Show GIFT DAY JANUARY 6 While lule Christmas IS universally celebrated celebrated as the birthday of Christ among the the giving gift feature of the season is reserved for EpIphany on January 6 ci 1 This date IS observed m in commemoration of the visit of the Three e Wise Men of the East to the manger of the Christ ChIld to whom they brought gIfts of gold and frankincense and myrrh t In Latin America the chIldren me aie taught to expect gIftS on EpIphany and the evening before they prepare There being no snow in those wal m countries the children expect Santa Claus on horseback so they pi ovide hay for the mythIcal st steed ed Next morning they discover with delight that the hay has disappeared and In its place gifts have been left for them This custom is wIdespread throughout Cuba to Rico Haiti and other speaking Spanish countries and is aided by gifts of candy toys and clothing from church organizations In the United States b Among the pOOler class of chIldren gleat joy is is given Ir b ir t e simplest gIft such as a small bag of candy a picture card a blight colored toy or other pensive inexpensive article Pel haps in the orld IS it possIble to contI so much happiness to childhood by small smaIl e expenditures as among the little ones of Latin America |