| Show y Is w SA A nen HEN one thinks of the traditions of christmas celebration in new benl enl england and the middle states and even farther west in the early part of the nineteenth century it Is to vision snow covered ground sleigh rides and the jingle of sleigh bells with christmas trees and santa claus much as today in those sections whole families going visiting in the bobsled bob sled to partake of the christmas feast built around the turkey I 1 those v nere ere great times and days and their annals live in the works of famous literati of the east coast when our republic was comparatively young but at the same time a mighty civilization was being on the west coast though how different was the christmas observed in the sparsely settled and undeveloped land that Is now Califor california nial I 1 and how few to leave record I 1 however albert robinson a clerk who left boston for california 1 in july 1828 and after days reached valparaiso and monterey Uon terey on february 15 1829 has left in his life in california published in the late forties description of a christmas celebration held at the mission in san diego that shows the contrast between such events on the east and west coasts at that time robinsons business took him to various parts of the now state and while on a visit from his headquarters in san francisco to his friend don jose antonio estudillo comandante of san diego wrote of the Chr christmas hAmas festivities he had witnessed don jose antonio was ever on the alert seeking for some new device for my gratification it was nearly time tor for the religious festival of la noche buena the holy night and he directed the customary exhibition hibi tion of the pastores they were fireworks were set off and all was rejoicing rehearsing night after night till at length christmas arrived and I 1 had an opportunity of beholding the midnight mass and the subsequent performances for mances at an early hour illuminations commence commenced d fireworks were set off and all was rejoicing the church bells rang merrily find and long before the time of mass the pathways leading to the presidio were enlivened by crowds hurrying to devotion I 1 accompanied don jose antonio who procured for me a stand where I 1 could see distinctly everything that hat took place the mass commenced padre vincente de oliva died 1845 officiated fated and at the conclusion of the mysterious lie he produced a small image representing the infant saylor savior which he held in his hands for all who chose to approach and kiss after this the tinkling of the guitar atas as heard without the body of the church was cleared ond and immediately commenced the harmonious sounds of a choir of voices the characters entered in procession adorned with appropriate costumes and hearing bearing banners there were s als x females representing shepherd esses three men and a boy one of the men personated persona ted lucifer one a hermit and the other bartolo a lazy vagabond whilst the boy represented the archangel gabriel the story of their performance Is partially drawn from the bl bible ae and commences with the angels els appearance to the shepherds his account of the birth of our say savior and exhortation to them to repair to the scene of the manger A dialogue Is then carried on of considerable length relative to the attributes of the delly deity which ends in the submission of satan for several days tills this theatrical representation Is exhibited at the principal houses and the performers at the conclusion of the play are entertained with refreshments the boys take an enthusiastic part in the performance and follow about from house to house perfectly enraptured with the of the hermit and artolo ll bow different from the gay christmas celebrations of califor nias alas present millions 1 and how different from what was taking place on the east coast 04 S 1931 western newspaper paper union |
