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Show CUROSITlEi ABOUT CHRISTMAS. Some Peculiar Customs Connected With the Christian Holiday. Tho celebration of C 'stinas as a special festival Js said to havo begun 1 In the first century, and during the life ' of the Apostle John one tradition of the church acciedlts him with inaiigu-' rating the custom. In England the Christmas decorations decora-tions may lemaln In the churches during dur-ing the month of January, but must all bo cleared away before February ", or Candlemas day in Franco It Is a common piuctlce to celobrato Christmas by giving an extra ration to all domestic animals, on tho theory that all creatures should rejolco at this season In tho fourth centurj, the celebra-tlpn celebra-tlpn of Christmas was llxed by the Iatln church for December 2C. Ho-fore Ho-fore that time. It had been u movable festival, like Kaster. Santa Claus was Introduced Into Amoricu by tho Dutch, of Holland Ho Is the American representation of the German Kneoht Rupert. Among the Kngllsh common people, Christmas Is lucky when It falls on Sunday, and unlucky when Saturday Is the day of tho Nativity. Christmas mlnco plea In the seventeenth seven-teenth and e fihleenth eejiturles wore made with cuflln-srm: d crust, to represent the nmngtir. In Sllosla then) Is a sup -rstltlon that u boy born on Christmas duy must be brought up a lawyer, or he will become be-come a thief In all the states Clulstiiias Is a legal holiday, and in South Cmollna thu two following days aro uIko holidays Tho leaves proper to use In Christmas Christ-mas decorations aro those of holly, mistletoe, laurel nnd rosemary. In Spain It is believed by the common com-mon people that tho ants hold religious service on Christmas day. In Old England plum porridgo was always sorved with tho first course of a Christmas dinner. Tho custom of giving presents on Christmas day la general throughout tho Christian world. Tho Kastcrn church formorly observed ob-served Christmas on January 6. |