nuts they aro are usually placid in the center of tho the table and santa claus hands bands them to aitio youngsters frequently the lads aro are too anxious for their par portion of the goodle nl and the viv switches itches in tho the hands of santa conn come down across their shoulders with a whack then they keep a safe distarce from the table the ati german children believe in santa claus claud until they become about 10 years benm of age in germany only ono one day la Is celebrated Chri christmas atmas eye ere being left unnoticed this Is more inora 1 56 among the tha laboring people as the tha chops and factories never give a halt half holiday on the day before christmas on christmas christman day almost all of the he churches have a christmas christinas tree for the little foll folks ica and the gifts are distributed tri buted from it in nearly all of the homes christmas trees are to be found the gifts gift are very rarely given out on the tha night before christmas Christ maa german children have many of the tha same christmas amusements that the american Americ nn tin children have and rome eoas ot of them wo aio very similar to tho the amert amerl can halloween candles always cover tile the christmas tree yot yet this Is never in full blaze until tho the night of christ mas maa day in n germany Gorni any there la in no wook week be festivities lasting until tho the first drat day oc at tho year an aa in this coun chuu try christmas festivities in n gri england gland are aru JM probably bably more fully enjoyed than tn in any other dofher coti country many of the old english cus customs have loon transplanted to america but many of thorn them are stilt still known only la in tile tho country across the nea in no other country are the festivities more joyfully welcomed than in n england the old honor as aa it la ia called has had not fled in that country it la is tho the custom ou cu christina eve after tho the usual do lotions aro are over to light largo large can adles and throw on the hearth a huge log called tho the log or christmas block at court and irk in the homes of the tha wealthy an officer of licer named tho the lord 0 of misrule la is appointed to superintend A office la Is inal s called uio 06 abbot of unreason f Is merely one mode made of crea creating tipe an ii abundance or of fun but long years denra ago this officer was waa really appointed i to buderi blead the festivities jn in the year 1516 1616 the was wall abolished by an act of parliament parlia mout the reign of the original lord of misrule larule Al started atar toil at halloween and continued until day the favorite mea which ho fie now presides over are gaming music conjuring dipping for nuta and apples dancing and tool fool plough hot bot cock tes no blind mans buff etc la in england the favorito favorite dish for dinner at this season sealii of the year is tho the boars baars head with an apple or orange in inglis bis mouth and set on off with rosemary plum pudding and clince pie I 1 I 1 the english children look foiw forward ard even more eagerly to 16 the christmas season than tile the american children it Is their thanksgiving and christmas combined tho the english christmas seand casts from the night before december 25 26 until the first day of the new year and everything evory thing 1 is merry during that wv the season long years ago was celebrated id i a greater extent in england thair hair it to 18 today on account of the tact fact that the heads of many of the churches church cB complained that the season seabon should lo be more sacred and hat idt so BO much given over to tho the joyous programs this called a halt on he be fes feo tivi ties its aa the churches were then the ruling dewers of the country since that thai time the change has been felt right dadud ri knit the panta lintl claus of the english chri dron Is an all powerful boing being and aid they axe are stern bel believers fevers in the mythological gift giver until quite up Iny in years dars many of tha english christmas customs date back hundreds of years inight at the very iery door to our own country count ry ellla island a christmas Chilst mas celebration of more than pausing passing interest takes place every year there Is iff never a christmas that does doea not find fand at leant one steamship depositing its ita load of immigrants from rom europe strangers in a land on christ mus maa dayl day surely they are worthy ot of nil all that ran can be donefer done for them to make them feel a tittle little of the christmas cheer 1 and much to Is done the little Immig immigrant kant children art ar treated to all of lof christmas gifts gift dear to the tha heart of childhood and their fathers and mothers come in taa for yuletide yule tlde remembrances sev eral months before christmas dons dona lions ions come in train from all over the coun try prom the middle of decembri Decem bei bet packages begin to arrive some con COD twining touching little offerings of 0 cheap tops candles ornaments and fruits from the ghetto from little italy from the crowded alleys and the stifling tenements come the gifts there Is always a big christina dinner and a christmas tree on chi eti eie many of the little on ones hive have never had so no many good things and so much attention in all their lives before |