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Show Christmas In Many Lands Early Christians did not celebrate the birthday of Christ. It was not until ir.e fourth century that December Decem-ber 25 came to be accepted as the I presumed anniversary of the great i event. In that year Pope Gregory V set this day officially. His intention inten-tion was partly to absorb the old pagan festival of the returning sun the winter solstice on December 22) in a Christian feast. A number of pagan celebrations were overlapped over-lapped in this manner during the i first centuries of Christianity. j It is for this reason that the remnants rem-nants of ancient rites and customs have become inter- ViV'k ' ' a rnin6let witn 8enu-fk0a 8enu-fk0a fi ine Christian prac-, irV J f41 'CeS 8n svmbolism- tfV'J The Yule rites of the j gKl!j Scandinavian, Ger-Knilllll Ger-Knilllll man'c and British ' AyCl II nations blended with ,ff lilt tne new Christian I holy day In northern I Europe. In Italy, France, Spain and other nations descended from Roman Ro-man colonies, the rowdy festival spirit and customs of pagan Rome hung on to some extent, and merged with the observation of Christmas. In the main, however, the birth of Christ was a religious holiday joyous, joy-ous, but restrained in mood, in the early centuries of the Christian era. Gradually, however, in the Middle ages, the feast became more robust, as peasants and lords made merry in the baronial halls. Nativity Plays. On the other hand, the Nativity plays were purely Christian In origin having arisen spontaneously in many parts of Europe in the early Middle ages. In one form or another an-other they have been enacted all over the world, with additions and embellishments. There are puppet versions, elaborate pageants, music scores, all treating of the birth of Christ. In Spanish countries the "Posadas" is the name given to a combination procession and party with religious overtones, that covers the nine days preceding Christmas itself. The Polish Christmas play is an intermingling of the Nativity story sto-ry with elements of Polish history and legend. The Santa Claus tradition represents repre-sents the combining of a number of widely differing rel- ics of old supersti- -tion and beliefs. The y wJ northern Europeans L. tf in pre Christian .yWM times believed in a Jjpl spirit of woods and w' Ifffil fields who had to be - Jurffi placated now and ' rf ci4 then, or he would ruin the harvests. This being was known in Norway as the "Nisse," and by various names in other Scandinavian Scan-dinavian countries. It is still a custom cus-tom in rural regions for children to set out porridge and beer on Christmas Christ-mas eve to please the Nisse. In Britain the character known as "Father Christmas" is supposed to be a Christian version of this ancient an-cient spirit of the fields. The Dutch Sinter Klass, or St. Nicholas, is still recognizable as the good bishop of Myra in Dutch plays, but he too is being absorbed in the more popular version of Santa Claus, the fat, red-coated red-coated little man with the big bag of presents. This idea of Santa Claus is a south German interpretation. interpreta-tion. In other parts of Germany the dispenser of gifts is "Dame Bertha." Ber-tha." The custom of hanging up stockings comes from Italy. Switzerland has developed the custom cus-tom of parading from house to house and singing carols in BiO J3 a picturesque way. bcVj&ft Costumes are re-rSrrV' re-rSrrV' llM markable- Young tJfu 1 1 1 JH men an( womn fir I ivJ wear naddresse a ih luVrJsA rePrcsentin8 houses, I lJ I yCll ships, mountains, I I I mJ U an( so forth. Huge sleigh bells tinkle from their waists and shoulders. These Swiss carolers also have a peculiar dance Used only on Christmas Christ-mas eve. In Switzerland, as In oth er southern European countries, the gifts are brought to good children, not by Santa Claus, but by the Christ Child, who comes from the North Pole in a fairy sleigh. Members of the Orthodox Greek church, who cling to the old style calendar, celebrate Christ's birthday on j'TJ i! January 6. Many PTom people in Greece, I J Vj I Serbia, Romania and plal I other Balkan states, VI I ai well as many f. Cji LJ Russians, belong toife ll ll the Orthodox church. .VaVsTrll Their Christmas feast traditionally begins with a bowl of "kutya," which is a combination of wheat, honey, ground poppy seed and pecans. Mushroom soup, fruit, fish and nuts are also served. A I small layer of hay Is spread under the table cloth to show humility for Christ's birth in a stable. So every country and every district dis-trict often has its own special ways of keeping Christmas. The United States, being composed of people from everywhere, has received customs cus-toms from every people, and has adopted those it liked, and altered them to fit the American style. So it has been with Santa Claus, the Christmas tree, holly and mistletoe. I the Christmas plays and enrols, the luscious menus everything has been gladly taken over, with thanks to the many nations and peoples that have bequeathed them to us.' |