Show v Ko n t Other ter Lands ail S Mark Maik I Christmas Ch A- A f melting pot of oj the world America i f Ian hns created it its Christmas traditions from countless brought across aeron the seas from f o i t. t foreign tI lands In these f far far-auvy ar aucy places j the symbols of bygone ages aget still endure Here are a few of them ENGLAND Christmas to rural Englishmen means not only the observance ol of Christs Christ's birth but also a parting of the ways between the old year and the new Preparations are started for the next years year's farm work which begins right after Christmas Throughout the island such trappings trappings trap trap- pings as the holly and mistletoe remain remain re re- main undying traditions nor is any Christmas complete te without the Yule log burning On clear frosty nights the carol singers raise their voices over the countryside To many Englishmen's despair such American custom customs as the turkey dinner dinner dinner din din- ner arc are gaining a foothold GERMANY ANY Two years ago storm troopers in Berl Berlin n lit bonfires in the public I sq es as a revival of ot the pagan Y custom of celebrating the winter solstice But this distraction will not stop the loving Christmas Germans Germans Ger Ger- mans from decorating their trees in every town and village and joining in the famed Christmas hymn Stifle Stille ITALY Most Italian families celebrate Christmas eve and spend the following follow follow- ing inn day quietly in their homes Here Hereit it is a feast more for ups grown-ups than for children whose merrymaking merrymaking merrymaking merry merry- making day comes 12 days later on January 6 On Christmas eve families families lies gather around the ceppo or Christmas log blazes At nine p. p m. m Y t tv v vv v. v v t s r. r v 1 0 J Jr r f J t o a z f 1 J f r. 1 y ri 1 1 IN ITALY ITALY Children Children o of the Italian Ital r. r ian fan Alps at Christmas Time lime pray pray- i ing before a wayside shrine begins the or big supper at which no meat may be served Gifts for children which come on Epiphany are brought not by Santa Claus Glaus but by an ugly witch whose name is FRANCE TRANCE Exchange of gifts comes not on Christmas but mostly on New Years Year's day which in France is the big family day for reunions of ot cousins i. i o- o aunts and uncles Santa Claus Glaus is Pere Noel who leaves his gifts i in fn wooden shoes Christmas eve is not spent at home but in revelry I and feasting BELGIUM BE i F Neither Santa Claus nor Pere Noel vis visit t children here here but but St. St Nicholas L makes the rounds surprisingly on December 6 A quaint Belgian custom custom custom cus cus- tom is the putting up the chimney of a few carrots for the little donkey on which St. St Nicholas makes hi his t. t visits RUSSIA f i f This Christian anti nation forbids celebration of the Yuletide but no longer compels foreign residents to toy y import rt their own Christmas trees r. r Making an face about the Soviet government uses this emblem of it childhood for its New Years Year's celebrations cele role bra lions when Dadja Dada Mor oz or Uncle Uncle Uncle Un- Un cle Frost appears with ith gifts for good children r POLAND This Christmas celebration lasts i until February 2 and is preceded i by f fasting sting which is not broken until the first t star st Jr on Christmas eve In all homes the table tablecloth cloth is placed over a layer of fragrant ha hay in commemoration of ot the manger z HUNGARY V St. St Nicholas leaves boxes of candy for children early in December after aft er which h the youngsters must be beon on their good behavior They write rite letters let let- tel'S to the angels who they believe be be- lieve bring the presents If they find bits of tinsel on the floor they claim this is angels angel's hair and proof that the that the angels are everywhere observing observing observing ob- ob serving which boys and girls are good 1 HOLY OL r LAND IJAN D r Where it all began nearly 20 centuries cen tunes ago worshipers reverently hail hail each ach Christ Christmas as at at the church of Nativity which is built over over i Chris Christs Christ's is traditional birthplace It has remained unchanged more than 1500 years There pilgrims gather T from Irom all over the world to intone Glory to the New Born King |